Editorials

People who visited Gulf State Park and stayed in the lodge before it fell to Hurricane Ivan in 2004 found accommodations that were plain, simple — some would say Spartan — and, in relation to prices up and down the Alabama coast, cheap.

Some even went so far as to say that the facility should have been taken over by the Historical Commission because it preserved a little of the rapidly disappearing "Redneck Riviera" for future generations.

Most significant, the lodge was maintained in accordance with state law that the facility should take into account "the average per capita and average family income of Alabamians" when setting room rates and other costs.

However, when Ivan blew it all away, plans were laid to lease the land to a private Georgia company, the West Paces Hotel Group, that would build an upscale facility with a convention center and twice the number of rooms.

The problem, according to critics, was that the rooms would come in at twice the price — or more. Critics went to court to block it.

The Riley administration defended the plan, pointing out — among other things — that it would make Alabama's Gulf Coast competitive in the rush to attract conventions. They also pointed out that it would be a training facility for Auburn University students studying the hospitality industry who would help run the place.

But critics cited the law and its intent to make sure that the average Alabamian would not be priced out of one of the state's most popular attractions.

Circuit Judge Gene Reese agreed. Recently he blocked plans to build the hotel and convention center.

Gov. Bob Riley expressed disappointment; there is talk of an appeal. Let's hope that does not happen.

Although there are clear economic advantages to the state having a convention center on the coast, those are outweighed by the constitutional duty to make state facilities available to as many citizens as possible.

It is time for the state to rethink its plans for rebuilding the lodge, and this time factor in a clientele that is more like the average Joe.