Malbis The Eastern Shore

Get to Know Malbis

This story of this land dates back to the early 1900s when Jason Malbis came from Chicago to settle this rural area near the eastern shores of Mobile Bay. Born in Greece, Jason started a 10,000-acre plantation that prospered and grew to include farmland, livestock, an electric power plant, an ice plant, and a turpentine still as well as providing the environment for Greek culture to grow.

Although much of the plantation land has since been sold some of the original buildings remain, providing a historic record of plantation life in Alabama. The Greek identity of the land also adds to this record, leading to the plantation’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

A Community Deeply Rooted in History

One of the most prominent features in historic Malbis is the Presentation Theotokos, also known as the Malbis Memorial Greek Orthodox Church. It was built in the 1960s by the community after receiving a letter from Jason Malbis stating his desire for a church to be built. He had returned to Greece, but was unable to return home due to the disruptions caused by World War II. Malbis became ill while in Greece and passed away in Athens on July 22,1942. With $1 million dollars raised by the community, the project was finished in 1965. The interior features over 150 paintings rendered by master artists flown in from Greece, as well as a hand painted murals on the ceiling, and hand carved figures brought from Greece and assembled on site. The church was dedicated in 1965 and the remains of Jason Malbis have been interred within. This building is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. What remains of historic Malbis is located at the crossroads of US Interstate 90 and State Route 181.

From Malbis, it's about an hour's drive to Gulf Shores and a 20-minute drive to Mobile. This area's proximity to I-10 makes travel a breeze.