ONLY IN BLOUNT, ETOWAH & ST. CLAIR
The Alabama Trail of Tears Memorial allows visitors to walk and learn near where members of the Cherokee tribes were forcibly removed from their homelands in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee to live in what is now Oklahoma. For a remarkable scenic treat, visit the Covered Bridges of Blount County. With three of the state’s 11 covered bridges, Swann, Horton Mill and Easley, Blount is known as the “Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama.” Or visit the Mustang Museum of America in Odenville, dedicated to all things regarding the classic Ford Mustang.
GO BELOW
Rickwood Caverns State Park offers a mile of underground caverns, with blind cave fish, an underground pool and a colorful cavern. Above ground the park has an Olympic-size swimming pool, picnic area and hiking trails.
SHOWTIME
Catch a live performance at Theatre of Gadsden in the old Ritz Theatre building. Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts offers opportunities to experience the arts in all their forms — galleries, Etowah Youth Symphony Orchestra and Downtown Dance Conservatory. Gadsden Museum of Art offers permanent and rotating art collections, historical local artifacts and special annual events. Drama, music and special events, including the Summer Concert Series, take the stage at Historic Mort Glosser Amphitheater, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Pell City Center for Education and the Performing Arts provides a 2,000-seat arena and athletic complex plus a 400-seat performing arts center for theater and concerts. Covered Bridge Players offer three or more plays a year plus workshops, improv and more. Community Arts Council of Blount County offers a variety of concerts, opera, poetry reading, talent shows, children’s theatre, artist workshops and camps and public awareness.
HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS
Museums abound in local history. Fortson Museum in Odenville displays local artifacts and is home to the St. Clair County Hall of Heroes. Ashville and Springville both have Museum and Archives facilities, showcasing local memorabilia and history. The Blount County Memorial Museum is the county’s largest source of genealogy information and also houses historic exhibits. Also in Blountsville is the Historical Park, with log cabins filled with period furnishings. Homestead Hollow, in Springville, offers a 27-acre recreated pioneer setting with demonstrations of blacksmithing, wood carving and weaving.
TEE TIME
Twin Bridges Golf Club in Gadsden offers 18 holes in a course designed by Gene Bates. The Silver Lakes Golf Course in Gadsden is part of the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Other golf options include the nine-hole Pell City Country Club and the 18-hole Heritage Golf in Oneonta. Limestone Springs features 18 holes in the Appalachian foothills. Or trade your clubs for a flying disc and check out the nine-hole Argo Disc Golf Course behind city hall.
LOCAL WINE & PRODUCE
Two wineries thrive in the tri-county area — Wills Creek Vineyards & Winery in Attalla and Maraella Winery in Hokes Bluff. Chandler Mountain, in St. Clair County, is one of the nation’s largest tomato producers, offering fresh produce, U-Pick, annual festivals and more.
SEE THE SIGHTS
The 90-foot Noccalula Falls is the centerpiece of Noccalula Falls and Park and Campground in Gadsden. The park also features a sightseeing train, pioneer village, botanical gardens and several annual events. King’s Bend Scenic Overlook Park, a new park on in Blount County, centers on the U.S. 231 bridge over the Locust Fork River.
WATCH THE BIRDIE!
Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve, due to open this spring, offers 422 acres of birdwatching, horseback riding and mountain biking with 30 miles of trails.
HIT THE WATER
Logan Martin Lake twists and turns offering 275 miles of shoreline along its 48-mile length. It’s popular for bass fishing, as well as boating, skiing, and swimming. Neely Henry Lake, also a favorite for fisherfolks, has 339 miles of shoreline. The Locust Fork River, the major tributary of the Black Warrior, is nationally known for its abundance of whitewater with class III and IV rapids.
LAUNCH IT
Boat launches abound in this area known for its scenic rivers and lakes. On Lake Neely Henry, visit Canoe Creek Boat Landing with nearly 300 feet of docks. Southside Landing is among the newest launch sites. Little Ridge Marina, also on Neely Henry, has boating facilities plus venues for food, drink and entertainment. Godfrey’s Marina has boating and fishing needs, including a boat launch. And Coosa Landing, Gadsden’s city boat ramp, can handle four launches at a time, with other boating and fishing supplies available. And for the paddlers, there’s Yak Tha Creek, an Ashville kayak outfitter offering self-guided trips and Big Canoe Creek Outfitters in Springville that is a kayak outfitter, camping destination and concert venue.
GET SOME EXERCISE
GadRock Microgym in Gadsden offers more than 4,500 square feet of indoor climbing, for all skill levels. Moragne Park, also in Gadsden, has a universally accessible playground, dual zip lines, walking track, three sand volleyball courts and green space. The Ridge Outdoor Adventure Park in Springville has 500 acres for off-road riding, hiking, disc golf, ATV and side-by-side rentals, zip line and rappelling tours and more.
TAKE A WALK
Coosa River Boardwalk stretches 1,000 feet with fishing piers, splash pad, gazebos and benches. Riverwalk at Coosa Landing is a new park with walking paths and river boardwalk, plus fishing docks and scenic river views. James D. Martin Wildlife Park & Walking Trail attracts hikers, bikers and more. Hiking, fishing and more are available at Logan Martin Dam/Double Cove Park. Nature and walking trails, a wetlands boardwalk plus beach, fishing and a botanical garden are features at the 52-acre Lakeside Park on Logan Martin Lake. Ten Islands Historical Park, on the shores of Neely Henry Lake, has a nature trail, birdwatching, fishing, beach and more. Big Springs Park centers on a spring-filled lake with walking track and options for sports and play.
FUN FOR THE KIDS
The Imagination Place Children’s Museum in Gadsden features a learning playground plus arts and science options.
RELAX
Greensport RV Park and Marina at Neely Henry Lake has trails, beaches, pools, jumping pillow, dog park and more. In addition to camping facilities, Gadsden Tiny Home Estates & Campground LLC also offers relaxing floats down Big Wills Creek.
SADDLE UP
St. Clair County Rodeo Arena in Odenville hosts rodeos, livestock exhibitions, craft shows, concerts, horse shows and more.
GETAWAY
In the midst of Logan Martin Lake lies Pirate Island, a place to relax and play — if you have a boat to get there.
SING, SING
White’s Mountain Bluegrass Park in Springville strives to preserve American heritage through music. It is home to the annual Chimney Corner Celebration in October.
ZOOM, ZOOM
Alabama International Dragway in Steele has multiple ¼-mile asphalt drag strips and bleachers.
GET OUTDOORS
Hiking, bouldering, bluegrass and more are featured at the outdoor nature park Horse Pens 40 in Steele. Palisades Park, atop Ebell Mountain in the foothills of the Appalachians, offers picnicking, rock climbing, nature trails and even a newly restored fire tower for climbing, plus an annual Christmas light display. Spring Valley Beach is a 25-acre waterpark in Blountsville with attractions for all ages.
FARM FUN
Shel-Clair Farm and Ranch, on 1,000 acres, has streams, mountain views and wildlife. Plus, you can bring your horse.
Festivities & Events:
Blount County Christmas Parade — Oneonta | Christmastime Sponsored by the Blount-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce, it is the largest parade in the county.
June Fling — Oneonta | June Oneonta Business Association’s annual summertime festival of fun, arts and crafts, classic cars, great food and good times.
Harvest Festival — Blountsville | September Blountsville Business Association sponsors this event with a big parade, antique car show and lots more.
Covered Bridge Arts & Music Festival — Oneonta | October The Blount-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce sponsors this event to celebrate the county’s covered bridges.
Logan Martin Lakefest and Boat Show — Pell City | May The South’s largest in-water boat show and festival held annually at Pell City Lakeside Park.
Barbarian Challenge — Gadsden | June This annual obstacle course race adds manmade obstacles to the steep grades and creek crossings on the trails of Noccalula Falls Park.
This article appears in the April 2025 issue of Business Alabama.
