Many of us have made the trek to the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama at some point in our lives. And to get there you'll usually travel through a small town called Foley.

Most of us know Foley for the outlet mall but soon it'll be known for something even bigger -- a $500 million entertainment complex!

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians have unveiled plans for a new "first-class, family-friendly tourist destination" near South Alabama's popular beaches.

The complex will be called "Owa", which means "big water" in the Muskogee Creek language, and will feature a 14-acre lake at its center, a themed amusement park, a 150-room Marriott Town Place Suites hotel, and a wide selection of restaurants and shopping opportunities. Basically, it'll be the perfect break when you go the gulf coast beaches.

The 520-acre Owa development is adjacent to the City of Foley's $40 million sports tourism complex which features 16 state-of-the-art outdoor fields and a 90,000 square foot indoor events center. The complex is slated to open in the summer of 2017.

The Owa complex will be located just off the Foley Beach Express and Country Road 20, less than 10 miles from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Phase One of the project, which includes the 150-room hotel, retail and dining spaces, the amusement park and lake will open Summer 2017.

Future plans call for a waterpark, additional hotels, a condominium complex and a resort-level RV park. When it's all completed, the total investment for the entire development is expected to top $500 million.

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