Fairhope Now | 07.29.2026 | 101 Year Old Fairhope Hotel Returns

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Fairhope!

We have a lot to be proud of this week in our little town. A 101 year old landmark is coming back and Fairhope's Megan Curry has been named head softball coach at UAB. Meanwhile, over at Fairhope High, the marching band is deep in summer band camp, doing what only truly committed musicians and their equally committed parents do: showing up in July, in Alabama, on purpose.

Your Wednesday Funny: You know it's Gulf Coast summer when the two groups most reliably outside in the afternoon heat are construction crews and high school marching bands. The rest of us have quietly agreed that anything requiring pants is an indoor activity until September.

And if you need a reason to get outside in a more civilized hour, there's a beautiful new sculpture waiting for you at the Eastern Shore Art Center's garden.

Let's get into it.

— Joy Davis, Anne Dorman, & John Oldshue

Fairhope’s 101-year-old Summit Street Inn is celebrating its reopening after an extensive restoration. The six-room boutique hotel preserves the landmark’s historic character while adding modern comforts in the heart of the city’s Bayfront Historic District.

The Fairhope Times reports that a new bike rack and repair station have been installed at the park on S. Mobile Street, giving our cycling neighbors a convenient spot to park and maintain their rides.

Former Fairhope Pirates star Megan Curry has been hired as the head coach of UAB's softball program. Curry, who was the 2012 Press Register Player of the Year and a three-time All-State selection with the Pirates, most recently led Samford to a Southern Conference Championship game appearance in 2026.

For Fairhope native Elisabeth Hays, creativity has always been second nature, nurtured by a childhood spent exploring the city's thriving arts community. Hays grew up attending Fairhope’s Annual Arts and Crafts Festival and was no stranger to the many galleries found in downtown Fairhope. She eventually pursued interior design until 2018. A year that marked two important milestones. The first being the birth of her first child, and the second being her return to her artistic roots as a full-time artist. Today, Hays' colorful mixed-media work is instantly recognizable, particularly her signature butterfly shadow boxes, pieces she never expected would become her hallmark. "I love bringing brightness into people's lives," she said, a goal reflected in artwork that is both joyful and deeply personal.

Hays gathers inspiration through notebooks, photographs, and conversations with fellow artists, allowing ideas to evolve naturally over time. While her first butterfly collection sold only a handful of pieces, everything changed after she was invited to the Well + Wonder Artist Collective in late 2019, when her debut online release sold out in just five minutes and helped launch her career. Many of her butterfly commissions now serve as heartfelt tributes to loved ones, incorporating meaningful colors and memories into each piece. Looking ahead, Hays is excited to continue expanding her work while sharing it with new audiences, including at the Loyola Art Show in Mobile, August 20–22. And despite the cheerful colors that define her artwork, she laughs that friends are often surprised to learn she's more likely to be watching a murder mystery than chasing rainbows—a reminder that every artist has more than one side to their story.

Source: Editor

Fairhope High School's marching band is deep into summer band camp, putting in long days from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. while the heat index climbs near or above 100 degrees. The students are staying hydrated and pushing through — a testament to their dedication before the school year kicks off.

The Eastern Shore Art Center's Sculpture Garden has a new resident: "Royal Bird," a work by artist Charles Strain, generously donated by Jolane Edwards. It's a beautiful addition to the outdoor campus.

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