GULF SHORES, AL – Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism is hosting its grand opening for the new Gulf Shores Welcome Center on Wednesday, May 25.

The event will take place from 3-6 p.m. with a brief ceremony occurring at 5:30 p.m. The grand opening will feature light refreshments and live music. The whole community and any guests travelling in the area are welcome to stop by and enjoy in the festivities.

"Our team is incredibly proud to present the new Gulf Shores Welcome Center to our invited guests and locals," Herb Malone, president and CEO for GSOBT, said. "You only have one opportunity to make a first impression and for many visitors, our welcome centers are often the first stop they make in our destination. We look forward to celebrating the hard work of our organization and valued industry partners by showcasing the highly anticipated finished product."

The 5,400-square-foot building features a spacious lobby, 25-person conference room, public restrooms and a small office space. The building is IFC (insulated concrete form) constructed and was designed by architect Sted McCollough of McCollough Architecture.

The rotunda features pecky cypress wood along its walls. An iconic fountain with a dolphin structure, designed by Frank Ledbetter of Theodore, AL, stands at the front of the building providing a great spot for visitors to take pictures.

The welcome center is meant to serve as a relaxing and inviting space for guests to visit throughout their time in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. 

The Gulf Shores Welcome Center is open seven days a week. It is a great resource for families travelling in to town and provides visitors with free brochures and rack cards for local tourism business, an ample amount of car and RV parking and free WiFi.

Beginning May 27, the welcome center will be open weekdays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.