JUST A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. TAYLOR WILL A HIGH END $250 MILLION RESORT COULD BE COMING TO SMITH LAKE IN COLEMAN COUNTY, BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME CONTROVERSY AND SOME MAJOR DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF COLEMAN AND THE COUNTY. 米兰体育 13 LISA CRANE HAS MORE FROM SMITH LAKE. THIS PRIME WATERFRONT PROPERTY ON SMITH LAKE COULD SOON BE HOME TO WHAT鈥橲 DESCRIBED AS A WORLD CLASS RESORT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE DAM ON THE CULLMAN WALKER COUNTY LINE. A DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD A HOTEL, EVENT CENTER, GOLF COURSES, OFF ROAD TRAILS AND BOAT SLIPS. THIS IS A WORLD CLASS RESORT AND I鈥橫 EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HAS. BUT IF SOMEONE, ANYONE WANTS TO INVEST $250 MILLION INTO ALABAMA, OBVIOUSLY I鈥橫 GOING TO FIGHT FOR THAT TO BE IN MY DISTRICT AND ESPECIALLY HERE ON SMITH LAKE. THE LAND IS IN CULLMAN COUNTY, BUT STATE SENATOR GUDGER HAS PROPOSED A BILL TO ALLOW IT TO BE ANNEXED INTO CULLMAN CITY. EVEN THOUGH THE CITY LINE IS ALMOST 20 MILES AWAY, THE COUNTY COMMISSION OFFICIALLY CAME OUT AGAINST SENATE BILL 322. COMMISSIONER COREY FREEMAN POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, SAYING THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND IT鈥橲 DOWNRIGHT WRONG, SAYING THE COUNTY WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR MAINTAINING ROADS LEADING TO THE RESORT, BUT NOT GET THE TAX BENEFITS. STATE SENATOR GUDGER HAS AMENDED HIS BILL TO DEAL WITH THE COUNTY CONCERNS. THE COUNTY SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE GARBAGE AND SANITATION PICKUP, WHICH IS A REVENUE PRODUCER, FOR THEM. SO I ADDED THAT AS AN AMENDMENT IN THE BILL AS WELL. AND THEN WE鈥橰E WORKING ON DIRECT BENEFITS TO THE COLD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. WE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. BUT THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS SEEM TO INDICATE THEY鈥橰E SOFTENING TO THE IDEA. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, COMMISSIONER FREEMAN POSTED THIS SAYING, I ASK EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS SITUATION THE BEST IT CAN BE. THE PORCH CREEK INDIANS REPORTEDLY OWNED THE LAKEFRONT PART OF THE PROPERTY, AND THEY ARE INVESTORS IN THIS PROJECT. AND THAT PROMPTED SOME RUMORS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A CASINO IN THIS RESORT. BUT STATE SENATOR GUDGER SAYS THAT WAS NOT THE PLAN. TO ALLAY ANY FEARS, HE AMENDED SB 322 TO BAN ALL GAMBLING ON THE PRO
Future of 'World Class Resort' on Smith Lake may lie in SB322
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Updated: 6:14 PM CDT Apr 25, 2025
A high-end, $250 million resort could be coming to Smith Lake in Cullman County. But it鈥檚 not without controversy and some major disagreements between the city of Cullman and the county. The prime waterfront property next to the dam on Smith Lake could soon be home to what's described as a world-class resort. The developer wants to build a hotel, event center, golf courses, off-road trails, and boat slips.Sen. Garlan Gudger said, 鈥淚t's just a world-class resort, and I鈥檓 excited about what the future has. But if someone, anyone, wants to invest $250 million into Alabama, obviously I want to fight for that to be in my district and especially here, on Smith Lake.鈥漈he land is in Cullman County, but Gudger has proposed a bill to allow it to be annexed into Cullman City, even though the city line is almost 20 miles away. The County Commission officially came out against SB322.Commissioner Corey Freeman posted on social media a week and a half ago saying, "This is not right, and its downright wrong."Freeman said the county would be on the hook for maintaining roads leading to the resort but not get the tax benefits.Gudger has amended his bill to deal with the county's concerns.鈥淭he county said they would like to have the garbage and sanitation pick up, which is a revenue producer for them. So, I added that as an amendment in the bill as well. And then we're working on direct benefits to the Cold Springs High School, Middle School, and Elementary School, and for the community development center and for the fire departments as well," Gudger said. We reached out to county commissioners about the project, but have not heard back. However, their social media posts seem to indicate they're softening to the idea. Just a few days ago, Freeman posted, "I ask everyone to continue to work together to make this situation the best it can be."The Poarch Creek Indians reportedly own the lakefront property and would be investors in the project, which prompted rumors that a casino could be built at the resort. However, Gudger said that is not the plan, and to allay fears, he amended SB322 to ban all gambling activities on the property.
, Ala. — A high-end, $250 million resort could be coming to Smith Lake in Cullman County.
But it鈥檚 not without controversy and some major disagreements between the city of Cullman and the county.
The prime waterfront property next to the dam on Smith Lake could soon be home to what's described as a world-class resort. The developer wants to build a hotel, event center, golf courses, off-road trails, and boat slips.
Sen. Garlan Gudger said, 鈥淚t's just a world-class resort, and I鈥檓 excited about what the future has. But if someone, anyone, wants to invest $250 million into Alabama, obviously I want to fight for that to be in my district and especially here, on Smith Lake.鈥�
The land is in Cullman County, but Gudger has proposed a bill to allow it to be annexed into Cullman City, even though the city line is almost 20 miles away. The County Commission officially came out against SB322.
Commissioner Corey Freeman posted on social media a week and a half ago saying, "This is not right, and its downright wrong."
Freeman said the county would be on the hook for maintaining roads leading to the resort but not get the tax benefits.
Gudger has amended his bill to deal with the county's concerns.
鈥淭he county said they would like to have the garbage and sanitation pick up, which is a revenue producer for them. So, I added that as an amendment in the bill as well. And then we're working on direct benefits to the Cold Springs High School, Middle School, and Elementary School, and for the community development center and for the fire departments as well," Gudger said.
We reached out to county commissioners about the project, but have not heard back. However, their social media posts seem to indicate they're softening to the idea. Just a few days ago, Freeman posted, "I ask everyone to continue to work together to make this situation the best it can be."
The Poarch Creek Indians reportedly own the lakefront property and would be investors in the project, which prompted rumors that a casino could be built at the resort. However, Gudger said that is not the plan, and to allay fears, he amended SB322 to ban all gambling activities on the property.
