RV Lifestyle Back in 1699, the French explorer Le Moyne d’Iberville landed on the island and started a settlement called Massacre Island, which was later more tastefully renamed Port Dauphine. It served briefly as the capital of the French Louisiana Territory in the early 1700s. During the War of 1812, American forces captured it. The historic Fort Gaines, on the eastern end of the island, was built to protect Mobile Bay. The Dauphin Island Park and Campground is a great place to enjoy all the island has to offer. The 62-hectare park offers an abundance of recreation offerings and natural beauty. The campground is located so that guests have access to a secluded beach, public boat launches, Fort Gaines and Audubon Bird Sanctuary. The camping facility offers 150 sites with 30/50 amp electric service and water; 99 sites also offer sewer connections. From here, head over to nearby Fort Gaines, with its 7-metre-tall exterior brick walls and storied military heritage that spans 1821 to 1946. The fort is highly recognized for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay, a famed Civil War naval conflict. It was during this three-week battle that Union rear admiral David Farragut roared the command, “Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead!” (It’s interesting to note that the word “torpedoes” in this case referred to hidden enemy mines, and not to submarine weapons.) Start your self-guided tour by picking up a map at the gift shop. The comprehensive guide includes 26 points of interest, along with facts about the fort’s tunnels, bastions, blacksmith shop and disappearing gun mounts, among dozens of other features. You can examine the huge anchor of Farragut’s flagship, gaze toward Sand Island lighthouse from atop the southeast bastion, or browse the museum. Located nearby, the Audubon Bird Sanctuary consists of 55 hectares of maritime forests, marshes and dunes, and includes a lake, swamp and beach. The trail system within the sanctuary has been designated as a National Recreational Trail. The sanctuary is the largest segment of protected forest on the island and the first landfall for neo-tropical migrant birds after their long flight across the Gulf from Central and South America each spring. For a quick sampling of the sanctuary’s flora and fauna, you can hike the 0.9-kilometre interpretive loop trail that winds through the maritime forest where the dominant plants are loblolly and slash pines, live oak, southern magnolia and Tupelo gum. It leads by slightly elevated 30 | www.snowbirds.org
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