Logtown

Logtown is a popular site along Audubon’s Coastal Birding Trail, where 185 bird species, more than 40% of the known species in the state, have been recorded. Endangered and at-risk species such as gopher tortoise, ringed map turtle, swallow-tailed kite, black pine snake, and other species have been recorded here.

Today, the habitat at Logtown consists of a mosaic of wetlands and mixed pine-hardwoods, freshwater marsh, and maritime live oak hammocks. Wildlife Mississippi plans to restore native longleaf pine savannas to 50% of the site, using prescribed fire and other methods.

Logtown is the site of the old H. Weston Mill, the largest sawmill in the world in the early 1900s. Footings of buildings and the mill are still visible. The adjacent Logtown cemetery is a National Historic Landmark. Its rich cultural history, adjacency to other protected areas, and public trail access make it an excellent candidate for eco-tourism and a demonstration area for restoring and managing native longleaf pine ecosystems.

The site also borders NASA’s Infinity Science Center, an interpretive center and museum featuring space and environmental science exhibits and programs operated by the agency’s Stennis Space Center. It is also adjacent to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ 21,000-acre Hancock County Marsh Coastal Preserve and a site where U.S. Navy Seals conduct training in riverine warfare.