Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wharf Landing Margaritaville topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Developers pitch Margaritaville resort at The Wharf Landing with public waterfront access; amenities to open by 2027
Summary
Developers and The Wharf owner Art Favre presented a master plan for a Margaritaville-branded full-service resort at the old Bama Bayou site across the Intracoastal. The plan includes a public Waterfront District, a 6-acre Amenity District with day passes, and residential cottages; groundbreaking is planned for 2025.
Developers behind The Wharf presented a detailed master plan for “The Wharf Landing,” a Margaritaville-branded full-service resort to be built across the Intracoastal from The Wharf in Orange Beach.
At a town hall, Brian Chambers of Design Workshop described the project as a “legacy” development emphasizing hospitality, music, recreation and a connection to the wetlands and intercoastal. “We are proud to have the opportunity to share with you our creation of a beautiful destination resort complex at the Gateway to Orange Beach, Alabama,” Chambers said.
The master plan divides the site into districts. The Waterfront District is described as the social heart with a broad promenade, active storefronts and transient boat docking; the team said waterfront parking and the promenade will be open to the public. The Amenity District will be a roughly 6-acre water-park–style area with slide towers, a lazy river, family pools, restaurants and entertainment. The presenter said the Amenity District will offer day passes “subject to resort capacity,” while priority parking and access would go to resort guests.
On residential uses, the presenters said cottages, bungalows and villas are intended as for-sale real estate. Unit-size ranges provided during questions included bungalows around 850 square feet, condos from roughly 700 to 2,500 square feet and single-family villas from about 4,000 to 4,500 square feet. The presenters also said residential units enrolled in the Margaritaville-managed rental program would be available to rent through that program if owners choose to participate.
Developers said marina operations will be permitted through the Army Corps of Engineers; design features include a single-point entry and wave attenuators to regulate boat traffic and improve safety. On the question of medical services, the presenter said there will be no on-site medical facility but that the resort will be staffed 24/7 with emergency response available; the mayor noted nearby Station 3 typically responds in three minutes.
Chambers said the team plans to break ground in 2025 and to complete the Waterfront and Amenity districts by 2027. The project team named Design Workshop, Premier Development Group and consultants including Fifth Dimension, Sawgrass and McBride among partners on planning, architecture and Margaritaville interior design.
Residents asked about parking, ferry and golf-cart connectivity. The presenter said the Waterfront District will have ample public parking; golf carts will not be permitted to cross a state bridge, and the plan includes daily ferry service between The Wharf and the new Margaritaville-side docks. On high-demand holidays the presenters acknowledged access could be limited by capacity and parking availability.
The presentation closed with the development team inviting more questions and promising to meet with residents and city staff on specifics of phases, traffic and operations.
