A new Google service is available on the island, and it’s making waves already.

Just the second location in the United States to do so, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan were recently imaged through Waterway View—a division of Google Street View.

The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, through their connection with the Google Maps Street View imaging team, arranged for the technology to be brought onto inland waterways.

Jim Hilker, a Waterway View photographer, said his team reached out to the Chamber to introduce the idea late in the fall.

“We started this in south Florida a year ago,” Hilker said. “That was our pilot project. I said that there was no better place to go to next than Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama. So, that’s what we’ve done.’

Waterway View filming occurred May 1, beginning at FloraBama and finishing in Fort Morgan.

Sponsors for the program so far include FloraBama, Tacky Jacks Bar and Grill, Springhill Suites at The Wharf, The Wharf, Red or White at The Wharf, Sandshaker at The Wharf, Top Tier Watersports, City of Gulf Shores, City of Orange Beach and Riviera Utilities.

The imaging taken will let people who access Google Maps to virtually cruise the Intracoastal Waterway. Viewers will get visually familiar with the waterway, marinas, shipyards, docks, raft-up spots, beaches, parks, waterfront businesses and other boating points of interest along this stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Hilker said a lot of people had been working hard to make the day possible to digitally capture the waterways.

“It went flawlessly,” Hilker said. “It was an absolutely perfect day.”

Waterway View was launched as a pilot program throughout 2018 in the South Florida area. During this pilot all the engineering and best practices were built, tested and improved. Coastal Alabama is the second region in the United States to have Waterway View imaging captured and added to Google Maps. The third region will be Sarasota County, Florida in mid-May. The Waterway View program will continue to expand throughout popular boating waterways all across the U.S. over the next several years.

The boat taken out for the excursion was operated by Captain Eddie Jordan of Jordan Hybrid Services. Jordan Hybrid Services operates out of the FloraBama and has only has its business icense for a few weeks.

“It was just a wonderful opportunity for me,” Jordan said. “I’m looking forward to being able to show the people of the United States and elsewhere what we have here and what I’ve been playing on for the last 30 years with my children. It’s all about sharing and enjoying it and having a great day on the water.”

Hilker said the Waterway View would be a great asset for locals and tourists alike to be able to have a 360-degree view of all the bays and coves and inlets around the island.

At the same time, the Chamber is launching a new “Visitor Guide” mobile app that incorporates the Google Waterway View and Google Street View inside businesses. The millions of visitors to the region each year will be able to download this app on their phones free of charge and have access and a virtual walk-through of businesses, places of interest and the Intracoastal Waterway. All dining, shopping, family activities, attractions and other businesses will be able to directly connect with visitors through this mobile app. It also features all of the public accessible facilities owned by the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, including their sport tournament and conference facilities.

Hilker thanked a lot of local businesses and governments for supporting the project.

“Everyone was so supportive and saw the value that this was going to bring to the area,” Hilker said.

This Waterway View program and mobile app puts Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and participating businesses far ahead in mobile technology designed to attract and connect with boaters, visitors and locals providing them the information in the palm of their hands to guide their decision making on where to go, what to do, and where to shop and dine. The goal is to make this a tool they will use continually throughout the Coastal Alabama Region.

Greg Alexander, President of the Chamber invites all area businesses and residents to contact the chamber for more information or to request to have the Google photographer capture a specific point of interest or business in the region.