ORANGE BEACH — The lawn at Portside on Main at The Wharf was packed out like never before on Feb. 25 for the "Survivor 50" season premiere watch party, hosted by Gulf Coast resident and two-time "Survivor" star Jonathan Young.

Young placed fourth in 2022 for season 42 of the show, where a group of castaways inhabit an island where they are forced to compete against each other in a series of challenges. They must survive in order to win the $1 million prize. Young is returning to "Survivor" for the 50th season among other legendary competitors of past seasons. Host Jeff Probst previously called him "one of the most physically intimidating challenge performers we've ever seen."

Libby Vincek, another "Survivor" star who currently lives in Orange Beach, spoke for the event alongside Young. She finished in 12th place in 2018 in season 36.

Hundreds of families and individuals set up lawn chairs an hour before the episode started.

A crowd formed in front of the stage 20 minutes before the episode began as Young announced he would be available for photos and autographs to those in attendance.

More than 150 attendees stuck around to see the end of the three-hour premiere of the 50th season.

During the event, Vincek announced that The Wharf will be hosting weekly watch parties for "Survivor" episodes, though Young said he would only likely attend a few of the future events.

Mary Kate Lantrip, The Wharf's public relations and social media manager, confirmed "Survivor 50" will be screened on the Portside stage each week.

"The entire Wharf team was very excited about the turnout," Lantrip said in an email. "It was great to have Jonathan there to kick off the season premiere with his hometown crowd. Everyone in attendance was there to support him, and it was a privilege to host the watch party at Portside on Main."

She said Portside, specifically its green space in front of the stage, has provided "a hub for guests to sit back, relax and enjoy being on 'island time.'"

With the show displayed on the Portside on Main stage, audience members were very interactive — cheering each time Young appeared on screen, laughing at dialogue throughout the episode and gasping as tensions flared among the show's tribe members.

In commercial breaks, Vincek and Young drew raffle tickets for giveaway prizes ranging from Shades merchandise to Young's personal belongings, including one of his necklaces and his "lucky" ring.

Shades set up a tent next to the stage where they sold "Survivor" and Young-inspired t-shirts. Funds raised from the t-shirts support Young Strength Missions, a nonprofit founded by Young.

At the event, Shades sold out of the t-shirts on-site, but more were purchased — and are still available — online. A purchase granted attendees raffle tickets to the commercial break giveaways.

Audience members were randomly selected throughout the breaks to ask Young questions about his experience on "Survivor 50."

Questions focused on a variety of topics from weirdest thing he ate — a sea cucumber — to the type of clothes he wore — all his shirts were made by his girlfriend, he said.

Some were more personal, such as his favorite memory on the show.

"When I was in the water, and I was carrying a ladder, and my whole tribe was being swept away, and I had that ladder and my tribe," Young said over a cheering crowd. "They had to stop the entire challenge, and that'd never been done before, and Mr. Jeff said that was one of the best things he's ever seen."

Other questions focused on season 50 that he couldn't speak much about before it comes to fruition on the show.

Someone from the audience asked what it was like dealing with the different energies on his tribe this season, and he said everyone was amazing to work with, but this season has "the best of the best" and "the most dramatic," creating a difficult atmosphere.

"It's very difficult to deal with anybody when you haven't eaten in a week," Young said.

WHAT HAPPENED IN EPISODE ONE?

Young did not represent his tribe in any of the individual challenges in this episode.

His tribe, Kalo, was represented in the supply challenge by Benjamin "Coach" Wade, who earned resources for the whole tribe after winning the challenge. In the journey challenge, Mike White represented Kalo, but he did not participate in the challenge as only two could play and he lost the rock draw.

Kalo won the immunity challenge as a team working together in an obstacle course, allowing the tribe to remain safe from elimination. No one left the Kalo tribe in this episode.

In the episode, Young said he would be bringing "Jonathan 2.0" to the playing field for season 50. Already in episode one, he spoke with other players on who were the biggest physical threats that would need to be eliminated quickly.

The episode wrapped up after Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, who starred in the show's first-ever season, was voted off by her tribe, Cila, and after the Vatu tribe's Kyle Fraser, from season 48, was medically evacuated because he likely ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Vince Johnson, GCM's publisher who is a fan of the show, said he has not seen two contestants go home in the first episode before.

"Survivor" airs Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+.