Record Crowds Could Come To Beach

If you are still looking for a condo or hotel room in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, you may be out of luck.

Many are booked solid.

Kim Chapman with Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism said, "We surveyed our industry partners earlier this week, and we saw a 90 to 100 percent occupancy rate forecast for this July 4th weekend."

Tourism officials in Baldwin County said occupancy rates are on a pace to set new records,

Chapman said, "2007 was our best year, and we are seeing some outstanding numbers come in this year. We are crossing our fingers, and continuing to work hard and, hopefully, we will match, or maybe, beat them."

Tourism officials said most of the visitors are from the south and midwest.

Brian and Jen Bovermann and their four children drove in from Dallas, Texas.

When asked what he thought of the beach this year, Brian Bovermann said, "Oh, its beautiful."

Jen Bovermann said, "We came last year. There wasn't any oil. It was beautiful last year, so, we definitely wanted to come back this year."

Priscilla Rachal came from north Louisiana.

When asked if she was concerned there might be oil on the beach this year, Rachal said, "No concerns whatsoever."

Helen Varner and Ashley Sparks are college friends who met up in Jackson, Mississippi, and drove down to Gulf Shores.

Sparks said, "I was here last year, too, and its beautiful now."

It seems the days of building castles in the sand are back.