Mobile County will reopen its new Escatawpa Hollow Park for free limited day use on Friday, as construction continues on new amenities.

The park, located just off U.S. 98 at the Alabama-Mississippi line, was a private campground on the Escatawpa River until the county purchased it in 2019. Since the purchase, the county has added more than 100 acres of additional land, more than doubling its size. It closed the park in spring 2021 for work on “Phase 1″ improvements, which were to include new restrooms, pavilions, RV sites, roadwork, water access points and trails.

According to information released Tuesday, County Commissioner Connie Hudson will open the park during a brief program at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21. No admission fee will be charged while ongoing construction limits park use.

According to Tuesday’s release, “Visitors will have day-use access to the river and beaches, restrooms and parking, pavilions with picnic tables and grills, as well as some walking trails. Park signage will help guide visitors to the open areas of the park.”

The county describes Phase 1A work as “substantially complete,” including water, sewer and road work, a day use area with beach access, restrooms, parking, eight picnic pavilions, walking trails and an RV campground with restrooms, showers and laundry.

“I’m thrilled to reopen Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground for day use and allow public access to this gem in Mobile County’s park system, which features the beautiful contrast of the blackwater Escatawpa River and its white sand beaches,” Hudson said in Tuesday’s announcement. “We’re excited about the work that’s been completed and look forward to seeing our plans become reality,” she added.

The work has been funded primarily through a $3.5 million state GOMESA grant, using money from oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

The RV campground is expected to open in early 2023. Phase 1B construction, which starts this fall, will add a café, a general store, a Black Water River interpretive center and a playground. Planned Phase 2 projects include rentable cabins and tree houses, a conference center, a disc golf course, more walking and biking trails and rentals for tubing and paddling.

The park will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information email [email protected] or call 251-574-7275.