City of Orange Beach approves development agreement for $300 million project for long dormant Bama Bayou property

 Orange Beach City Council has approved a development agreement with a private developer for the redevelopment of the abandoned and partially completed Bama Bayou.
Austin, Texas-based Presidium is the private developer that has been performing due diligence on the project for the past 12 months, and its affiliate, PG Investco, LLC, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Orange Beach on May 30, 2018.
Following a presentation by Presidium, which outlined its current development plans and a potential renaming and rebranding of the development, the City Council heard public opinion and held a discussion and then voted unanimously to enter into the Development Agreement.
Councilman Jeff Boyd did not attend the City Council meeting and has not been involved in any of the deliberations or presentations because his brother, Jimmy Boyd, has been involved in the development since 2008.
According to Mayor Tony Kennon, “This project has the potential to be an outstanding development along the Gulf Coast and we are excited that Presidium has stepped up to revitalize and bring life to a piece of property which has been an eyesore at the gateway to our community.”
At the City Council meeting, the developer informed the City that it proposes to acquire the entire 147-acre site for the purpose of constructing a large-scale, mixed-use development, in two or more phases, including multiple hotels, convention center, water park, aquarium, interactive marine mammal experience, edutainment attractions (such as animal rescue and rehabilitation facilities), wetland trails and education assets, as well as related infrastructure required for such attractions.
“People no longer just want a room to stay in. They want an entire vacation experience including edutainment, dining, shopping and entertainment in one seamless destination,” said John Griggs, Co-CEO for Presidium.
“We are offering the complete package. Think of this resort as a skybox overlooking the very best the Gulf Coast has to offer,” added Griggs.
According to Presidium, it has assembled a world-class team of professionals, engineers, contractors, operators and designers for the entire project. These operators and co-develo ment partners have been secured for all asset classes including the water park, aquarium, marine mammal interactive experience, hospitality, restaurants and family entertainment center.
Stifel Nicholaus and Wrathell Hunt have both been engaged to oversee the underwriting and investment banking for the entire project. Joining the Presidium development team are local professionals such as Jimmy Boyd, Craig Johnson and Scott Raley.
“We have been involved with this project since the beginning, and over the years, we have seen many chapters with many emotions.
The most important chapter: however, is the one which we are about to write. We are honored and excited to see this through to completion,” said Jimmy Boyd.
Locateed just off the Foley Beach Expressway on the north side of the Intracoastal Warterway Bridge, on roughly 147-acres, the $300 million dollar project located on the Intracoastal Waterway, recreates the charm and legacy of an old coastal village, blending the historical past with every resort amenity imaginable.
Upon completion, the development is expected to offer up to 1,100 hospitality units, a water experience park that is expected to rank among the top water parks in North America, an aquarium and marine mammal experience of a lifetime and the largest private convention center in the area.
Guests arriving to Bama Bayou will park once and then enjoy a wide range of unique experiences all from within the resort boundaries and all conveniently connected by a trolley system.
The Bama Bayou Resort and Convention Center is expected to feature 453 units and a 68,000 square foot convention center – the largest private meeting facility on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Planned amenities include valet parking, concierge services, a world-class spa, fitness center and a pool.
The Marina Village, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, is expected to include eclectic shops, colorful waterside cafes and restaurants featuring Southern specialties and fresh seafood.
Commitments from local favorites include two restaurant and bar venues overlooking the intracoastal and marina waterways.
The Amphitheatre in the heart of Marina Village will provide a variety of nightlife and entertainment opportunities. From the Marina, visitors will be able to enjoy various water activities including fishing expeditions and waterway cruises.
The Marina Village Resort includes two condominium developments overlooking the snorkel lagoon and marina. This 220-unit resort features executive meeting space, access to the spa, fitness center, golf course, resort pool, concierge services, snorkel lagoon and shuttles to and from the beach.
Visitors will experience the Scenic Wetlands of the Gulf Coast as they stroll through the planned 35-acre Nature Walk. This setting is filled with migratory and native birds, butterflies, turtles and indigenous flowers and trees.
Visit the Orange Beach Wildlife Rehabilitation exhibit for some of the best edutainment interactivity offered on the Gulf Coast.
Explore the tropical paradise at Gulf World Marine Park where lush landscaping, wooden boardwalks, rocks and waterfalls are the background for this renowned sea life experience. Take a journey around the world and see exotic and marine animals in their natural habitats.
Watch live performance with dolphins, sea lions and tropical birds. For the ultimate adventure, swim with dolphins, sea lions and harbor seals!
Stay in the Gulf World’s Paradise Resort which will feature 24 units overlooking the Gulf World\ Marine Park. Upon completion, this will be the only Resort in the country located inside a marine park.
Swim in the Bama Bayou Snorkeling Lagoon and explore the wonders of a tropical paradise where edutainment meets the water. Swim and snorkel with thousands of tropical fish through this stunning coral reef habitat. Surprises abound as families can seek discoveries along the water’s edge or play hide-and-seek with thousands of beautiful fish, from small colorful angelfish to velvety rays.
Further out in the reef, stunning habitats create the feeling of swimming right alongside sharp-toothed reef sharks. You can even take paths and bridges to the reef’s islands and hidden grottos and cabanas as they delve into the reef from above, around and below.
Experience the thrill of the Bama Beach Water Park, which is expected to rank among the top water parks in the nation, and will combine the beauty of local waterways and wetlands with the adventurous spirit of world-class water slides, a massive wave pool and an enormous lazy river.
In addition to the traditional wave pool and water slides (Bama Beach will feature both serpentine and speed slides), there are a number of other elements the guest will find to enjoy. These include “activity pools,” some limited to adults only and some limited to children only, a large family raft ride and a lazy river. Additionally, the water park will incorporate modern, state-of-the-art audio and visual effects into certain water slides to enhance the rider experience.
The lazy river will serve as both a ride, as well as a means of transportation from one attraction to another, and will have lush landscaping and trees surrounding it and several opportunities for guests to enter and exit when they choose.
Presidium was founded in 2003 by Cross Moceri and John Griggs. Presidium has grown its organization to over 350 team members and over 75 assets under its control.
Aquatic Development Group (ADG) is a respected name in waterpark design and construction, as well as aquatic equipment manufacturing.