Young’s Hideaway dedicated in honor of Cecil and Jessie Young

Young’s Hideaway dedicated in honor of Cecil and Jessie Young

Officials and members of the community gathered on April 24 to dedicate Young’s Hideaway glamping site, located next to the Rosemary Dunes trailhead on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, in honor of of Cecil and Jessie Young. The 10 new glamping sites available for visitors to enjoy on the city’s west end by the beach along the Backcountry Trail were sponsored by the Young Family Foundation.
O.B. Mayor Tony Kennon thanked Coastal Resources Director Phillip West for spearheading the project with the Young family and Gulf State Park. The Mayor said he remembered camping in Orange Beach in the 60s and 70s. “Campfire, hot dogs, marshmallows, baloney sandwiches, I mean it was as good as it gets,” Mayor Kennon said, “so to me this is as close to that as you can get and experience those good old days.”
Heather Adams of Timberline Glamping said a single phone call in October 2023 charted a new course for her family. In just a few short months, they moved from Texas to Orange Beach and, never looking back, “poured their hearts into the property” to create a unique glamping experience.
“On behalf of my sister Debra and my two brothers, David and Mark, I just want to thank Mayor Kennon and the City Council for naming the glamping site after my parents,” said Cecil’s son, Tom. “My mother, especially, has a long history in Orange Beach. Her family, when she was young, came here during the 40s during the war years. And I can remember stories about the military patrolling along the beach and when they stayed here they had to have blackout curtains to make sure there was no light.
“They have lived across the street from what is now the glamping site for more than 30 years and entertained and fed thousands of friends, family and strangers. My mom was a wonderful cook and she still is,” Tom Young said. “And if you know my dad, he loves talking to everybody. My parents love that house and that place so much that they rebuilt it twice. My parents have such a love for this area. As many of you know, my dad is 96, my mom is 93. They’ve had many, many years of happiness here and they have provided so much love to their children, their grandchildren, their great grandchildren but they especially, they remind me, they gave us a sense of their love for this area, Orange Beach and the whole Alabama Gulf Coast.”
Cecil, never shy for words, took his opportunity to close out the ceremony. He said his wife, Jessie, started visiting Orange Beach when she was 12 years old.
“The one person who loves this area more than anyone in the world, my wife,” Cecil said. “All she wanted in her life since we were first married, she wanted a home here.”
He said they were very fortunate to build their house and have lived a great life here. He added that he hoped that people for many years” enjoy it as much as they have at the new glamping site, named in their honor.
Of the 10 glamping tent sites at Young’s Hideaway, five offer a king bed and two bunk beds, and the other half offer two queen beds. Each site includes a spacious, fully furnished safari tent with its own en-suite bathroom, a mini fridge, heating and air conditioning, electrical outlets, and a coffee maker. An FAQ page on the Timberline Glamping Company website answers most, if not all, questions at orangebeach.tlglamping.com, or call 251-219-0234.
Pictured: Cecil and Jessie Young cand their family cut the ribbon to officially open Young’s Hideaway, named in their honor.