If you had to describe Boo Bash 2024 is a single word, it would have to be creativity. From giant rubber ducks to a pontoon disguised as a 50s baby blue Chevy on its way to the Boo Hop to a floating carnival, creative was the dress of the day. And that was just the boats.
Add docks and boathouses dressed to the hilt in spiders, ghosts, a scene from the Wizard of Oz, witches, mechanical pirates and skeletons and even a groovy 70s backdrop, and the day just seemed to ooze creativity.
But wait, there’s more! How about Minnie Mouse, witches of all shapes and sizes, a dog in a tutu, pirates galore and a kid cop keeping guard over a boat cell of prisoners, complete with prison bars, orange jumpsuits, mugshots and tatoos?
Pontoon cellblock with lake view
It all adds up to a huge success for the 2024 edition of Boo Bash, brought to you by Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, Tiki Hut and a host of volunteers and Boo Bashers extraordinaire.
By the numbers, Boo Bashers numbered more than 1,506 children and adults and 42 pets with 85 docks participating.Three major land stops – Lakeside Park, Riverside Beautification Organization and Tiki Hut drawing crowds and sparking even more fun. Trick or treaters of the kid kind were treated to thousands of bags of candy and surprises, and the adults? Well, let’s just say host stops provided grownups with special liquid treats of their own.
Funds raised from Boo Bash will go to LMLPA’s lighted buoy project.
It was a fun and innovative way to bring our lake community together for a day of fun for a good cause. Our hats are off to Sonya Hubbard and Kelli Lasseter, who had an idea a couple of years ago that trick or treating dock to dock might just grow into something big.
What began as a spark of an idea to bring an outdoor music event to the community caught fire and has grown year over year into one of the hottest attractions around.
Casey Cambron and the Five16 Foundation created Lakeside Live Musicfest and Car Show in 2021 as a family event to be held each fall at Lakeside Park.
This popular fall festival has a little something for everybody. The car show draws enthusiasts from all over the region. The music gets better every year with old favorites, like the WingNuts, and new headliners, like The Spin Doctors.
Vendors display their wares. Food trucks serve up a variety of palate pleasers. Kids flock to the inflatables and other activities designed just for them. And the Battle of the Badges – a three-event challenge pitting the police department against the fire department – is a crowd favorite.
Karter’s Korner was one of the vendors
It has evolved into a free, community event for the whole family whose success story is seen in the crowds that grow bigger every year and the good works throughout the region that the Foundation has been able to support.
Its success is measured in the growing number of sponsors who add their names to a movement that brings the community together in fun and fellowship while bolstering missions of charities and nonprofits throughout the area.
Funds raised from Lakeside Live this year will go to St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center and other local nonprofits.
When Cambron and his foundation created Lakeside Live, it was part of its own mission to be a beacon – “Shining our light through fundraising, service, and good works in our community.”
Judging by its positive momentum and impact over the past four years, that light is growing ever brighter.
New St. Clair tradition returns December 14 to Pell City Logan Martin Lakeside Park
In its inaugural race in 2023, Pell City Rotary Jingle Bell 5K Run & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk became what organizers had hoped for – a resounding success.
The goal was to create a family-friendly event to raise much-needed funds for the Alabama Sheriff’s Boys Ranch and months of planning led to the establishment of one of the premier runs in the region.
In 2024, Jingle Bell Run returns for a much-heralded encore at Pell City Lakeside Park Dec. 14, this time raising funds for the Boys Ranch and expanding to other charitable organizations in St. Clair County.
The 2023 edition raised over $50,000, making it possible to open a new home at the Boys Ranch, a program that helps turn lives of young men around.
From the starting point to the finish line, this event brings the community together for a common cause, and the end result is a December morning of holiday fun for the whole family. Special guest is that favorite visitor from the North, Santa himself. He’ll be part of the festivities from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., much to the delight of young and old alike.
Rotarian Bill Ellison heads effort for second year
Meanwhile, runners will lace up for worthy causes and an unforgettable run through the scenic park. The course winds through wetlands, a wooded nature trail, native plant garden and along the shores of Logan Martin Lake.
“This has been an incredible experience for everyone involved,” said Chairman Bill Ellison. “From our generous sponsors to our volunteers to our runners, this community event is truly a team effort. What an amazing testimony to what can happen when we all work together.”
To register, you may go to: runsignup.com. Race day registration and packet pick-up is at the Jerry Woods Pavilion at Lakeside Park from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
Entry fees are $35 for adults and $20 for students, K-12, if you register by Nov. 22. After Nov. 22, adults are $40, and students are $25. Fees include a race T-shirt and swag bag.
After the race, light refreshments and drinks will be available. Awards will be presented following the race.
Medals will go to the top three male and female contestants in nine different age categories. The team with the most registered participants will receive a donation to their own organization or a charity of their choice.
Like a crack military unit, this patriotic Talladega County community and Dovetail Landing, the growing initiative to help veterans, unified on an October weekend with a single mission: to build community and awareness of veterans’ issues and Dovetail Landing’s resources as a place of resilience and recovery for veterans across Alabama.
Dovetail Landing celebrated its first Rockin for Recovery Fall Festival with barbecue, music, food, fun vendors and even a military touch – a “ruck march” that in this case was actually a walk, with the “ruckers” wearing rucksacks.
Dovetail Landing’s Combat Dining Out Dinner: Pipe Major Joseph R. Morrison (The Birmingham Bagpiper) plays rendition of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.
The night before, some 200 camo-clad diners celebrated “Combat Dining Out.,” a donations-only feast far from K-rations or MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). The menu included smoked chicken, pulled pork, red and white sauce, baked beans, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, ice cold drinks and dessert. It was patterned after formal regimental mess nights, in keeping with military tradition, but no black ties. It was striking to see and hear the toasts to the nation’s military, especially the toast to fallen and missing warriors accompanied by the bagpiper’s rendering of Amazing Grace.
The keynote speaker for the evening was retired Col. Chris Stricklin, former USAF fighter pilot, Thunderbird Solo Pilot, and combat veteran. The colonel riveted the audience with his reflection on being a combat veteran.
If the old military adage is true – that an army travels on its stomach – the Fall Festival crowd was fueled for a long march.
“The purpose is to bring civilians, both from their community organizations, family organizations and business organizations to meet =veterans and have fun that night in a traditional military environment,” Dovetail Landing Executive Director retired Brig. Gen. Robert Holmes said.
The ruck march was an untimed five-mile walk aimed at building community and awareness of Dovetail Landing, vets and their issues. The walk was a lead-up to the events of the day, featuring food, showcases for Veteran Support Opportunities, music and fun.
“It was exciting to see so many veterans and their families come together and meet each other,” Holmes said. “There were over 20 veteran support organizations there to showcase significant opportunities, ready to contribute to (veterans’) well-being … and their future.”
But beyond the weekend’s flavorful fun, the larger mission was to help Dovetail Landing, the facility founded by Alana and Pat Centilli in 2021 to honor their son, Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Centilli, who died in 2019 from traumatic brain injuries suffered in an explosion Helmand province, Afghanistan in 2012. Daniel Centilli was remembered by his brothers in arms as a Marine’s Marine.
“All of this is to create awareness and to showcase the opportunities available to the veterans and their families,” Holmes said.
Dovetail Landing hopes to provide a variety of services to veterans, their families and caregivers – medical help, job training, counseling, food, housing and other services with a holistic focus.
The hope is to establish a Veteran Resilience and Recovery Center this fall to direct the ongoing veteran support opportunities and begin the multi-year buildout of the 57-acre farm campus in Lincoln to include a mental health therapy facility and a training center along with temporary lodging clusters.
Dovetail can be viewed as a “reverse boot camp,” according to Holmes. Just as military boot camp prepares new recruits for military life, this reverse boot camp helps now-veteran soldiers make a smooth return to civilian life.
Alabama Punishers LEMC Mt. Cheaha Chapter: supporters of Dovetail Landing, who led a patriotic motorcycle flag parade in honor of veterans
But more than that, Dovetail Landing is like a Recovery Zone, Holmes added. Just like in combat “we don’t leave a warrior behind, We bring them home.”
Dovetail has expanded since its founding, Alana Centilli said.
“We came out of the gate as hard as we could go, trying to do so many things,” she said.
Since bringing Holmes, a veteran of combat operations in Afghanistan and the Global War on Terror, in as executive director in late April 2024, there has been a shift in focus.
“It’s been such a good thing,” Centilli said of Holmes’ addition. “We started veteran support services. Previously, we had just been so focused on the construction. We’re still doing that. But we are actively helping veterans.”
There are estimates that between 44 and 72 percent of veterans are struggling with physical, mental and emotional issues during their transition back to civilian life.
The Dovetail expansion was driven by an increase in public, private and corporate support. Major contributors have been the City of Lincoln, Honda, Alabama Power, Norfolk-Southern Railroad, the Noble Foundation and the State of Alabama, including a line item in the state budget and a grant from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We’re getting a lot of support, Holmes said. “The more people hear about us the more they want to know about what we’re doing.”
But Holmes says, support is a two-way street. Dovetail’s message to corporations and public and private donors? “We’re not just coming with our hand out,” he says. “We want to know what we can do to make your corporation better because if you’ve got veterans employed there, then we want to be available to your company, to your veterans if you have any kind of need.”
“Ruckin’ For Recovery” ruck march led by Dovetail Landing’s own Sgt. Ben Tomlinson, a Marine veteran who survived a sniper shot while in Afghanistan
Immediate help for vets is today’s priority.
“In my mind what was missing was we really had not gotten strategically where we wanted to be in terms of supporting veterans today,” Holmes said.
He added, “We’re going to need the buildings. We’re going to need the infrastructure. But quite frankly, more important are the people we want to serve and their families.”
Dovetail Landing has begun what Holmes calls “veteran support opportunities.”
One of those opportunities is with Central Alabama Community College and its Skills for Success program. There are currently three certificate programs open to vets, including hands on heavy equipment training and land surveying.
Dovetail has opened therapy to help veterans, which involves outdoor recreation (fishing) and music and art therapies to help veterans and family members who may find themselves in a dark place. All of Dovetail’s resources were on display on Fall Festival weekend, including the Veterans Administration-certified arts therapy program led by the Aspen, Colorado-based Challenge America.
The festival also highlighted Dovetail Landing’s programs for the community, corporations and businesses and for potential donors.
Holmes shared the story of one veteran who found himself hounded and haunted by the black dog of suicidal depression. Fishing saved him, giving the vet the clarity and sanity to be able to return to his family and drive thoughts of suicide out of his mind.
“When we hear stories like that,” Holmes said, “we know we’re on the right track.”
To be clear, these initiatives are for family members as well.
“This is not about the veteran alone,” Holmes said. “Most veterans, myself included, when we put on the uniform and we serve, our families are part of that.
“As veterans want to enter into recovery or into a growth experience, we also want to make that available to families. It’s important not to leave families behind,” Holmes said.
For Centilli, what began as a dream is becoming a reality.
“When all of this started, I envisioned a place where Daniel could have healed and just lived his life,” she said. “We knew he was never going to be on his own. He was never going to get married, would never have children … Seeing where we’ve come and how this has evolved and seeing the passion and the fire of the veterans when we talk about this, or they see what’s happening, it’s what we needed. It’s such a wonderful thing. This is going to help so many people.
“I just want to make sure people understand how important a resource like Dovetail Landing is for veterans and their families and why it is so needed,” she said.
The veteran support opportunities have exceeded expectations.
“We kept thinking we have to get this stuff built before we can help anybody,” she said. “We’ve changed that around and Gen. Holmes has helped us with that.”
She added, “The brick and mortar is going to come. But we are helping veterans today. I think it’s a win.”
That immediate help for veterans is important, Holmes said. The facilities follow.
“We’ve got to help veterans today if we’re going to have any credibility in continuing to ask for money to build buildings,” he said.
“When we go back to our mission: Veterans. Their families. It’s people, not buildings.”
Editor’s Note:For more information or to donate, visit dovetaillanding.com, or call (205) 907-7602.
America’s longest paddle race navigates Neely Henry, Logan Martin en route to finish
In the quiet of a Saturday evening and Sunday morning in September on Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes, you just might have heard the sound of a boat paddle slapping the water in staccato precision, propelling the paddler toward the finish line.
It would be a week before the first of the group reached that goal as they made their way across lakes, rivers and creeks on a 650-mile trek that takes stamina, will and determination. Lots of determination.
First to arrive at Logan Martin portage near the dam
It’s America’s longest paddle race, and it’s right here in Alabama – along the state’s Scenic River Trail. It began at Weiss Lake near the border with Georgia and ended in the Alabama Gulf at Fort Morgan as the final racer crossed the finish line Oct. 1.
The first leg of the race took paddlers through Gadsden and Neely Henry, arriving there during the night of the first day. The next morning residents up and down the shores of Logan Martin caught glimpses of paddlers all day long as they headed to the portage at Logan Martin Dam.
Watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Gadsden
One of the first to pass through the local area was Trey Reaves, who went on to win the race in seven days, three hours and 20 minutes. The first-place finish was familiar territory to Reaves. He was Alabama 650’s first back-to-back solo winner.
Also coming in quickly at Logan Martin’s portage was Lindsey Tilton, the first female to complete the course exclusively on a paddleboard. She finished in 9 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes.
To underscore the grueling challenge of the race, only 47 percent actually finish. At the end this year, there were only 10 claiming that achievement. l
Editor’s Note: The Great Alabama 650 is part of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, a network of more than 6,500 miles of river trails throughout Alabama, spanning from mountain streams and whitewater rapids in North Alabama to the river deltas in the South. It is one of the most diverse in the country. For more, go to: ASRT.me.
Lindsey Tilton in historic paddle board finish at Fort Morgan
Innovative LMLPA program gives kids up-close look at Logan Martin Lake’ diverse turtle population
Story by Loyd McIntosh Photos by Richard Rybka
It’s Friday night in early June, and a group of parents and their children are wandering through the boggy marsh on the banks of Logan Martin. With flashlights guiding their way, the group follows the lead of Grover Brown, an assistant professor from the Department of Biology at Jacksonville State University.
A specialist in herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians, he waves his flashlight around, shining the light into the treeline until he finds what he is looking for, a pink ribbon tied to a low-hanging branch indicating the general area he set a turtle trap in the shallow water below.
A couple of girls catching turtles
Brown feels around in the murky water until he finds the rope and starts tugging the trap toward the shore. Brown pulls the trap out of the water to a chorus of “Cool!” and “Wow!” The trap is filled with turtles. “We did pretty good,” Brown says as he clears the trap of debris. “What we use as bait is a can of sardines. Apparently, I put two in here because I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown says.
As the kids gather around, shining their flashlights around frantically as they attempt to get a glimpse of the haul, Brown removes the turtles from the trap and explains to the excited children what they caught.
“We have two species in here. We’ve got what we call a pond slider,” he explains as he holds up a small turtle, about the size of a hockey puck.
“This is a male, and I know it’s a male because of his feet,” Brown explains, as he points out the turtle’s long “wolverine” like toes. He asks the assembled children what they think the turtle uses his long claw for and after a few moments of the children shouting out an array of good to goofy answers, he finally gives them the truth.
“The ladies find them very attractive,” Brown says as the group, adults and children, burst out into laughter.
Next, Brown shows the group another catch, a small female turtle commonly known as a stinkpot, inviting everyone to smell the reptile before sharing the smelly truth behind its name.
“They’re very small and need to come up with a form of protection, and they basically act like the turtle equivalent of a skunk,” Brown says. “When they get scared, they release a really foul, smelly musk.”
After a few more minutes of discussion, Brown allows the kids to handle the turtles and release them back into the water before making their way down the path to the next trap.
The scene is part of Frog Night WithTurtles, an annual event organized by the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA) honoring the late Dr. George Cline, a beloved professor of biology at Jacksonville State who passed away in February 2022. Known affectionately as Dr. Frog, Cline taught biology, ecology, conservation, animal behavior, herpetology and vertebrate anatomy for close to 30 years and also volunteered his time at the Anniston of Natural History, where he founded Herpfest, an annual celebration of reptiles and amphibians.
Brown, who, with good humor, suggests Dr. Turtle as a suitable nickname for himself, is now in his third year leading Frog Night With Turtles. As he prepares for the event underneath a pavilion at Pell City Lakeside Park, he can barely contain his enthusiasm to showcase the unique biodiversity of Logan Martin Lake and the state as a whole.
Hunting turtles
“It’s a great opportunity for these kids to get to see the wildlife that occurs in their own backyard,” Brown says.
“Alabama is really lucky to have a warm climate, and we have topography, so we have species that only occur in the mountains and species that may only occur along the coast,” he adds. “So with that gradient, we get incredible biodiversity.”
For the first half of the event, Brown and his colleague Bethany Adams, an instructor of Biology with a special interest in Alabama’s snake population, talk to the group about the reptiles and amphibians they are likely to encounter in the area.
He and Adams also have a little show-and-tell, bringing out some exotic turtles and even a rat snake, allowing the kids – and their parents – to see and touch these animals. Brown said their goal is to help the group appreciate their natural surroundings in an interactive and fun way.
“They’re going to learn about their ecology without knowing they’re learning about their ecology,” says Brown. “We’re going to say what these turtles do, why they’re important to the environment, and why we should care about them and protect them because we know if the environment is healthy for them, then the environment is also healthy for us.
“We try to weave in a few lessons of why they should care about these species and why these species, in my opinion, make Alabama so special,” Brown adds. “We have more total species in our state than most countries do around the world.”
An evening of wonder
As the sun sets and the moon shines its silvery light on the surface of the lake, the kids show no signs of slowing down as Brown pulls yet another trap from the murky water. Excitedly, they gather around the biologist and wait for their turn to hold a turtle, gently drop it back into the water, and watch it swim away, before hustling back for another turn.
“It was amazing!” said Layon Nixon, an 11-year-old student at Williams Intermediate School in Pell City. “I’ve never gotten to hold a turtle before!”
Layon’s mother, Lisa Nixon, said she brought her daughters, Layon and Adalle, to Frog & Turtle Night to support their interests but also to emphasize the importance of the area’s wildlife and caring for the health of the lake.
“First of all, they love this sort of thing,” says Nixon. “We’ve always known about the association (LMLPA) and support the association, and just knowing the science behind it and knowing the animals that are part of the lake and the need to take care of them is huge.”
Just when you thought Logan Martin’s Pirate Island couldn’t get any better, along comes a new resident.
It’s a giant wooden pirate, in full pirate regalia, complete with a peg leg and a photo cutout for capturing memories.
It was a gift to Jim and Laurie Regan, owners of the island, handcrafted by Jim’s friend, Randall Rigsby, president and CEO of Altex Packaging in Anniston. He created it from a photo of Jim in costume and then “cut my mug out,” says Jim.
It all began with Jim’s appearance at Bucaneer Camp at the Anniston Museum, where Jim talked to the would-be pirates about the perks of being a seafaring adventurer. Randall made the form with marine-grade wood, and now it stands sentry over the island. Jim built a platform behind it for the kids to climb up and have their picture made.
So, step on up, put your face in place and just say, Arrrrrgh, Matey! l
Editor’s Note: Oh, yeah, the pirate needs a name. Won’t you help? Send your nominations to: happenings@loganmartinlakelife.com. The best moniker wins a LakeLife 24/7 Pirate Island T-shirt and a prize pack of treasures!
When Erin and Brian Mooney opened Tre Luna Catering and later Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen, their motto became “bringing our table to yours.” That’s exactly what they plan to do when they cater the Evening at Harman Castle event on Nov. 8.
Tre Luna will be making this event an affair to remember as they cater a progressive, three-course dinner crafted by Mooney, “while enjoying complimentary valet service and immersive live music on every floor,” the invitation says. The dinner features an open bar with wine and signature cocktails and an opportunity to explore the castle’s exclusive amenities. RSVP required.
The Mooneys opened Tre Luna Catering in 2014 and as their customer and fan base grew, they opened Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen in Hoover in 2019. The focus is on providing simple, fresh, and house-made food for all of their customers, whether at the restaurant or at weddings, parties, fundraisers and other events.
Brian, the executive chef, was born in New York but got his start in the hospitality industry while working the grill in the summers at his father’s poolside bar in Boca Raton, Florida. His father sold the bar to two Italian brothers, and Brian’s passion for food and Italian cooking grew under their tutelage.
Erin, who has a passion for serving others, comes by it naturally. Born in Selma, she was raised in Birmingham and grew up in the food and beverage industry. Her mom’s side of the family owned an Italian restaurant while her father’s side had a butcher shop and grocery store.
The two met when Brian was working at a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, and they moved to Birmingham so he could work for Frank Stitt at Bottega. That’s when he fell in love with Southern cooking and food.
When we asked the Mooneys to share one of their favorite recipes, one “simple and delicious” dish that they enjoy at home as well as serving to others immediately came to mind.
“We picked the Baked Oysters because they represent how much Brian and I love to entertain and share food,” Erin said, adding that the dish was inspired by her love of oysters and Brian’s love for Italian-inspired cooking and fresh seafood.
“When we entertain at our home, baked oysters are always a staple,” she said.
“We also order them with friends at the restaurant.”
Baked Oysters
Ingredients
¼ cup pancetta
1 cup blanched, squeezed spinach, chopped
2 Tbsp. finely chopped shallots
½ cup parmesan
1 pint heavy cream
¼ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. pepper
6 fresh oyster
¼ cup bread crumbs, toasted
3 Tbsp. butter
1 lemon
Directions:
Place pancetta in a small skillet and cook over medium heat until browned and crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer pancetta and drippings to a medium mixing bowl.
In a small pot, simmer the heavy cream and reduce until the cream starts to thicken, about 5-8 min on medium high heat.
Stir in spinach, shallots, and parmesan into the cream and season with salt and pepper. Set aside and let cool.
Use an oyster knife to shuck the oysters, sliding the knife under connective muscle to loosen the oyster from the shell. Top oysters with pancetta-spinach mixture, Cook in oven on broil on the lowest rack until golden brown and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately. Use lemon garnish and to finish.
New twists on old-fashioned fun coming to Logan Martin this Halloween
Story by Paul South Submitted Photos
Boo Bash is back.
Pell City’s frightfully fun and festive fleet of Halloween happiness returns to Logan Martin Lake on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
And in 2024, for the first time in its three-year history, Boo Bash has partnered with a local non-profit, the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association. Proceeds from this year’s bash will help provide solar-powered buoys to the association. Those buoys will help make Logan Martin safer, by marking especially shallow water or dangerous hazards. It’s called “Boo Bash for BOO-ees.”
“These buoys, (or BOOees as we call them), mark dangerous areas on the lake that could harm people operating personal watercraft, skiing or tubing,” said Boo Bash co-founder Kelli Lasseter said. “Additionally, they are environmentally friendly since they run off solar power, not batteries. Batteries are not kind to the environment.”
The decision to partner with the association came from the Boo Bash committee in response to survey responses from the lake community after the event’s “astounding” success in 2023. Topping the survey: a nonprofit partnership to raise funds for a local nonprofit.
It’s important to note that Boo Bash is funded through monetary and in-kind donations and even with organizers investing out-of-pocket money.
“In thinking about how quickly Boo Bash is growing. We talked about it last spring and decided if we partner with a non-profit, it’s a win for everybody if it’s done well,” said Lasseter, a co-creator of Boo Bash along with Sonya Hubbard. “Hopefully, it will be around for generations of Boo Bashers to come.”
Logan Martin Lake Protection Association President Neal Stephenson was approached by Jeff Thompson of Pell City’s Center for Education and the Performing Arts (CEPA) about teaming with Boo Bash. Stephenson was familiar with the event and its impact.
“It sounded like a good opportunity for us,” Stephenson said. “Obviously, it’s lake-related, so we started having conversations with them, and we ended up doing a partnership.”
The solar buoys are one of the LMLPA’s standing initiatives.
“It’s a safety feature for the lake and the people who use the lake,” Stephenson said. “It’s probably one of our most popular projects.”
The association undertakes other initiatives, including lifts for people with disabilities to improve accessibility, water quality monitoring, youth education programs, such as “Learn to Cast,” and other work.
The buoy project is LMLPA’s “most notable” project,” Stephenson said.
Along with the buoys, purchased at an estimated cost of $800 each, Boo Bash hopes to raise enough money to honor sponsors, volunteers and participants with a post-event party, something it’s been unable to do since its inception.
And this year for the first time, Boo Bash will take place on a Saturday, where it will compete with the Alabama-South Carolina TV game in Tuscaloosa with its 11 a.m. kickoff.
“The weather and moving it to Saturday are probably going to present the biggest challenges,” Lasseter said. “Nobody wants to go up against an Alabama home game, but moving Boo to Saturday has been recommended by many people for the last two years. So, we are testing it out this year to see if it’s going to work. If not, we will go back to Sunday in 2025.
In the event of bad weather, the event will be moved to Sunday, Oct. 13.
By the numbers, Boo Bash is wildly popular. Consider:
In 2023, Boo Bash registered 1,000 dockside trick-or-treaters, an increase of more than 800 in a rain-soaked 2022. Fifty pets also joined the fun.
106 piers were decorated for the 2023 event to welcome the armada of trick or treaters.
125 volunteers contributed at least 40 hours each to the event, an estimated $160,000 in estimated labor.
Families who festooned their docks in 2023 spent an estimated $200 each on treats, costumes and decorations, meaning an estimated $21,200 boost for the local economy.
While Boo Bash is partnering with the LMLPA, the lake association is also partnering with Pell City Parks and Recreation to create the first-ever “Boo Stop in the Park,” featuring food trucks, a prize drawing and other community partners offering swag and of course, candy.
“This event is four hours long, so (the park) is a great spot to get out and stretch your legs before heading out for round two,” Lasseter said.
As for the LMLPA partnership, Lasseter said it was a seamless fit.
“The partnership wasn’t a challenge at all,” she said. “We knew immediately that Boo Bash and LMLPA would be the ideal partnership as we share each other’s commitment to safety and keeping our environment clean.”
Stephenson agreed, calling the Boo Bash-LMLPA teamwork “a natural fit. The LMLPA has an estimated 100 active members.
“Our mission statement is to advocate and promote the general welfare of Logan Martin Lake, and that of the homeowners and businesses in this area,” Stephenson said. “The Boo Bash event has grown to be a whole lake event. And the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association is here to serve all lake lovers, everyone, no matter which side of the lake they’re on, or which location on the lake they’re on. We’re here to do our best to advocate for the safety and welfare of the lake. We see Boo Bash as a great partnership going forward.”
Boo Bash 2024 is presented by Platinum sponsor, The Tiki Hut at Rivers Edge Marina. Boo Bash organizers are also seeking additional sponsors. Lasseter made the case.
“Given the amount of revenue and visibility Boo provides, it is my hope that people will want to sponsor the event,” she said. “The visibility and the financial impact this event has for our lake is beyond what we imagined.”
Boo Bash bottom line aside, the event that may be seen as the unofficial start of the holiday season on the lake, is at its heart, about fun and bringing the lake community together in creative ways.
Consider Steve and Lisa Young’s 2023 dock decoration, featuring a coffin with a life-sized faux dearly departed uncle. As Boo Bashers were invited to “pay their respects,” Steve, dressed as Betelgeuse, pushed a button and a hydraulic system made the “corpse” sit up.
“It was hysterical,” Lasseter recalled. “Every single person on the lake (who participates) goes out of their way to create a unique experience for the Boo Bashers.”
Stephenson and Lasseter say that Boo Bash says something about the nature of the Logan Martin community. Earlier this year, locals hosted “Christmas in July,” to benefit the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.
As someone who has either visited or lived on the lake for decades, Stephenson believes Boo Bash says something about the community, giving it a family-friendly community event good for all ages.
“(Boo Bash) says a lot about the people who live on the lake and around this area that they really appreciate the opportunities that they have. They appreciate all the activities that are presented, Boo Bash being one of them. We hope that the LMLPA will be a point source for information about the lake and increase our membership so we can grow as Boo Bash has grown.”
Boo Bash and the LMLPA, like other organizations, are rooted in love for Logan Martin.
“The people on the lake care deeply about the lake community,” Lasseter said. “They go out of the way to support the resources that we have, the organizations that we have that provide valuable services to our most vulnerable lake residents.”
She added, “These people are some of the finest people I’ve ever met. People on Logan Martin Lake truly love the lake. They love everything about it, especially the people. Being able to do, not just for the lake, but the surrounding areas, is just something that is incredibly important. It’s probably the number one shared value on the lake.
“At the end of it, it all boils down to, ‘Do unto others. It really is.”
Before you even cross the medieval drawbridge entering Hartman Castle, it stirs the imagination. Step inside and step back in time to a place where fairy tales and history reside side by side.
Once you enter, one thing you can’t imagine – surrounded by armored knights, medieval craftsmanship and all the makings of a castle – is that you are standing in Alpine, Alabama, on Logan Martin Lake.
But that’s precisely where you have arrived at what has to be one of the most unusual Air BnBs on the rental market.
It is pure imagination all wrapped up in 4,300 square feet, five buildings and 12 levels overlooking the lake in Clear Creek. Only, this is not a fairy tale, it’s a true story of one man fulfilling his wife’s dream decades ago and another man decades later, intrigued by the story – and the challenge – bringing it back to life.
In the beginning
The castle itself is the creation of the late Donald Dewayne Hartman, who designed and built it for his wife, Royldene, who always dreamed of living in a castle. Hartman is described as a writer, an educator, world traveler and a lifelong learner.
Putt-putt golf course with a medieval touch
Books he wrote adorn shelves in alcoves off the main foyer. They are filled with mystery and intrigue in faraway places, much like the life of the creator himself. He died in 2022 at the age of 86.
His obituary states he was recognized nationally for developing one of the top foreign language programs in the country. He holds bachelor’s and advanced degrees from 10 different universities around the world.
He was known as an avid painter and a carpenter, the latter of which is evident throughout the castle.
Modern renaissance
In 2023, Blake Shultz, a Realtor from Birmingham, enters the picture. His in-laws live just down the road from the castle, and one day he saw there was to be an auction. “I followed the signs.”
Bidders had a single day to inspect and make an offer on this castle closed years before and showing signs of neglect. But adding to this unfolding story of intrigue was a clue – a hint about its hidden rooms. “Win the bid or never know,” Shultz recalled.
Intricate detail, unusual features, regal look features of castle
He made his offer and when the bidding was over, he walked away as owner of the keys to the castle and the secrets to the hidden rooms found within.
“A year later and lots of work,” and Hartman Castle is now open, renting this elaborate, whimsical and historic lakeside retreat to the wide-ranging interests of vacationers. It has been ideal for groups – bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate retreats, church and youth groups or those who just want to be immersed in medieval surroundings.
“It took 12 months to renovate,” Shultz said, who shouldered much of the work himself. First, there were nine 40-yard dumpsters to dispose of what was not needed. A shipping container resided outside for eight months, where Shultz placed whatever would end up in the finished product as the ‘keeper’ area.
Interior design was a “family affair,” Shultz said, crediting his wife and mother-in-law with the intricate, complementary details that makes this castle a home. Knights in armor stand sentry with wood carvings, art and furniture placement all coming together to make this a special place indeed.
“There was no going back” on this project, Shultz said, noting that in his experience flipping properties, there was always an exit plan just in case. Fail early and fail cheaply. In this project, “once we were in, we were in,” he said. “It was more of a risk.”
No risk, no reward
Shultz made a few structural changes to the original, but most of it is preserved intact as Hartman envisioned it.
There are cosmetic and functional changes, like a closet added with a half bath complete with dragon motif. A piano that took eight people to get down the staircase is new. So is the flooring, replacing the carpet that was there before.
The drawbridge was manual. Now it’s automatic, and the mechanics are hidden behind panels in the wall.
Concrete platforms in different rooms have been turned into sleeping quarters. A scavenger hunt designed especially for the guests help them find hidden rooms and a special prize if they solve the mystery.
Blake Shultz on the drawbridge
Adorning a wall in one of the rooms is ‘wall of thrones’ – wallpaper designed from Game of Thrones artwork, but superimposing the face of his father-in-law as a surprise to him. Hartman once found 300 headboards with an unusual design. He was very creative and used headboards in his own design of the castle. He built all the doors and the trim himself.
Shultz employed his own creativity, building the 12-foot, red oak table that centers a dining room in Building 3, which houses a second kitchen. The fireplace is original. So are the chairs and chandeliers and lights from Bulgaria. The Hartmans loved dinner parties, and their gold goblets and dinnerware have remained.
The views from various areas of the castle overlook Clear Creek near Alpine Bay, and the kitchen, open to a sitting area with sleeper sofas, overlooks the lake as well.
Hartman’s basement workshop now has an added bar area and a concrete loft and fireplace.
It has two party deck areas with lake views. The middle deck features a gathering spot with a Blackstone grill. Just off that area is an 18-hole putt-putt golf course. Miniature castles, dragons and armored knights make up the obstacles at various holes.
A game room features an arcade machine, playing card table and table tennis. Outside, at the top of the property, you’ll find a regulation pickleball court. On the lake side, a double decked covered pier and a fire pit at the water’s edge are highlights.
Shultz said the question during the whole process became, “What other things can we add that really say, you don’t have to leave the property? We wanted it to be unique and fun. This is what we came up with.”
Rave reviews
What Shultz really came up with is a hit, garnering 5-star reviews and making the prestigious lists of “Super Hosts” and “Guest Favorites” on Air BnB.
“The history of the property is fascinating,” said one reviewer. “The restoration of the property to its original state is unreal. There is a working drawbridge! Artifacts, newspaper articles, documents and photos from the past are displayed throughout.
“The detached library has been transformed into extra bedrooms. Every sofa is a sleeper sofa. The baby grand piano and the working organ were a big hit. Putt-putt, ping-pong, pickle ball, the game room, firepit and double decker dock provided hours of fun for everyone. We never ran out of things to do or explore.”
Another described it as “quirky and fun, the view was amazing, and the putt-putt course put it over the top.”
“The castle is definitely one-of-a-kind location,” said one review.
“What a unique experience!,” exclaimed another. “We loved staying at Hartman Castle, it felt just like being in a medieval castle. Our group brought costumes, cosplays, and princess dresses for a royal photoshoot and found so many amazing backdrops around the castle.”
And at the end of the stay, what this guest had to say is what it is all about: “It’s a trip full of memories that we will never forget” – just like the castle Hartman created years ago, and Shultz brought back to life.
