The Eco Center Campus
The City of Gulf Shores was awarded a RESTORE grant to build the Gulf Coast Center Eco Center on city property adjacent to Gulf Shores Middle School and Gulf State Park.
Completed in April of 2025, the campus offers a suite of community programs including youth camps, public workshops, and community events, and volunteer opportunities. The campus features a garden complex, art center, habitat restoration demonstrations, bicycle hub, event space, and an aerial challenge course.
The Design Team was comprised of the Alabama firms Architecture Works (Birmingham), Watershed (Fairhope) and Thompson Engineering (Mobile). The campus employs the latest in green building design and aims to achieve LEED Gold certification.
Trailhead
Trailhead houses all of our administrative spaces, such as the conference room, offices, break room, and reception. It also contains our largest indoor program and rental space, Palmetto Room.
Palmetto Room
Palmetto Room is our largest indoor program and rental space. It has a 98 inch screen for audiovisual needs, seating for 45-50, and plenty of large windows looking out on the surrounding saw palmettos.
Trailside Pavilion
Trailside Pavilion is our grandest gathering space. It is a large screened in building featuring a massive fireplace, prep kitchen, and ample Adirondacks for lounging.
Swifts' Nest
Swifts’ Nest Classroom is our cozy arts and crafts space. With seating for 20-25, induction oven and stove top, and cubbies for supplies, this space is home to many our Wild Crafted public workshops!
Potting Shed
Potting Shed is our open air garden classroom with 9 raised beds, a rainwater collection system, and compost tumbler. We are currently growing sunflowers, basil, tomatoes, squash, dill, and more!
Lookout Porch
Lookout Porch is a screened in classroom that looks out over miles of undisturbed wetlands. A short trek in, and you can find two species of pitcher plant growing. This is also where we will begin all of our Lookout Adventure Course programs.
Lookout Adventure Course
Our Lookout Adventure Course takes you 28 feet up into the pine trees using a continuous belay system. It features two levels and 12 obstacles for plenty of choices in challenge level. Our course is for adults and children ages 10 and up that can safely wear a harness.
Rentals
Our spaces are available for rentals! We have hosted business meetings, corporate retreats, parties, showers, and more.
2027 rates listed below:
Palmetto Room
$250 flat rate for half-day, includes use of space, cleaning fee, and parking assistance
* nonprofit rate: $200 flat rate
$400 flat rate for full day, includes use of space, cleaning fee, and parking assistance
Trailside Pavilion
$350 flat rate for half-day, includes space and cleaning fee, standard set up
*nonprofit rate: $300 flat rate
$500 flat rate for full day, includes use of space, cleaning fee, and parking assistance, standard set up
*additional fees for alternate furniture layout
Weddings
Base rate $2,500 for Pavilion and Palmetto Room, includes parking assistance, one staff coordinator, and cleaning fees. Additional $500 fee for Potting Shed.
Please email us for availability and to reserve a date.