Gov. Bob Riley is appealing a judge’s decision that blocked state plans to build an upscale hotel and conference center at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores.

“We can’t continue to lose millions of convention dollars to our neighboring state of Florida because we don’t have adequate hotel and convention facilities at Gulf State Park,” Riley said in a statement Thursday.

The state’s plain concrete lodge with 144 rooms at the park was destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan. The state developed plans to replace it with a 350-room, $100 million luxury hotel, conference center and spa that would be run by West Paces Hotel Group, with Auburn University hospitality industry students working at the site.

Governor appeals ruling stopping Gulf Coast hotel