The restored Amtrak rail service has brought more visitors than expected.
) - Mardi Gras celebrations are generating a $300 million economic impact for Mobile as over 400,000 people have attended parades over the last couple of weeks, according to police estimates. “Mardi Gras is one of the most significant events that we host on a yearly basis,” said Ashley Rains, Visit Mobile senior PR and communications manager.
“In economic impact terms we’re talking about $300 million.”Downtown businesses have experienced increased customer traffic since the season began. Jay Olensky, owner of Olensky Brothers, said the extra visitors have boosted business. “Just the extra people in town that usually don’t come downtown, the extra people in the hotels around us,” Olensky said. “When the weather’s good which it has been most of the time. Last weekend was cold but this past weekend made up for it.”For the first time in over 20 years, Amtrak is running along the Gulf Coast and has added an extra passenger car during Mardi Gras. The restored rail service has brought more visitors than expected. “It’s been more people than I thought,” Olensky said. “They’ll get off the train just a block away and start walking the street.”“We are seeing that that ridership has really been a significant factor in getting people into the city,” she said. “We’re getting messages from people that are excited to come in for the first time.” Visit Mobile expects even more people in the city for the final weekend, citing Mobile’s unique Joe Cain Day celebration as a draw for visitors who can now access the city more easily by train. “We’re the only place that has Joe Cain Day and it’s easier to access with the train and we’re going to have people coming in town after hearing about Joe Cain Day and hearing they can only do in Mobile,” Rains said.Detective details what led investigators to charge Theodore man in family’s disappearanceMardi Gras 2026 parade schedule for Mobile Alabama and Baldwin County
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