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by Pam Gronberg
Summer is here and plans to cram as many of the good things that mean summer into the weeks ahead are already in the making.
Before the calendar is filled, consider that there's a stop just down the road ready to take on all comers -- at Buccaneer Sfite Park.
Located at the western boundary of Waveland, on the beach, Buccaneer is a young member of the State Park system, formally opened only last year.
History laid hand to the land long before it became a park, however, linking it with the name Andrew Jackson and the War of 1812.
British war ships patrolled off shore in this area in an attempt to spot and cut-off the United States army from reaching New Orleans. Jackson, meanwhile, was moving his troops to the west, but several miles inland to avoid detection - - through virgin pine forest they moved men and heavy machinery, having to literally cut their own road.
It was in the area of where Buccaneer Park now lies Jackson left a detachment of troops under General Nixon's command. Their orders were to defend the coastal area should the British land, in effect to serve as decoys. It is told they built fires visible to the British, whose ships cruised just off-shore, to give the impression the bulk of Jackson’s army was camped there.
Whatever the legend, the army did evade their pursuers and reached Pearlington where men, heavy artillery and equipment were loaded onto boats, taken by inland waters into Louisiana and on to fight the Battle of New Orleans.
Not long after the war ended, Andrew returned to the Mississippi Coast and had built a house. The site offered an especially fine view to the Gulf, and long after the house itself had burned the spot was referred to as Jackson Ridge, row a part of park lands.
Passed from ownership by Hancock County to the City of Waveland, the area Of Buccaneer Pafk was finally leased to the Mississippi Pa* Commission. A mighty transformation, later the-part* was dedicated in March, 1976.
FACILITIES
There are 104 campsites at Buccaneer, all with water and electricity hook-ups (84 of that number also have sewer hook-ups for more sophisticated camping vehicles).
Those out to rough-it in a tent can claim a camp spot for $3.75 for one night. Comfort stations situated in campsite areas offer shower and toilet facilities.
As the amount of self-contained camper comfort increases, so does the fee for a campsite. At $4, electrcity and water hook-ups become available to those with pop-up campers and vans. Recreational vehicles requiring sewerage hook-ups will pay $4.50 for a one-day stay.
(One overnight fee also covers use of the park's recreational facilities.)
Buccaneer Park offers swimmers their choice of either a stroll to the Gulf waters and white sand, or the convenience of a centrally located pool inside the park. Only five feet at its deepest part, this is not a pool for olympian divers, but offers anyone else an opportunity to cool off.
A night-lighted basketball court and two regulation tennis courts are located in the pool area, as is a spacious recreation building where ping pong, pinball, foosball and a jukebox provide the beginnings for rainy day activity.
There's a camp store next to the recreation room which stocks an amazing number of ran-out-of and forgot-to-pack items including soap and bleach for using the laundry room next door.
Not everything <s designed for over-oiftbt-campers. There are three pavilions located outside the ranger house that have covered picnic areea, water and toilet facilities.’ These are available on a first-come first-served basis, but can also be reserved by speGial groups for a $15 fee.
A check with the park ranger last w«ek showed his book with reservations made for_ several date® through mid-Juty - - by everyone from <5W ScciUt? and garden clubs to family reunions and a CB dub.
Information on all the Mississippi State Parks is contained in a brochure published by the Mississippi Park Commission. It is available by writing to- the Park Commission at 717 Robert E. Lee Building, Jackson.Ms. 3920T.