After transporting her house from Orange Beach to Perdido Key, Florida, via barge back in October 2025, a long-time Orange Beach resident saw the final steps of the move fall into place last week as the 45-year-old house was placed on its pilings.

Kylee Kubat, 24, grew up on Innerarity Point in Perdido Key, where she's moving. She's always been fascinated with "everything '80s" and architecture — specifically certain original condos in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

She first made eye contact with the house, built originally in 1981 on Cotton Bayou, 10 years ago when she was on a boat with her family. She took a picture of it to remember how much she loved the triangle windows.

She didn't think much more about it.

During that time, she started working at Publix, where she spoke with just about everyone about where they were from, where they were staying and if they knew anything about condo history in the area.

After getting a few leads, she began searching in Alabama business records.

"It turned out all my favorite condos were built by this guy named Tom Nonnenmacher," Kubat said. "All these early condos that I loved; I loved the architecture and design built by Nonnenmacher."

She began working on a book cataloguing Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Perdido Key history through condos.

Fast forward a few years, and she found herself on the road with the house with the triangle windows. After approaching the previous homeowner and talking with him about the history of the house, she discovered it was also built by Nonnenmacher.

Now returning to the area after earning a building science degree from Auburn University, Kubat has purchased the house separate from the lot and has taken up the journey of moving — herself and the house itself.

After a few struggles, from securing a tugboat for the barge to waiting for high tides in Florida, she's looking forward to moving into her new home.

LOVE FOR LOCAL HISTORY

Kubat said the condos from the '80s are for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach what the homes from the 1800s are for Mobile and Pensacola.

"Condos are historically relevant and capture a time period when the beach towns shifted from fish camps to resort living," she said. "There was this excitement for the future, yet still had the culture and charm of undiscovered, small, Southern beach towns."

Gulf Shores was incorporated in 1958. Perdido Key's development association was formed in 1970. Orange Beach celebrated its 40th year as a municipality two years ago.

"Our history is very, very limited because of hurricanes," she said. "… Nonnenmacher built condos from 1980-85. He was really a visionary, because condos were pretty much non-existent before Fredric."

Now, Baldwin County is the sixth-fastest growing metro area in the U.S., according to Census data from 2025. Though, the island cities are not necessarily at the top of the growth.

Gulf Shores ranks fourth among Baldwin County municipalities' population totals in 2024. Orange Beach ranks sixth. For percentage of growth since 2010, Gulf Shores ranks sixth with 59.8% and Orange Beach follows just behind in seventh with 59%.

However, as recently reported by GCM, lodging revenue, according to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, reached a record $923 million in 2025, more than double what the destination generated a decade ago.

Eventually, Kubat plans to relaunch Nonnenmacher's construction company to further carry on his legacy and classic '80s designs, as well as her father's architectural design and influence, on the Gulf Coast.

She said she hopes her story inspires others who are considering taking on endeavors like moving a 'historic' house across the water.

"As we move into the future with coastal construction and as our area grows, I think it's crucial to remember and preserve our past because it tells the story of our area's culture and history," she said. "Older buildings are the storytellers of our beach culture. We need to cherish these buildings because those memories are a part of our heritage and family community. These '80s condos and homes have inspired me and countless others 45 years later — forever changing my purpose in life. Imagine the future generations, you never know what building will speak to you and change your life."