Alabama State Parks E-Newsletter - January Issue

Congrats to the Alabama State Parks Division for winning first place in the “Deck the Halls” competition. The Holiday Open House was a great opportunity to build relationships and celebrate the holidays. The ADCNR Commissioner presented the first place award to Parks employees (pictured L to R) - Tammy Davis, Commissioner Chris Blankenship, Tasha Simon, Thomas Dunlap and Penny Owens. 

We are excited about the new construction at Lakepoint State Park for an ORV (Off-Road Vehicles) trail system. This new form of outdoor recreation should be ready in March and will provide the ORV trail community with exciting new adventure. This new trail system combined with the existing Buck's Pocket State Park ORV trail system will create family-friendly destinations for off-road enthusiasts.

Over the past 80 years, trails have been a fundamental part of the park system’s mission. Because of this, we created the Dirt Pass Trail Crew Program. This program is a way to voluntarily donate $35 per year to help support our efforts to improve our trail system. Your money goes directly to the maintenance, enhancement and planning of the Alabama State Parks trails system. All Dirt Pass membership donations are made online and each donating Dirt Pass member will receive a cool, Trail Crew t-shirt to show your pride in our program.

Gulf State Park has received a 2020 Phoenix Award from the Society of American Travel Writers. The award is given annually to destinations that showcase responsible, sustainable tourism, including conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution efforts and was first awarded in 1969. 

Visit the "Specials" section of alapark.com to see new deals. Check out these park specials:

• Cabins Special - Monte Sano State Park
• Camping Special - Buck's Pocket State Park
• Camping Special - Lake Guntersville State Park
• Winter Cabin Special - Joe Wheeler State Park
• Lodge Special - Joe Wheeler State Park

Join the Gulf State Park Naturalists on Monday, January 11th at Tacky Jacks in Gulf Shores and learn about our habitat and the animals that share it with us. Live owls will be featured. This is a partnership event between Gulf State Park and Tacky Jacks.  

Calling all Nature Nerds! Join Oak Mountain State Park Naturalist Lauren Muncher for a fieldtrip to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, Alabama! We will see thousands of Sandhill Cranes, various waterfowl, and have a chance to see the endangered Whooping Cranes!

Don't forget to purchase a new Alabama State Parks car tag in 2021. Last names that begin with the letters A and D renew during the month of January. Last names with the letter B renew in February. For all you boat owners, we also have a boat tag and the same rules apply. This is a new form of much needed revenue for us. Watch the video.