FOLEY – On July 21 at 10am, The Park at OWA opened its gates to the public, and the crowds went rushing in. According to an official release from OWA, “After nine months of hard work and …
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FOLEY – On July 21 at 10am, The Park at OWA opened its gates to the public, and the crowds went rushing in. According to an official release from OWA, “After nine months of hard work and anticipation, the 14-acre amusement park welcomed large crowds to its opening day. Festivities for opening weekend include nightly firework shows, a multitude of entertainers and live music throughout The Park at OWA.”
The Park at OWA features 21 rides, ranging from thrill rides to ones that can be enjoyed by all ages. For thrill seekers, there’s the Rollin’ Thunder coaster which takes guests on a fast-paced ride of their lives, or guests can face the heights of Freedom Flyers, which at its highest point is 100ft. For those who are seeking a ride a little tamer, The Park at OWA also offers a wide variety of rides from Leap Frog, the Wave Rider, and the Flying Carousal.
Tickets went on sale on July 18, and prices range as following:
• General Admission — $34.99
• Junior Admission (42” and below) — $27.99
• Children 3 and under - Free
• Military Admission (Active)* — $27.99
• Senior Admission (60+) — $27.99
• Annual Pass — $89.99
*Restrictions apply.
The Park at OWA will now be open 7 days a week, throughout the year. Park hours are 10am-midnight, until further notice.
“As many of you have witnessed, our tribe has a history of developing high quality, major commercial projects in a short time frame,” said Tim Martin, President/CEO of CIEDA and one of the spearheads for the creation of OWA. “Since taking over this site in April of 2015, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians has aggressively pushed forward the development of a public/private partnership with the City of Foley and the state of Alabama, to create a world destination resort in Foley, Alabama: OWA.”
Before greenlighting the construction of OWA, CIEDA was challenged by tribal leaders to perform economic studies to make sure that OWA would be a successful endeavor.
“We did no less than 8 commissioned studies on different things for this park,” Martin said. “Each of those studies came back and said it was economically viable to do this.”
Inside The Park, guests will not only find the 21 rides, but also shopping, souvenirs, midway games, and two in-park dining options, along with various food carts set up throughout the location.
Come September, OWA will be opening what is known as the Downtown District. Located outside The Park, guests will be able to enjoy a day filled with shopping at the many tenants coming soon and dining by the 14-acre lake in one of the many restaurant options that will be found in the area, including the second largest U.S. location of Wahlburgers. The lake itself will feature an amphitheater on an island located in the middle, as well as a boathouse. For those who would like to stay a while, the 150-room Marriott TownePlace Suites at OWA is already open for business. Admission into the Downtown District is free, and the only admission cost found on the OWA property will be to get inside The Park.
These are just phase 1 and 2 plans for OWA. The following years will show the Downtown District growing, with even more shops and dining options coming, along with a RV park, a resort level condominium, 4 more hotels, and an outdoor waterpark.
“OWA is all about families and good times,” said Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair and CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. “The tribe, our big extended family, we value time spent together. And from the very beginning, we believed that we could create something really special here for families, whether they’re on vacation or they’re here to play soccer or lacrosse. And today, here we are, ready to start having fun and making memories.”
For more information on OWA or The Park at OWA, or to purchase your tickets to go and experience it yourself, check their website at VisitOWA.com.
