New housing on bayou in coastal Alabama hopes to minimally impact environment

Developers in Orange Beach are charting a new path for coastal living with Long Bayou Preserve, a gated community designed to balance luxury with the area's natural landscape. Spearheaded by developer Richard Cobb—known for the Fish Camp Lodge and Cottages—and his son, Birmingham attorney Maury Cobb, the project focuses on sustainability in a region experiencing rapid growth.

A Natural Retreat

Nestled along the largely undeveloped Long Bayou, located off the Intracoastal Waterway just west of Wolf Bay, the community is planned for 37 single-family lots. Developers are also considering 11 additional non-waterfront lots to round out the project. The vision moves away from typical beach architecture in favor of a "lake house" aesthetic inspired by South Carolina’s Lowcountry, utilizing a palette of cool greens and grays to blend with the native environment.

To preserve the ecosystem, the developers plan to keep most of the marsh habitat untouched and will elevate the homes several feet. The bayou itself remains a sanctuary for wildlife, including herons, osprey, dolphins, and a resident bald eagle.

Development Details

Pricing for the lots ranges from $700,000 to $1.2 million. The Cobbs emphasized that these units are intended as vacation homes rather than short-term rentals, a choice they believe will mitigate pressure on local schools and traffic. Construction of the road leading from the Foley Beach Express begins this month, with home construction expected to follow in approximately one year.

The site, which is just a mile from the Foley Beach Express, sits near other notable local landmarks, including the forthcoming Margaritaville Resort and The Wharf. This project arrives during a period of intense scrutiny regarding growth in Baldwin County, where Orange Beach saw an 8.7% population increase between 2020 and 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Years in the Making

The journey to break ground has been years in the making. Following years of coordination with the previous owners, the Goodwyn family, the developers have secured necessary permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, and Baldwin County. While earlier iterations of the plan included a larger condominium building and various amenities like pickleball courts, the final design has been refined to better suit the delicate environment.

"We’ve gone to extreme lengths to work with the conservation part of it," said Richard Cobb. "We want it to be wild, natural."