Margaritaville Orange Beach: $350M Wharf Landing Adds 142 Homes, Pirate Voyage Theater Proposed

If you've driven across the Foley Beach Express recently, you've seen the construction starting on the Intracoastal Waterway side of The Wharf in Orange Beach. That's the beginning of a project that will reshape one of the most visible stretches of coastline on the Gulf Coast — and the latest filing has expanded what's coming.

Two major projects are moving through Orange Beach planning right now. Together, they represent some of the largest single decisions the city will make this year.

The Wharf Landing: A $350 Million Resort Across the Intracoastal

The Wharf Landing is the official name of the Margaritaville-branded resort being developed by The Wharf's owner, Art Favre, on 80+ acres along the Intracoastal Waterway directly across from the existing retail, dining, and entertainment district. The project's total scope is approximately $350 million.

Construction is already underway on phase one — a condo complex and waterfront bungalows. The most recent filing in front of the Orange Beach Planning Commission expands the project further: a request to rezone 28 acres within the planned unit development to create 142 new residential lots, with houses ranging from 2 to 5 bedrooms.

When complete (expected end of 2027), The Wharf Landing will include approximately 300 units across condominiums, resort cottages, and waterfront villas — totaling roughly 650 bedrooms when factoring in the multi-bedroom configurations.

What the Resort Will Include

The amenity deck alone is seven acres. Plans show lazy rivers, water slides, multiple pools, a kids' splash zone themed like a fishing boat, a serenity pool, and a swim-up bar.

Seven restaurants are planned across the property, including the high-end Nautical Wheeler and Frankie & Lola's Pizza. The marina will have 43 transient slips with the 5 O'Clock Somewhere waterfront bar, and a ferry will connect The Wharf Landing directly to The Wharf — a meaningful operational detail for guests who want access to both properties without the drive across the Foley Beach Express.

A separate Buffett-themed bistro, Jimmy Buffett's Last Mango Bar & Chill, is scheduled to open in Marlin Circle at The Wharf this June, ahead of the resort itself. It will include an outdoor bar, full-service indoor restaurant, and an entertainment corner with an arcade and jukebox.

The Pirate Voyage Dinner Theater Proposal

Separately, the same April planning cycle saw a much earlier-stage proposal: a 59,000-square-foot Pirate Voyage Dinner Theater on 24 acres along Highway 161 in Orange Beach. The applicant is Kadre Engineering, on behalf of Beech's Camper and Mobile Home Park. The project is being developed by World Choice Investments, the same group that operates Dolly Parton's Stampede, the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, and the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge.

The Pirate Voyage concept is established — there are already locations in Panama City, Pigeon Forge, and Myrtle Beach. The proposed Orange Beach version would be the fourth.

Residents have raised concerns about the project, particularly traffic on Orange Beach Boulevard. The city has scheduled a town hall meeting for Wednesday, May 6, at the Performing Arts Center to give residents the opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns. The planning commission will then take up the proposal at its May meeting after the town hall.

It's worth noting that the request didn't make the second deadline for the April 13 planning meeting, which is part of why the timeline is tracking the way it is. The May 6 town hall is the next public step.

Why This Matters Beyond the Resort Itself

Orange Beach is at an interesting moment. The Wharf Landing represents a significant expansion of resort-anchored residential and hospitality inventory in a part of Baldwin County where shoreline land is finite and developable parcels are increasingly rare. A successful execution of the project would meaningfully reshape the visitor experience and the resident experience at the same time.

For property owners on the Pleasure Isle side of the Intracoastal, the resort's completion will affect daily traffic patterns, the local restaurant and retail mix, and the appeal of the area to second-home buyers. For residents in unincorporated areas of south Baldwin County, the increased demand on the Foley Beach Express and SR 161 will be a meaningful factor — which is part of why ALDOT's Intracoastal Waterway Bridge expansion (opening two lanes by Memorial Day this year) and the planned SR-180 widening matter.

For relocators researching the area, projects like The Wharf Landing tend to support property values in surrounding neighborhoods over the long term. New high-end inventory raises the visibility of the entire submarket. That's not always immediate, but it's structural.

What I Tell Clients

When clients ask me about Margaritaville and how it affects their decision to buy in Orange Beach or nearby, I tell them three things.

First: the project is real. It's funded, partially under construction, and has the operational backing of one of the most successful retail and entertainment property owners on the Gulf Coast. This is not a speculative announcement.

Second: the timeline matters. End of 2027 is the current target for opening. Properties bought now in surrounding neighborhoods will likely close before the resort opens — meaning buyers benefit from the long-term tailwind without paying a premium tied to the project's completion.

Third: the Pirate Voyage decision is uncertain. The town hall is May 6. The planning commission will hear it in May. Buyers shouldn't anchor their decisions to a project that hasn't been approved yet — but they should be aware that the conversation is happening.

If you're considering a move to Orange Beach, Pleasure Isle, or anywhere in south Baldwin County, and you want to talk through what these projects mean for your specific situation, I'm always happy to chat. Tracking the development pipeline is part of what I do.

Note: This piece reports on publicly filed planning commission documents and public city announcements. It does not take a position on whether the Pirate Voyage project should be approved. Residents with questions or concerns about either project are encouraged to attend the May 6 town hall at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center.

Katie Ragland | Real Broker, LLC256-366-6974 | linktr.ee/katieraglandrealtor