For the first time since 2018, dirt and debris is floating in the air as the unfinished buildings begin to fall at Bama Bayou in Orange Beach.

In August 2022, The Wharf announced the purchase of the property formerly known as Bama Bayou with the intention to transform it into The Wharf Landing.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon took to Facebook to announce the demolition, which officially began on Aug. 10 and is expected to be completed in early 2024.

"This will take some time, as this will not be an implosion type of demolition, but more of a dismantling," Kennon said. "I had already but the fireworks and [was] ready for the party, but my explosion idea was frowned upon by some."

Specific details about The Wharf Landing have not been announced yet, but Jason Clabo, general manager, said meetings are being held with developers regarding several ideas for the property.

"Meetings are being held with several different developers on ideas that could come to life for the property," Clabo said. "This will be a resort destination that compliments the offerings at The Wharf."

According to Kennon, the city is partnering with The Wharf to carry out the demolition.

Bama Bayou history

According to previous Gulf Coast Media article from May 2023, a brief summary of the abandoned property over the years is as follows:

2005: Construction on the commercial development known as Bama Bayou (previously called RiverWalk Orange Beach) begins. The plan for the 147-acre development originally included retail, hotels, entertainment venues, a marine park and condominiums.

2009: The project ran in to funding issues early on and was foreclosed on in April 2009 after it defaulted on $21 million in loans. It was soon embroiled in a tangle of lawsuits and failed attempts to restart the project over the years. The city of Orange Beach has tried throughout the past 15 years to work with property owners to clean up the site or demolish the buildings.

2011: City code inspectors were close to declaring it a public nuisance, due to the trash and debris around the site. Debris was removed or moved out of sight and a fence was erected according to city directives.

2016: The city began talking with the owners about demolition, but the talks were unsuccessful.

2018: Orange Beach City Council voted unanimously to approve a development agreement with a private developer, Presidium, for the redevelopment of the abandoned and partially completed Bama Bayou. The Austin, Texas-based private developer performed due diligence on the project for 12 months before entering into a memorandum of understanding with Orange Beach in May 2018.

The developer informed the city they planned to acquire the entire 147–acre site and planned to build a large-scale, mixed-use development over phases, including multiple hotels, convention center, water park, aquarium, interactive marine mammal experience, wetland trails and educational assets.

David Wallace, a representative of Presidium, told the city they hoped to have Phase 1 opened and ready by spring break of 2020, but the project was abandoned again.

2018-2023: The partially completed buildings have sat abandoned for five years on the property, which sits at the entrance in Orange Beach and is widely viewed as an eyesore for motorists crossing the toll bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway.