Sports Illustrated to Build Fan Resort in Tuscaloosa North of Black Warrior River

Sports Illustrated plans to build a new ultra-luxe resort for college sports fans in Tuscaloosa that could open in 2025, the media juggernaut announced Wednesday morning.

Sports Illustrated Resorts launched last year and opened a property in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic and another is underway in Orlando, Florida.

The Tuscaloosa location announced Wednesday will be the first of their "OnCampus" resorts, and more are planned for other college sports destinations in the future.

Get our free mobile app

According to their announcement, the Tuscaloosa resort will feature a full-service hotel, vacation ownership club, signature SI Fit Health/Wellness Center, world-class dining, entertainment and more.

“Sports Illustrated Resorts are about hospitality, lifestyle, leisure and entertainment where we celebrate not only the legacy of Sports Illustrated, but the path it is on now, by immersing our guests in sports culture and providing the best entertainment, cuisine, fitness, health and wellness to our guests,” said Christopher Schroeder, CEO of Sports Hospitality Ventures, LLC. “People are seeking differentiated experiences that allow them to be more active and participatory, and Sports Illustrated Resorts are delivering the ultimate experiences for guests through the hospitality destinations we are creating.”

The resort is planned for a space north of the Black Warrior River along Rice Mine Road.

For more on this project as it develops, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.