End of Tolls on Beach Express Bridge Coming Soon Updated with Governor Kay Ivy's Press Release below. --------------------------------------------------- Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The Beach Express toll bridge, the main artery between Foley and Orange Beach, has recently been the subject of sale discussions with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The bridge currently owned by the Baldwin County Bridge Company (BCBC), a subsidiary of American Roads LLC, serves as a significant route connecting Pleasure Island to the Alabama mainland, providing an alternative to the State R ..read more

Music Meets Movies in Foley Foley, Ala. – ( OBA ) – Residents of Foley and its surrounding areas are in for a treat this spring with the kick-off of the highly anticipated "Music and a Movie" series. The city will transform its open spaces into a hub of cultural festivity on select Fridays, starting this week and continuing through the end of May. The series begins with the Jason Abel Project setting the musical scene on April 19, alongside an interactive balloon artist for added family fun. As night falls, the evening will transition to a screening of the new "Wonka" movie. Continuing the ..read more

The nomination is for "Outdoor Venue of the Year" Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores and Orange Beach residents as well as visitors have enjoyed  The Wharf Amphitheater's  entertainment and facilities for the past two decades. The concert venue has brought in Grammy Award winning singers from various genres, comedians and has been the host of many graduations for local schools. The Academy of Country Music Awards has nominated The Wharf Amphitheater for  Outdoor Venue Of The Year . The 10,000-seat open-air venue that serves as the backdrop for dozens of top performers ..read more

Backcountry Trail in Alabama Wins National Recognition, Again Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail has been named the best recreational trail in the country for the second year in a row, according to the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. (Source: USA Today) The 29-mile trail system, located within Gulf State Park, features paved and unpaved paths that provide access to diverse ecosystems and outdoor activities like biking, hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, and camping. "We are extremely proud the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail was awarded th ..read more

Celebrating Culture, Music and Crawfish Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – Every April 17, the Gulf Coast celebrates National Crawfish Day. This festive day is dedicated to the humble crawfish, a staple in Southern cuisine and a cultural icon in coastal communities. Crawfish, also known as crayfish, crawdads, or mudbugs, are not just delicious treats; they are a reason for gathering and celebration. The festivities typically center around the crawfish boil, a social event that combines cooking and community. A typical boil includes pounds of live crawfish boiled in large pots with potatoes, cor ..read more

Gulf Shores Approves $3.5M for Highway Expansion Project Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores is making moves to start on phase two of the project adding a third southbound lane on State Route 59.   Phase two of the project will be adding the lane from Cypress Bend Drive or the Target intersection to just north of County Road 6. To make this happen water and sewer mains will have to be moved from West 34th Avenue to County Road six. The portion from Cypress Bend Drive south to Fort Morgan Road has already been bid out.   Gulf Shores Utilities will bid out this phase and the city ..read more

Swimming Can Resume at Pirate’s Cove Following Health Department Clearance Elberta, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The Alabama Department of Public Health has announced the lifting of the swimming advisories for Arnica Bay at Pirate's Cove, effective immediately. Issued on April 11, 2024, the advisories were a precautionary measure due to elevated levels of enterococci bacteria, which have now significantly dropped below the safety thresholds established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Following extensive testing and water quality assessments by the Alabama Department of Environmental Manage ..read more

Alabama State Parks Invest $8.8 Million in Gulf State Park Upgrades Gulf Shores, Ala. – ( OBA ) – Gulf State Park has unveiled 20 new lakeside cabins after a major renovation project. The $8.8 million project replaced 17 damaged cabins with modern accommodations on the north shore of Lake Shelby. The cabins can host up to 8 guests each and feature amenities like kitchens, laundry rooms, and screened patios. Two of the cabins are also fully accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act. "This is a special day because we're finally open for business again at the Lakeside Cabins," said ..read more

New Fire Chief, Licenses on City Council Docket Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The Orange Beach City Council is set to convene for a joint regular and work session on April 16 in the council chambers at city hall, where numinous significant issues are on the agenda. Key topics include reviewing the toll bridge revenue, appointing a new fire chief, approving various licenses and permits, and considering major expenditures for city infrastructure and services.  The council will also address several public hearings and ordinance changes, reflecting a busy schedule aimed at enhancing communi ..read more

Orange Beach Adds Third Pre-K Class Due to Demand Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – Orange Beach City Schools (OBCS) is just announced the expansion of its early education program, adding another prekindergarten class for the 2024-2025 school year in response to overwhelming demand in the community for prekindergarten education. After receiving two prekindergarten units from the Office of School Readiness (OSR), limited to accommodating 36 students, OBCS experienced a substantial overflow of interest, with over 60 pre-registered students. Recognizing the critical role of early education in a c ..read more