Opening day is just a few weeks away at The Park at OWA, the long-awaited “amusement and entertainment destination” located in Foley, Ala.
The themed amusement park will open its doors on July 21, officials announced Friday. In addition to its 21 rides, the park features a variety of midway games, quick service dining options, and a gift shop. The Park at OWA will open at 10:00 a.m. daily.
General admission ticket prices for the park are $34.99, with discounted $27.99 tickets for kids under 42 inches, active duty military, and seniors. Children aged 3 and under are admitted free, and an annual pass is available for $89.99.
Tickets will be available online at VisitOWA.com beginning on July 18, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets can also be purchased at the park.
Developed by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the first phase of the OWA development represents a $240 million investment, including the amusement park, a 150-room Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel, retail and dining spaces, and an artificial lake.
Crews working at the entrance to The Park at OWA. (Drew Buchanan/The Pulse)
“Our tribe is excited to offer a family destination near Alabama’s beautiful beaches that will create memories this summer and for years to come,” commented Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie A. Bryan. “We are also proud that OWA is positively impacting families living in Foley and the surrounding region through the job creation generated by this development.”
The park’s 21 rides include six thrill rides, six family-friendly rides, and nine kiddie rides, officials said. Height restrictions range from 36 to 51 inches.
While The Park at OWA will open July 21, many of its retail and dining options aren’t yet ready to go and instead will open in phases beginning in early September 2017. Announced tenants include Wahlburgers, Sunglass World, Fairhope Soap Company, Alvin’s Island, Hershey’s Ice Cream Shop, and Utopia, among others.
A flying carousel is among the 21 rides at The Park at OWA. (Drew Buchanan/The Pulse)
Future plans call for expanding the amusement park and adding a waterpark, along with additional hotels, a condominium complex, and a resort-level RV park. When all phases are complete, the development’s total cost is expected to top $500 million.
The Park at OWA is located at 10113 Foley Beach Express — just 9 miles from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach — near the intersection of Foley Beach Express and County Road 20. The development is adjacent to the City of Foley’s $40 million sports tourism complex, which features 16 state-of-the-art outdoor fields and a 90,000 square foot indoor events center.
Crews work near the Rolling Thunder coaster, a featured attraction at The Park at OWA. (Drew Buchanan/The Pulse)
Officials expect the completed 520-acre development to attract 1 million new visitors to South Alabama and to directly or indirectly generate as many as 3,500 jobs. The project is expected to boost Baldwin County’s economic output by an estimated $244 million. State and local officials are providing OWA with various incentives, including a state investment credit not to exceed $10 million. OWA will also receive a two-cent fee charged on all sales within the surrounding district up to a total of $175 million.
The only federally recognized Indian Tribe in the state of Alabama, The Poarch Band of Creek Indians are descendants of a segment of the original Creek Nation which once covered almost all of Alabama and Georgia. The Poarch Creek Tribal Government and its enterprises employ more than 3,500 residents in Alabama, including at three Wind Creek Hospitality resorts in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery, Muskogee Technology, hotels in Atmore and Huntsville, and a racetrack in Mobile.