The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is auctioning off a lease with an option to purchase the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center after a private entity offered to buy the state-owned land.
5 Rivers Park is a 250,000-acre park in Baldwin County. It is where the Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Apalachee and Blakeley rivers flow into Mobile Bay. The park offers scenic waterways, woods and wetlands.
The resource center, which is the focus of the auction, is a 70-acre site in the park that includes an exhibit hall, learning center, theater, walking trails, picnic areas, a conference center, and a reception hall.
Members of the public can enjoy the over 250,000-acre park with free admission.
ADCNR Commissioner said the lease and or sale of the property will come with conditions.
"The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been approached by an entity that is interested in expanding their offerings for outdoor education, outdoor recreation and other associated uses in Coastal Alabama," Blankenship said in a statement. "The conditioned uses in the lease auction are consistent with the current operation of Five Rivers and will further the mission of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources."
The 10-year lease comes with a purchase option of $8.5 million.
Blankenship told 1819 News he was unaware of any other property in which the state has leased-to-own to a private entity in this manner. The name of the private entity has not been revealed.
The public auction will begin at $500,000. It will be held on April 17 at 10 a.m. at the 5 Rivers Tensaw Theater.
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