Welcome to the Depot: Renovated facility is officially opened

Published 3:02 am Wednesday, October 11, 2017

The City of Opp officially opened the newly-restored depot with an open house Tuesday night, and local residents could not have been more happy with the results.

“This is as excited as I have seen people in a long time,” Opp Mayor Becky Bracke said of the response. “This is a really positive thing that has happened.”

The projection represents more than a decade’s worth of work and planning. The city was awarded a $400,000 grant through the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) for the project, which was expected to cost $762,500.

Althea Meeks, Sheriff Dennis Meeks, Opp Councilman Chad Jackson, Wanda Strickland, and Opp Councilman Gary Strickland visit during open house at the depot on Tuesday.

Bracke said in the weeks since the project was completed and before the open house, the facility has already played host to a birthday party, wedding reception, reunion and baby shower.

“There’s been something here every weekend,” she said.

The Chamber of Commerce will move into the facility within the next few weeks.

And there are many other happy days ahead for the restored depot, which was first opened in 1928.

Next spring, the depot will be the new location for the Opp High School prom. A fundraiser for the venue is planned the first weekend in February, when Chef Jon Gibson of Bill’s By The Beach, Gulf Shores, will cook seafood at a ticketed event.

The Opp Khelpanan Society is selling T-shirts featuring a line drawing of the dept. The shirts are available from members, or by contacting them on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The City of Opp officially opened the newly-restored depot with an open house Tuesday night, and local residents could not have been more happy with the results.

“This is as excited as I have seen people in a long time,” Opp Mayor Becky Bracke said of the response. “This is a really positive thing that has happened.”

The projection represents more than a decade’s worth of work and planning. The city was awarded a $400,000 grant through the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) for the project, which was expected to cost $762,500.

Bracke said in the weeks since the project was completed and before the open house, the facility has already played host to a birthday party, wedding reception, reunion and baby shower.

“There’s been something here every weekend,” she said.

The Chamber of Commerce will move into the facility within the next few weeks.

And there are many other happy days ahead for the restored depot, which was first opened in 1928.

Next spring, the depot will be the new location for the Opp High School prom. A fundraiser for the venue is planned the first weekend in February, when Chef Jon Gibson of Bill’s By The Beach, Gulf Shores, will cook seafood at a ticketed event.

The Opp Khelpanan Society is selling T-shirts featuring a line drawing of the dept. The shirts are available from members, or by contacting them on Facebook.