Labor Day Lost

By Debbie Williams Reporter

The impact from Gustav on Baldwin County beaches was more about dollars than damage. Labor Day Lost

Published: Tue, September 02, 2008 - 3:06 pm Last Updated: Tue, September 02, 2008 - 4:35 pm

Debbie Williams

The impact from Gustav on Baldwin County beaches was more about dollars than damage. What was suppose to be the last hurrah of summer turned into a big bust for local businesses.
As storm clouds rolled in, crowds rolled out of Gulf Shores on what was suppose to be the last big weekend of summer. "The official last weekend of summer we were hoping to generate some good sales unfortunately mother nature threw us a curve ball." That curve ball packed powerful winds and driving rain. General Manager of The Hangout, Blake Peryer was hoping his first Labor Day holiday on the beach would be one of his best. "We're going to carry on like there was no Gustav and hope people come and take it from there one step at a time."
The day after Gustav and things in Gulf Shores aren't quite the same. Things are getting back to normal, even the Gulf is calming down. There was no damage to speak of and as of right now, there are no people.
"Labor Day is like the grand finale of our season down here." Tina Royster at Souvenir City says this holiday was nothing to write home about. "Due to the weather and everything it was really off especially on Sunday when a lot of people had to evacuate and then yesterday it was so messy with the wind and the rain, the tornado warnings you didn't know what was going to happen next."
There is hope for one last hurrah this season according to Royster. "We have Shrimp-Fest that's usually a good weekend as long as the weather holds out."
The way the tropics look right now, that could be a big "if".
As Gustav approached, occupancy rates at beach condo's and hotels dropped from 85 to 50 percent. Over all the tourist season along Alabama beaches is on track to be another record breaking year according to the Alabama Gulf Coast Visitor's Bureau.