The Poarch Band of Creek Indians announced plans for a $50 million resort-style hotel today. 

The tropical-themed resort-style hotel will be on the northeast side of the Tropic Falls water park giving guests a second lodging option on the OWA property. Plans call for the hotel to open in May 2025.

“We are very excited to add this tropical inspired resort hotel to our portfolio,” Cody Williamson, president and CEO of Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority, said in a statement. “This new hotel will give guests another option to relax in Coastal Alabama while still enjoying all the fun amenities that OWA has to offer. We continue to focus on these types of investment projects, which enable us to remain a strong economic partner for the local tourism industry and the State of Alabama.”

The multistory hotel is still in the design stage, but development plans call for tropical-themed guest rooms that include a kitchenette and workspace. Larger families will enjoy optional bunk bed spaces. Resort amenities will include an outdoor resort-style pool with a bar and grill, 24-hour fitness center, meeting space, lounge, convenience store and arcade. Guests will also enjoy free valet service, Wi-Fi and breakfast.

According to Director of External Communications Kristen Hellmich, the original plans for OWA were for up to five hotels. The current hotel on the OWA property, Marriott TownePlace Suites, stays full throughout the year. She went on to say the hotel will be an independent brand operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Hellmich stated there is no plan to bring a casino to the OWA property as they have in other cities.

Hellmich said plans are to break ground sometime in January 2024, and the name of the hotel will be released at that time. 

This recent announcement expands on the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ investment in the Foley area. The recent $70 million expansion of the Tropic Falls indoor water park opened in June 2022, and the outdoor wave pool opened to guests in March of this year. In September, the Tropic Hideaway RV Resort opened to guests.

Along with park-centered facilities that have opened over the past year, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians broke ground on an $18 million seasonal workforce campus in Foley. The city of Foley and Holtz Companies have teamed up with the Porch Band of Creek Indians on this project, which will provide much-needed affordable and safe housing for international students participating in the U.S. Summer Work Travel program (J-1 Visa), H2B Visa program and others. The first phase of the project is underway and expected to be completed in the spring of 2024 and will provide beds for 300.

Once completed, the new hotel will bring the Poarch Band of Creek Indian's total investment into the OWA’s project to $414 million. 

For more information on OWA Parks and Resorts, visit www.visitowa.com.