Margaritaville Resort Breaks Ground At The Wharf
Ken Cooper • May 15, 2025
News resort breaks ground at the Wharf
A new development is finally taking the place of the old 'Bama Bayou' project. A large crowd gathered this week in Orange Beach to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the Margaritaville Resort at The Wharf. The event marked the beginning of a project expected to bring fun, jobs, and lasting impact to the Alabama Gulf Coast.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place Wednesday, and brought together city officials, community leaders, state tourism representatives, and Margaritaville executives. Many praised the teamwork and vision behind the project, calling it a milestone moment for the Orange Beach Community.
Speakers emphasized the resort’s strong local partnerships, especially with the City of Orange Beach, Baldwin County, the State of Alabama, and The Wharf. The project is backed by private developers and Margaritaville Holdings and is expected to create more than 350 jobs.
The Margaritaville Resort will feature a wide range of family-friendly amenities. These include a seven-acre amenity deck with lazy rivers, water slides, multiple pools, and a kids’ splash zone themed like a fishing boat. A Serenity Pool and swim-up bar will offer relaxing options for adults.
Guests will enjoy access to several on-site restaurants, including the high-end Nautical Wheeler, Frankie and Lola’s Pizza, and a casual all-day dining space. The resort will have seven food and drink outlets in total.
The property will include a 160-room condo hotel and 49 standalone condos, featuring a Jimmy Buffett Suite. In a later phase, about 150 bungalow-style homes with 2 to 5 bedrooms will be built and offered for sale.
Visitors arriving by boat will have access to a 43-slip transient marina with direct dock access to the resort. A “5 o’Clock Somewhere” waterfront bar with private seating will greet guests just steps from their vessels.
The resort will also offer ferry service every 30 minutes across the Intracoastal Waterway, connecting Margaritaville to The Wharf. This will help guests easily enjoy the full range of Wharf amenities, concerts, and shopping.
For large events, the resort will provide flexible conference and event spaces. These facilities will be able to host corporate meetings, weddings, holiday parties, and other special gatherings year-round.
The project was described as a “true economic engine” that blends tourism and job creation for Baldwin County and the Gulf Coast.
Officials from the Alabama Department of Tourism, and Orange Beach City Council praised the development as a perfect fit for the coastal lifestyle and a fitting tribute to Jimmy Buffett’s legacy.
The very first Margaritaville Bar was located at the corner of Hwy 59 and Fort Morgan Road, about 6 miles from the new Margaritaville Resort.
Construction is set to begin immediately, with phase I of the resort expected to open in 2027 and completed in 2029. Developers promised the final product will be a destination the community can take pride in for generations to come.
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