Gulfport, Mississippi - S.S. Hurricane Camille - Gone

It is with great sadness that I report the demise of the decades-old Gulfport, Mississippi landmark, the S.S. Hurricane Camille. A crowd gathered for the demolishing, including owner Lucille Moody and Vanessa Clarke, who worked in the adjoining souvenir shop (pre-Hurricane Katrina) for years. [Carl McCaskey, 05/07/2008]

The old tugboat is still there, but it may not be for long. The owner, Lucille Moody, has no intention of fixing the boat or rebuilding the gift shop that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In fact, the property is for sale and keeping the Camille is not part of the deal. So new owners could (and probably will) bulldoze her.

The 80-foot tug was originally the "Ease Point," and was pushed ashore by Hurricane Camille in August of 1969. She came to rest some 200+ feet inland on property owned by Lucille Moody's parents. The family noticed curious crowds would gather to take pictures after the storm and because it was a natural attraction for tourists and locals, the Moodys bought the boat and changed the name. Railroad tracks were built to scoot the vessel more than 200 feet south to where it sits today. Moody opened a tiny gift shop near the stern in 1970. [Tom Colt, 04/20/2007]

The S.S. Camille is still standing, although quite battered from Hurricane Katrina. The gift shop, however, was completely washed away by the tidal surge, leaving behind only the slab upon which it rested. [Carl McCaskey, 06/27/2006]

The Hurricane Camille Gift Shop located on Hwy 90 in Gulfport Ms. was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on 29 Aug 2005. The ship in front of the store is still there but the wheelhouse is a little cockeyed. Most everything else on the coast is gone, too. [Joe Thornburgh, 10/13/2005]

The S.S. Hurricane Camille and the gift shop are still there -- not destroyed by 2004's hurricanes. We came upon Camille on a road trip from Santa Monica, California to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was October, 2004, but the store was still open and we made a purchase there. [Ann and Reggie, 02/02/2005]