LOGAN MARTIN NEWS – Page 3 – LakeLife 24/7 Magazine

Logan Martin Celebrating 60 Years

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by David Smith
Submitted photos

At 97 feet high, Logan Martin Dam towers over the lake it created 60 years ago.

It casts quite an impressive shadow on the water below, but its impact on the region casts a much wider net – on its economy, recreation, residential, business, tourism and of course, electricity.

It was commissioned in 1964 as the second dam constructed during Alabama Power Company’s program in the 1950s and 1960s to further develop the Coosa River as a source of hydroelectric power. In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law the authorization to build the dam as part of the Coosa River Project.

Downstream view of spillway construction

The Coosa River Project included Weiss, Neely Henry and Bouldin dams and the redevelopment of Lay Dam. At the time Logan Martin was being built and opened, Neely Henry Dam wasn’t named yet. It was just referred to as Lock 3.

During the planning stages, Logan Martin Dam was called Kelly Creek, named for the nearby creek that flows into the Coosa River. Later, it would bear the name of Logan Martin Jr., a circuit court judge in Montgomery and former Alabama Attorney General. In 1921, Alabama Power named him general attorney for the company his brother, Thomas Martin, co-founded.

When the floodgates closed, it would create Logan Martin Lake in 1965. By the numbers, the lake is 17,000 acres with 275 miles of shoreline along its length of 48.5 miles. Its deepest point is 69 feet. Its elevation above sea level is 465 feet, and its area of watershed draining into the reservoir is 7,700 square miles.

The concrete section connecting St. Clair with Talladega counties and forming the dam on Logan Martin Dam Road stretches the length of more than two football fields at 612 feet. Three turbines power generators, producing more than 400 million kilowatt hours annually.

The story unfolds

Old newspaper clippings tell about the evolution of the dam transforming this part of the Coosa River from a long, skinny river system to a much more expansive lake.

Guy H. James Construction Co. of Oklahoma City, OK, won the contract, according to the December issue of Shelby County Reporter, for the “concrete powerhouse substructure, concrete spillway and approximately 1.5 miles of earthen kikes. The cost cited was $28 million, exclusive of the land. Peak employment on the dam project was projected at 450.

The January 5, 1961, St. Clair News-Aegis reported that the construction would begin the following week on “gigantic Logan Martin Dam.”

The story predicted “A vast recreational area will be opened up with Pell City as the center when work on Logan Martin Dam is done. It will be a fisherman’s paradise with boating, skiing, camping and other outdoor type recreation expected to draw hundreds every week …”

When they ‘backed up’ the water

Of course there were challenges along the way. The News-Aegis story went on to tell about the fate of the town of Easonville. “Highway 231 will be routed around Easonville, which will be under water after competition of the dam. The bodies in two or three cemeteries in the Easonville community will be moved to other burial places.”

It certainly didn’t happen overnight. It took four years to build. “After completion of the dam, from one to three weeks would be required to fill the lake,” that same story reported. Locals called it “backing up the water.”

By April 4, 1965, The Anniston Star was reporting about the rising of the water. “Don’t look now, but Logan Martin’s filling,” wrote John McCaa Jr. “Yes, within a month, “Old Coosie” will have swelled back of Logan Martin Dam, lost her sluggish, muddy look and fingered out into cleared land to form a full lake for the first time since the gates closed last August.”

He went on to set the scene. “Newly built piers and boat launching platforms which have appeared so strange sitting high and dry for the past several months will soon be doing their job in easing thousands of area waterbugs into Alabama’s newest water recreation area.”

McCaa said most would see the reservoir as a “fishing and watersports wonderland. But behind the four years of construction and seven months of waiting for the filling process up to summer pool level, is a threefold purpose and a $46.1 million investment.”

In the April 14, 1963, edition of Talladega Daily Home (now, The Daily Home), “Expenditure for Logan Martin Dam on the Coosa River near here, now under construction and scheduled for completion in 1964, is the largest addition contemplated by the Alabama Power Company this year.”

The report was based on the testimony of R.L. Harris, company vice president in charge of electric operations, before the state Public Service Commission. Some may think the name familiar. It is. R.L. Harris Dam on Lake Wedowee was named for him. In this bit of history, though, he was testifying in a hearing on the company’s petition to issue $16 million in first mortgage bonds and $5 million in preferred stock.

Build it, and they’ll head this way.

By 1964, a “big real estate boom” was underway, according to the Birmingham Post Herald. It ran a photo of one of the new developments on the lake. “It is known as Treasure Island and contains both residential and marine developments,” the caption said.

One new resident at the time commented for the paper. “I’m just 40 minutes from Birmingham via the expressway and that isn’t bad at all when you consider what I have at the lake.”

Placing head covers on Unit No. 3 turbine

Prices, the story noted, range from $500 for the least desirable plots of ground to more than $5000 per lot for the choice sites.” Average lot price today – $150,000 to $250,000, say lake Realtors.

“Commercial enterprises such as the Pine Hill (Harbor?) marina and Treasure Island marina are rapidly going up on Logan Martin shores to meet the demand of boating and fishing crowds,” the story said. “New roads are rapidly appearing all around the lake as new homes go up and service enterprises are built to serve the residents.”

A story in the Birmingham News Jan. 5, 1964, displayed photos of the newly constructed dam and the “new” Stemley Bridge, connecting Pell City and Talladega.

“Flood gates of the Logan Martin Dam will be closed this week – and a beautiful 20,000—acre lake will begin to fill up,” wrote Jack Hopper. “This waterway of the Coosa, when completed, also will provide a mecca to industrial prospects and will be one of the most beautiful recreational spots in the Southeast.”

Underscoring the early growth, Hopper noted, “This area is already showing indications of the favor it will meet with thousands of persons as recreational site. Many cabins already have been completed and owners are awaiting next May, when the lake reservoir will be full.”

Pell City Mayor Sam Burt predicted the potential impact, citing 600 waterfront lots purchased at the time, and homes and cabins already going up. “I think we will have the most beautiful lake frontage on the Coosa River,” he said. “And our closeness to the metropolitan area of Birmingham will be a big help.”

Prominent businessman and president of the Chamber, J.D. Abbott said the water was attracting a number of industrial prospects. “We are going to purchase an industrial park and will have everything ready for industrial prospects. Pell City is now doubling its water supply and will be ready when the dam is completed.”

The story goes on to talk about construction in “the near future” on a $500,000 marina on the lakefront, named Pine Harbor Marina. The property would eventually house a restaurant and motel as well as an 18-hole golf course.

The Dam Road

Even the Dam Road captured headlines. “Talladegans will soon have a more direct route to St. Clair County across Logan Martin Dam,” The Anniston Star reported Sept. 16, 1965. “A new half-mile section of road, plus a section of the dyke road, is being constructed by county crews under a negotiated contract with the state for $100,000, including engineering and inspection services. According to District 3 Commissioner John Giles at the time, the new road would provide easier access to the lake and a shortcut to Birmingham for residents in the Renfroe area.

Dam Dedication

Gov. Lurleen Wallace was unable to attend the formal dedication of the sam because she had been hospitalized, and Lt. Gov. Albert Brewer spoke at the ceremony held on a rainy Saturday, June 24, 1967.

Early construction of Logan Martin Dam in 1961, showing the Coosa River, which runs through the middle of today’s lake

He called the dam and reservoir project a “vote of confidence in the future of Alabama,” according to an Anniston Star article that covered the event. “ …A few years from now, water may well be our most valuable commodity.”

Today’s Reflections

As officials reflect on the face of today’s region with the benefit of those six decades, it is easy to see that being in the right place at the right time makes all the difference.

“To say the creation of Logan Martin Lake was a transformational event for Pell City would be an understatement,” said Pell City Manager Brian Muenger. “It provides an irreplaceable benefit to our residents, as well as the hundreds of thousands of guests that flow into the City each summer.”

The numbers bear him out. St. Clair County tax data shows more than 3,800 lots within 100 feet of the lake, the assessed value of which is more than $800 million. That figure is for the county as a whole, but nearly half of that value is within the city limits of Pell City.

Only 1,800 of the 3,800 lots claim a homeowners exemption, which indicates that around 53% of owners are part-time or seasonal residents.

Over the past three years, the lake has averaged more than 1.5 million visits each year. Monthly visits during peak season, May to July, are more than 2.5 times higher than off-peak months, November to February.

St. Clair County Economic Development Executive Director Don Smith agreed with Muenger’s conclusion that the lake’s creation was transformational for the region.

“Pell City and Riverside have had three very impactful events in 60 years – the construction of I-20 in the 1960s, the creation of Logan Martin Lake in 1964-65, and the opening of the Honda plant in 2001,” Smith said.

“All three have brought increased wealth into our communities with the lake generating an incredible amount of property tax from the new lake homes and sales tax from tourism,” he said. “More and more communities are investing in ‘placemaking’ projects to make themselves a more desirable location to visit and live, but our communities already have it because of Lake Logan Martin.”

Angler’s Pointe

Your place for camping, glamping, music, outdoor fun and much more on Logan Martin Lake

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

It would surprise no one to say there are many camping opportunities around Logan Martin Lake. What might be a surprise is that you can spend the night in a covered wagon, reminiscent of those used by 18^th century pioneers as they moved westward. Thankfully, unlike the primitive conditions those adventurers faced, your stay would include air conditioning and an indoor bathroom complete with a shower.

Glamping tents come with a porch and even a full bathroom

These glamping spaces are some of the unique offerings at Angler’s Pointe, the 160-acre rental, recreational and entertainment community adjacent to Lincoln’s Landing tournament fishing park and picnic area. They also offer tent glamping and some more traditional options, including covered and uncovered RV parking, bungalows, cottages, and tiny homes for short-term rental.

Angler’s Pointe is the perfect neighbor for Lincoln’s Landing, providing much-needed resort-style accommodations for tournament anglers and families since 2023. Not surprisingly, the draw of the lake itself and the desire to own a piece of it, even if just temporarily, keeps a steady stream of renters coming in.

“We do get an influx of people renting when there’s a tournament,” says DeLane Griffin, CEO of McCaig & Griffin, the lakeside and commercial development company that has developed the property. “But, by far, the largest segment that’s renting from us is families and couples who just want to come spend a few days or a week on the lake, whether they’re renting an RV space, a bungalow, a cottage, a tiny house or one of our glamping options.”

Glamping, or glamorous camping, is a concept embraced by those who enjoy the outdoors and outdoor activities, but not the primitive conditions of typical overnight camping. Its rise in popularity in the early 2000s resulted in the word being added to the Oxford dictionary in 2016.

It hardly qualifies for roughing it to step into the air-conditioned luxury of one of the four glamping tents after spending the day playing in the lake. They are cool, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious. One tent takes it to the next level of relaxation and features an elegant clawfoot tub. Another tent features a window seat for reading or just watching for wildlife in the open field.

“We went a little bit beyond what some places do,” Griffin explains. “So, it’s glamping with a little extra. We thought it was a bit nicer to have the bathrooms inside the units.”

He brought the idea for the wagon rental spaces to the development after he and his wife, Deanna, stayed in one on a visit to Kentucky. The wagons are made by the Conestoga company and are fully outfitted with bathroom walls for privacy. Living and sleeping areas are “open concept,” with furniture defining the space.

One wagon even has room for the whole family

You can leave your camping gear at home, since both tents and wagons are equipped with upscale home furnishings and antique furniture. Each unit also has a name and theme. With names like Sahara, Wanderlust and Jumanji, each unit’s décor is perfectly suited to its theme. While they do not have kitchens, there are small refrigerators, along with spacious back porches with space enough for a guest to bring a grill for cooking.

The porches of the tents and wagons face a common-use area dubbed, “The Frontier,” which features a chuckwagon, fire pits with conversation areas, covered picnic spots, swings and plenty of open space for games. “Hopefully, we’re going to expand on that in the future with outdoor cowboy dinners and outdoor entertainment,” says Griffin.

Although the resort has been booking since 2023, there is still much to be done to complete the vision. His company had been negotiating with a larger company to finish the build out faster, but after a year of negotiations, he says, the plan fell through. “So, we are back at it, picking up our dream for the property,” Griffin says. “We have more of each kind of lot in the process of being built.”

Griffin sees the building pause as a blessing, since the added time allowed them to receive feedback from guests. “We’re hearing a lot from people not related to Lincoln’s Landing, people from Nashville to Atlanta,” explains Griffin. “They’ve given us good ideas about what they would like to see.”

With those requests in mind, Griffin says, they will be starting soon to provide those onsite amenities guests want like a pool, pickleball courts and a playground. They are also looking for vendors who could do restaurants or eateries on the property.

“As we grow, and we have the tenants there to support it, we will have regular food vendors and more bands in The Yard,” says Griffin. The Yard is an outdoor stage and field area that has already hosted several concerts and outdoor vendor shows.

“We’ve worked with Lincoln every year with the July 4^th fireworks event,” says Griffin. “That’s a one-day event, and we’ve always had food and a concert and that type of stuff building up to the fireworks. We’d like to see that expand to a full week event.” Griffin adds that they have already had several events in The Yard to raise money to support veterans and first responders.

Community is important to Griffin and to the dreams he has for Angler’s Pointe. “Our Patriotic Palooza was a three-day event that honored both people who have served and given us our independence and first responders, the people we count on to keep us safe each day. We don’t make any money from it. Any proceeds go back into trying to create a better experience for the community and to give back to these organizations.”

Griffin is proud of the direction the development is moving and says he looks forward to realizing his dream. “Like most dreams, it doesn’t come easy,” he admits. “My most proud moment will be when we fully complete it. I think people in the community want Lincoln to be nice. I’m proud to have been a part of that.”

As they continue to expand, Angler’s Pointe will offer even more inventory in each of the rental options. Whatever your style of lake life, you can find it right next-door to Lincoln’s Landing. And if soaking in a clawfoot tub while tent camping sounds good, grab your loofah. Glamping could be just right for you.

Editor’s Note: For more information:www.anglerspointe.com

Choccolocco Kayak

Oxford partnership gives great access to the creek

Miles of natural beauty on Choccolocco Creek

Looking for the perfect, quiet waterway to spend an afternoon kayaking on?

Choccolocco Creek, which winds its way through Calhoun and Talladega counties, eventually emptying into Logan Martin Lake may be just the spot.

Choccolocco Kayak, a collaborative effort between the city of Oxford and Choccolocco Creek Watershed, is located right across Leon Smith Parkway from Choccolocco Park on Boiling Springs Road. From the rental facility there, visitors will be transported by van to kayak put-in access point near Cider Ridge Golf Club. You then float Choccolocco Creek until reaching the take-out access point at the kayak rental facility.

The trip takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Kayak and equipment rentals are available at the main office and parking at Boiling Springs Road. It’s a great beginner to intermediate float, depending on the water levels.

Takeout at main office across from the park

The creek winds through the natural beauty of the region. And what’s more, 75% of the revenue from kayaking goes to support the Choccolocco Creek Watershed, a non-profit group working to preserve the historical integrity of the creek area while protecting natural resources and promoting healthy outdoor recreation.

Choccolocco Kayak is open Friday by reservation 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. with last launch at 2 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 2 p.m. Visitors must be 18 years or older to rent kayaks. Users 8-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult to float in standard kayak. Children under eight must float in tandem kayak accompanied by an adult.

Like all kayak and similar water sports businesses, safety is a prime concern, and they shut down operations during inclement weather or dangerous conditions on the creek—low or high water levels, obstructions on the waterway and other hazards. They do a great job of keeping people informed of any issues on their Facebook page, and if you have any questions, give them a call at 256-847-5191

The season runs until Labor Day Weekend.

For more information about Choccolocco Kayak, follow them on Facebook, or check out kayaking on the “Things to Do” page on the Choccolocco Creek Watershed website,

www.choccoloccocreek.org, or Choccolocco Park,

www.choccoloccopark.com/amenities/kayaking. You can find out more about the Choccolocco Creek Watershed project at

www.choccoloccocreek.org.

Editor’s note: Choccolocco Creek Watershed and the Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center contributed to this story.

Lakeside Live Musicfest 2025

Rocking it out once again on Logan Martin

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

Few things joyously say an unforgettable day at the park louder than tricked-out trucks, cool cars, hot live music, food and family fun.

And nothing evokes the spirit of the community’s people than a heart for helping others.

All of these wonderful things will come together from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday Sept. 20 at the Lakeside Live Musicfest at Pell City’s Lakeside Park. Proceeds from the event will go to help The St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center’s Children’s Place, other local charities and the Pell City Police and Fire Departments and City Parks.

Pell City police and firefighters ready for battle on new turf – the beach at Lakeside Park. Battle of the Badges is a popular event at Lakeside Live, which is moving to that area of the park. Photo by Mackenzie Free

The free festival, now in its fifth year, will still call Lakeside Park home, but will move within the park to ease traffic and parking challenges of past years. Last year, some 6,000 cars came to the festival grounds.

The driving force behind Lakeside Live is Pell City’s Five 16 Foundation, a faith-based organization that shines its light “through fundraising, service and good works in the community. The 501c3 nonprofit gets its name from Matthew 5:16 in the New Testament: “In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Lakeside Live Director Casey Cambron is founder of the Five 16 organization, which has designated St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center as this year’s major beneficiary of the event.

The center works on behalf of children and families affected by the tragedy of child abuse. It also works to foster interagency cooperation in the legal system and train volunteers. It also works to educate and build awareness in the community.

“This is an organization that needs more resources,” Cambron said. “As a board, when we were discussing different areas to support, their name came up. The children that they support hit close to our heart.”

This year, Lakeside Live is moving to the parking area next to the water. The move off the grassy areas of the park will make life easier for festivalgoers and organizers alike, Cambron said.

Cars and vehicles of all kinds on display

They took a page from another popular local event, LakeFest, to address parking problems. “Traffic control (last year) was a nightmare,” Cambron said. (LakeFest’s ) set up was very well organized. So, we’ll move to the parking lot near the water.”

He added, “It opens up a lot of parking and makes the whole event easier for spectators to be able to enjoy. It gives us the opportunity to have better handicapped-accessible parking, better parking for large and small vehicles. Just overall, the whole experience will be better.”

Another change in 2025? Musically, the event will return to a homegrown feel. Last year alt rock band, The Spin Doctors, who made a splash on the charts in the 1990’s, headlined the event. This year, local entertainers will fill the bill. Every musical genre will be celebrated.

“This year, we want to go back to our roots,” Cambron said. “We want to have more focus on our local community.”

While the music lineup is still in the works, local favorites Sand Rock, a group of Pell City High School students, will perform, as well as the Leverton Brothers.

Jazzed up cars and trucks will also be featured at the festival’s Motorfest event. Prizes will be awarded to the best vehicles in a variety of categories, including best in show car and best in show truck, best interior, best paint job, best engine, police choice, fire choice, promoters choice and more. Registration for the car show is at 10 the morning of the festival, with awards presented at 2.

For questions about Motorfest, call (205) 200-0359, or check out the Lakeside Motorfest Event page on Facebook,

The car show and other events at the festival will be 100 percent family friendly.

“I’m passionate about creating a family friendly atmosphere,” said Cambron. “I’ve been to events where I’m walking around with my kids and the DJ is playing music full of profanity, it just doesn’t feel right. My goal is to build an event where everyone feels welcome, comfortable, and proud to be there. We want people to leave feeling like they experienced something positive, something truly worth coming to.”

Food and drink for every taste will be on sale from local restaurants and food trucks, as well as a wide variety of arts and crafts and boutiques for men and women, folks of all ages and interests. In short, there’s something for everyone. “We just want people to come and spend money with our local vendors,” Cambron said.

And there will also be friendly competition between Pell City police and firefighters at several events, notably a tug of war. Known as “The Battle of the Badges,” a pro wrestling style championship belt and bragging rights will be on the line.

More important, the competition aims to forge closer bonds between first responders and the public they serve.

“That is our most favorite event,” Cambron said. “Our foundation is about bringing people together. Usually, when you see a police officer or a firefighter, it’s not the best of times. Usually something bad has happened. It’s the same with firefighters. We want to give people a warm, happy feeling about first responders and intensify it with this competition.”

Lakeside Live Musicfest reflects what’s best about Pell City, Cambron said.

“I’ve lived in a few different towns,” he said. “Pell City has a sense of comfort. There’s a lot of really, really great people that live in this town. This is one of the few towns I’ve been in when, if there’s an event that’s happening, people turn out and support it, whether it’s hot as it can be, or pouring down rain. The people come out. It’s unlike any other community I’ve ever been a part of. The town is what makes this event and every other event here great.”

The Porky Pirate Barbecue

Getting ready to set sail on Logan Martin

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted photos

Porky Pirate Barbecue, Logan Martin’s newest eatery, is dropping anchor at Coosa Island.

Offering a bounty of smoked delights and hearty fare, the new restaurant is expected to be open in May after months of extensive renovations and improvements.

Owners Brandon and Amy MacDonald plan a soft opening around Cinco de Mayo, debuting a brand-new look, feel and dining experience at their waterfront location.

“We’re excited about this family friendly restaurant,” said Brandon. “It’s not a bar first and food secondary,” although alcohol will be served.

The menu is “scratch made and upscale” with most cooked on a fire. “We’ll smoke all our own meats out there. Our smoker holds 700 pounds of meat at time,” he said.

Inside, you’ll find a new, 54-seat dining area and full-service bar. Outside is covered deck dining, an open lawn and a rooftop patio with a spectacular view. The rooftop patio is available for private events. The lawn features a place for games, uncovered seating and even a pirate ship playset for the kids.

Their motto is “Island Vibes with a Southern Soul,” and from the sound of the plans, it’s an ideal descriptor.

They’ll have live music during the day on weekends, and the whole place is open and inviting, giving it a communal feel.

It’s not the MacDonalds’ first venture in the restaurant and hospitality business. Brandon owned seven restaurants in the Birmingham area. Amy managed one of the restaurants, and that’s how they met. They’ve been together for 16 years and have two daughters they home school. Brandon has a son who is a freshman at Mississippi State and is a counselor at Camp Cosby in the summers.

An entrepreneur by nature, Brandon said he can see a location or space and ideas start to flow, and a concept materializes. “I like designing or creating something and making it come to fruition.”

That’s the momentum behind the Porky Pirate – laid back, but exceptional food and service. Amy’s dad was a commercial fisherman, and she “grew up” on a shrimp boat. Fast forward, and they were keeping their own boat at Coosa Island.

The old restaurant space was available, and the wheels began to turn. He used his own experiences as a company director of operations traveling around the country to develop the menu.

It will have Texas style brisket like you would find in Dallas – “the same caliber.” There’s smoked pork, Carolina style, mopped during cooking with a vinegar sauce, pulled and then served with a mustard-based sauce.

Smoked wings and chicken will feature a white sauce. St. Louis ribs will be smoked with a dry rub.

Other dishes include catfish, chili lime dusted shrimp, smoked sausage and grits, reverse seared steaks, rum glazed salmon and three different smash-style burgers. A Caribbean-Southern slaw is on the menu, too. “We have unique takes on things,” he said, noting the creativity behind such dishes as fried Oreos and smoked bacon maple bread pudding or the bacon wrapped smoked honey buns and smoked bologna.

They have a full kids’ menu with healthier options than normal children’s fare, and on Mondays, they eat for free.

Island parties can be held on the rooftop, which seats 10-12 people, and it has fixed menus to choose from. Reservations are already coming in.

Weekly specials are planned, including Bingo and BOGO Tacos on Tuesdays and half price wings on Wednesdays.

And for convenience for busy lifestyles, they’ll feature a grab and go menu with dinners for four – meat and two sides, dessert and sauces – for $38. Smoked turkeys and hams will be available during the holidays.

Chef is Lee Wiggins, who was on the leadership team of Dave & Buster’s. While his specialty is desserts, he has extensive experience in catering.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and on weekends, breakfast and brunch will be served in season beginning at 8 a.m. Plans call for being open year-round.

They’re even providing space on the patio deck for church services on Sunday. “You have to meet people where they’re at,” Brandon said, giving them a place to worship if they’re not into traditional church. He likened it to the church services held at the coast’s Flora-Bama that are growing in popularity.

“This will be more casual and less intimidating but give an opportunity for the Lord to touch your heart. We’re doing things the right way – putting the Lord first,” he said.

Amy agreed. The restaurant is a place to “break bread together – fellowship. We want this place to be a blessing to all those around us.”

The LMLPA

League of extraordinary citizens offer lake protection

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by David Smith
Submitted photos

The water’s up, and the boats are out. We’ve been missing the warm days splashing in the water with friends and family, the cookouts and gatherings on the lake, the nighttime cruises and the early mornings fishing on the lake.

If you live on or near Logan Martin Lake, you may want to take a moment to thank a small group of people who have helped to make all that possible.

These agents of change are a league of ordinary people who are truly extraordinary citizens. Their shirt says Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA), but “League of Lake Protectors” might be more fitting. In the nearly 30 years of LMLPA’s existence, these lake protection superheroes have been working to keep lake life great 24/7 for all who live near, work near, or play near the waters of Logan Martin.

If you’re confidently splashing in the water with friends and family, you may not realize that LMLPA constantly conducts water testing to ensure that it is safe for swimming.

Board member Isabella Trussell oversees that project and has since 1996. “At that time there were no women on the board, so I joined and said I’d take up water quality testing,” said Trussell. “We got ahold of the people doing Lake Watch at Lake Martin and learned how their program worked. Now we have 25 monitors who do chemical and physical tests monthly with an EPA-approved protocol and sponsored by Alabama Water Watch out of Auburn University.”

Lighted buoy program has greatly enhanced safety on lake

The cookouts and gatherings on the lake can happen for more months of the year now that the winter water level only goes down three feet, instead of five. More areas are still accessible by water, with fewer mud flats in the late fall and early spring when the weather might still be favorable for outdoor activities.

Linda Reuthemann has been a member of LMLPA for 23 years and currently serves as treasurer. She says the association was heavily involved in discussions about the changes in the winter lake level. “People didn’t want the lake to drop five feet in the winter,” Reuthemann said. “They wanted to be like Neely Henry and just drop one foot. We’ve been to the dam and have talked to everyone who would listen at the Army Corps of Engineers. We ended up with the three-foot drop based on these discussions.”

The higher lake levels have made some areas previously inaccessible by water in the winter available for fishing and for winter tournaments. Tournament fishing typically begins while it is still dark, so lighted buoys are a great safety feature on Logan Martin. Nighttime pontoon cruisers also benefit from being able to see lake hazards heralded by the presence of a lighted buoy.

Former LMLPA president Bud Kitchin works on the buoy program, kicked off in 2019. “We got the first one in the water in the latter part of 2020,” Kitchin says. “We knew our sister association on Lake Martin had started a program three or four years earlier, so we talked to them, then brought the idea here. We launched the program in conjunction with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) marine division.”

The group started by asking for buoy sponsors to raise the money to purchase and maintain the buoys. In the beginning, they were only able to purchase a few buoys, and none were lighted. Those have since been replaced with lighted ones. Right now, they have 70 lighted buoys installed and have ordered 15 more.

“The cost of the buoys has gone up significantly this year,” says Kitchin. “Each buoy, including maintenance is costing about $700 and every summer, we have to replace two or three that get hit or vandalized.” They have yet to reach their initial goal of 100 buoys installed. Placement of the buoys, he adds, is determined by recommendations, accidents or issues and is decided by ALEA.

Safety for people is not the only focus for the work of the LMLPA. They help to protect wildlife as well, through their fishing line collection and recycling program. Eagles, osprey, ducks and other birds around the lake can get caught in the fishing line left in the water or along the shorelines.

Randy Sparks manages the six fishing line stations set up at Riverside, Lakeside Park, Town and Country, General Lee, Poor House and Clear Creek. “We collect it and ship it to a company in Iowa that recycles it,” says Sparks. “The spools are also recycled and most of this is made into plastic tackle boxes.”

Managing the annual lake cleanup is also a major project for LMLPA. Each March, for the last 26 years, they have worked with “Renew Our Rivers,” a lake cleanup program sponsored by Southern Company on each of their hydroelectric dam lakes. Each year, a staggering 10 to 12 tons of trash and other large debris are removed from Logan Martin. Volunteers meet at one of six locations from Clear Creek near the dam to Lincoln to pick up bags and gloves and return the trash to the same location.

Lincoln’s Landing is the first site to see the benefit of the association’s latest project to obtain and install accessibility lifts. “I’d seen an article on these lifts,” says project coordinator Arlene Johnson, “and I thought we might need to do some of these. I thought of Lincoln’s Landing. The idea is to provide access to people who are handicapped to be able to use a boat and enjoy the lake.”

Johnson found a vendor and a local supplier, got board approval and in May of 2022, the lift was installed at Lincoln’s Landing. The lift itself was paid for through a grant from The Noble Foundation and the City of Lincoln.

Pell City’s Lakeside Park is the next location to receive an accessibility lift. “We just have to figure out where to put it,” explains Johnson. “It has to have a non-floating dock to be attached to, so we’ll either need to find a place or build one.”

The goal is for LMLPA to be able to add a third lift, which would be installed on the lower part of the lake at Double Cove Park.

Superhero work sometimes comes from regular folks. These are ordinary people, but through the LMLPA, these residents and friends of Logan Martin are showing their extraordinary passion for this body of water and the people who love it.

The group is small with just 175 members, so the workload is heavy. If you would like to show your dedication to protecting Logan Martin, they would appreciate your help. Support their efforts or join the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association at www.lmlpa.org.

Membership is $25 per family. You’ll feel like a superhero, or at the very least, extraordinary.

Skyrockets at Night!

Fireworks on Neely Henry and Logan Martin Lakes

If you can’t imagine a Fourth of July celebration without fireworks, that’s because it has been part of the tradition since nearly the beginning of America’s birth as a nation.

During the early months of the Revolutionary War in 1776, delegates to the Continental Congress debated whether the 13 colonies should declare independence from Britain and King George.

On July 1, 12 of the colonies did so. New York, the 13^th, would follow suit on July 9. On July 2, with independence plainly in sight and final drafts of the Declaration of Independence being revised, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival … It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

And as Adams predicted, it was. On July 4, 1777, the first organized 4^th of July celebration was held in Philadelphia. The next day, the Pennsylvania Evening Post reported: “The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”

Two hundred and forty-eight years later, the tradition continues. Our lakes are popular venues for the nighttime show beautifully illuminating the waters below. Here’s a roundup of fireworks shows throughout the lake region:

Logan Martin Lake

City of Pell City, Pell City Lakeside Park, July 4, around 9 p.m.
River’s Edge Marina, July 5, Event kicks off at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks after dark
Back Porch Grill/Clear Creek Marina, July 3, after dark
City of Lincoln, July 5, Lincoln’s Landing, after dark
City of Talladega, July 4, Battery Park, after dark

Neely Henry Lake

City of Rainbow City, June 28 event starts at 5 p.m. with food trucks, live music, Kia Sports Complex, 625 Kinizie Lane; Drone Show begins at 9 p.m. (ideal for sensory sensitive audience).
City of Gadsden, July 4 event starts at 6 p.m. with vendors, live music, and fireworks visible after dark; First Street, Riverside Drive. Fireworks show hosted by Gadsden-Etowah Patriots at Riverwalk Park at Coosa Landing, 108 North Hood Avenue

River’s Edge Presents The Tiki Hut

It’s here! It’s one of the first signs that lake season has officially arrived on Logan Martin. The ever-popular River’s Edge Marina, featuring Tiki Hut and Burgers & Breakfast, opens May 3, Saturday and Sundays only. Friday nights will come back the first week of June.

Hours for Saturday and Sunday will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Last call is at 8:30 p.m. Manager Michael Emerick noted that on Friday nights, “we will have either a band, Bingo or maybe even Karaoke!”

The new building that houses the marina and River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast made its debut along with an expanded and renovated Tiki Hut in 2024. “It was a very great year for us. People seemed to love the building. We were able to cook faster with our bigger fryers and grills. The flow seemed a lot better, and we had a lot of positive feedback that we are looking forward to growing off of in 2025,” Emerick said.

“We saw huge growth in 2024, and we hope to build off that. We think the new building and the positivity surrounding The Tiki Hut is something great and definitely helped boost our day-to-day.”

For the 2025 season, “we are actually renovating the Tiki Hut once again. This bar renovation will make for smoother and faster ordering, we hope, along with more machines. We will now have two Bushwacker machines. We have upgraded the Blue Hawaiian machine to keep up with the demand, along with the Pina Colada machine. We are officially bringing back Frose on an every weekend basis.”

Plans call for adding a small area inside the Tiki Hut to serve as the “Beer and Mixed Drink” Bar so the main bar can focus on the frozen drinks, “and you can snag your beer or mixed drinks from its own place,” he said. “We hope this helps the line and keeps drinks flowing.”

Another huge draw is the creation of Tiki Hut Jr. “This is something we are very excited about. Previously, we served Virgin drinks for the kids out of the Tiki Hut. We will be removing those from the main bar and putting them in its own dedicated ‘non-alcoholic’ bar underneath the building,” which is a covered patio with plenty of seating, he said.

Tiki Hut Jr. will serve Virgin Drinks, Ice Cream, Sodas, snacks and will be the main location for apparel sales. It may also serve a few more items.

Also on tap as a new addition this year is a self-serve kiosk, where you can order food off of it downstairs at the Tiki Hut Jr., which Emerick hopes will “eliminate the line and starts faster ordering processes for people so they can enjoy all the things we have to offer while they wait on their food as such as our swim area, playground, games, music, and more.”

Other changes at the marina include wet slips for the boat parking, which will have about 10 more slips this year for parking.

The summer kickoff is the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, May 17. It will feature three bands performing, starting at 3 p.m. BuckWIld Band is headlining the event. Tyler Nichols Band is in the middle slot, and David Howard from Kudzu is opening with a solo. This event is presented by ABC Towing, and sponsored by Capps Painting, A Plus Tire & Auto, Woods Surfside Marina, Stone Concepts and ERA King.

“We do have some pretty special events planned or in the planning,” Emerick says. Memorial Day Weekend, Cruisin performs on Saturday, and then Kudzu on Sunday. These performances will be from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on a small stage.

On opening day, May 3, Skiers Marine will be hosting an in-water boat show at the marina.

“We do not have an exact date, but we are working with the Birmingham Homebuilders Association to plan a poker run that leaves from the marina with maybe a small band after the event at the Tiki Hut. This will be sometime in June,” according to Emerick.

On June 28, they will be sponsoring the annual Dam-Palooza, a boat tie-up near Logan Martin Dam, by supplying a band on top of a houseboat. “We will have 90 Proof performing for us, with DJIV doing the DJ music between sets,” he says.

Of course, no summer season is complete without fireworks. July 5 will be its annual fireworks show event with bounce houses, snow cones, bands and more. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks at “dark:30.”

Plans also call for sponsoring Boo Bash in October and hosting a special event in conjunction with the dock-to-dock trick-or-treating activities.

In the Kitchen and around the Lake with Lyman Lovejoy

Lake cabin central to generations of family, friends

Story by Scottie Vickery
Photos by Mackenzie Free
Submitted Photos

Anyone who knows Lyman Lovejoy – and the number is a large one since he’s never met a stranger – can testify that the real estate mogul who has called St. Clair County home for more than 50 years, has the perfect last name.

Granddaughter Niah gets an early start at the lake

Known as the “Mayor of St. Clair County,” Lovejoy loves people and radiates joy. Factor in his fondness for the water and being outdoors, and it’s no surprise that one of his favorite things is spending time with family and friends at his weekend home on Neely Henry Lake.

“If I don’t do a thing but sit right here and throw me a fishing line out there, I’d be fine,” Lovejoy said from one of three wooden swings hanging in his boathouse. “The view doesn’t get any better than this.”

There’s a lot of view to enjoy since Lovejoy’s three lots boast about 800 feet of sparkling waterfront. “Over the years, a lot of people have asked me if I would sell the place,” he said of the A-frame cottage and 3 acres surrounding it. “The answer is no. My kids and grandkids have known this all their lives. It’s not for sale.”

Another generation is learning to love lake life, as well. In addition to his two children and six grandkids, the 84-year-old Lovejoy now has two great-grandchildren.

Chances are, they’ll learn to ski much like their parents and grandparents did. Lovejoy taught them all in an untraditional manner. Before they were ready to test their new skill behind a boat, Lovejoy gave them skis and a rope, and he ran down the riverbank, pulling them along. “I did that until they were ready to get behind the pontoon,” he said with a grin.

When the family gets together, it’s a pretty big crowd, but Lovejoy said he and his special friend, Sheila Moore, love hosting them, as well as friends, church groups and anyone else who wants to join the festivities.

“There’s always room for more,” Lovejoy said. “We’ve grilled many a hamburger here, and we just love to sit and eat and talk.”

His eyes light up with the memories – the ones he and his family have created, as well as the ones he has from his childhood in Clay. “I grew up with camping, Boy Scouts, fishing,” Lovejoy said. “I’ve always enjoyed being around the water and wildlife.”

Born for it

Lovejoy’s affection for the outdoors comes naturally. Growing up, his parents, Sim and Lucille Lovejoy, were caretakers at YMCA Camp Cosby. As superintendent, his father “kept everything going” at the camp, which was originally located north of Trussville before moving to Logan Martin Lake in 1972. As a result, Lovejoy spent many a summer lifeguarding.

After graduating from Hewitt High School, now Hewitt-Trussville, Lovejoy got a job with an office equipment company before he and his late wife, Catherine, decided to get their real estate licenses.

They bought an office in Odenville, moved to St. Clair County, and Lovejoy has been here ever since. He now lives on a farm in Ashville, about 15 or 20 minutes from his lake home. Lovejoy Realty specializes in selling land for recreation, hunting and farming, as well as residential and commercial development, home sales and new construction.

It’s hard to know what Lovejoy has enjoyed most – his career or the place where he developed it. Either way, whether he’s closing a deal or simply telling a visitor about the virtues of “a quiet life” in the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains, Lovejoy is always selling St. Clair County and working to make it better.

“I’m probably the only one in the county that’s got every commissioner, councilman and mayor in my phone, and I work it,” he said. Lovejoy has served on the St. Clair County Economic Development Council and is a former chair and member of UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair. A past member of the Alabama Real Estate Commission, which is a gubernatorial appointment, Lovejoy is active in his church, First Baptist of Ashville, and has held leadership positions in the St. Clair Association of Realtors.

“There’s not a better place anywhere,” he said. “Folks have been good to us here.”

Down by the water

Although Lovejoy has made many real estate transactions, one of the best ones he made was when he and his wife bought the cottage in the Shoal Valley Creek area of Neely Henry almost five decades ago.

“A couple came in and said they wanted us to sell their house on the river,” he recalled. “We’d been wanting to get a place on the water, so we said, ‘We’ve got to get that.’”

The 2-bedroom, 1-bath A-frame came with two lots, and a year or so ago, Lovejoy bought a third lot next door. “It’s real simple, but it’s all we need,” he said. “We have 30, 40, 50 people out here sometimes. I love it.”

Guests to the home walk into a cozy den that’s painted a bright white and has two sofas and several oversized chairs. There’s a basket of board games, which have gotten years of use, and a small kitchen, dining area and bathroom.

Upstairs are two small bedrooms – one with four twin beds and another with two. Navy and white striped comforters provide a nautical feel and contribute to the homey atmosphere.

“Most of the time we don’t even make it up to the house,” Lovejoy said, standing at the door of a large, free-standing screened porch that he eventually added on the property. “This is about as far as we go unless we’ve got to go to the bathroom.”

Lyman on boat with granddaughters, Tori and Bree Camp

The “cooking shed” has plenty of seating around a fire pit table, and Lovejoy built benches and ledges all around three sides of the outdoor living space. The fourth side is home to cabinets he made, as well as a sink, microwave and refrigerator. A collection of rods, reels and fishing gear is tucked away in the corner.

Lovejoy and Moore believe that the best part of entertaining is the fun and fellowship, so they make it as easy as possible. The menu is usually hamburgers and hotdogs with sides like potato salad, slaw, baked beans, chips and fruit. “There’s always plenty for everyone,” Lovejoy said. “We can seat about 50 in here,” he said. “We have a lot of fun.”

When they’re not eating, they’re playing. A shed next to the screened room holds all the toys – skis, tubes, floats, fishing poles, kayaks, a water mat and an assortment of life jackets for every age and size. “We’ve got them from infant size on up,” Lovejoy said.

Fishing is another big draw. “We’ve caught some 15- and 20-pounders,” he said. “We’ve caught carp, crappie, gar, catfish, bass, you name it.”

The dock and boathouse area is one of Lovejoy’s favorite places. He recently spent a breezy afternoon there with Moore and Herschel Morgan, a childhood friend who stopped by for a quick visit. “We’ve known each other all our lives,” Lovejoy said as Rascal, his 12-year-old mutt, jumped up to join them. “Look at us. We’re just three old dogs sitting on a swing.”

The two bantered back and forth, reminiscing, laughing and catching up on each other’s lives. When Moore got up to put something away, Lovejoy, just four weeks out from knee replacement surgery, was quick to quip, “We’d help you if we weren’t crippled.” Not to be outdone, Morgan quickly added, “We’ve got over 100,000 miles on these legs.”

For Lovejoy, it was a perfect afternoon: laughing with friends, sharing a beautiful view, and enjoying the peace and quiet. “A good portion (of the lake) is owned by Alabama Power, so it’s very sparsely built,” he said. “On a really busy day, there might be a few boats. It’s pretty quiet here.”

So what would it take to make Lovejoy leave St. Clair County and his slice of heaven on the water? “They make ’em about 6 feet long and it’s got a lid on it,” he joked. “If it’s a pine box, that’s OK, as long as it’s well-made.”

And since he doesn’t like any surprises when it comes to making a sale, he was quick to disclose an additional caveat. “And one more thing,” Lovejoy added, “I want a Cadillac hearse.”

Recipes for lake gatherings

Courtesy of Sheila Moore

Georgia Cornbread

Ingredients:

4 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups chopped pecans
1 ½ cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 dish. Beat eggs, oil and sugars.
Stir in pecans, flour and vanilla. Bake 30 minutes and let cool in dish for 10 minutes on a rack. Serve with whipped cream or enjoy as is with a cup of coffee.

Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients:

2 cups canned chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can Rotel tomatoes (do not drain)
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces of spaghetti, cooked
Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients, except for cheese, with the pasta.
Cover casserole with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes.
Add cheese to top and return to oven until cheese is melted.

See you down at the dam

Logan Martin Dam Palooza boat tie-up returns June 28

It has been a dozen years since someone had the idea of a nontraditional get-together at Logan Martin Dam. It would be a boat tie-up, where boats tie to one another and enjoy the day on the lake – in the water, on their boats, on floats and mats, or from boat to boat.

It has become one giant floating party, and it’s returning June 28, when organizers are taking the 12^th Annual Logan Martin Dam Palooza to the next level.

Live music by 90 Proof will entertain, and DJIV will be playing the tunes between sets. Sponsors of the free event are Tiki Hut and ABC Towing.

While organizers want everyone to enjoy the day at the dam, there are some reminders and guidelines that will ensure exactly that.

Here they are:

Have a responsible boat captain in charge of the boat and the safety of your crew
Bring enough ropes to properly secure your boat to your neighbor’s if you plan to tie up to the line of boats.
Have sufficient bumpers for the size and type of your boat.
Bring an anchor sufficient for the size boat you are operating. Wind will determine which way we toss anchors but please have one.
When approaching, please be aware of people in the water and the line of boats tied together. Any waves caused by your boat approaching can cause damage or disrupt the fun everyone else is trying to have.
Turn off music when approaching so any help offered for your docking can be heard, and you can easily be tied up.
Note there will be all ages attending this float so please refrain from any music that may be offensive to the little ones. We will have the loudest stereo(s) on the lake with us and will try to play general music everyone can enjoy but this is not a competition, if you want to play your music for a while we will let you.
We set up a swim area between the boats with big pads and ropes, etc., so please be aware of this area when coming and going.
Don’t be ‘that guy!’ When approaching, stop well before you get to the tie up and get your bumpers in place, ropes tied and ready to throw and turn the music down, so everyone can hear the captain’s commands.
This is an opportunity to make new friends on the lake and enjoy the day together. When someone approaches your boat, help them tie up safely and securely. If you are approaching, be considerate of who you are tying to, and have all of your bumpers and ropes ready. Return the favor for who ties to your boat.

“We hope to see everyone down at the dam,” organizers say with a final message: “Everyone be safe!”