Land is already moving in Foley, Alabama, in preparation for “Owa,” a 520-acre entertainment, shopping and dining resort that will feature a theme park. It’s scheduled to open in the summer of 2017.
The development’s name, Owa, means “big water” in the Muscogee Creek language.
Last Wednesday, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians unveiled plans for its “first-class, family-friendly tourist destination” currently under construction near southern Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
The “big water” refers to the 14-acre lake at the center of the unique project that, in addition to the theme park, will include a 150-room Marriott Town Place Suites hotel along with a wide variety of dining and shopping options.
Stephanie A. Bryan, Poarch Creek’s Tribal chair and CEO said:
As a Tribe, we have worked hard to ensure that our businesses bring revenue and jobs into the State and add to the quality of life in the rural communities where they are located. Owa is being built in this tradition, and we are very excited to be both neighbors and partners with the City of Foley in bringing economic development to this area.
Owa is adjacent to Foley’s $40 million sports and special events complex that will open in the summer of 2017.
“For every visitor, Owa will provide a top-notch experience,” said Tim Martin, President of Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority, the Tribe’s business entity charged with developing the property.
“It is an added benefit that families who come to Foley for sporting events will also have all of Owa’s offerings available to them. We believe that this is a winning combination that will have families coming back to Alabama for years to come.”
Owa is expected to bring in an additional 1 million visitors annually to the 6.2 million who already visit the area each year.
According to the Tribe, Owa’s design celebrates its rural roots with a small Southern town theme that features distinct areas such as the Warehouse District, Downtown District, and Amusement Park.
The theme park will offer two roller coasters, one of which appears to be a clone of Zamperla’s “Thunderbolt” that opened in 2014 at Luna Park in New York:
Footings for the coaster are already taking shape:
https://twitter.com/JohnyUpsidedown/status/794217913964261376
Phase One of Owa, which includes the 150-room hotel, retail and dining spaces, amusement park and lake, will open Summer 2017.
Future plans call for a water park, additional hotels, a condominium complex and a resort-level RV park. When complete, total investment in the development will top $500 million.
See a fly-through video of the Owa resort below:
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