A $1.3 billion development – including a hotel, convention center and Bass Pro Shops – will be under way in June in Decatur-annexed land in Limestone County.

The $200 first phase of “Sweetwater” will include 125 acres anchored by Bass Pro Shops and a major hotel and convention center on 540 acres on the south side of Alabama 20 at Interstates 65 and 565.

Genesis USA Development LLC announced the plans today.

Future phases will include more than $1 million square feet of retail space, approximately 825,000 square feet of medical and office buildings, a world-class entertainment venue with seating capacity of up to 8,000 people, 2,700 residences that will be home to between five and $7,000 people, school, fire station, parks and lakes.

Construction of the hotel and convention center will begin in June. Completion is expected in late 2009 or early 2010.

Bass Pro Shops is tentatively scheduled to open in late spring 2009.

Construction of the retail space is expected to begin in 2009.