BON SECOUR — New adventure is blooming this spring at Swift-Coles Historic Home.

The historical landmark will be expanding into the wedding and event industry with plans to build a new event center on the property.

Kathryn Graham, house manager and wedding planner for Swift-Coles Home, said the new event center will not only host weddings, but also provide space for public and private events, such as festivals and vendor booths. Construction and project completion dates are not yet determined.

"We've been marketing towards more weddings because that is where our draw is, aside from tours," Graham said. "We've been getting more into it, with help from the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission."

Graham said she officially became the house manager in 2021, and the wedding inquiries have been booming since then.

"It's been pretty nuts so far, we did about 36 weddings last year and the inquiries keep coming in," Graham said. "We have several weddings coming up this month, as well as in May and June."

The Swift-Coles home dates to 1882 and began as a four-room cabin that has since transformed into a 6,000-square-foot mansion located several miles from Gulf Shores in Bon Secour.

"The house was built by Thomas Gavin in 1882," Graham said. "In 1898, Charles and Susan Swift raised 11 children in the home, adding a room for each child."

Graham said guests often remark on how they feel they have stepped back in time when they visit the property.

"I've been told it reminds people of the move 'The Notebook,' a romantic and timeless location surrounded by live oaks dripping in Spanish moss," Graham said. "I'm really excited about the future of Swift-Coles and to get to share the beauty with the public. We get to share in those really special moments with brides and grooms, and to be a part of their special day is a blessing."