A Community Launch Point: How Ingalls Harbor Became A Revitalized Gateway to Decatur, Alabama
Learn how local tourism leadership helped transform a blighted riverfront into a thriving event venue and regional economic driver.
For years, the entrance into Decatur, Alabama, didn’t reflect the city’s natural beauty or promise. “It was an old Ingalls shipyard that they actually packed up and moved to Mississippi, and we were left with an eyesore,” recalled Tami Reist, former President & CEO of the Decatur Morgan County CVB and current President & CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
Determined to shift that first impression, local hoteliers — working through the Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association — proposed a solution: a dedicated tourism fee to fund revitalization of the blighted riverfront. With city support and a strategic vision, the plan gained traction. “We knew that if we all went in together and self-imposed a fee on ourselves, it would benefit us all,” Reist explained.
The group established a $2 per night hotel fee to fund the project, and with a combination of city cooperation and creative financing — including support from the Morgan County Landfill Commission and a federal earmark from Congressman Robert Aderholt — the idea became reality.
A Blighted Past, a Hospitality-Led Future
For years, the entrance into Decatur, Alabama, didn’t reflect the city’s natural beauty or promise. “It was an old Ingalls shipyard that they actually packed up and moved to Mississippi, and we were left with an eyesore,” recalled Tami Reist, former President & CEO of the Decatur Morgan County CVB and current President & CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
Determined to shift that first impression, local hoteliers — working through the Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association — proposed a solution: a dedicated tourism fee to fund revitalization of the blighted riverfront. With city support and a strategic vision, the plan gained traction. “We knew that if we all went in together and self-imposed a fee on ourselves, it would benefit us all,” Reist explained.
The group established a $2 per night hotel fee to fund the project, and with a combination of city cooperation and creative financing — including support from the Morgan County Landfill Commission and a federal earmark from Congressman Robert Aderholt — the idea became reality.
Built by Tourism, for the Community
What started as a plan for a better boat launch quickly grew into something much more. Guided by input from top tournament directors, the new harbor was designed with serious infrastructure: expanded parking, advanced lighting, and a 10-lane launch ramp. “We asked, if you were to build your ideal venue, what would it look like? They told us, and we built it,” said Reist.
Soon after, the harbor added a 35,000-square-foot pavilion to support everything from trade shows to weddings. “It brought us new opportunities for tourism in our community and changed the gateway,” said Reist. “But in spite of that, we wound up getting another hotel — kind of like a bonus gift that we received.”
Beyond the Ramp: A Regional Anchor
The success of Ingalls Harbor is more than seasonal, it’s sustained. Today, the harbor plays host to a steady calendar of fishing tournaments, including Major League Fishing, Bassmaster, and the Alabama Bass Trail, as well as community expos, concerts, and private celebrations.
The venue even stepped in during times of need. After the devastating 2011 tornado outbreak, the site hosted the Family Jam Music Fest, a disaster relief concert that raised funds for affected communities and brought people together when they needed it most.
Its impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Featured in Sports Destination Management, the harbor is now seen as a national model for successful waterfront development and event attraction, specifically credited for combining functionality with broad community appeal.
Sustained by Local Pride and Tourism Investment
Much of the project’s success stemmed from keeping control in the hands of the tourism community. “I think one of the most important lessons that we learned was that tourism had to literally run this all the way to the end,” Reist said. “Had it been in a politician’s hand, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Today, Decatur Morgan County Tourism continues to market and advocate for the venue, positioning it as both a visitor draw and a hometown asset. “It became a place of fishing, a place of meetings, a place of concerts,” Reist explained.
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