A Hunting We Will Go
Bird-dog enthusiasts converge in Bullock County’s Union Springs for the National Amateur Free-For-All Championship, National Open Shooting Dog Championship and field trials throughout the year. Union Springs is the Bird Dog Field Trial Capital of the World.
A Fishing We Will Go
In Eufaula, the “Big Bass Capital of the World,” meet Manny, a 12-foot largemouth bass statue honoring the late fishing legend Tom Mann. Then cast a line on Lake Eufaula or at Pike County Lake in Troy. In addition, Eufaula’s Lakepoint State Park is available for hiking, swimming, fishing and year-round outdoor recreation.
Rails and Trails
Approximately three miles of abandoned rail bed have been converted into the Yoholo Micco Walking Trail. The trail starts in downtown Eufaula and ends at Old Creek Town, a waterfront recreation area. Barbour, Bullock and Pike are among the 10 counties that make up the Wiregrass Birding Trail. For more feathered features and critters of interest, Bullock County’s Wehle Nature Center offers hiking, camping, fishing and horseback trails.
Homes of History
Eufaula’s Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District — Alabama’s second largest — includes more than 700 antebellum homes and landmarks. April’s Eufaula Pilgrimage, hosted by the Eufaula Heritage Foundation, is the state’s oldest tour of homes, featuring historic churches and gardens. December’s Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes presents Eufaula in holiday finery. And don’t miss Fendall Hall, where the premier Italianate architecture is largely unchanged since 1860; Shorter Mansion, built 1901–1906 by Eli Sims Shorter II and Wileyna Lamar Shorter, which is on the National Register of Historic Places; the Octagon House in Clayton, one of only a few surviving antebellum octagonal houses in the U.S.; or the Pauly Jail, Union Springs’ Victorian Gothic jail built in 1897 and a favorite of ghost hunters.
More History
Troy’s Pioneer Museum of Alabama interprets prehistoric Alabama and 19th-century and early-20th-century rural life. Over 22 historic structures and 20,000 artifacts display the area’s rich rustic heritage. The Barbour County Governors’ Trail honors eight Alabama governors from Barbour County, linking historic, scenic and recreational sites along a 36-mile route from Clio to Eufaula’s Shorter Mansion. Nestled in the heart of Eufaula, the James S. Clark Interpretive Center provides a vivid window into local history, culture and community life. Set within a meticulously restored 1890 freight depot, it serves as both a welcoming gateway for visitors and a living tribute to the region’s past.
Wiregrass Wonders
Located in Troy, Butter and Egg Adventures includes zip lines, laser tag, wall climbing, axe tossing and other activities in a 48-acre campus. An event venue and more, Dream Field Farms hosts weddings, reunions, corporate events, parties and other occasions at its spectacular venues.
Festival Fun
TroyFest (April) and EufaulaFest (October) draw visitors for regional art, food and live entertainment. For over 30 years, Brundidge’s Peanut Butter Festival (October) has earned a “fun for all ages” reputation. Opportunities abound in a day of handmade arts, crafts, food, produce, plants, furniture, home decor, jewelry and free activities for the kids.
Art for All
In Troy, the Johnson Center for the Arts is a former post office (circa 1910). The building features seven galleries. In addition, the Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park, on the campus of Troy University, features walking trails, a large lagoon and 200 permanently exhibited Terracotta Warriors. Union Springs’ historic downtown features the Murals on Main, celebrating the citizens, traditions and history of Bullock County. Five murals, painted by Wes Hardin, line North Prairie Street.
On With the Show
Brundidge’s We Piddle Around Theater hosts events throughout the year sponsored by The Brundidge Historical Society. Presentations include Alabama’s Official Folk Life Play, “Come Home, It’s Suppertime.” In Union Springs, The Red Door Theatre presents shows in a professional-grade theater experience of heritage and history.
This article appears in the September 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
