Kayak Day Trip on Old Fort Bayou

We had a great day on Sunday, April 25th, kayaking on Old Fort Bayou! We launched from the Shed BBQ shortly past noon, with many folks in kayaks provided by Everything Kayak. We started paddling upstream as a large group, then broke into smaller groups as we found our own pace.

We had litter grabbers and many of us picked up trash as we encountered it along the banks of the bayou. We saw a turtle, some fish and birds and butterflies. We encountered many friendly boaters, all of whom were considerate, who were enjoying the day in their own ways - out with friends or family, fishing, playing on the shore, enjoying the beautiful weather.

Several of our group were using pedal kayaks, and they seemed really fun and being hands free, would be an ideal option for people interested in fishing or photography. We stayed on the water until about 4:30, when we piled into the Shed BBQ to enjoy some pulled pork sandwiches and other delicious food and drink. We hope you will join us next time!

Riley Road

The Land Trust owns a 43.3-acre property behind a residential settlement in Ocean Springs, which includes a walking trail and small pond which drains into Davis Bayou.

This property is in very close proximity to the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Refuge and contains suitable habitat and hunting grounds for the critically endangered species.

Logtown Blueway & Possum Walk

The historic site of Logtown on Bayou Bogue Homa provides wonderful recreational opportunities! The Land Trust is proud to have been a part of establishing the recreational access here.

After the Weston Mill closed in 1930, the population of both Logtown and the Point (the African-American community located across the bayou from Logtown) steadily declined. However, the residents who stayed enjoyed Sunday church picnics, bought supplies at Forest and Eldora Summers' general store, fished, hunted turkey and wild boar, went to Moultrie's Tavern in the Point, and had parties known as "come-overs." And, according to local lore, moonshine brewing was common until the end of Prohibition! The Point had its own cemetery, which lies northeast of the Logtown cemetery, between the forks of the Bogue Homa. When NASA announced plans to build Stennis Space Center in 1961, the process of relocating residents living within the acoustic buffer zone began, and Logtown and the Point were soon no more.

Today, there is a kayak launch to help you get your boat into the water safely. The bayou connects with the Pearl River, which is the boundary between Mississippi and Louisiana, a few hundred feet to the west. Stay to the east to enjoy a lazy paddle in the freshwater swamp, or connect up to the river and enjoy as much adventure as you have the energy for!

The Possum Walk Heritage Trail is also accessible here. It is a 3.1-mile “there-and-back” trail that moves hikers from the historic site of Logtown to the Stennis Space Center’s Visitor’s facility. A beautiful bridge spans Bayou Bogue Homa, then boardwalks lead hikers through pine woods and swamps. The trail opened on August 14, 2013 to hiking and cycling.

Follow directions to Logtown on your phone; the trailhead is just a little further than the historic cemetery.

Henderson Point

The Henderson Point property was generously donated to the Land Trust in December 2002. The ecology of the landscape in South Mississippi reveals a great secret that not many know: everything is connected. Our habitats transition gracefully into another, mostly driven by elevation change and how water moves through the system. At Henderson Point, a mixed pine/hardwood forest hides smaller habitats such as freshwater marsh. The forest grades into a (slightly) brackish marsh that is subject to tidal flow but does not get much salt water except during extremely high tides. Not far north of Henderson Point, Mallini Bayou weaves in and out of the area transferring brackish water from St. Louis Bay. To the south lies Hwy 90 and the Harrison County Beach, separating Henderson Point from the Mississippi Sound.

The Land Trust established a half-mile loop called the Enchanted Nature Trail on the property, which overlooks the marsh and features some animal wood carvings. However, the facilities along the trail have sadly been vandalized or stolen, including the signs featured above, and Hurricane Zeta caused trees to be downed and debris to be spread on the trail.

We are thrilled that this property has been chosen to be supported by the MEMBERS of Coast Electric through Operation Round Up and their Community Trust, in partnership with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which is enabling us to fix some of the existing boardwalks and install some new ones this spring! Thank you!

The property is located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and Fort Henry Road in Pass Christian. Turn North onto Fort Henry Road from U.S. Highway 90 take your first left into the parking area.

Twelve Oaks

Have you been to Twelve Oaks? Do you know about its storied history that dates back to before the Civil War? The property had been purchased from the U.S. Government by Edgar James in 1860, who then sold it to Johanna Smith-Blount (one of his former slaves) for $10 In July 1880. She sold a portion of the property in 1884 to the African Methodist Episcopal Church for use as a campground and church. Many baptisms occurred in the waters of adjacent Old Fort Bayou during their ownership. When her former owner’s wife needed help after her husband had passed and left her with little, Johanna took her in, where she lived for the remainder of her life. Johanna left the property to her several children, but none built homes.

In 1910, Frank G. Hanley bought up the parcels, putting the property back together as a whole. Elizabeth Logan purchased the property from Frank’s heirs in 1954. She was was a prominent member of the local garden club and founder of the “Societe des Arbres”. Elizabeth quickly registered two of the large oak trees in the front yard as national treasures under the names Faith and Charity as a nod to the property’s religious history. She planted azaleas, hydrangeas, jonquils, and lilies on the property, which became known locally as a “miniature Bellingrath”, in reference to the glorious public gardens at the Bellingrath estate in nearby Alabama (https://bellingrath.org).

Visitors can expect to be greeted by a stunning canopy of live oak trees that few photos can do justice to. A short half-mile loop trail winds through the remnants of Mrs. Logan’s garden, diverse bayhead swamps, and provides a scenic vista of Old Fort Bayou.

Twelve Oaks is located at 1112 Hanley Road in Ocean Springs. After turning north onto Hanley Road from Bienville Boulevard, turn left onto the gravel driveway where the paved road ends. Park outside the gate and walk in! There is a trailhead at the gate, or you can just walk down the driveway.

Weeks Bayou

Weeks Bayou is one of the hidden scenic and ecological gems of Ocean Springs Mississippi. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the region, the Land Trust purchased this former home site and restored it to 13,000 square feet of tidally influenced estuarine marsh. A 4’ high retaining wall was removed and the site was regraded to be a tidal flat with an adjacent upland slope.

Working with volunteers from CDC Climb’s AmeriCorps program, the Land Trust then planted native marsh grasses and trees. The material from the former retaining wall was recycled for use as a platform for an outdoor classroom which is utilized by the University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Education Center as they educate students on the importance of conserving the Gulf Coast’s marine estuaries. Visitors to the site will enjoy two scenic overlooks on Weeks Bayou as they travel along the short trail.