I think as you get older you begin to think that your youth and all the things involved in it are better than the present. I'm not sure it it is true or just one of the delusions of age. When I was a kid we always came to the Gulf Coast every summer. Even if we were taking the "big" vacation somewhere else we made a trip to the Gulf every summer. I love it. I looked forward to it each year. When we came down the only area we knew was the strip along Highway 90. It was filled with strip joints, souvenir shops, attractions such as go-carts, Marine Life, and Deer Ranch. Tourism is down according to the local media.
They are all in a tizzy about it. When I look at what's available as I ride the beach I can see why. Camille and Katrina are partly to blame, but there are other reasons. Perhaps the deterioration of family values and the need to take the kids on a family vacation. The major entertainment here is Casinos. If the kids go there they are tucked into an arcade until their parents are finished gambling. There are a couple of souvenirs shops and that is about it. It you are not a gamer there is not a lot for you on the Coast today. The Sixgun Junction pictured here was on Debuys Road right across the street from Brittany Apartments where I lived for years. It featured an old western town, the shootouts, and one part was a deer farm. Kids could walk into the heard of little deer and feed them. It appealed to all ages. The tourism board is so proud of the new development on the Gulf side of Highway 90.
They seem to forget that the area was developed back in the 60's too. There were many small, family owned motels on the beach with a view of the Gulf. On vacations these were the staging area from which we explored the Coast. We swam early in the morning and as long as the pools were open. One day was spent on the trip out to Ship Island. While there we explored the old fort and swam and sunned. Today there is just not as much to do on the coast. Oh, there are the Casinos which are huge, fancy and sometime have stars who attract crowds. But to me the Coast has not grown back to the resort it was back then. 
It may be a sign of old age and the memories of childhood but it's not the same and I miss the old Coast. The recovery since Katrina has been slow and the the economy hasn't helped, but until there is more to do than gamble the Coast is not going to appeal to as many people as it use to. I miss Marine Life, the go-cart track, goofy golf, and the port tours. I miss the Alamo Motel, The Fairchild motel, the Emerald Beach Motel (pictured above) the Broadwater Marina and the Buena Vista. I miss the old seafood restaurants on the beach. I miss the old Coast. All of those places were the reason I moved here for 20 years. It doesn't have that appeal now.
I think as you get older you begin to think that your youth and all the things involved in it are better than the present. I'm not sure it it is true or just one of the delusions of age. When I was a kid we always came to the Gulf Coast every summer. Even if we were taking the "big" vacation somewhere else we made a trip to the Gulf every summer. I love it. I looked forward to it each year. When we came down the only area we knew was the strip along Highway 90. It was filled with strip joints, souvenir shops, attractions such as go-carts, Marine Life, and Deer Ranch. Tourism is down according to the local media.
They are all in a tizzy about it. When I look at what's available as I ride the beach I can see why. Camille and Katrina are partly to blame, but there are other reasons. Perhaps the deterioration of family values and the need to take the kids on a family vacation. The major entertainment here is Casinos. If the kids go there they are tucked into an arcade until their parents are finished gambling. There are a couple of souvenirs shops and that is about it. It you are not a gamer there is not a lot for you on the Coast today. The Sixgun Junction pictured here was on Debuys Road right across the street from Brittany Apartments where I lived for years. It featured an old western town, the shootouts, and one part was a deer farm. Kids could walk into the heard of little deer and feed them. It appealed to all ages. The tourism board is so proud of the new development on the Gulf side of Highway 90.
They seem to forget that the area was developed back in the 60's too. There were many small, family owned motels on the beach with a view of the Gulf. On vacations these were the staging area from which we explored the Coast. We swam early in the morning and as long as the pools were open. One day was spent on the trip out to Ship Island. While there we explored the old fort and swam and sunned. Today there is just not as much to do on the coast. Oh, there are the Casinos which are huge, fancy and sometime have stars who attract crowds. But to me the Coast has not grown back to the resort it was back then. 
It may be a sign of old age and the memories of childhood but it's not the same and I miss the old Coast. The recovery since Katrina has been slow and the the economy hasn't helped, but until there is more to do than gamble the Coast is not going to appeal to as many people as it use to. I miss Marine Life, the go-cart track, goofy golf, and the port tours. I miss the Alamo Motel, The Fairchild motel, the Emerald Beach Motel (pictured above) the Broadwater Marina and the Buena Vista. I miss the old seafood restaurants on the beach. I miss the old Coast. All of those places were the reason I moved here for 20 years. It doesn't have that appeal now.
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