Buccaneer Rules For a Reason: Water
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson
Buccaneer State Park, hailed as the most popular among all of Mississippi’s beautiful state parks, holds a special place among the Coast’s long list of attractions.
This summer, Buccaneer is again drawing campers and other fans of the outdoors to Hancock County after being restored following Hurricane Katrina. Location is key to Buccaneer’s popularity and having the Gulf of Mexico at the front door is a natural draw. The peaceful setting inside the park is dotted with moss-laden oaks and rich natural vegetation and animal life. During the summer season Buccaneer Bay, the 4.5-acre waterpark, makes the park the top destination for those who like to cool off. |
Beach to Bayou
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There are two giant waterslides to choose from atop a 40-foot tower. Pirate’s Plank is a 375-foot-long waterslide that’s completely enclosed, and the wide open Pirate's Plunge is a 425-foot body slide with twists and turns all the way down to the refreshing pool below.
Young swimmers have their own kiddie pool called Lil’ Smuggler’s Cove where they can safely enjoy splashing and playing in 12 inches of water.
For those who prefer to grab some sun and watch the activities, there’s Treasure Island, a 10,000-square-foot deck perfect for lounging around the pool. Nearby the Sea Dog Galley concession area and food court has lots of shady areas where you can enjoy pizza, burgers, sandwiches and cold drinks.
"Buccaneer offers that phenomenal water park, in addition to camping, beach, easy access, and a great view," says Green. "No wonder it's one of the top visitor attractions in the state. We're so fortunate it's here in Hancock County."
The new free Beach Blvd. Trolley service makes it easy - and inexpensive for families in Bay St. Louis and Waveland to get to and from the park without hassling with parking. The trolley stops at the park at least once per hour. See the map and timetable below!
Buccaneer Bay Waterpark is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Aug. 1 and on weekends only from Aug. 2 to Sept. 5.
Click here for more info.