The Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area introduces Gulf Coast Outpost, a business recognition program for nature-based tourism business owners and operators. The Gulf Coast Outpost business recognition program was part of the 2016 Nature-Based Tourism Plan for Coastal Mississippi. It was developed for the Heritage Area by stakeholders in the industry.

This voluntary program recognizes those businesses who are knowledgeable about the coast’s natural environment and take steps to protect it by fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

Workshops are held to actively prepare business owners and operators using a checklist that focuses on training, sustainability and stewardship. The program is aimed at those companies whose primary business is dependent on the natural environment in Mississippi’s six coastal counties. This includes eco tours, locally owned outfitters, charter boat operators, tour guides, eco-lodges and agritourism entities.

The Gulf Coast Outpost Businesses include:

• • Backhouse Garden in Carriere: https://www.facebook.com/p/Backhouse-Garden-LLC-61559733694846/
  • Biloxi Shrimping Trip in Biloxi:  http://www.biloxishrimpingtrip.com/
  • Coastal Ridge Farms in Picayune: http://www.coastalridgefarm.com/
  • Eco-Tours of South Mississippi in Gautier: http://ecotoursofsouthmississippi.com/
  • Fisher-man Guide Service in Pass Christian: https://msfisherman.com/
  • Food, Booze, & Hiccups in Ocean Springs:  https://www.fbhos.com/
  • Gulf Coast Eco Tours: https://gulfcoastecotour.com/
  • Harbor Garden House in Ocean Springs: http://www.harborgardenhouse.com/
  • Indian Point RV Resort in Gautier:  https://www.facebook.com/indianpointrv/
  • Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport: http://www.lmdc.org
  • Mystic Charters in Ocean Springs: https://mysticchartersms.com/
  • North Star Sailing Charters in Gulfport:  https://www.northstarsailingcharters.com/
  • Old Standard Craftsmanship in Bay St. Louis: https://m.facebook.com/p/Old-Standard-Craftsmanship-100078059607268/
  • Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Pascagoula: https://pascagoula.audubon.org/
  • Presley’s Outing in Moss Point: http://www.presleysouting.com/
  • Shore Thing Charters in Waveland/Bay St. Louis: http://www.shorethingcharters.com
  • The Bird House in Ocean Springs:  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/22290669?source_impression_id=p3_1656001593_Hy8BD1Hw0xJyIGNr
  • The Crosby Arboretum in Picayune: https://crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu/
  • The Friends of Arts, Culture, and Education: https://www.thefriendsoface.org/
  • Twisted Run Retreat in Vancleave: https://www.twistedrunretreat.com/
  • Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs: https://www.walterandersonmuseum.org/
  • Wild At Heart in Vancleave: https://www.facebook.com/WildatHeartRescue/

Benefits of the program include access to a resource toolkit, marketing opportunities, and eligibility to apply for the MGCNHA Heritage Community Grants program. The Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area is a program of the National Park Service and is managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.