13 APRIL 2026 tures on the island including a 3000 sq ft snack bar, a pow- er plant, and a 600ʹ boat dock. Peter mortgaged everything he owned in 1970 to rebuild the facilities that were critical to guests’ experience of the island. In 1971, the National Park Service took over the island and established the Gulf Islands National Seashore and added Fort Massachusetts to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Ship Island Excursions at this point was run by Peter and his brother James Noel, their father, Peter Martin, having passed away in 1963. The company became the official concessionaire for Ship Island with a five-year National Park concession permit. Starting in 1976, the family successfully bid on the first 10-year park concession contract and have been servicing the island ever since. Ship Island Excursions, started with Peter Martin’s first wooden boat 100 years ago, has transformed over the years. Louis was able to convince his father in the summer of 1990 to purchase the Spirit of Mt. Vernon, a 100ʹ, 300-pas- senger aluminum vessel that Louis said, “changed our busi- ness.” They named the boat Gulf Islander and eventually obtained a second aluminum boat which they named in honor of the man who started it all, Captain Pete. Gulf Islander and Captain Pete are the company’s two ves- sels to this day. Being a seasonal operation that runs from March through October, Louis acknowledged it can be a tough business and that the replacement cost of one of their vessels is prohibitive, so they do all they can to main- tain their vessels. Louis partly credits this to their Croatian heritage. “If you go to Croatia,” he said, “you’ll notice all the boats are well maintained. They might be living in stone houses, but all their boats are always maintained. We take pride in our vessels.” He said that they were able to repower the vessels in part thanks to PVA. On two occasions, they learned of grant opportunities and how to apply through information PVA shared. He noted that Ed Welch, PVA’s then legislative director and now senior legislative advisor, specifically helped his family out. “We couldn’t have done it on our own,” Louis said. In the 100 years his family has been ferrying passengers to the barrier islands off the coast of Biloxi, they’ve watched the islands transform as well. The fate of the Isle of Ca- price serves as a reminder of how fragile the barrier islands ecosystem is, and the Skrmettas have, unfortunately, wit- nessed similarly frightening effects on Ship Island. When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the coast in 2005, she split the island in two. It was thanks to the Park Ser- vice that it was possible to pump sand back in, making the island whole again. Louis described the sight of the island restored to its original state. “She’s back to seven miles long. Beautiful seven-mile-long Gulf beach and high quality nat- ural white sand and the clear green water that we get 10-12 miles south of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. People love it.” He noted that visitors can see fish swimming alongside the pier as the boat docks, red-wing blackbirds flying up looking for popcorn, as well as stingrays and bat rays in the water. As guests stroll the beach, they’re sometimes treated to the sight of dolphins swimming parallel to the shore, seemingly following them as they hike to the island’s end. Protecting such a special place has been important to Louis and Ship Island Excursions. As National Park Service con- Louis said that they were able to repower the vessels in part thanks to PVA. On two occasions, they learned of grant opportunities and how to apply through information PVA shared. Photos clockwise from top right: Ship Island promo poster from 1955; from left, Caroline Wright who was Miss Queen 1958, Captain Peter Martin, and Mary Ann Mobley who was Miss Mississippi 1958; Pan American circa 1926; founder Captain Peter Martin Skrmetta circa 1950; Pan American Clipper Gulf Park Women’s College charter circa 1958 PHOTOS: SHIP ISLAND EXCURSIONS
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