ORANGE BEACH, AL - One of the Alabama Gulf Coast’s most popular attractions has found a new home.

Gulf Adventure Center (GAC) has reached an agreement to relocate their popular zipline course to The Wharf in Orange Beach, subject to final approvals and permitting.

“Our planning with management at The Wharf is going very well,” GAC Managing Partner Tom Schlinkert said. “They’ve got a fantastic property, great infrastructure, established traffic and a sharp business development team.”

After non-renewal of their lease at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, GAC was forced to close in the beginning of October 2016. According to the master plan for Gulf State Park, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources plans to use the land that GAC formerly occupied for a parking lot and elevated pedestrian walkway over Alabama Highway 182, providing access to the new Gulf State Park Lodge.

“They’re going to put in a flyover from lodge,” Schlinkert said. Schlinkert said members of the survey crew told him that was the reason for their work in the picnic area and it would also be used as a parking area for the lodge.

Vince Calametti, Southwest Engineer for the Alabama Department of Transportation, says the topic of a second pedestrian bridge over Alabama 182 in the area of the lodge has come up.

“I have heard the same thing just as far as general discussions but I haven’t seen any permits,” Calametti said.

He said the state’s view of structures over the roadway is simple.

“If they follow all the permit rules we don’t really have a preference,” Calametti said. “On one hand you’d like to see safe access across 182, if they have the funds to construct that then it’s a matter of permits. I guess I really don’t have a view either way on it.”

This is the second pedestrian bridge is in the plan for the Gulf State Park Project to span beach road. The first one revealed will cross the highway just west of the Saltwater Pavilion and connect the park’s trail system to a new Interpretive Center to be built as part of the project.

Leon Barkan, the principal on the project for Volkert Engineering said there are indeed plans for a span over Highway 182 to the picnic area of Gulf State Park. Basically, where the zipline has its headquarters and the start and end of the zipline course.

“We’re looking at doing an additional one at the lodge site,” Barkan said. “It is at the lodge itself at (Alabama) 135, in that vicinity. I can’t say the exact location because I don’t have it in front of me.”

Barkan said the bridge would give lodge visitors access to the larger part of the park and its trails and it would also give visitors cycling or walking from the picnic area access to the lodge and the pier.

“What our goal is really is to really try to connect all aspects of the park and have as much pedestrian and bicycle connectivity as we can so people who visit the park can use all aspects of the park, not just little bits and pieces of it,” Barkan said. “All the trails, when we’re done with them they’ll be connectivity of the entire trail network throughout the park.”

With contract renewal off the table, Schlinkert began searching for a new location. He believes The Wharf provides an ideal location and says the GAC team is excited about creating a new course for visitors to enjoy there.

“We’re looking forward to bringing new activities to The Wharf and attracting new customers to the complex,” he said. “Once plans are complete, GAC will reveal details for the new course and expansions to the business.”

The target launch date is spring of 2017.

“The Wharf is thrilled to welcome Gulf Adventure Center to the property as it continues to provide unique entertainment options to the community and visitors alike,” said Kristen Guenther, management team leader at The Wharf. “We are confident in the success of this venture and look forward to what’s to come.”