Governor Bentley Cuts the Ribbon on Hurricane Resistant Welcome Center in Mobile County

By: Rick Harmon, Alabama Tourism Department

GRAND BAY (Governor’s Office) – Gov. Robert Bentley and other state officials will open a new welcome center Friday that won’t just be a boon to tourists but to the safety of Alabama residents.

The new Grand Bay Welcome Center on I-10 at the Alabama-Mississippi line will create a better experience for visitors to the state, but it will also create a needed safe haven for Alabama residents during hurricanes and other weather events.

“We can’t control natural disasters, but we can plan ahead to minimalize the effect of these disasters and help protect the people of Alabama,” Bentley said.

“This welcome center is designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes and to be a staging area for emergency response personnel.”

The building has some of the most modern hurricane-resistant design and features in the county.  It also has a parking lot designed for large trucks and emergency response vehicles with 227 spaces for vehicle parking and almost 100 tractor-trailer parking spaces.

While the welcome center will serve a crucial role in emergency management, Tourism Director Lee Sentell said the new center will also be a welcome addition to state tourism.

“The old center was just that, an old center,” Sentell said.  “It had been built in the early ‘70s and had suffered damage from multiple hurricanes.

“This is a gorgeous, high-tech upgrade that will not only improve the experiences of those visiting the state, but will give them an entirely different first impression of Alabama.  It’s something the entire state can take pride in.”

The older facility had endured longtime problems with mold and mildew growth and roof leaks along with multiple maintenance issues, such as recurring plumbing problems and an air-conditioning system too small for the facility.

The new welcome center features improved access for the disabled, Wi-Fi access, a security station, multiple lighting upgrades, outdoor picnic areas and an enhanced Alabama Tourism lobby display that promotes Gulf Coast attractions.

Federal funds have paid for about 90 percent of the new facility.  The Grand Bay Welcome Center is just one of 26 projects in the country to receive both the initial federal grants for the project and additional federal funding as part of the Federal Highway Administration 2012 Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Award.