Gulf Coast Eco Center — (Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability)

Gulf Shores is known for being one of best spots for beach homes and snowbirds, but it’s also home to a beautiful, biodiverse natural environment where flora and fauna thrive. One nonprofit, the Gulf Shores Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability, has partnered with the City of Gulf Shores to bolster the city’s ecotourism industry and encourage sustainability.

Recently, the City of Gulf Shores received $13.4M in funding to go toward the huge new Eco Center project. Here’s what you need to know.

About the Gulf Coast Eco Center

The new Gulf Coast Eco Center will be a state-of-the-art facility serving multiple purposes. When complete, the center will feature:

Farm + garden complex
Art center
Habitat restoration demonstrations
Bicycle hub
Wetland lab
Event space
Challenge course

Set to open in summer 2024, this project will house youth camps, field studies, public classes, workshops and recreational programs for visitors and locals alike.

The $13.4M grant

On November 6, 2023, the City of Gulf Shores announced in a press release that it was awarded $13.4M in RESTORE funding by the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council to design and construct a new facility. The Gulf Coast Eco Center will be located on city-owned property adjacent to Gulf State Park and Gulf Shores City Schools.

The design and operation of the new facility will be a collaboration between Gulf Shores City Schools, Gulf State Park, Valor Hospitality, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, research universities, environmental education groups, industry partners and local business groups. Of course, one of the biggest forces behind the project is non-profit Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability, founded in 2018.

The new Gulf Coast Eco Center is a part of the Vision 2025 plan developed by Gulf Shores after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Want updates like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter today.