Fairhope Now | 08.21.2026 | Storm Damage at Beloved Local Ice Cream Shop

Friday, August 21, 2026

Happy Friday, Fairhope!

Late August has a way of reminding us who's really in charge down here — and this week it made quite a point at Cammie's Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe, where a Gulf Coast summer storm decided to do a little redecorating, but we are ending the week on some genuinely good news: Fairhope just landed $2.5 million to protect the Flying Creek Nature Preserve, which is the kind of thing that makes you glad somebody's watching out for what makes this place worth living in.

Your Friday Funny: How do you throw a party in outer space? You planet.

Read on for the full stories — it's a good lineup to carry you into the weekend.

— Joy Davis & John Oldshue

Today’s Fairhope Now Newsletter

WKRG reports that a storm swept through Fairhope Wednesday night with wind gusts around 50 mph, tossing outdoor furniture, a swing set, and even a pergola into neighboring fields near Cammie's Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe off County Road 24. Surveillance footage captured the wild scene, though manager Desirae Walters says the shop itself came through with only minimal roof damage. "It looks like it just circled the building and tore stuff up around us and tossed it all, and then it was gone," she said — which, as storm stories go, is about the best outcome you can hope for.

Big news for one of our favorite green spaces: the City of Fairhope has received an additional $2.5 million in GOMESA funding — money drawn from Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leases for coastal conservation and restoration — to support the next phases of Flying Creek Nature Preserve. The city extended thanks to Governor Kay Ivey and Commissioner Chris Blankenship for their support in making it happen. More details on what's coming for the preserve are on the way, per the City of Fairhope.

US News & World Report ranks Fairhope High School sixth in Alabama among 391 high schools — a strong showing, though the five schools ahead of it all belong to city school systems, a detail that's sure to come up at this Sunday's town hall…

A split public debate over Baldwin County schools drew Fairhope speakers to the mic on Tuesday night. The discussion reflects ongoing community concern about the direction of local public education. Another public meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 5:30 PM at Fairhope City Hall.

The Hope Farm — the beloved Fairhope restaurant and gathering place founded by father-son duo Robert and Bentley Evans — is hosting two events this September worth clearing your schedule for. What started as a modest wine bar in June 2020 has grown into a 6,000-square-foot James Beard-recognized destination built around hydroponic, pesticide-free farming and genuine Gulf Coast hospitality. Details on both events are at the link.

Fairhope, According to the Class of 2027

If you want to know what’s happening around Fairhope, it might be worth asking a teenager. Fairhope High School seniors Collin Richardson and Abby Nelson seem to have a pretty good pulse on the community, balancing school with church, work, journalism, theater and plenty of time exploring the town. Both are members of Quill and Scroll, a journalism honor society, and are involved in Fairhope High’s broadcasting program, producing everything from school news and sports coverage to PSAs and creative segments. Outside of school, their days often revolve around familiar Fairhope staples—downtown, the pier, local coffee shops, restaurants and, of course, the occasional trip to Target or Malbis.

For Collin and Abby, being a teenager in Fairhope means you sometimes have to look a little harder to find things to do, but they say there’s more going on than people might think. “Fairhope has a lot more to offer than it seems,” Abby said. “You just have to look for it.” They pointed to everything from informal Bible studies and book clubs to the community events and activities that can be easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention. At the same time, they’d love to see more affordable “third spaces”, places where teenagers can simply hang out without having to spend money. Still, they say Fairhope’s biggest strength may be its people. Despite the town’s reputation from the outside, they see a high school filled with different personalities and groups, and a community with far more variety than meets the eye. As Collin put it, “Teenagers run this entire city.”

Source: Editor

Events

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