Alabama snowbirds returning for winter season

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- The season of the snowbirds -- retirees from northern states who flock to warmer climes in winter months -- has begun on the Alabama coast.

Officials are optimistic that many snowbirds who couldn't find condominiums or houses last year after Hurricane Ivan will be back this winter.

"It should be better than January past," said Bebe Gauntt, spokeswoman for the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A normal winter season attracts more than 16,000 snowbirds to the Alabama coast, tourism figures show, but less than half that number visited in 2005, costing the local economy 40 percent of its seasonal revenue, because many vacation rentals had been heavily damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.

Damage from Ivan is still visible in some places, but the beach has been restored and many new and repaired rental properties are back on the market.

Local officials are hoping to match pre-Ivan figures this year, including an estimated $29 million economic impact, Gauntt told the Mobile Register.

Sarah Kuzma, a spokeswoman for Meyer Real Estate, said their monthly rentals might even top February 2004. The snowbird population usually peaks around February, and Meyer's has new units available this year, she said.

Kuzma said some people panicked and canceled their reservations after Hurricane Katrina hit Aug. 29, but when news spread that Gulf Shores and Orange Beach were spared serious damage, everything booked up quickly.

Connie Carlisle, a spokeswoman with Kaiser Realty, said they've booked more units this season than last, but not as quickly as 2004. Carlisle said Kaiser usually books 100 percent of its available rentals for February, but only 70 percent are booked up for this February.

Carlisle said some snowbirds still haven't returned because of rising gas prices and casinos being closed in Biloxi, Miss.

Hugh Branyon, superintendent of Gulf State Park, said about 200 campsites are still closed, but the remaining 300 campsites should be full from January through March.