By Julian Pecquet
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
The camp sites at St. George Island State Park reopened Friday, slightly ahead of schedule.
They had been closed since July 2005, when Hurricane Dennis washed over the island, demolishing dunes, roads and public restrooms.
Although no firm date had been set for the camp-site reopenings, the Florida Park Service had originally scheduled for reservations to begin Nov. 1. As of Monday, its Web site still said the camp grounds were closed.
"We completed the work a little bit sooner than expected and went ahead and reopened it," said Park Manager Tony Tindell. "The word really hasn't gotten out yet, but we expect full occupancy real soon when the word starts spreading."
The park has 60 sites for family camping (50 of which are RV-sized), complete with showers, electricity and water hook-ups. The park also allows up to 12 people at a time at its primitive camp site, which is a 2.5-mile hike away.
Tindell said reservations would be possible soon, before the originally planned Nov. 1 date. Until then, it's first come, first served.
On Sunday, just three people registered to use the family campgrounds, said Park Ranger Melody Sapp. She said that was significantly fewer than this time two years ago, before Dennis.
"It's just people who just drove in," she said. "Just to take a chance."
Family camping is $20.52 a night per campsite, with tax, Sapp said; primitive camping is $4.32.
Park staff have removed 340 tons of debris from the park and 64,000 cubic yards of sand from its roads since the storm hit, according to the park service. A new park office, two beach restrooms, boardwalks, parking and four miles of paved roads have also recently been completed.
But even with all the reconstruction, one major obstacle remains.
On Saturday, a visiting couple from Indiana found that out after heading for the camp site, then turning back after 30 minutes, covered in itchy bites.
The mosquito population should start to abate next month, rangers advise.
