LAKE NEWS – Page 2 – LakeLife 24/7 Magazine

Easy way to the water

Paddlers to get new access to Neely Henry through grant

Story by Paul South
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

For Dave Tumlin, the memory is as vivid as summer sunsets on Neely Henry Lake.

As an Alabama kid transplanted to California, he and his family would travel from the West Coast to visit relatives and spend time on the Coosa River. His family eventually moved back to Alabama and built a rock and shake shingle house on the Coosa River in 1968. Dave still lives there today.

The trips – and his parents’ stories of family and the river – would linger in Tumlin’s head, heart and imagination long after returning to California.

“When we were kids in grade school, my brother and I would take the double mattress off my folks’ bed, throw it on the floor, and we would pretend like we were rafting down the river like Tom Sawyer,” Tumlin said. “That’s how long my love has been for this river and this lake.”

NHLA President Dave Tumlin shows where access will be installed

The Tumlins were one of the lake’s first families. He remembers when the area was dominated by the Coosa River and cow pastures.

“It was pretty close to the first house on the lake after the lake came up in the 1960s,” Tumlin said. “We’ve watched it evolve from a beautiful river and bottom land to a more beautiful lake.”

Alabama Power Company created the lake in 1966.

Now retired, Tumlin serves as president of the Neely Henry Lake Association. The organization, representing some 130 lake families working to protect and improve life on the lake, received a $2,200 grant from the Alabama Scenic River Trail Waterway Enhancement Program.

The funds will be used to construct the Rainbow City Paddle Launch. The project will provide the first assisted launch device on Neely Henry Lake, which will benefit paddleboarders, kayakers and canoeists, making water access easier and safer for them, particularly enthusiasts who don’t have their own dock.

NHLA was one of six recipients in the inaugural round of ASRT grants.

“The accessibility, if you don’t have your own dock, there is none, quite frankly,” Tumlin said. “That triggered the thought … What could we do with the popularity of paddleboarding and kayaking and so forth to give the public better access. So, it kind of evolved from there. We felt like it was a good thing to do.”

The grant is a first for the association.

Dave Tumlin explains to kayaker Shawn Craven of Ragland how the new system will work

Martha Grace Mize, Development and Outreach coordinator for the Alabama Scenic River Trail, praised the NHLA’s “really thought out” and thorough grant application. In its first year, the grant program attracted 10 applicants. The ASRT, best known for hosting the Great Alabama 650, the nation’s longest paddle race, awarded $25,000 in grants.

“They (the lake association) were very considerate of thinking about what it would take to bring the project to fruition and what the follow up would be,” Mize said. “They were very intentional about how this project would impact public use and how they could explore other projects in the future on Neely Henry.”

The ASRT was founded in 2008 to enhance recreation and tourism on Alabama’s more than 6,000 miles of rivers and streams, the longest historic river trail in the United States.

The accessibility devices can either be fixed or floating. The NHLA launch will float and be affixed to a dock. The new launch will be able to rise up and down with the lake levels.

NHLA, in conjunction with Rainbow City Parks and Recreation, expects to complete the project by summer’s end. The accessibility device will be located at Rainbow Landing near the Southside Bridge on Alabama 77.

“We wanted to be able to provide something that to our knowledge doesn’t exist for the public,” Tumlin said.

Currently, kayakers, paddleboarders and the like have to go to a public dock and lower themselves onto their vessels. Balance can be tricky. The project will change that.

“You can put your kayak, paddleboard or canoe on top of the floating device and ease yourself into the water using arms that are on there. And the reverse is true when you return. You can pull yourself out of the water.”

The project is in response to the increasing popularity of canoes, paddleboards and kayaks. The COVID-19 pandemic actually boosted the popularity of paddle sports. The global market was estimated at $2.4 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $3.3 billion by 2027, according to the Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (gorp.com).

That increasing popularity underscores the need for the project, Tumlin said.

“With the really rapid growth in the use of kayaks, canoes and paddleboards, we need that accessibility on our lake,” Tumlin said.

“I think this will go a long way to help people who enjoy doing that and give them a safer way to access the lake. It seemed like a really neat thing to do to improve life on the lake because a lot of people are going to kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. It’s a great way to connect with the water,” Tumlin added.

While pontoons, ski and bass boats and personal watercrafts, even sailboats, are popular, paddle sports provide a more intimate experience.

“It’s just a whole different way to experience the lake,” Tumlin said. “The shoreline is closer and certainly the water is closer. But it gives you a connection you don’t get any other way.”

He added, “There’s nothing cooler than being on a paddleboard or a kayak and going up quietly into a slough. You really are one with the lake when you do that.”

Paddle sports also benefit the environment, propelled by human strength, not fossil fuels.

“It’s quiet. You get exercise when you’re out there, so that’s a good thing. But from an environmental standpoint, there’s absolutely no impact. So, it’s a very good thing.”

As for the future, NHLA is considering similar paddle sport projects on the lake and plans to pursue more grants, Tumlin said. The group is currently researching possible sites in Gadsden, Southside and in St. Clair County.

“We would like to put one up in Gadsden at Coosa Landing,” Tumlin said. “They’ve got a small inlet area there that I think would be [a good place] to launch before people got out into the river itself.”

Bottom line for Tumlin is, “I’d like to see one in Canoe Creek. I’d like to see one on Southside and one in Gadsden.”

The love affair that he and his family have had since even before his imaginary childhood Coosa River on a mattress has only deepened. The biodiversity and changing topography are only part of the lake’s variety. He’s explored much of it in a flat bottom boat.

North of Gadsden, the lake is riverine, narrow with high banks.

“That’s a whole different world, and it’s really cool to explore that. When you get down below Gadsden in the Southside area, the lake spreads out and the fishing changes. You’ve got mountains and the history of the area. I could talk forever about the beauty of this lake and the river.”

The initial Neely Henry access project is the latest in a series of projects by the association on the lake that improves the quality of life.

“Anything that can improve life on this river, that’s the most important thing,” Tumlin said. “We’ve seen the growth of boats and more families on the water and more kids experiencing what I experienced as a kid on the water. (Paddle sports are) a whole new way of experiencing the water. It’s just great to see that growth.”

For Tumlin, as certainly for other families and visitors, Neely Henry Lake is – to borrow a phrase from an old hymn – a fount of blessings.

“When I’m out there [on my patio looking at the lake], maybe having a glass of wine in the evening, I think how blessed I’ve been that my parents made the decision that they did. That decision – being on this lake – has affected my whole family. Just the joy over the years that my family has been able to experience because we live on this lake.”

What would his parents think of the new project?

“I think they would be really pleased that the lake association and the Alabama Scenic River Trail were able to expand to a whole other group of people the joy of being on this lake.”

Editor’s Notes: For more information on the Neely Henry Lake Association, visit neelyhenrylake.org or call Tumlin at (256)368-5200.

Learn more about the Alabama Scenic River Trail at alabamascenicrivertrail.com.

Repurposed

Artist turns old into new again

Story by Elaine Hobson Miller
Photos by Mandy Baughn

According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, to repurpose is to “adapt for use in a different purpose.” That’s the perfect description for what Maria Hull does with her art, not to mention what she has done with her life.

An MICU nurse at UAB Hospital for more than 30 years, Maria retired, trading that high stress environment for the beauty and tranquility of lake life. She and husband, Tommy, moved from Trussville area to Logan Martin Lake in Cropwell on Treasure Island.

Living on the water inspired her, and her creativity began to thrive. For years, she has put her skillful hand to transforming old into new – each piece a work of art. No two piece are alike.

A collection of bird feeders she has made

She takes vintage stone, metal beads and crystals to create her jewelry designs. Vintage beads and pendants may become a cross. A utility meter becomes a whimsical piece of yard art, using antique doorknobs for the eyes and a brass hose nozzle for the nose. In Maria’s realm of creativity, a bird cage becomes the housing for a vintage lamp, a piece she treasures because it belonged to her late sister, Demetra.

“When I was able to retire, I had more time to create and have fun with it,” she says. A collector of antiques and vintage jewelry, she took her mother’s costume pearl necklace and added one of her own wire art crosses to that piece. Later, she started making crosses from beads, too. “I inherited all my mom’s old costume jewelry. I love having crosses and being able to wear something of my mom’s. I like revitalizing what I have so I can enjoy it.”

Her crosses have complete symmetry, and the wire is tightly wound around each piece. She collects antique beads, copper, brass, natural stones and crystals from around the world, dating as far back as the Roaring 20s. “Some of my vintage beads came from a woman on the West Coast whose 90-year-old mother had collected them and from a local designer,” she says.

Sheformed Treasure Island Wire Art Designs LLC, and for several years had booths in antique malls around Birmingham and Talladega. Some of her pieces were sold in the gift shop at the Birmingham Museum of Art, too. She retired from that career, too.

At home on the lake,her art and creativity surround you. The beauty of her plants serve as accent pieces. “I love my gardens,” she said, referring to the colorful array of plants and flowers interspersing God’s handiwork with her own – a bottle tree, statues, birdhouses and benches – along the winding pathways she created.

“I don’t like destroying anything,” Maria says. One of Tommy’s old boots became a birdhouse, and she fashioned a bird feeder from a copper piece, metal, wire and glass that glistens in the sunlight.

A necklace with cross holds special meaning

Cedar boards from their home’s original 1960s boathouse serve as the top of a window treatment where a collection of vintage and antique teapots rest. Old wooden legs from a table salvaged from an old farmhouse form the sides of the window treatment. “I’ve learned not to ask, ‘What the heck are you going to do with that?’” says Tommy of her odd finds.

Her love of crosses led her to turn a hallway into a Cross Wall, where dozens of bejeweled crosses of various sizes hang along the top half. She painted the wall to look like natural bricks, adding flowers and planters to create an Old World appearance. “I used plaster and concrete, then mixed acrylics with other paints for the design,” she says.

Maria has always been fascinated with faces and hands and has incorporated them in art pieces throughout the house. She made “Treasure Island Girls” with faces made of flattened silverplated spoons, wire for the hair, painted bodies and studded beads for accents.

“My whole purpose in all of my art is to bring life back to forgotten objects,” she says. “Where most people see an elongated piece of wood, for example, I might see a fish made of driftwood from the lake.” She considers it a privilege to work from her wooden kitchen table or back porch, because they overlook their pier and the water.

She is passing her legacy on to her three granddaughters — Kate, 10, Reese, 12, and Maci, 15. They have taken an interest in jewelry making, and she hopes they might follow in her footsteps.

The philosophy that guides her? “Enjoy each day, repurpose, save the planet, create and most of all, have fun.”

Riverfront Gadsden

City plans for more development
will continue to boost local economy

Story by Paul South
Photos by Graham Hadley
and contributed photos

Earlier in this century, this city on the Coosa River looked to be on its last legs.

Gadsden’s two largest employers – Republic Steel in 2000 and Goodyear in 2020 – closed their doors, taking with them thousands of jobs.

The city’s riverfront on the Coosa was an overgrown tangle of trees, weeds and brush. “We didn’t even know we had a waterfront,” Gadsden Director of Economic Development and Governmental Affairs John Moore said.

That was then.

This is now.

Spearheaded in large part by riverfront revitalization, Gadsden is seeing an economic resurrection. The riverfront is booming, thanks to a mix of hospitality, healthcare and recreation.

Gadsden City Council President Kent Back summed it up in two words: “Gadsden reimagined”

It all started with the cleanup of the waterfront.

“It’s been remarkable,” Back said. “Just the removal of the bushes and the trees that blocked the view has created a whole new vibe, if you will, that before you hardly knew was there.”

Another boost, Back said, will come from Mayor Craig Ford’s vision to move U.S. 411 in Gadsden off of the river, a herculean task involvinfg a snarl of federal and state bureaucracies.

“What it will do, it’ll open up development on the river. There’s a plan to create a really nice boardwalk that would stretch that whole stretch of road. And then you would have greenspace where you could have commercial development.”

Ford envisions a mix of upscale restaurants and bars connected by the boardwalk to a hotel, located on the current City Hall site. The city is also planning the development of the area near Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and the Venue at Coosa Landing, transforming the area into an outdoor recreation area surrounded by outdoor dining.

On the recreation front, Gadsden has partnered with Gadsden State Community College to build the Gadsden Sports Park. The expected cost of the project is an estimated $25 million. Part of the park – made up of baseball, softball and soccer fields – includes a field for kids with disabilities, giving them opportunities to compete. Back spearheaded the idea.

“I see it all the time with these Challenger leagues, Field of Dreams and that concept. I really thought we needed to do that, and the mayor agreed with me,” Back said.

The completed and projected projects along the river are fueled by citizen demand, Ford said, not just among Gadsden residents, but also those in neighboring towns.

“I think the growth is just the demand of not just the people in the City of Gadsden, but surrounding communities that want to see Gadsden develop the river and give people something to do in Gadsden,” Ford said.

City officials have identified several parcels of city-owned property now targeted for future development. In turn, Gadsden is making its pitch to developers across the Southeast.

The relocation of Highway 411 will be critical to the development of the riverfront, Moore said.

“I see the City of Gadsden in a few years thriving off riverfront development in the way of tourism, once we relocate Highway 411 to create more greenspace along the river as well as restaurants, shops, bars and outdoor activity,” Moore said. “These developments will all be centrally focused around a four-star hotel with a rooftop bar, pools and spa.”

Moore sees the city as “the home of the three-day getaway, where people from 120 to 150 miles will want to come and play.”

Ford, who often envisions Gadsden reimagined as a “fun town,” says a city that not so long ago was given up for dead is today “growing and thriving in a post-COVID world, which can’t be said for a lot of cities.”

He added, “We are working aggressively to become an entertainment town that offers visitors a riverfront experience, natural waterfalls for hiking and multiple golf courses for leisure.”

The city, thanks to picturesque Noccalula Falls, is fast becoming a popular fly fishing and kayaking destination. The surrounding park is also home to arts and craft fairs and other events. The city has invested $16 million in that area.

Gadsden, home to two hospitals, is also growing its healthcare footprint near the Coosa. Tuscaloosa-based Alabama Cancer Care has invested $6.5 million to construct a new cancer treatment center. Serving a 10-county area, the new facility with its riverfront view means cancer-stricken residents of the region will not have to make the taxing trip to Birmingham for treatments as they battle the disease.

The facility is located at the old armory site in Gadsden, a deal closed shortly after Ford took office. Healthcare was among the targeted sectors by David Hooks when he became executive director of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority.

The new facility will mean some 16 good-paying jobs for city residents. Ford says the city is following Birmingham’s example as a health care hub in the state. After all, Birmingham transformed its once smokestack economy of iron and steel into a service-based economy.

“With two hospitals located inside the city, healthcare is a target for economic development,” he said. “We are constantly looking for ways to grow this industry in Gadsden and recruit companies that offer different types of services and treatments,” Ford said. “Look at Birmingham and what a great job they have done with UAB and how that complex has really grown that area in the city.”

The growth along the banks of the Coosa, fueled by the current administration’s vision, means a flood of optimism in the city.

“In reimagining ourselves, Gadsden is taking advantage of the natural gifts that we have in a river that comes right down the middle of our city and we’ve never really done that before. … Cities would kill to have a 90-foot waterfall and a riverfront in their city. We’ve got both.”

Ford sums up the beehive of activity along the river and across the city, an effort aimed at improving the quality of life across the board for locals and putting the economic setbacks of the past in Gadsden’s rearview mirror.

“Gadsden is back.”

Pier 59

After 31 years, a popular lake eatery where everybody knows your name

Story by Paul South
Photos by Richard Rybka
Contributed photos

Thirty-one years ago, Janet Swann and her partner, Dennis Reno, bought a place she describes as “a little concrete floor beer joint.”

Today, that joint is Pier 59, one of the iconic eateries on Logan Martin Lake. Other restaurants have come and gone, but Pier 59 remains a constant.

Open only three days a week in the offseason and four in Logan Martin’s summer high season, Pier 59, has the vibe that’s a combination of a waterfront place and a fictional Boston bar.

“We wanted to be like Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name,” Swann said.

And it has, as families flock there to feast on chef “Ziggy” Zigmund’s crab claws, chicken wings and tenders, Tilapia and other popular dishes.

Before coming into the restaurant business, Swann and Reno ran Birmingham International Raceway, the short track where NASCAR legends Donnie, Bobby and Davey Allison, Neil Bonnett and others cut their racing teeth.

“My mom was in the restaurant business,” Swann says. “She had a restaurant for a couple of years in Fultondale, and we had the snack bar at Pine Bowl.”

Now at Pier 59, Swann loves her customers.

“I love my people. I want to treat people when they walk into the pier like I want to be treated when I walk into somewhere,” Swann said. “I wanted to have a restaurant that was kid friendly up to a certain time. When I first started I wanted something that everyone could enjoy from the water.”

Pier 59 has come a long way from when Swann and Reno arrived. It gives diners the classic waterfront vibe, laid back and the epitome of “chill.”

“Yes, there is,” Swann said when asked about the waterfront effect. “Because when we came up here, all we had was like, two pool tables in front of the bar. But we put a big deck on it, and wanted to make it something nice on the lake.”

Like successful businesses, philosophy that drives Pier 59 hasn’t changed.

“I want my customers to be my top priority,” Swann said. “I want everyone to leave there happy. If there’s a complaint, I want them to come to me, and I’ll fix it.”

That happiness is seasoned with one of Swann’s hugs for customers. Little wonder it’s become a “place to be” on the lake.

“I hope it’s that way. That was my goal when we started,” Swann said.

Along with the food, what makes the restaurant so popular among the growing stream of lake residents and visitors?

“I think it’s because I try to treat people as individuals. I don’t treat them as just people coming in to spend money,” she said. “I don’t mind telling my customers, ‘I love y’all’ when they come in. That’s just me. I don’t mind huggin.’ And I do.”

Something that shouldn’t be lost in the Pier 59 story is that this is a restaurant with heart. For 15 years, Pier 59 has celebrated “Christmas in July,” a benefit for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. The restaurant has raised nearly $500,000 for the school. In 2023, Pier 59 raised $109,000 on a single Saturday.

“That is my heart,” Swann said of the school. AIDB has its main campus in Talladega and satellite facilities across the state to serve visually and hearing-impaired students that hold a special place in the hearts of all involved in the fundraiser.

Swann credits her customers and volunteers for the drive’s success.

“Without my customers and volunteers, this would not be possible,” she says.

St, Clair County is a big-hearted place with a boatload of charitable organizations to support veterans, the homeless and others in need. The students at AIDB, who Swann calls her “babies,” drew her to help the school.

“There are so many kids over there who would not have a Christmas it wasn’t for our Christmas drive,” Swann says. “That’s what makes me work all year and keeps me going.”

Now an endowment has been created to bring AIDB kids Christmas cheer, long after Swann and Reno are gone.

“I love those kids,” she said. “If you could see their faces when they open up (their presents) and have their toy party and everything, it’s just so emotional … You can just see the joy in their eyes.”

While the AIDB children have her heart, the restaurant claims her business acumen. Swann has learned more not only about business, but about herself.

“I can’t walk off and leave it,” she said. “I have to be there. A guy told me on the second day I was open that if I watched my pennies, I wouldn’t have to worry about my nickels and dimes. If the Pier’s open, unless I’m sick, I’m always there.”

But along with Zigmund, the chef known in the lake community as “Ziggy,” Swann and Reno have a team of dedicated staff. Some have been at Pier 59 for 15 years or longer, off and on. Her grandson Brody is her bartender. And Zigmund has been with her for 20 years.

“Everybody just knows him as Ziggy. He’s fabulous. He’s just one of these who’s not going to use little wings that are only as big as your little finger. He wants customers to feel full and that they got their money’s worth,” Swann says. “And trust me, they do when they leave here at night.”

As the lake population has grown, so has the restaurant’s schedule. Winter used to be the offseason, but no more.

“I do a little vegetable special on Thursdays that’s kickin’ it,” Swann says.

But while the business is still largely seasonal, offseason traffic has grown by some 50 percent, Swann says, because of the blossoming year-round population. When lake levels rise, Pier 59’s doors open Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 3 p.m. Closing time is when customers are heading home.

“From Point A to where we are right now, it’s picked up a lot,” Swann says.

For first time diners, Swann recommends her two favorite dishes.

“I love our grilled blackened Tilapia with vegetables, and I really love our Hawaiian chicken.”

During the summer, vegetables come from local growers.

As far as sandwiches, Swann is a fan of the French Dip. But the restaurant is perhaps best known for its chicken wings and its crab claws, both Ziggy specials. The claws – always fresh and battered in a secret recipe – are sold by the pound.

“Everybody says they’re better than what you get at the beach,” Swann says proudly. “We are really known for our claws. They’re really good.”

And while Cheers’ Sam Malone, Carla Tortelli, Cliff Clavin, Norm Peterson and Frasier Crane may not be found at Pier 59, Swann wants the spirit of the iconic TV show to fill the restaurant.

“I want a place where everybody’s going to know your name and everybody’s going to be friends.”

River’s Edge Marina reborn

New River’s Edge, Burgers & Breakfast, Tiki Hut ready for new season

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Mackenzie Free

In its 1960s and 70s’ heyday, Rabbit Branch Marina was THE place to go on the newly created Logan Martin Lake. Today’s River’s Edge, the Tiki Hut and Burgers & Breakfast, the modern-day edition, is quickly becoming that place once again.

General Manager Michael Emerick said longtime lake residents talk of “how great it used to be,” and Emerick and his father, Paul, have continually worked to transform the property. Over the years, they have vastly improved it, adding amenities hard to match anywhere else on Logan Martin.

The latest, set to open May 4, is the brand-new River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast, marina office and so much more. Gone is the one-story block building that housed the kitchen, walk-up order windows and an office in the rear. “The old building was outdated and didn’t match the beach vibe we give to the lake. So, we ended up with this,” Emerick said, motioning toward the newly constructed River’s Edge. The two-story building itself is 2,600 square feet, excluding the porches.

Replacing the nondescript building is an impressive complex dressed in a Caribbean-style blue that welcomes one and all by water or land. Upstairs is a massive, covered deck overlooking the water, nearby beach with palm trees dotting the landscape, dozens of boat slips and docks, a family friendly playground and swimming area.

Take the stairs or the elevator and have a seat at one of the many picnic tables after placing your order at the window of a brand new, cutting-edge kitchen. Then, take in the view. There’s not a bad seat among them.

The menu includes its signature favorites: Freshly handmade ground chuck burgers and hand cut fries, Edge Rolls, Yum Yum, Cowboy and RYNO Cheeseburgers.

Head downstairs to the covered porch below and take your pick of open air “hangouts” – a line of aqua-colored lounge chairs nestled in the sand, conversational areas of sofas and chairs with upholstered seating, suspended swing chairs and Adirondacks.

Thirsty? Head just a few feet over to the popular Tiki Hut, a 30 x 30-foot open air bar with six specially designed machines turning out your favorite frozen libation. It has become the place to be on weekends from May to September. In two years, it has nearly doubled in size. “We’ve definitely blown all expectations out of it,” he said.

The nearby covered porch can handle overflow crowds and ease congestion under the Tiki Hut.

Tiny homes are among amenities at marina

River’s Edge, located off Rabbit Branch Road, is easily accessible by vehicle or boat. “We have the most boat parking on the lake,” Emerick said, noting that there are 30 to 35 open slips to allow traffic flow in and out. New state-of-the-art concrete piers and 24/7 gas on the dock are new amenities as well.

The full-service marina itself boasts the only fully enclosed dry storage and the first to offer luxury boat rentals. River’s Edge rents Bennington pontoon and tritoon boats, Emerick said. “It’s the nicest fleet of rental boats on the water.”

The marina also offers RV lots, limited wet slips and short-term tiny home rentals. Its sales include personal watercraft docks – EZ Docks – and Lake Eze ladders that are spring assisted and dog friendly. They also sell inflatable mats and box anchors.

Emerick’s philosophy is simple: “We just want to make it the spot to hang out on Logan Martin” – just like it used to be.

Editor’s Note: River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast and Tiki Hut will be open Saturdays and Sundays from May 3 to Labor Day and then Saturday only through the end of September. Future plans include opening on Fridays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Art on the Rocks

Iconic event returns to Noccalula Falls May 4-5

Story by Linda Long
Submitted Photos

Artisans throughout the Southeast, laden with wares ranging from handmade mustache cups to molasses, are heading to Gadsden this spring for a favorite, southern tradition – Art on the Rocks at Noccalula Falls May 4-5.

This semi-annual event is a celebration of beautifully created, handmade arts and crafts of pottery, paintings, jewelry, jams, jellies, candles, soaps, dream catchers, crochet, metal works, wood carvings, and, well, rocks.

Yes, actual art on actual rocks!

Crowds from all over keep returning to Art on the Rocks

“That’s right,” said Laura Gladden, park administrative assistant and event coordinator. “One of our vendors gets large rocks and paints very detailed delicate pictures on them. They’re beautiful. I have one in my house.”

According to Gladden, products offered during the two-day event are as individual as the vendors themselves. “We have a gentleman who paints really big pieces of artwork – so big, that people can actually put it on the side of a barn. Another one works in 3-D art.

When she talks about paintings, she notes that each artist has his or her own unique style. “One person will paint only animals. Beautiful paintings of animals. Another paints only landscapes with colors that pop out at you.”

Gladden has been with Art on the Rocks in its current incarnation since 2019. That’s the year the event returned to the park, after about a 25-year hiatus.

Long time vendor and event participant, Tina Pendley, who, along with her husband David, owns Sweet Tea Pottery, was instrumental in bringing Art on the Rocks back to Gadsden and Noccalula Falls.

Sweet Tea draws its name from its roots. “We wanted something that clearly said the South and what is more southern than sweet tea?,” she asked.

She recalls the historic roots of the festival as well. The event actually got its start back in 1958 as a project of the Gadsden Women’s Club and art-loving member, Mrs. Frank (Merci) Stowers.

Visitors browse the many vendor stalls at the Falls

“Mrs. Stowers, loved to travel,” said Pendley, “and she loved art. After attending an outdoor event in Texas, she brought the idea to the women’s club about having an outdoor art exhibit. The members loved the idea.”

So, she continued, “they started the planning in January, and held the first Art on the Rocks on May 18, 1958. It was a huge success and continued to be successful for 25 years. Eventually, it shut down for about 25 years.”

At some point during the event’s early history, it had come under sponsorship of the Gadsden Art Association, of which the Pendleys were members. She remembers it was at one of the organization’s 2018 meetings when the topic of Art on the Rocks resurfaced.

“We were talking about a fundraiser,” said Pendley, “and I asked the question had they ever considered bringing back Art on the Rocks, and they had not, but they said they would consider it if I would get some information.”

That go-ahead was all Pendley needed to get the ball rolling. She discovered that Noccalula Falls officials would “love” to have an arts and crafts show but didn’t know how to get vendors.

Noccalula Falls is the perfect setting for Art on the Rocks

It was a perfect match. The Pendleys knew how to get vendors because they worked these events with their pottery, but they didn’t know how to set up the park. It was the proverbial marriage made in heaven.

“I met with Christina Richardson (supervisor, Noccalula Falls),” said Pendley. “I knew if we worked together, we could make this happen. She said we’ve got a great crew here at the Falls, and we can make it work. So, I went back to the Art Association and brought back a lot of information about how we can work together with Noccalula Falls.”

And they voted to return Art on the Rocks to its former home at Noccalula.

“It’s just been a great success,” she added. “We’ve gone from having just one show a year to two shows. It’s been a great event to add to the community.”

Gladden agrees. “I love it. It’s my favorite event to work up here. It’s really got a great energy and vibe from not only the people attending but also from all our vendors. I’ve heard many of them say it’s their favorite show to work.

For Pendley, the biggest drawing card for folks to attend Art on the Rocks is the venue itself. “It’s beautiful here. We’ve got not only the waterfall but the green spaces as well. And there’s something for everybody from the train rides to the petting zoo.”

And yes, there will be plenty of food said Gladden. Vendors will serve everything from blooming onions to funnel cakes and everything in between.

Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for kids/seniors/military. Park season passes will be accepted. Pets are welcome everywhere but near the animal habitat. Vendors may register through April 15.

Return of Gadsden’s First Fridays

Coming in April

First Fridays are on their way back and not a moment too soon, for most. When Broad Street overflows with crowds, cars and choruses of entertainment, you’ll know it’s the place to be the first Friday in April and every first Friday thereafter until October.

Talk about a growing success story. First Friday is legendary, regularly drawing from multiple communities throughout the region and states all around the Southeast.

Presented by Downtown Gadsden Inc., it began in 2006 as an effort to bring more people to the heart of the city with the aim of promoting what downtown businesses have to offer.

Vendors, entertainment and of course, the car show – something for everyone

A classic car show was the nucleus in those early years, generating bigger and bigger crowds. Entertainment and a showcasing of downtown stores, restaurants, coffee shops and bars gradually combined for a perfect evening out for the whole family.

And that’s what is in store April 5 when First Friday gets underway once more. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Kay Moore, executive director of Downtown Gadsden. Just grow it.

Entertainment of all genres will be on 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th streets and possibly, the 600 block. The sounds of Jazz, R & B, Rock ’n Roll, Bluegrass, Line Dancing and the Cowboy Church Band will fill those streets and so will crowds gathering to hear their favorites.

While downtown, you might take a look at some new additions as part of the Main Street program that Downtown Gadsden is investing a great deal of effort. It is an 18-foot kinetic wood sculpture, which comes courtesy of a project envisioned by Moore and spearheaded by Mario Gallardo, Gadsden State art instructor and director of the Walnut Gallery along with Gadsden Museum of Art Director Ray Wetzel.

Titled “Up from the Depths”, was funded through a collaboration between DGI, Walnut Gallery, Gadsden Museum of Art, the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts, The Chamber, Greater Gadsden Area Tourism, and the City of Gadsden with additional support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

It is fabricated in brushed aluminum and features abstract, fish-like forms that turn and shift as the wind blows. They chose the site due to its close proximity to the Coosa River, and Phillip Williams, the property owner, agreed to host the sculpture long-term. It’s all about returning downtown to its days of grandeur and from the looks of it, the investment by all involved is paying sizable dividends for downtown Gadsden.

Editor’s note: For more, go to downtowngadsden.com.

Logan Martin Lakefest and Boat Show 2024

Returning to Pell City’s Lakeside Park

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

On the social media platform “X” – formerly known as Twitter – Eric Housh made a powerful statement:

“I love the lake. Is it summer yet?”

“The lake” is Logan Martin. And Housh helps run LakeFest, a combination boat show, arts and crafts fair, music festival and block party that in 2023 drew an estimated 45,000 people.

Known as the largest in-water boat show in the Southeast, The Logan Martin LakeFest and Boat Show returns to Lakeside Park May 10-12 as “the place to be” for the past 15 Springs, save one coronavirus year. Some might even call it the unofficial start of another spectacular summer on the lake.

“We’re proud that it continues to grow a little bit every year and get bigger and bigger,” Housh said. “This year, we’ve already had a good response from all our sponsors and several vendors, so we’re looking forward to another really good, full event.

The festival will feature over 80 models of boats and personal watercraft, live music on the Tracker Stage, featuring the popular Louisville, Ky. B and The Velcro Pygmies, gourmet food trucks, lake lifestyle vendors and a fireworks show honoring vets from the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City.

Admission is free. But food, drink and vendors’ wares will be for sale, so bring your wallet. Also, for prospective car and truck, boat and personal watercraft buyers, on-site financing will be available courtesy of America’s First Federal Credit Union.

LakeFest is an effort to promote Logan Martin Lake, raise money for local charities and build a stronger sense of community.

The seeds for the wildly popular event took root in a conversation between Housh and his next-door neighbor, Mike Riley, then president of the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, as well as local businessmen Jerry Woods, Lee Holmes, Fred Casey and Joe Paul Abbott. Housh served on the association’s board and ran its website for a time.

“They had this vision of doing an event to really showcase Logan Martin Lake and the surrounding areas,” Housh said.

“If you live here, you know how special the lake is,” he added. “We felt like if we really showcase not only the lake and what it had to offer, but local businesses, vendors, local artisans, craftsmen, restaurants … The event was really about sharing with the outside community. It was kind of a way to welcome them in and share our special little slice of paradise here.”

Folks flock from across the South to the event – Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Atlanta and points in between. Call it a gathering of 40,000 of your closest friends.

“People come to the lake before then. But that weekend, everybody’s there,” Housh said. “You may see your lake friends year-round. But you may only see friends from Birmingham that weekend. It’s a way to have a celebration and look forward to enjoying another season on the lake and the lake lifestyle.”

Housh sums up the uniqueness of LakeFest in one word – “Community – “the people, the sponsors that make it happen. It’s always been a free event. We’re providing entertainment. We’re providing security. We have this massive fireworks show, and we feed the veterans on Friday night. That’s only made possible by people in this community.”

In its 14 years, the event has never had a safety incident, adding to its reputation as a family-friendly festival in this tight-knit community. And volunteers from church and youth groups man parking, concessions and other responsibilities.

“The public really values this event,” Housh said. “And that’s evident in the fact that everyone just comes out and has a good time. It’s a super-positive atmosphere. You can feel it.”

Logan Martin, it seems, is like New Orleans, in that just about every month, there’s a festival of some sort – LakeFest in Spring, Boo Bash in the Fall, summer’s Rock the Lake in Lincoln, Lakeside Live, Live at Logan Martin and so on. People here respect the lake and its community, celebrating it with family-friendly events.

“There are a lot of different opportunities to come together,” Housh said. “In general, we’re a community that likes to celebrate. We like to celebrate on the lake. We like to celebrate with our friends. So, as a result of that, you see a lot of these festivals popping up.”

Giving back to charity is one aspect that fuels LakeFest. So far, some $500,000 has been donated to local charities – police and fire department foundations, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch, animal shelters, Lakeside Park improvements and the like. Sponsors fund the event, but also boost charities.

“We try to be wise stewards of the blessings that we have and then turn around and give away what we don’t invest in the event,” Housh says.

Looking back, Housh remembers what organizers have overcome, like in year three, when heavy rains nearly washed away vehicles and closed Highway 34.

But one thing remains constant, the glowing, joyous faces of kids and veterans and new boat buyers. And after the event, charities receive big donations.

“Yeah, it’s a little stressful over the course of the weekend. But you always see these glimpses of people being happy, living their best life. Every year, something magical happens,” Housh says.

“If they haven’t come out before, I’d encourage them to come check it out,” Housh said. “It’s fully accessible. It’s pet-friendly. There’s something for the entire family.

There’s a bubbly reason to put LakeFest on your Spring “to-do” list for Mother’s Day weekend: Mimosas for Moms on Sunday. Free Mimosas are in store for mothers on their special day.

And while organizers spearhead the event, Housh is quick to point out that there’s a small army of volunteers – and the community – who help make the magic.

First-time festgoers need to know one thing, Housh said.

“If you haven’t experienced this community yet, this is a great opportunity to feel that. It’s a really special event.”

On the Water: Docks and Shoreline

Creating wonders along the shoreline

Story by Paul South
Submitted and staff photos

One of the indescribable joys of lake life is beginning a day, or punctuating day’s end on the dock, boathouse or pier, sipping coffee, tea or something stronger as the sun slowly rises or sinks into a palate of colors, hues of red, orange or deep purple.

On the lake, these structures are as much a part of a home as screened porches, crackling fireplaces and picture windows. Docks are spots for relaxation, contemplation, fishing, laughter and sometimes tears. And they are often as breathtaking as their accompanying homes, as if they belong together.

And nearby seawalls of riprap, stone, concrete, rock or wood protect precious property from being eaten away by erosion.

On Logan Martin and Neely Henry, there are companies that make magic – crafting piers, docks, seawalls, boatlifts and the like. Their tools are engineering, art, architecture and the environment, state-of-the-art composite materials, treated wood, stone and more than a bit of vision, conjured up year ‘round by the companies and their customers.

Here’s a look at four of the area’s builders and the water from their perspectives:

Mackey Docks: Experience and faith

For the Mackey family, their dock business is a “generational company,” says Eric Mackey. His father, Sonny, and uncles, Kenneth and Jerry, began working the industry in the 1980s.

“My Uncle Kenneth started working in 1983, and started building barges on Weiss Lake, and we just started expanding after that,” Mackey says.

The company specializes in turnkey work.

“We build the complete boathouse and boatlift and all the bells and whistles,” Mackey says. “Sometimes we just do the dock. Sometimes, we do seawalls. Sometimes we do just the boatlift if someone already has a dock, or we replace an older boat lift. We also do simple repairs and maintenance on structures over the water.”

He adds, “I try to focus not on land, but focus on water. It kind of makes it a specialty for me. We do seawalls, but typically prefer boathouses and docks. That’s what we’re really good at.”

What makes Mackey Docks good at its work?

“Experience and the crews we work with,” Mackey replies. “I’ve got some guys who have worked with us over 20 years.”

One of the hot trends in the industry is crafting structures from composite materials that in the long run are more durable, less expensive and require less maintenance than traditional treated lumber docks and boathouses.

“Typically, we used to do 80 percent wood as decking material back in the day,” Mackey says. “Nowadays, we’re a PVC and composite specialist. We’re probably installing 60 to 80 percent composite and PVC material. Long term, the cost is a little bit higher, but the low maintenance is worth it.”

Along with experience, Mackey says a commitment to quality and a strong religious faith drive the business.

“It’s not about me. It’s about people and the team we’ve built, and we’re all sticking together,” Mackey says. “For me, not all the guys in my company are Christians, but my Christian faith sets the standard for me and for my company … I think that sets us apart.”

Unique Waterfronts: Capturing a customer’s vision

While Unique Waterfonts in the Pell City-Cropwell area focuses its work on Logan Martin, Neely Henry and Lay Lakes, the business will travel the length and breadth of Alabama to do its work.

Chelsea Isbell grew up in a family of homebuilders – her father, Greg, and uncles, Jeff and Mike Isbell, began its work 30 years ago. Following the housing crash 14 years ago, the Isbells began subcontracting for Tradesman Company. Unique Waterfronts opened its doors two years ago. The Isbells are now co-owners of Unique Waterfronts. They do work on land and water.

“We have our own barge and our own crew,” Isbell says. “That’s the good thing about us. We’re family owned. We handle everything ourselves.”

Chelsea began working in the construction industry while in college and was hooked. The company does everything – from houses to pool houses, docks and boathouses.

“I was intrigued by the different designs that you can do. The uniqueness that we can make your boathouse look like your house or your house look like your boathouse,” she says. “There are so many different things we can do. I can’t physically do it. But my dad and them can do it. I can have the vision for it and tell them, or the homeowners can have the vision, and we can make it happen.”

She pointed to a recent boathouse project in Alpine.

“We even went as far as to dull the metal roof so that the boathouse looked as old as the house,” she says. “I love that uniqueness. That’s what I love. You turn (customers’) vision into a product, and they love it.”

Unique Waterfronts is willing to tackle just about any job.

“We don’t care how big or small a job is, we’re willing to help get it done. We’ll do a 6-by-20 (square foot) boathouse, or a 2,500 square foot house. Whatever you want us to do, we can do it.”

Advantage Plus: Building docks and building relationships

Advantage Plus began building docks in 2020, but the company’s umbrella opened in 2014 with excavating and construction.

The Turner family also operates Turner Family Farms, a popular Christmas and wedding venue as well as a Halloween pumpkin patch destination.

As far as its water-based business, Advantage Plus, the company does dock building and repair and only does riprap for seawalls. Riprap is a stone that protects lake banks against erosion. The company also builds concrete walls.

“These are services that we already offered elsewhere. But with us living on the lake and so many people needing it … we continued to offer the services,” Victor Turner says.

With lake properties being hot real estate, docks are hot. And in keeping with trends, composite decks are in high demand because of their longevity of 20 years or more.

“Building a dock is not a one-time investment. It’s a relationship,” Turner says.

Of the composite decks, Turner says, “You’re going to get a more comfortable use out of it. You’re not going to have to stain it, or sand it, or replace boards, or have splintering when you walk on it. It’s definitely a desired product.”

Maintaining seawalls has a positive environmental impact. Unprotected land erodes at a rate of six inches a year. But riprap is not a one and done proposition, Turner says, and it must be maintained.

Every job is unique. “It’s not a cookie-cutter business. You’ve definitely got to go out on site and come up with a good schedule to make that job make sense.”

The companies that do the type of work on the lake have “a great vision,” to work with the natural environment and help the customer satisfy their vision, Turner says.

“It’s definitely some art and some vision and hard work, for sure.”

At the heart of Advantage Plus: building relationships and living a deep faith, Turner says.

“In everything under our umbrella and what we do at the farm, our values are to build relationships for the honor of Christ and to help our community while doing so.”

Shoreline Creations: Cutting edge building and consumer education

Shoreline Creations opened its doors in the spring of 2018, but Margaret Isom has been in the marine construction business for 16 years and has worked in commercial construction and in banking doing construction loans.

“I do have a lot of experience in the industry and understand the nuts and bolts about it,” Isom says.

She decided to open Shoreline Creations because “I wanted to take things further and do some of my own things with it,” she says. “I wanted to go in my own direction. It’s all been a giant learning experience.”

The firm offers a wide array of services and products and is the area’s exclusive dealer for SnapJacket.

“We pride ourselves on piers and boathouses and landings and boardwalks,” Isom says. “We’ve gotten into a lot of rock patios and firepits and dredging, seawalls of all types, stabilization of your bank, and boatlifts.”

The company carries Golden Boatlifts.

Lake residents are becoming more conscientious about maintenance, Isom says. The company also tries to bring its clients up to speed on cutting-edge construction methods and the options available to them on materials and maintenance.

“A large part of what we also do is education, because construction methods have changed,” Isom says. “It’s a wonderful time to explain to people the importance of maintenance for their future endeavors. We do pride ourselves on that. And because the economy is tight, cost is a concern.”

Meeting customer desires and safety are paramount, Isom says. Part of the company’s commitment is building Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant docks, walkways and the like for customers who want it.

“We want to provide what (customers) want, but we want them to be safe, and with good construction methods. Once you get that in place, you get that relationship in place to know what their needs and wants are and what they are anticipating.”

Weather and keeping crews are challenges.

At its heart, the business puts the customer first.

“We always do a site visit. We don’t just throw out numbers, or push generic boathouse plans, Isom says. “We do it with their specific needs in mind.”

Tradesman Company: New owners carry on proud tradition

For Tara and Danny Buchanan, the owners of Tradesman Dock Building Company, since buying it from founder Fred Casey in early 2022, the focus has been on carrying on the company’s commitment to excellence.

For them it’s not just about docks, boat lifts, composite materials, and pilings. Tradesman had built four docks for the Buchanans over the years and the couple – veterans of the homebuilding industry – told Casey if he ever wanted to sell, they were interested.

“It wasn’t a huge jump to go into the dock business,” Danny Buchanan says. “Although, it would be pretty intimidating if you didn’t have an extensive construction background as a licensed contractor.”

When the Buchanans bought their first Lake Logan Martin home, they inherited a “terrible” existing dock.

“We quickly realized the dock is your connection to the water,” Danny says. “We met with Tradesman, and it was a wonderful experience. Their longstanding reputation, dating back almost two decades, made choosing to work with them an easy decision.”

He adds, “Our dock actually changed our relationship with the lake. If you’ve got visitors and family and friends and the dock is terrible, you don’t feel safe and can’t have fun.”

Their new Tradesman dock transformed the lake experience, Tara says.

“It went from everybody spending time inside and bypassing the dock to get to the water to the new (Tradesman) dock becoming the central part of our entertaining. It made a huge difference. Everything was focused on the dock, instead of just being the walkway to the boat, it becomes your outdoor living area.

Tradesman does everything from minor dock repairs to full scale construction of docks and piers, demolition, boat lifts and seawalls. We are working toward building a team so everything can be completed in-house.

“We want to be a one-stop shop,” Tara says.

The company uses composite materials and PVC in its construction, providing a lower maintenance, environmentally friendlier option compared to traditional wood decking.

“We just have a commitment to quality,” Tara Buchanan says.

Danny agrees. “We weren’t looking to buy a dock company. But when Tradesman became available, it had such an excellent reputation as a market leader, it was like ‘Wow!’ Being a part of a company that had that history and reputation was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”

He adds, “There are other dock companies out there, but Tradesman has the reputation for being the best. We have a vision for growth and are excited to take the company to the next level.”

Historic Gadsden Carriage Tours

Seeing things from a very different view

Story by Linda Long
Contributed photos

Sounds of a different sort fill downtown Gadsden streets these days.

The clip clop, clip clop of horseshoes against pavement, lend a staccato hoofbeat keeping a brisk pace this winter’s day.

Wheels on the jaunty orange-fringed carriage provide tickety-tick clicks on the hard surface. An occasional neigh and a whinny are appropriate sounds to take this scene straight to what could be another era.

It’s a scene that brings a smile to Gadsden businessman and former state Rep. Mack Butler’s face. He is the mover and shaker behind Historic Gadsden Carriage Tours, an idea which he says came to him as he toured other cities.

“In our travels, we love to visit historic cities, and we always take carriage rides if they’re available because you get such a unique perspective of the city, the ambience and the history. It’s just a passion of mine.”

He figured Gadsden would be a “perfect” city to offer such an attraction. “Here, we’ve got this unique history. We live in this beautiful historical town.”

Gadsden began in the 1840s as a stagecoach stop called Double Springs.

“Life was along the river. So, I kept reaching out to other people to try to get them to start this,” said Butler. “I kept on trying to get somebody else to do it.”

When there were no takers, Butler decided to take on the project himself. He reached out to friends, Emery and Emily Williamson, who run an animal farm in Cherokee County called Feathered Friends Cockatoo and Horse Sanctuary.

He asked if they would be interested in partnering with him and according to Butler, “they jumped at the chance. They have about 50 or 60 horses and know how to handle them. So, that’s how we got rolling. “

Butler is renovating a downtown building which he says is a perfect place to park carriages. “The Williamsons can trailer their horses here, hook them up, and we’re ready to tour.”

Perhaps the stars of the show are the four-legged critters who are often the main attraction, especially when children are passengers — Mr. Smack and Miss Betty.

“Mr. Smack is a horse from Amish country and Miss Betty is a mule,” he said.

They alternate pulling the carriage though Mr. Smack goes on most tours.

The carriage tour follows a route along Chestnut, Broad and Locust streets.

“We’ve done history tours and the carriage tours (and most recently Christmas tours), but the thing we get the most requests for is the ghost tour,” said Butler. “We pick you up and take you to as many spots as we can in 30 minutes, and we tell you the haunted history of Gadsden. We take you to what was originally the county jail and of course, there was the first execution there. That gentleman is rumored to haunt the building.”

Butler said the site of a Confederate hospital and cemetery are also on the tour. “The cemetery is said to be very haunted.”

Another stop, the Phoenix Hotel, was supposed to have been the site of “a grisly murder. I’ve had people tell me about the ghost they see there. We have a number of stops like that.”

There’s one building on the tour, he continued, that back in the 1800s used to be a hotel. Another, a house of ill repute and across the street was the medical clinic where they took care of the ladies of the evening.

“We have a very colorful past,” he added, “which makes for a great ghost tour as we offer these rides.”

Ghost Tour of Downtown Gadsden on Historic Gadsden Carriage Tours

Butler says he personally has never actually seen a ghost, “but I have talked to a number of people here in town that are well respected. They tell me they have actually seen ghosts in some of these buildings.”

According to Butler, the carriage rides complement what is already going on in downtown Gadsden. “We’re in total transformation now as the new administration (Mayor Craig Ford) is focusing on all the positive attributes we have that have not been utilized. There’s talk of creating green space and a new river walk. I’ve never before seen the spirit of cooperation we have right now between city and county and state. Everybody is holding hands and pushing in the same direction.”

Gadsden Economic Development Director John Moore agrees, saying the city is moving toward becoming “a destination spot, where visitors come to stay for a long weekend. That’s what we’re working on. The Falls (Noccalula Falls) gets 350 to 400 thousand visitors a year. We want to bring those visitors downtown. So, when people leave the Falls, they come right to the downtown area. They grab a a drink. They go out to eat. They shop at downtown shops on Broad Street, and then they go out and utilize the riverfront development,” which he said will include a boutique hotel.

“We’ve got amazing hiking trails. We’ve got rock climbing. We’ve got mountain biking, pretty much anything you want when it comes to outdoor enthusiasts,” Moore said. “So, I think you’re going to be seeing more people coming to Gadsden to enjoy those types of things, and the carriage rides are just something that’s going to entice more people to come into downtown.

“The Mayor and I did the carriage ride for Halloween. To go through Gadsden and get told some ghost stories and some stories of the different buildings in the city was pretty cool. They also had a Headless Horseman that chased you down Chestnut Street. I thought that was great,” Moore said.

“We never did see a ghost,” he laughed, “but I think you might see one next year. They’ve got some plans coming up.”

Plans call not only for the ghost tour, but across the board. According to Butler, “Looking to the future, we’re thinking maybe about Valentine’s and Valentine tours. Or a tour where we shuttle you out to dinner. Or maybe tours associated with prom season.”

The number of carriages and horses they have “is still to be determined based on demand. Of course, we’ll be willing to step up our game if the demand is there. Right now, it’s just a community that’s been booking the tours but down the road, with the new hotel and its rooftop bar and all kinds of neat stuff, I see Gadsden becoming like a Franklin,Tennessee, a town where they have festivals all the time and a lot of trendy shops and eateries.”

Editor’s Note: Tours are all weather dependent. Cost is $25 per person for a 30-minute ride. The carriages hold four people.