In search of secret of the Shoals

Dothan Mayor Pat Thomas and several colleagues from his southeast Alabama city visited the Shoals last week in search of the secret.

They wanted to know how an area this size put together a development that has reaped as much success as the Retirement Systems of Alabama tourism project.

The RSA project has brought in two world-class golf courses that are connected to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, along with one of only four four-diamond-rated hotels in Alabama. It has whipped the conference center into a showpiece that has made the area a convention hotbed.

On a less-tangible basis, the project has made the Shoals a player in the pursuit of large industrial development projects such as North American Lighting. The railcar manufacturing operation that appears a certainty for the area has also involved RSA Executive Director David Bronner.

"It's just a wonderful story," Thomas said the other day. "It was really interesting hearing the history of how all this came together with all the turmoil and upheaval, and then ended up with such a positive story for the community."

Thomas said Dothan is trying to hook up with Bronner and RSA for a convention center/hotel project. He was blown away by what he saw and couldn't help but wonder what it could mean to the Dothan area.

"This is my first trip to the Florence area, and people went out of the way to help us understand what has happened here," he said. "It's a beautiful area, with a wonderful facility. The hotel is beautiful and doing so well, and the golf is just stunning."

Thomas said he was particularly interested in learning how well the four cities and two county governments worked together. He also was curious why some people expressed strong opposition to the project and that many still remain in opposition, despite the success.

He was told it's unlikely that the project will ever win over some critics. Whoever told him that obviously knew what they were talking about.

The RSA project remains a thorn in the side of some residents. Some people are against any progress. Others are likely having trouble letting go of their hope that they will some day tell us all, "I told you so."

I have personally heard people say that the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa would never be rated a four-star facility. They said lacking the four-star rating meant that RSA owed the area money for not living up to the contract.

Those people refuse to hear that the contract only states that the hotel had to be built to four-star quality. Either way, that argument is gone now that AAA has given the hotel a four-diamond rating.

It's a shame people can't embrace something so position in our area.

People like Thomas and the hundreds who have stayed in the hotel, played golf at one of the courses or attended a convention here seem to see something special.

Mike Goens is the TimesDaily managing editor. He can be reached at 740-5740 or mike.goens@timesdaily.com.