Alex City is developing anything - it will all be Russell Land or it won't be. Wicker Point, for the moment, is going to be a developed community with homes and the tax base will go to Alex City (once they get it annexed).
This is pure speculation on my part, but it seems that the millionaire class are the ones that are going to spend money while they are on vacation and possibly look to buy Russell Lands homes. They will be the ones spending money playing golf and going to Springhouse. That's the money they want.
A big resort will bring more jobs than just low paying service jobs. There is a hospitality industry - that includes hotel management and sales, chefs, maintenance. Do you know that Auburn has started a whole hospitality degree program? A resort would have the potential to employ graduates of that program.