MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. – The Mobile County Commission awarded the bid for Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground’s Phase 1B of construction at its regular meeting on March 25, 2024.

Phase 1B improvements include renovating the existing cabin into a café, general store, and blackwater river system interpretive center as well as the construction of a new playground, construction of an elevated office/restroom facility, renovation of the existing ranger cabin, more walking trails, and infrastructure like roads and water/sewer. M.W. Rogers Construction Company was awarded the contract for their total low bid of $5,252,671.

Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground, located at 15551 Moffett Road, Wilmer, AL 36587, was acquired by the Mobile County Commission in 2019. At that time, it was a 45-acre facility. It closed in April 2021 for major upgrades and renovations, which took about a year. Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground has been open for day use since October 2022 and for RV camping since August 2023. Subsequent land acquisitions have grown Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground to about 230 acres.

Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground will not be closed during Phase 1B of construction, though there will be restricted access to areas of the park during active construction. Phase 1B construction should take about a year.

“The park has been very busy since it reopened, especially in the summer months. This next phase of construction is needed and will allow Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground to serve as an unofficial welcome center at the Alabama/Mississippi state line,” said Mobile County District 2 Commissioner Connie Hudson, who has spearheaded the park’s acquisition and expansion.

“While this phase of construction is underway, the new master plan for the additional acreage will be finalized,” she explained. “Future amenities are expected to include rentable cabins and maybe a few novelty tree houses, more camping areas, a small conference center, pickleball courts, a disc golf course, more river beach access areas, rentals for tubing or paddling, as well as more walking and biking trails,” said Hudson.

Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground improvements are funded by proceeds from the Gulf of Mexico Energy and Security Act (GOMESA), from which four of the five Gulf States receive offshore oil drilling revenue. Phase 1B improvements will be funded by Mobile County’s GOMESA receipts.

Phase 1A improvements, which included the day-use area, RV campground, and related facilities as well as infrastructure like roadwork and parking, were funded by a $3.5 million State of Alabama GOMESA grant awarded by Gov. Kay Ivey in 2020.

Other Mobile County projects fueled by GOMESA funding include Cedar Point Pier, Mobile County’s future golf course and waterfront park (the former Linksman), Memories Fish Camp, and Chickasabogue Park.

IMAGE CREDIT – MOBILE COUNTY COMMISSION