It’s almost time for the 2016 National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama! This year, the event will run from October 13 to October 16 at the public beach access at the intersection of Highway 59 and Highway 182.  It will be the last Shrimp Festival before the Gulf Place change and over 300 vendors will line the shore serving up a variety of shrimp, as well as burgers, pizza, chicken, and other delicious fare. Live entertainment runs all day long and artists this year includes Ole River String Band, Tim Kinsey, Cary Hudson, Kristy Lee and Dirt Road Revival, and Tracy Lawrence. This event has been a favorite for both residents and visitors to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach for 45 years, boasting a variety of activities that keeps the whole family

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Gulf Shores' "Vision of Tomorrow"

Previously published and updated last on 9/30/2016.  Additional info available for step 1:  Gulf Place Beach Revitalization project.

Mission Statement

The city of Gulf Shores is committed to meeting and exceeding the expectations of our residents, visitors and businesses.  We are committed to preserving our city's family-friendly, small-town safe atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings, while providing the infrastructure and amenities necessary to support a sustainable, vibrant economy.

 

Vision 2025

In the year 2025, the city of Gulf Shores will be the most desirable, small-town destination community in the South in which to live, visit, retire and invest.  This will be to its enduring,

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The Eastern Shore already holds a lot of appeal for potential residents, with numerous small towns just minutes from Mobile and under an hour away from the Gulf of Mexico. What many people may not realize is that the Eastern Shore is also the site of a natural phenomenon that has been a cause for celebration since it was first recorded in the 1860s. Locally known as a jubilee, each year an upward movement of oxygen in Mobile Bay forces thousands of bottom-dwelling fish and crustaceans up to much shallower waters. This can happen in an area as small as a 500-foot stretch of shore or, as has happened, over a stretch of fifteen miles reaching from Daphne to Mullet Point (most people believe jubilees of this size only happen in Mobile Bay and Tokyo, Japan). A

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The video below is a descriptive video serving to discuss the project as a whole.  Check out our updates taken on February 7th, 2017.  UPDATED GULF PLACE VIDEO

Gulf Place

Those who live in or have visited Gulf Shores, Alabama can tell you that this small town is easily one of the most beautiful areas on the entire Gulf Coast. Emerald-green waters, white-sand beaches, and the breathtaking Gulf Shores State Park combine to make Gulf Shores a very popular area for both individuals looking for a primary or secondary residence and visitors looking for a memorable beach vacation. In fact, the town heavily relies on the tourism industry, which generates about 62% of Gulf Shores’ annual revenue. Each year, annual events such as the Hangout Music Festival,

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Boating Robinson Island in Orange Beach AL

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Orange Beach, with its scenic white sand beaches and number of unique and first-rate restaurants lining the marinas and shore, is an amazing area to spend a lazy Saturday out on the water. Visitors and locals alike will tell you that the best place to go boating is just outside of Bayou Saint John, right by Bird Island and Robinson Island.

Located west of Walker Island, both Bird and Robinson Island were bought by the city of Orange Beach to protect them and the wildlife that nests there from being developed. As a

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Bustling crowds of residents and visitors thronged the beaches and emerald waters at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach this Fourth of July. As temperatures soared up into the 90s all weekend, everyone seemed to be taking advantage of the sunny weather to go swimming, sunbathing, or sailing around Robinson Island and off the coast of Orange Beach. The beachside condos that line the famous white-sand beaches were all full of visitors ready to enjoy a weekend of picnics, fishing, barbecues, swimming, and a number of other Independence Day activities that took place all weekend.
The events started on Saturday in Orange Beach with their Independence Day Street Party at The Wharf. Starting at 5:00 p.m. there were plenty of activities for the whole family to take part

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AL Gulf Coast Over the Past Decade

The AL Gulf Coast's stretch of white-sandy beaches is changing right in front of us.  Gulf Shores and Orange Beach has grown at record pace in the past decade.  In 2006, we published an article that discussed the amazing growth of the Alabama beaches when compared to other coastal areas.  (See image left from article)  This may be partially due to the low taxes, more available land, population density, etc.., but Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are different places today.  The Alabama Gulf Coast accomplished this by simply taking care of its resources and making tough decisions that weren't always based on popularity.  A prime example happened earlier this year.  In the Spring of 2016, there was a huge jump in

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 The Gulf of Mexico is known for being one of the best spots for fishing in the world. The warm, tropical waters of the Gulf make an ideal climate for a number of snappers, tuna, mackerel, jacks, and many other species of salt-water fish. Perdido Pass, which separates Alabama Point from Florida Point, is popular with both residents and visitors who want to spend the day or even a weekend out fishing. Whether it’s from the pier or the beach or on a charter boat, a fishing trip in this area will not leave you disappointed.

            There are several species of fish that can be caught around Orange Beach and Perdido Pass all year long, including speckled trout, redfish, and sheepshead. Other species, such as southern flounders and king mackerels, are

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Click the gear on your Youtube player and set quality to 1080 for a clear HD view.  

The first ever NCAA beach volleyball National Championship was held in Gulf Shores, AL May 6-8.  With temperatures in the low 80's, low humidity and sunny skies, the tournament unfolded as three spectacular days of competition on the beautiful, white-sand beaches of downtown Gulf Shores.  A tactful layout fenced in the event, but allowed beachgoers to cross between tournament partitions and the Gulf of Mexico.  While distant views were available from the waters edge, the best vantages were court-side.  Beach chairs lined the two center courts and spectators also gathered on the elevated boardwalk to scan the matches.  The Gulf Shores Hangout sat behind the center…

Gulf Shores Hangout Aerial Video

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Gulf Shores Hangout is located at the intersection of Hwy. 59 and Beach Blvd. in Gulf Shores, AL.  The Hangout is a sprawling beach front restaurant on the Gulf of Mexico and features plenty of activities and fun things going on for the entire family, such as a large play area for the kids atop white-sand from the beaches.  There are several staging areas with one large stage back near Beach Blvd with live music playing and numerous bars setup for the adults.  The restaurant serves casual food to match the atmosphere.

The Hangout is

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