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Mississippi Gulf Coast Bouncing Back From Hurricane Katrina

Posted on: Monday, 23 April 2007, 18:00 CDT

By ERIN HERNANDEZ

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is bouncing back despite the wallop it took when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.

While some areas are recovering more slowly than others, progress is definitely being made, said Janice Jones of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"We really don't have any events that are not taking place," she said.

The beach cleanup project was finished before the end of summer 2006, and the water is well on its way to being open. Two companies, under the guidance of the U.S. Coast Guard, are clearing the water and might be finished by summertime, Jones said.

"They're picking up debris from the water 4 miles out from the coast and a half-mile from each barrier island. They're about 75 percent finished," Jones said. "It's likely that we'll see the return of our beach vendors this summer."

Among the hardest hit was Hancock County.

"The eye went over Pass Christian," Jones said, adding that the area is "recovering nicely."

Stennis Space Center is open, as well as many of the county's restaurants and the shopping district. "They're even hosting their Second Saturday," the traditional Bay St. Louis art walk in Old Town, Jones said.

Harrison and Jackson counties are also putting the pieces back together.

"We have a lot of the family attractions that are already open," Jones said.

Among those is Ship Island Excursions, The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center and the Gulf Islands Water Park, all in Gulfport; the Ohr- O'Keefe Museum of Art, the historic Glenn Sweatman House, the Biloxi Tour Train, Biloxi Schooners and shrimping trips, all in Biloxi; and Gulf Coast Gator Ranch and Airboat Swamp Tours in Jackson County.

The Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel/Casino, the next big resort casino in Biloxi, will likely open in July.

Charter fishing is available from any public launch, and all golf courses are on line, Jones said.

"We're at over 10,000 hotel rooms," she said. "You can go out to any island and fish."

The Ocean Springs historic district survived virtually intact.

"All of the favorite shops are still there," Jones said.

Event wise, the Country Cajun Crawfish Festival in Biloxi will be at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center.

"It's always been a huge event for them. Last year, being the first major event following the storm, they made it a two-weekend affair," Jones said.

This year, organizers have done the same, spreading the festival out over April 19-22 and 26-29. Three Dog Night, Uncle Kracker, Kansas and Asleep at the Wheel are headliners.

In April and May, the Blessing of the Fleet in Pass Christian, Pascagoula and Biloxi will still take place, as will the Coast Coliseum Summer Fair, also at the Coliseum, June 7 to June 17.

For more information on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, including updates on casinos and other attractions, visit

http://www.gulfcoast.org

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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