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.
Boats on display at discounted prices
“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.”
The in-water boat show even has a beach
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
On a misty Saturday morning, just after daylight tried its hardest to peek through a solidly overcast sky, Lakeside Park was just awakening.
The gates opened, and volunteers scurried about, preparing for the big event. Tents went up. Swag bags, Tshirts, runner bibs and a host of ‘must haves’ for a 5K run were readied. Sound system? Check. Runner check-in apps? Downloaded. Volunteers in their positions? Ready.
And they’re off!
And at 8 a.m. on Dec. 9, runners from throughout the region took off to make history in the inaugural Pell City Rotary 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk to benefit the St. Clair Sheriff’s Boys Ranch.
From the starting point to the finish line, the event evolved as a true success story, raising over $50,000 to help build a new home at the Boys Ranch and bringing a community together for a common cause. Santa was there, much to the delight of smaller runners, walkers and spectators, and the event is well on its way to becoming a Christmas tradition for Pell City Rotary Club, a leading civic service organization.
“Since I became president of the Pell City Rotary Club, it has been my goal to lead the club in serving the community,” said Serge Brazzolotto. “I wanted to create a new event that would be close to Christmas and that would involve the entire family from infants to grandparents.” A 5K run/1-mile fun walk was a perfect fit.
After hearing a presentation from Michael Smith, the executive director of the Sherrif’s Boys Ranch, about the need for a new house to be built, “I talked to our Board of Directors and Service Club Committee Chair Bill Ellison about the idea, and everyone said, “let’s go for it,” Brazzolotto said.
“Our only problem was that none of us had experience to prepare for such an event,” he added. “I told myself a few times, ‘don’t fool yourself, it won’t happen.’ We had only three months to get all this done.”
Ellison put a 5K team together, and they were – pardon the pun – off to the races. “That team worked tirelessly for three months, day and night, even weekends to get everything together, to get sponsors, social media advertisement and registration and much more,” Brazzolotto said.
Performing the Star Spangled Banner
The team – Gay Blackwell, Kelly Furgerson, Melanie Housh, Kathy Burke, Jaxon Phillips and Casey Cambron –were determined to not only meet the goal, but exceed it. And they did. Because of the effort of all involved, he said, the Boys Ranch will now be able to build its third home for youths.
“Teamwork makes the dreams work,” Ellison said. “I picked people with unique and diversified talent to serve on the 5K committee. They all showed strength, wisdom, courage, commitment, passion and focus throughout the planning, fundraising and day of the event.”
Brazzolotto agreed. “I don’t have the words to thank all who have made this event possible and be such a success – the Rotary 5 K team, the Rotary Club members, the sheriff’s department, the police department, the fire department, Pell City Park and Recreation, Partners by Design, The City of Pell City, all the participants and especially, all who have made donations and sponsored this event and fundraising.”
It was all done in service to the community, in keeping with its motto, “Service Above Self.”
“All Pell City Rotary members enjoy giving back through community service to the community that has been so good to them,” Ellison said. “We’re already planning for next year.”
Pinball machines, guitars and more — Local tinkerer makes the magic happen
Story by Graham Hadley Photos by Richard Rybka, Graham Hadley and contributed by Mike Pegg
Sitting by Choccolocco Creek at the northern edge of Munford is a house full of wonders, and they are all the work of one man.
From professional-quality custom guitars to full-size pinball machines, there is not much Mike Pegg can’t design and build, and in his spare time, he works a full-time job and races motorcycles.
“I am just a tinkerer. My family were all tinkerers,” he said.
Originally from Ohio, Mike says he grew up basically “in the middle of nowhere. If something broke, you had to fix it yourself. My grandfather was one of the greatest tinkerers I ever knew. He was a lineman and taught me woodworking and how to drive nails as a kid.”
Those skills formed the foundation for Mike’s love of making things … that and necessity – his father was in the Army, and they moved around a lot, and money could be tight.
“I have been playing guitar most of my life. My first guitar was an acoustic from Sears when I was 11, but the action on it was very high” and it was not much fun to play. “Mom saved for a year to buy me my first electric.”
Mike wanted something better, and good guitars don’t come cheap – so he did what comes so naturally to him, he started making his own.
Mike with his version of the classic Ibanez Steve Vai guitar
“I would buy cheap guitars – 40-or-50-dollar guitars – and make one good one. One would have a good neck, another a good body, another good electronics.”
Today, Mike builds them from the ground up and markets them under his brand – Bigg Deal Customs, which covers everything he makes. (He says the extra G in Bigg is courtesy of his son who jumped on the name after a friend called Mike a big deal).
“About eight years ago, I started getting serious. I put together a guitar based on the Ibanez JEM777 Steve Vai Signature, the one with the cutout handle in the body. I put a bunch of coats of different colored paint on it and then sanded it through, but not all the way to the wood,” he said. “It makes it look like a star going nova.”
After that, his guitar hobby took off. Mike was making all kinds of custom guitars – many with unique features like vintage vacuum tubes embedded in the body that would light up. He even created one that had a built-in theremin – an electronic instrument that is controlled without actually touching the instrument.
Under his Bigg Deal branding, he sold the guitars online and through local shops in Calhoun County and surrounding areas. Today, Mike focuses mostly on specific custom builds requested by his customers.
“I can make a very affordable guitar for under $600. On those, I buy the necks, I don’t make them, and then cut out the body. For $1,200 or more, I build everything,” he said. “The bodies are always a work of art, but I do want people to play them. … I now have sold guitars all over the world.”
Alabama musician Bo Bice of American Idol fame bought five Bigg Deal guitars from Mike.
“He called up and said he wanted to buy a guitar from me. I thought it was a friend playing a joke on me, so I hung up. He called back and sang for me. He ended up buying five guitars. The guy was as nice as everyone says he is. It really opened up some doors for me.”
Guitars were kind of a stepping-stone for Mike’s next project – building full-size custom pinball machines.
“I have always been a huge pinball guy. In Ohio, back in the 1970s, there was a gas station near our house that had a machine in it. I would play until they were about ready to throw me out. I just got hooked. I love the sounds, the feedback, the lights,” he said.
“In August of last year, I got the idea that if I can build guitars, I can build a pinball machine.”
Bo Bice signing a guitar for Mike Pegg, Munford, Alabama
And he can – the proof of which is sitting in his living room next to another commercially built machine, but it turned out to be a good bit more work and money than he had anticipated.
“There is 800 feet of wiring in that. I originally tried to salvage some old used ones, but I only got a few parts from those,” he said. He had to build everything from scratch and buy all new electronic and other parts. “It took me a year to do, and I am still working on the sounds.”
There were a few bumps along the way, including having to completely rebuild his completed playing field after dropping the original.
“And parts are not cheap. They have started making the machines again, and those are getting cheaper, but not the parts,” he said.
Mike said he gets a lot of help from other pinball enthusiasts, whose knowledge and access to parts make his latest endeavor possible.
“These pinball guys are just mind-blowing. They have been a huge support. I even had one who sent me a part I was looking for for free,” he said.
He has started on his second machine while he works with someone who is familiar with the sound systems in iconic Bally machines on the effects for the first one. He has big plans for his second build – including features that allow for multiple balls on the field at a time.
When he is not at work as a maintenance supervisor for an aluminum company, he races, and not rarely, wins offroad motorcycle enduro and hare scramble events. His bike and riding gear are often as colorful as his guitars and pinball machines. He even finds time for some pinball tournaments.
“I remember dragging the girlfriend to a tournament in Pelham,” he said.
To relax and wind down, he has friends over to play pinball on his machine or one of several vintage machines he has collected, including one called Big Deal (one G), and plays guitar and hangs out on his porch overlooking Choccolocco Creek.
Mike is loving every minute of it.
“I have all these amazing things happen to me. It’s almost a Forest Gump kind of thing. I have made all these great friends,” he said.
And though he is just getting started in the pinball business, he is already making a name for himself and appeared on the Pinball Innovators & Makers podcast, hosted by Dan Rosenstein.
In a continuing effort to cast a wider net marketing the Coosa River and the waterway’s lakes and streams into a fly-fishing destination, Gadsden will host its inaugural Fly-Fishing Expo on Jan. 20 and 21, 2024, at The Venue at Coosa Landing.
“We would love for Gadsden to be known as a fly-fishing destination as well as for the other amenities we offer,” says Deborah Hawkins, administrative supervisor of The Venue.
Alabama Fishing Show and Expo drew vendors
and a crowd
This free expo will host fly-fishing-related vendors and exhibitors of all kinds from the neighboring states and counties at the gleaming 55,000 square foot facility on the banks of the Coosa River.
The fly-fishing event comes on the heels of the successful Alabama Fishing Show at The Venue this past March.
The expo is the latest move by Gadsden to grow fly fishing in the region. The city invested $10,000 to stock the waters around Noccalula Falls with Rainbow trout.
Along with the success of the Alabama Fishing Show last spring, Hawkins credits one man – the owner of Rainbow City Auction and Fly Fishing – who lured the city with the idea for a fly-fishing focused event.
“It was the work and due diligence of Frank Roden that brought this event to Gadsden,” Hawkins says.
A sign of things to come
On the streams around these parts and beyond, Frank Roden is known as “the guy with the tie,” his homage to a more elegant time when fly anglers – clad in hats, shirts, boots, waders and Windsor-knotted neckties – took to the waters. For traditionalists like Roden, the tie seems as important as the right feathered fly or the perfect 10 o’clock-two o’clock cast, the perfect fly-casting motion.
Roden, one of area fly fishing’s most fervent evangelists and an instructor for the iconic fly-fishing merchant Orvis, saw the sport’s growth coming over 20 years ago.
Somewhere around 2001, Roden recalls, he and his wife, Tammy, couldn’t get the gear they wanted locally, even around the state. So, they opened their fly-fishing shop as part of their antique furniture business.
When the couple announced their first fly fishing seminar, locals predicted a sparse turnout, 20-25 people, tops. What occurred was something akin to a fly angling tent revival.
“When the instructors and manufacturers pulled up 15 minutes before we were supposed to start, they had 169 people waiting under the tent. That was just the tip of the iceberg.”
He sees the January event as a positive step for the city and the sport.
“Someone for a long time has needed to bring a fly-fishing expo to the state of Alabama,” Roden says. “Gadsden has that facility right there on the Coosa. They brought a general fishing show to The Venue last spring, and it was huge. They did a great job with it.”
Gadsden has the formula for a fly-fishing show that will mirror the success of last spring’s effort.
The Venue at Coosa Landing continues its success story
“They have the space available,” Roden says. “They have the stuff that can support it around The Venue there (restaurants, gas stations, shops and hotels). Now we just need the wholesalers and dealers.”
The expo is the latest evidence of Gadsden’s commitment to the sport.
“Boy has that been good,” Roden said in a past issue of LakeLife 24/7 Magazine®. “We should give them a lot of credit for putting the winter trout fishery in. Greater Gadsden Area Tourism has done a lot to promote the fly fishing here.”
And organizers hope that tackle, equipment, wholesalers and dealers from across the country come to Gadsden for the expo. After all, fly anglers travel from the streams of Maine to the big waters of Montana and points north, south, east and west.
“Don’t assume that (fly fishers) just fish locally,” Roden says. “They go to the Gulf Coast; they go to the mountains. They travel out west and to the Appalachian chain. We needed (to keep that in mind) when we started hunting new equipment.”
Roden adds, “The sport has grown, not just in the Gadsden area, but to the places people are going. The population of the Gadsden area can travel all over now that they know what they’re looking for.”
A study from Grand View Research quantifies the growth in the popularity of fly fishing through the sale of fly-fishing equipment and apparel, a $3.1 million business in 2022.
The industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 4.1 percent.
The increasing popularity of the sport isn’t the only driver. People are drawn to more environmentally friendly sports and sustainability efforts like the fishery stocking areas in Gadsden, as well as the diverse needs and preferences of the fly-fishing community, the study said.
The expo may lure more fly-fishing shops and merchants to the area. Surprisingly, Roden sees that as a positive.
“I think it’s great, Roden says. “Bring ‘em on. I’m not getting a lot of business off the trout fishing because most of the people who come here come here for tourism, and they already had their gear before coming to Gadsden.”
He said many who come to areas like Black Creek to fish move their homes and businesses to the area.
Roden says he doesn’t have to aggressively sell fly fishing in the region. “That’s the good thing. I don’t have to sell it. They come to me looking for it. My business is soft sell.”
While there are skeptics about the future of fly fishing in Etowah and St. Clair counties, Roden points to the Coosa and talks about streams like Black Creek, Big Canoe Creek and the Noccalula Falls area and others.
“Man, that’s a lot of water out there.”
For non-anglers who may be film buffs, the two-day expo will include the Fourth Annual Fly-Fishing Film Festival, beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. And of course, there are shops and restaurants nearby.
Tickets for the expo are $25. Vendor booths, including tables chairs and power are $200 for the weekend.
Hours for the festival are 10-5 on Saturday with the film festival screening at 5. The festival continues on Sunday from 10-4.
While city officials have not projected the Fly-Fishing Expo’s economic impact, Hawkins is optimistic that local businesses will see a ripple effect – like a rainbow trout jumping in a cool, quiet stream – for the area economy.
“This absolutely will have a ripple effect such as lodging, restaurants, shopping, license fees for the city, gas and other necessities … Since this is our first fly fishing expo, we don’t have a projected economic impact. But we will work as hard as we do for anything else to bring income and awareness to our great city.”
Editor’s Note:For more information on the Fly-Fishing Expo, call 256-549-4587.
Story by Paul South Photos by Richard Rybka and Carol Pappas
“The best way to make friends with the audience is to make them laugh. You don’t get people to laugh unless they surrender – surrender their defenses, their hostilities. And once you make the audience laugh, they’re with you.” – Frank Capra
Most documentarians – Ken Burns springs to mind – want audiences to examine society’s ills through film.
For award-winning documentary filmmaker Sam Frazier, the direction he heads is quite the opposite. Laughter, he says through his work, is the best medicine.
Frazier, a Birmingham native, has captured the hearts of audiences at prestigious film festivals like, Indie Memphis and Birmingham’s blossoming Sidewalk Film Festival and across the United States and Europe through old-fashioned absurdist escapism.
Videographer films interview with racers
Think sketch comedy – Monty Python’s Flying Circus or Saturday Night Live plus pro wrestling – meets reality. Or as he puts it, “Smart people being stupid for no apparent reason (except it’s fun).”
His current effort uses an unusual vehicle, or in this case, vessel. They are cardboard boats held together by miles of duct tape – as college professors, doctors, engineers and the like try to build seaworthy boats that can successfully allow them to navigate Alabama waterways, including Logan Martin Lake.
As Frazier and his crew began filming the races at Lakeside Park in September, a crowd of about 50 gathered to watch filming that leg of the inaugural Cardboard Boat Racing World Cup. Each competitor—mostly Frazier’s friends – earns points depending on their finish in each race. Even a boater who finishes “DFL” (Dead Freakin’ Last) earns points.
Just as in NASCAR or Formula I auto racing, the points leader at the end of the heats will win the Cardboard Boat World Cup championship trophy.
His friends are folks he’s known for years, through a charity kickball league he created or through years of hanging out with pals who are in his words, “weirdo artistic types.”
“They are a bunch of weirdos who are up for almost anything, like myself,” Frazier says. “And that helps. The weirdos that I don’t know, all you have to do is tell them what you’re doing, and they’re all about it. If you’re talking to the right person, they say, ‘Oh, this is something I’ve got to do.”
The final film will be roughly half script – featuring scenes with Sportscenter-like studio anchors – and half improvisation, including interviews with competitors.
His road to filmmaking is as colorful as his subject matter. A graduate in philosophy from Washington & Lee, who also studied abroad at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, Frazier described it this way. Law school, the track chosen by others in his family, wasn’t for him.
“You have three choices,” Frazier said. “You can either get in the unemployment line, or you can try to use philosophy for extortion … That’s not really an option, or you can do something weird and creative. I went with weird and creative.”
Unlike today, when documentaries find homes on multiple platforms from PBS to streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV and HBO, that wasn’t the case as Frazier came of age.
“I saw Roger and Me (Michael Moore’s expose’ on GM), for the first time, and it blew my mind. Then I found out all the ethical problems with that movie, I guess you could say, that were egregious, and it broke my heart.
“I also remember seeing Hoop Dreams (the story of two African-American high schoolers dreaming of playing professional ball) for the first time, and it equally blew me away,” Frazier says.
The genesis of his films comes from comedy and the land of Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair or masked villains from “parts unknown.”
“I’ve always been into comedy,” Frazier says. “It’s an influence to have sort of an absurd style and kind of the pomp of professional wrestling, along with different sorts of comedic approaches of how to do a documentary.
“Nobody really does a documentary like me,” Frazier adds. “I’m the world’s only comedic, short documentarian.”
Most documentary films don’t yuk it up, he acknowledges, instead focusing on sober subject matter.
“It’s not funny when you hear about people in war-torn nations trying to survive. That’s not going to be a laugh riot. It’s also hard to watch. You have to be in the right frame of mind.”
Frazier’s approach?
“I focus on events that mostly people can do on any given day on their own, just with some friends.”
Network sports shows, like ABC’s iconic Wide World of Sports, also influence Frazier’s films. Remember Mexican cliff diving, logger sports and wrist wrestling, along with NASCAR, the British Open and table tennis from the People’s Republic of China?
“I always thought that was an inherently sort of a silly way to view the world,” he says. “These are sporting events. This is not a world war. But it’s treated on that level of importance. So, I thought, let’s take unimportant sporting events and raise them to the level of a World Cup or Super Bowl.
“I think that is inherently funny to treat something like a cardboard boat race like the World Cup. That’s essentially what we’re doing – a carboard boat race World Cup.”
Fans of the British comedy troupe Monty Python doubtless recall The Upper-Class Twit of the Year sketch, satire on dimwitted members of England’s upper class. There’s a dash of that in his cardboard boat racing series, Frazier says.
“Shooting this at times, I realize that I have these highly successful people building cardboard boats, people you’d think would be naturally really good at it.”
Not necessarily so. One of the film’s boat builders, for example, is a successful architect.
“He’s designed Lord knows how many buildings, and he’s a terrible cardboard boat designer,” Frazier said. “His boats barely got off the beach. That is inherently funny to me.”
Audiences seem to think Frazier’s films are funny, too.
Frazier’s films have captured “Audience Choice” Awards at the Sidewalk Film Festival, Indie Memphis, the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival and others. The Santa Fe recognition came after a vigorous write-in campaign by festivalgoers.
The first Cardboard Titanic film was done while Frazier was “retired” from moviemaking. He screened it at Sidewalk, intending to go no further.
“People asked, ‘What’s your next project?’ ” When he responded that he was retired, the response was surprising and made his calling clear.
“You don’t understand,” he recalled moviegoers saying. “You’re not good at anything else.”
From there, the film was screened at some 50 festivals in the United States and Europe, winning a “ton of awards,” including Best Documentary at the Louisville Film Festival.
And it led to a sequel: Cardboard Titanics: Smart People Being Stupid. “Cardboard Titanics was in competition with the short documentary winner at that year’s Sundance Film Festival.
The film that was in part shot with Go Pros, cameras, drones and the like on Logan Martin is the latest in what Frazier hopes will be a six-part series.
And cardboard vessels aren’t his only methods of fun filmmaking. He’s also had tall bicycle jousting films – riders on stacked bikes bearing lances tipped with cushions and boxing gloves.
Sam Frazier Jr. directing
“When you’re doing a comedy, (festival) audiences are going to like you,” Frazier says. “Especially if they’re getting a lot of very dark things and documentaries. People would really rather laugh than be miserable or be outraged on a certain level. It’s a happier way to live.”
Asked if the positive audience response is the result of these days of COVID-19 and polarized politics, Frazier didn’t mince words.
“Damn right,” he says. “Social media has polarized us to a different level of conflict. We’re becoming increasingly tribal, and I’m not a very political person. I’ve spent my life trying to get people to get along.”
So Alabama’s happy warrior of independent documentary soldiers on, dumpster driving for cardboard, hoping to outrun the winter chill in his latest project, all while funding his films from his own pocket.
Pell City and Lakeside Park drew rave reviews from the filmmaker who shot a portion of his current project in August. He still has two more races to film.
“It was the perfect location, and they were so nice to us,” Frazier says. “The staff helped tremendously. They were so enthusiastic about it. We would love to shoot there again. Maybe there will be season two of the Cardboard Boat World Cup. I hope so.”
His mission is simple. Unlike other documentarians who hope their films will change the world, Frazier charts a different course in part with a small fleet of soggy cardboard vessels and a crew of more than 30 people.
While audiences may see the glamour of film, Frazier compares his calling to “herding cats and walking into traffic. The only thing I can do is make people laugh and enjoy their lives for a certain period of time.”
Frazier recalls an encounter at the Atlanta Film Festival with a California filmmaker, who looked every bit the part of a surfer dude, with attitude to match. As an Oscar-qualifier festival, Atlanta is a marquee indie film showcase.
“He watched the film and said, ‘That was a joyous celebration of life,’ ” Frazier recalls.
Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Richard Rybka
Hikers at Noccalula Falls now have easier access to the Gorge Loop section of the Black Creek Trail system, thanks to a collaboration between the City of Gadsden, Friends of the Falls and the Gadsden Runners Club. A walkway consisting of 104 steps and seven landings has replaced the treacherous access that intrepid hikers endured for years.
“Formerly you would rock-climb your way down from the campground to the trail,” said John Moore, director of Economic Development and Governmental Affairs for the City of Gadsden. “The new steps are on the north side of the Gorge creek, and there are other steps next to the Falls on the south side.”
John Moore says the city is proud of the new trail access
The Gorge Loop is five miles long and connects to another 11-12 miles of trails in the park. The new access was made possible by a $250,000 Regional Trails Program (RTP) grant from the state through Friends of the Falls. “The new access is the result of a collaboration between Friends of the Falls, Gadsden Runners Club, the City of Gadsden, and Congressional Districts 28, 29, 30, via our state representatives,” Moore said.
Bob Smith Construction built the steps and landings, which opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early July. “The job was put out for bids, but there were none,” Moore explained. “So we called BSC, which also did the suspension bridge over the Falls and remodeled the covered bridge and boardwalk.”
The campground-to-trail access is part of a larger, $8 million project that includes adding sewer and power to each camp site, although most of the 120 existing camp sites already have power. Eight tiny homes will be added to the campgrounds, too. All sites will be reworked as pull-throughs, which means some will have to be enlarged, reducing the overall number to 100.
“We’ll be re-paving the roads, building a new road to the cabins on the backside of the camp, adding more signage and a rock face at the park entrance,” Moore said. “We’ll shut down the park campground for nine months, beginning in January for the project, but the campground is always closed in January anyway. It’s the mayor’s goal to give the facility more of a city park feel.”
Gadsden Runners Club and Friends of the Falls have donated more than $50,000 to the Black Creek Trails, according to board member Glenn Ingram. “We helped apply for the RTP grant, helped raise matching funds and promoted the project through social media and within our membership,” Ingram said. “Both Friends of the Trails and Gadsden Runners raise money for local projects. We were able to help not only with Gorge Trail steps but with other projects, including trail expansion and a Mountain Bike Skills Course. The upcoming renovation is the city’s project, though.”
The new stairs give easier access to the park’s natural beauty
Several entrances throughout the park enable hikers to reach the trails, including one at the chapel next to the Falls. “There was a treacherous ravine to walk down to enter the Gorge Trail prior to the new campground steps,” Ingram said. “There’s a loop that goes around the creek down in the Gorge, so you can actually go underneath the Falls. That one will also bring you back to the new steps in the campground.”
Ingram said Friends of the Falls and Gadsden Runners highly recommend appropriate footwear for hiking any of the trails at Noccalula Falls. “The Gorge Loop in particular is a very technical trail, which means it has lots of rocks,” Ingram said. “It’s not a Sunday-after-church walk. Hikers need to be prepared with appropriate shoes and maybe a hiking stick. Most of the other trails within Black Creek Trails are not as technical.”
More collaborations may be on the horizon. The Gadsden Runners and Friends of the Falls look forward to partnering with the City of Gadsden on other projects at Noccalula Falls, he said.
Small store in Oxford has big impact on regional fishing
Story and photos by Graham Hadley
For decades now, the Tackle BOX has been giving a leg up to fishing enthusiasts from its location in historic Downtown Oxford.
The name should sound familiar to anyone who has seen their iconic stickers on cars and trucks driving down I-20 or putting in boats at places like Lincoln’s Landing, Pell City Lakeside Park or Coosa Landing in Gadsden.
Anywhere there are fishing enthusiasts you are as likely to see the Tackle BOX logo along with other well-known brands like YETI, Orca or … LakeLife.
“I go on vacation and see Tackle BOX hats in places like Gatlinburg. I run into people everywhere. It is kind of surreal when you travel hours from home and people recognize the logo on my hat,” said Jason Earl Gator Howard, who helps man the store.
The original location on Main Street
Gator – actually his real name – credits much of the store’s success to the simple fact it is much more than just a store. Yes, Tackle BOX stocks everything a fisherman needs, whether it is starter gear for the beginner or everything you need for competition fishing, but the real hook is everyone there is ready to help with advice or to just chat and share stories.
“There’s good fishing stories always told here. It is to the point that we have people here to just help talk to customers. They don’t run the register, but they can answer just about any fishing question. Everyone hangs out, tells fishing stories – and lies (every good fishing story has a lie in it somewhere),” Gator said. “One of our biggest draws is our atmosphere. Good Southern hospitality. New customers can come in, we tell them where to fish. You are going to get good advice in the Tackle BOX.”
That perfect combination of great merchandise selection and sense of community have helped the store stay on top of its game, but Gator is quick to point out those are not the only factors that contribute to the Tackle BOX’s success.
The store originally opened in the late 1970s or early 1980s across Main Street in Oxford from its current location. The Main Olive and the law office for Baxley Maniscalco occupy the old building now, and the Tackle BOX has its own building and parking lot next door which can accommodate larger vehicles and boat trailers.
Owner Michael Pickette bought the business from the original owners around 12 years ago and oversaw the move to its new facility.
Gator also gives a lot of credit to Oxford for all the effort the city has put into revitalizing its historic downtown area with better parking, sidewalks and lighting – all of which help bring in more business, not only to the Tackle BOX, but also to the other shops and restaurants there.
“The city as a whole made an effort to redo all of downtown. Got rid of power poles everywhere, put in new sidewalks. They close the downtown for Oxfordfest in October.” All of which makes a big difference, he said.
Even though the Tackle BOX is not located on any specific body of water, it is only 15 to 30 minutes from many of the main regional fishing spots along the Coosa River and its tributaries, most notably Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes.
“In under an hour or so, you can move from one great fishing location to another,” Gator said.
As successful as the business has been since it opened, the past half decade has seen the popularity of fishing, especially competitive fishing, explode.
Gator says a big part of that is the expansion of competition fishing teams in schools, both in grade schools and in colleges.
Tackle BOX helps local high school teams by giving special discounts to groups who display the business’s logo on their gear.
“We sponsor almost all the local high schools here in Calhoun County, and they get discounts when they come in.”
Gator touts competition fishing as one of the best ways to get an athletic scholarship to a college or university. “One of the biggest things driving fishing these days is the school teams. There are a lot of college scholarship opportunities for students. That is especially true for girls looking for a fishing scholarship.”
Gator said the COVID lockdown was also another driving force behind the growth of their business.
“COVID was a terrible ordeal. We are still living with it today and are learning to cope. But it was phenomenal for the fishing industry everywhere, not just us. We were told to socially distance, not gather indoors, get out and get some fresh air,” and fishing was an obvious way to do just that, he said.
“People who had never fished before came in, bought rods and reels and started fishing. They still come in today.”
You can see the growing popularity of the sport all over Alabama.
Gator helps Dawson and Davis Stone of Alexandria
“All the cities like Gadsden, Southside, Lincoln, Pell City and Riverside are upgrading their boat ramps and parks, hosting big fishing tournaments and boat shows,” all of which are great for the businesses around the lakes, he said. “We have even found new brands for our store from some of those shows.”
As an added bonus, the attention to fishing helps raise awareness for preserving the waterways in the area. “That environmental focus, especially restocking lakes, helps make the fishing better,” he said.
Tackle BOX carries a wide range of well-known brands like ZOOM and YETI – they even do some consignment sales on used gear for customers. But they take particular pride in stocking equipment from companies with local Alabama ties – companies like Reaction Innovations out of Alabaster, and NetBait, which started in Greenville. Gator was quick to show off one of the rods from MMA Fishing, another local company.
As the sport continues to grow, so does business for the Tackle BOX, and that is keeping Gator and the rest of the staff and help busy. He would not have it any other way.
“It is one thing to know about fishing, but you have to have a passion for fishing, for the outdoors and for conservation. I am lucky. A lot of people dread coming to work every day. I love coming to work here and getting to talk about fishing all day.”
As the days dwindle down and the holiday season approaches, three things are certain:
At Christmas, kids aren’t crazy about socks and underwear beneath the tree.
Thanksgiving means a feast, family, football and finally, a nap.
And here on Logan Martin Lake as Halloween approaches, Boo Bash is a straight up, surefire hit. You could say it’s BOO-ming.
In just its second year, the nautical fun fright fest is right up there with supersized candy bars and princess and superhero costumes.
Candy corn can’t catch a break.
The pier-to-pier party for trick-or-treaters of all ages is set for October 8. Logan Martin residents who join the party can expect their fair share of witches, Supermen, Barbies and maybe, just maybe, a pint-sized Oppenheimer.
No shortage of treats for everyone
Organizers Kelli Lasseter, Sonya Hubbard and a growing band of merry pranksters, expect a bigger, better event in 2023. Last year, even as rain fell, an estimated 45 to 50 piers – known affectionately as “dock or treaters” – participated.
As of July 26, some 60 pier owners had signed on to host dock-or-treaters. That number may double, Lasseter says.
Two restaurants, 30 to 40 boats and one personal watercraft braved the wet weather to join the fun in 2022. More are expected this year. In fact, the Boo Bash buzz was heavy, even before July 4 fireworks cooled.
“Obviously, we hope that we have more people who know about it,” Lasseter says. “Not only that, but people who want to participate – to host a pier, that want to get out, decorate their boat and take folks out for the treating.”
More are coming. One couple plans a 60s-themed pier. Others have approached organizers to pitch proposed themes for their piers and boats. And Boo Bash has – for at least one newcomer – helped boost the real estate market.
“I had someone come to me who’s new to the lake, who told me that Boo Bash was one of the selling points,” Lasseter says. “The Realtor told them about Boo Bash. She joined the group and is super excited.”
Lasseter also wants to see Boo Bash spread like the sci-fi creature, “The Blob,” to the upper reaches of the lake to Lincoln, Riverside and neighboring areas.
“Last year, they really didn’t know about it,” Lasseter says of the Lincoln-Riverside area. “We had a few places up there that hosted piers, but we’re hoping we can get some more folks involved.”
In 2023, organizers will have a backup date for Boo Bash in the event of wicked weather – Oct. 15.
Even with last year’s wet weather, the inaugural Boo Bash drew rave reviews. This was about more than kids, costumes and candy and adults bobbing for cocktails.
“It was overwhelming that people loved this event because it gave them an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, get to know their lake neighbors and just have fun,” Lasseter says. “That was the overarching theme. It just brought the community together and people just had a good time.”
Organizers have also stepped up their marketing effort through a more intense social media effort on Facebook, Instagram and hopefully, Tik Tok. Last year, a local radio station – 94.1 The River – Carl Wallace’s Lake Ramblings blog on Facebook and word of mouth also fueled turnout. Nearly 900 locals are considered Boo Bash members. The event also hopes for some bounce from broadcast, print and online media outlets.
Partners By Design, the parent company of Lake Life 24/7 Magazine®, and its sister publication, Discover St. Clair, is promoting Boo Bash 2023 with a specially designed Boo Bash T-shirt, available for purchase online and in Lake Life 24/7’s brick and mortar store. Pier signs are also available to identify participating docks. A percentage of the proceeds from sales will go to offset Boo Bash expenses for the all-volunteer event. As of this writing, Partners is one of 11 local businesses supporting Boo Bash.
“We think our lake is a special place,” says CEO Carol Pappas says. “We want to find ways like (Boo Bash) to promote it, enjoy it and share it.
“This event is a great way to get out and meet your neighbors and have a lot of fun along the way,” Pappas adds. “What a treat for kids of all ages.”
Wayne and Margie Brewer are part of the original group that crafted the inaugural Boo Bash. Their pier will echo the theme they used last year – Skull Island – and using a pole with a pot affixed, they’ll hand out plastic bags filled with candy and Mardi Gras beads. Revelers won’t have to dock.
The Brewers have lived on the lake for 20 years. Boo Bash is a chance to build lake residents into a neighborhood.
It’s a community gathering, to get to know everybody on the lake. It’s just something to do together,” Wayne Brewer says. “We’ve got a great environment here on the lake, and it’s great to have everybody get together and have an activity that’s fun for everybody.”
An earlier start means higher water levels on Logan Martin, making it easier for some residents to participate, Brewer says.
“Last year, some people couldn’t participate because there wasn’t enough water at their dock.”
In these fragmented times, events like Boo Bash bring a kindness to the lake community sweeter than a box of Goo Goo Clusters. Lasseter is emotional as she reflects on Boo Bash’s big splash as it enters its second year.
“It feels really good to see people come together, work together, to do something special for others,” Lasseter says. “This wasn’t about me or anybody else. Sonya and I just had an idea. The Logan Martin Lake community took it and ran with it. It was very special.”
Just how unique and special this event has quickly become was illustrated by the number of folks who approached organizers to sing the praises of Boo Bash.
“With every boat that pulled up, everybody was all smiles, all ‘Hi’s’,” Brewer says. “Every boat was a good experience, for us and the people on the boats.”
Consider the words of one unidentified little boy who was among the wet but happy band of Boo Bashers. Lasseter recounts his words.
“He said it was the best day of his life,” she says. “Out of the mouths of babes, right?”
She adds, “If it wasn’t (the best) for everybody else, it was for that little boy. It was well worth it.”
