Folks in Orange Beach showed up in a big way as residents packed a standing-room-only town hall to weigh in on the proposed Pirates Voyage Dinner Theater along Orange Beach Blvd. While some supported bringing another family attraction to town, many others voiced concerns about traffic, drainage, wildlife impacts, and whether the project fits the long-term vision for Orange Beach. A common theme throughout the night: if the attraction moves forward, several residents said they’d rather see it built north of the ICW instead of closer to the already busy beach area. pirate proposal

The first sea turtle nest of the season has been confirmed in Orange Beach after some sharp-eyed visitors from Ohio spotted a nesting turtle and called the local hotline. The mama turtle did her job, carefully covering the nest before heading back toward the Gulf — though nearby artificial lights caused confusion and left her wandering the beach for hours before the moonlight finally helped point her back to sea. It’s a good reminder this time of year to dim beachfront lights when possible, because for sea turtles, even one bright light can send them in the wrong direction. first nest

Big news keeps landing at Gulf Shores International Airport. The city has been awarded more than $2.1 million to help prepare new aviation development sites at the airport, including large aircraft apron areas designed to attract aviation maintenance and repair companies. Officials say the project could bring anywhere from 50 to 200 high-skill jobs to the area while helping diversify the local economy beyond tourism. flying higher