Clara Simpson Equestrian Resort
 

Development Concept:

 The Clara Simpson Equestrian resort is an equestrian themed resort community.  The central concept is people interacting with nature in a family friendly environment.  The master plan envisions miles of riding trails and approximately 100 acres of pasture, wooded areas, and other open space.  The residential units will primarily be town house style units clustered around equestrian themed venues such as a show jumping course, a 5/8 mile training track and possibly a polo field.  The intent is that every unit will have views of an equestrian activity venue or green space.  In addition every unit will have a hitching post where horses will be delivered and picked up when riding time is scheduled. 

The resort will provide an equestrian lifestyle without the work normally associated with caring for horses.  The resort will own a pool of approximately 35 horses that the residents will share on a scheduled basis similar to scheduling a tee time in golf.  In addition the resort will offer boarding to residents with their own horses on a first come first served basis.  Our professional staff will care for, groom, and schedule use of the horses. 

Facilities:

 The town homes will include 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units, varying in size from 900 sf to 2000 sf.  The master plan allows for 300 units averaging 1500 sf for a total of 450,000 sf of town house style units.  These units will primarily line the perimeter of the race track with views of the jumping course, race track, lake, club house, and wooded areas.  The master also allows for 30 – 40 single family structures located around and in the vicinity of the polo field.

 The development will incorporate many of the structures that currently exist on the property to provide amenities.  A large hurricane resistant stable and surrounding corrals and paddocks will form the core of the equestrian accommodations.  Two existing homes on the property in the vicinity of the stable will be used as employee housing.  These two homes one 1800 sf and one 3200 sf have a common back yard with a pool for use by the employees. 

 

There is also an 8100 sf estate home on the property that will serve two purposes.  The upper two floors of the home will be converted to a luxury bed and breakfast.  Each stay will include a 1 hour riding block for each guest and access to all other resort amenities.  The ground floor will be converted into a club house and the adjacent lake will be converted into a white sand beach and possibly a swimming area. 

 

The resort will from time to time schedule events at the venues for the entertainment of residents.  Other than for such events and selected community outreach programs the resort and all associated facilities exist for the exclusive use of the residents and their guests.

While use of the resort amenities is reserved for the residents and guests, the riding/nature trails will be open to the public and tied into similar trails in adjoining neighborhoods where allowed by those neighborhoods.

The Area:

The site is located within the city limits of Gulf Shores, Alabama.  It is approximately 1 mile from the beach express bridge which crosses onto Pleasure Island and approximately 2 mikes from the sugar white sands of the Alabama gulf coast.  The property lies between the golf course development of Craft Farms (http://www.craftfarms.com/) and the Intracoastal Waterway waterfront developments of Bama Bayou (http://www.bamabayou.com/) and The Wharf (http://www.thewharfal.com/).  The addition of a world class equestrian facility to these other fine resort communities adds a complimentary component to the growing tapestry that is the Alabama Gulf Coast.