Riverwalk in Orange Beach is now Bama Bayou. The facility will be expanded by nearly 400%. There will now be approximately 1100 condo units instead of the originally planned 300.
In addition the facility is being recast as a much larger convention center. The originally planned 20,000 square feet of convention space has now been expanded to a 68,000 square foot convention center.
Also built into the expansion is one of the nation's largest and most elaborate water parks. The park will rank in the top 15 nationally and will offer live performances by dolphins, sea lions and tropical birds, and even the opportunity for guests to swim with the dolphins.
Strong winds and thunderstorms with gusts estimated at 60 mph moved southwest across Baldwin County on Friday, forcing officials to evacuate Gulf State Park, temporarily housing people in the park's bathhouses, said Hugh Branyon, park superintendent.
After hearing police reports of a tornado touching down near Alabama 59 at 2:25 p.m., Branyon called the evacuation.
"We tried to notify everyone we could to go to the nearest bathhouse," he said. "We had begun evacuating the golf course because of the thunder and lightning already in the area."
The initial reports of a tornado were incorrect, and it was more likely a strong updraft, said Gulf Shores police officials. The National Weather Service acknowledged hearing that a tornado had been seen in the beach city, but forecasters could not confirm those reports.
Mobile Bay's annual Independence Day celebration and fireworks presentation will be held at the USS ALABAMA Battleship Park on Tuesday, July 4th.
Each year the Press-Register and the City of Mobile celebrate the birth of our nation with a grand fireworks display. The 2006 event will be a celebration of community featuring new events, entertainment and a thrilling 30-minute fireworks presentation.
Festivities will begin at 6pm featuring a presentation by Operation Home Front, a program of Volunteers of America. Murphy High School Band will begin at 7:00pm with a salute to music and will also accompany the fireworks presentations beginning at 9pm.
In a follow up to the previous story about how Gulf Shores area vacation destinations are open for business, the Mobile Register elaborates on the $1 million promotion jointly funded by the Southeast Tourism Society and the United States Department of Commerce.
The belief is that last year's storms have led to a widespread belief that Alabama's Gulf Coast - Gulf Shores and Orange Beach primarily - were damaged and remain out of commission.
Gulf Shores area vacationers are delighted to learn the value of their vacation dollar. They are finding the Alabama Gulf Coast running at full speed, but at less capacity than normal.
Presales begin this week on the 21-unit Nautical Pointe off Dauphin Island Parkway on Mobile Bay adjacent to Mobile Yacht Club, according to one of the developers, Fred Straub of Clear Image Construction. The two-, three- and five-bedroom units range from $218,000 to more than $700,000. The units include views of the bay and Dog River. Construction should start later this summer. Amenities include a lap pool, fitness center, covered parking and boat slip.
Presales have begun on 105 units in the first tower at Bel Air Towers at Mariner Lakes, off Loop Road in Orange Beach, according to David Abel of the Broadmoor Group, the project developers. The property is north of Bruno's Shopping Center and has deeded beach access.
The 20-story tower will have 16 floors of residential units and four floors for parking. The one-bedroom, two-bath units are priced at $399,900 and include a media room. The two-bedroom, two-bath units with media rooms range from $459,900 to $489,900.
The amenities include an indoor heated pool, outdoor pool, fitness center, tennis courts and clubhouse.
There will be four towers with a total of 480 units when the project is complete.