Ramada Inn on Causeway demolished

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - There are new developments in the case of an eyesore in Spanish Fort. It's best known as the 'Old Pink Hotel' on the Causeway.

HISTORY

The hotel was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ivan, and has been vacant and in disrepair since then. Weeds had grown up around the building, and there were shattered windows.

In June 2012, we did a story on the old Ramada Inn building on the Causeway which has sat in disrepair for years.

At the time, Spanish Fort city officials said an agreement had been worked out with the property owners to demolish the dilapidated structure starting in January 2013.

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Demolition work was going on at the site Thursday, February 7.

City officials said the work actually started in December, but now the end is near.

Bruce Renkert, the building and zoning officer for Spanish Fort, said, "Given the level of effort that was required to get it down and get it cleaned up, we're extremely happy. I heard from the owner of the demolition company today that. Two weeks from Monday, they'll be off-site. The slab will be gone, and all the debris behind us will be cleared. It will be a vacant lot."

REACTION TO THE WORK

Renkert said people in the area are already talking about the work.

He said, "It's a great thing. We get comments all the time. People driving by for the first time in a while, and say, 'What happened to the building?' What building? It's gone."

The owners of R&R Seafood Restaurant next door said they're just glad to see the demolition being done.

Denise Lee said, "You can see the water now. You can see all that. It's absolutely beautiful back here. Before then, we just saw an eyesore, and, now, it’s absolutely gorgeous back here.  We're tickled to death."

NOT GOING TO WASTE

Renkert said the company doing the demolition work, Asphalt Services, plans to make good use of the concrete.

He said, "As far as I know, all the concrete that's leaving this site is being recycled. The company that's doing it crushes it to mortar, basically, and it’s used as fill, gravel, rip-rap, whatever materials necessary, but none of it goes to waste in this case."

A FAMOUS VISITOR

It’s not likely anyone will miss the old pink building, but it does have some interesting history

Renkert said, "I believe in 1977, Elvis actually stayed here when he was doing a concert in town. In fact, I know some people who came down here to see him."