FOLEY — Amid the peaceful rolling pastures and towering live oak trees of South Baldwin, a new event venue is taking shape.

The Oaks at Magnolia Springs is set to open in spring 2025, offering couples and families a breathtaking setting for weddings and special celebrations. The event venue held a grand opening last weekend, Dec. 8.

The story of The Oaks began on a Saturday in September 2020, just days after Hurricane Sally swept through the Gulf Coast. Randy and Robin Hall, owners of the property, remember their first visit vividly.

"There were trees down and grass and brush five feet deep. And there were huge live oak trees everywhere standing strong and a lake that needed some TLC. The property rolled down hill toward the lake and School House Branch," they told Gulf Coast Media.

Initially, the Halls saw the 43-acre property as a personal retreat, a place where their grandchildren could ride horses, fish and explore on recreational vehicles. But as the restoration work progressed, their vision grew.

"As we developed the property, it became more and more wonderful, and that is when we started to work towards a way to share it," the Halls said. "Our hope that it will be home to weddings and summer camps and other gatherings over the years."

The venue's centerpiece, a white wedding pavilion currently under construction, will feature floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase views of the property's lakes and majestic oaks. Couples and their guests can also enjoy an on-site house with luxurious bride and groom suites, a private pool and a patio equipped with a cozy fireplace and fire pit for intimate gatherings.

"We are thankful for the continuing project and the opportunity to share the property with family and new friends," the Halls added.

The venue is located at 16000 Beasley Road, Foley.