The Gulf State Park project is underway.  As some of you may know the lodge, conference center as well as a franchise agreement with Hilton Hotels has been approved.

The facility will be called “The Lodge at Gulf State Park – a Hilton Hotel”.  The work is expected to take a year and completion date is estimated to be sometime in 2018.

The lodge and conference center will replace the lodge that Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004. 

Hilton will receive about 7 percent of the gross room revenue annually.  In return, Hilton will provide the largest reservation software engine in the world to promote occupancy of guest rooms and meeting spaces, according to the governor’s office.  Hillton will provide marketing support and quality control standards but will not operate the hotel – an operator will be pick through a request for proposals process, the governor’s office said.  In addition to the lodge and conference center, the Gulf State Park Project includes an education cneter, an interpretative center, miles of new trails and restoration of dunes.

The trails are bing done in three packages.  The first, with four miles of trails, has been completed.  The second package, consists of five miles of trails and the third is being designed in coordination with the Alabama Department of Transportation.  It will include two bicycle and pedestrian trails across East Beach Boulevard.

The overall park enhancements, not just the lodge and conference center, will increase visitors to the park and make this area a unique destination, said Conservation Commissioner Gunter Guy.

Picture taken after Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 of Gulf State Park Lodge.