SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Mayor Joe Bonner and former Mayor Fred Kuhlmann gave former Heisman trophy winner Roger Staubach a key to the city of Spanish Fort at the “Roof Raising” celebration for Bass Pro Shops on Dec. 12.

“I’m going to put it (the key) where the Heisman is,” Staubach said. Staubach is the executive chairman of The Staubach Company.

The Bass Pro Shop is an anchor store for the Spanish Fort Town Center. The outdoors store, which is currently under construction, will encompass 140,000 square feet. Martin MacDonald, director of corporate public relations conservation and youth development, said the facility would open in August 2008. Cypress Equities is the development affiliate of The Staubach Company based in Dallas, Texas.

Developers Chris Maguire, CEO, and Scott Harrington, development partner, with Cypress Equities spoke at the special event along with Staubach. Martin Mac Donald and Katie Mitchell of Bass Pro Shops also addressed the audience. Kerry Earnhardt, who is on the Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s racing team, also spoke to audience members about what it is like being a NASCAR driver.

The Spanish Fort City Council, Planning Commission members, police Chief David Edgar and fire Chief Roger Few attended the ceremony which was attended by approximately 300 people.

Spanish Fort High School Principal Michael Lucci, SFHS senior cheerleaders, senior football players attended and the Women’s Choir performed. State Rep. Randy Davis, R-AL of 96th District said this was an important facility to come to this area especially since 30 percent of tourism for Alabama is from Baldwin County. State Rep. Alan Baker, R-AL of the 66th District and State Rep. Joe Faust, R-AL were also in attendance. Former football legend Leroy Jordan was unable to attend the ceremony.

“We’re excited about it. It’s a great area with saltwater and freshwater fishing and camping,” Larry Whiteley, manager of corporate public relations for Bass Pro Shops said.

Though the facility will have a lot of the same components as other Bass ProShops, it will have the flavor of the surrounding Gulf Coast areas. Bass Pro Shops representatives have met with Hank Burch to collect information about local habitats and wildlife. Stores are particularly themed to each area they are in, Whiteley said. Officials at the Bass Pro Shops are currently requesting that area residents donate their old lures, taxidermy items, historical photos or other outdoor items from this area to enhance the new facility.

Approximately 500 employees will staff the store, with 200 working in the restaurant and 300 working in the main store, Whiteley said. Special features include a three-story waterfall, a 25,000-gallon aquarium and an 8,000 square-foot Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant, which will offer a view of all four sides of a 12,500-gallon saltwater aquarium, according to a news release.

Whiteley said there are 47 stores in the United States and one store in Canada.