On the social media platform “X” – formerly known as Twitter – Eric Housh made a powerful statement:
“I love the lake. Is it summer yet?”
“The lake” is Logan Martin. And Housh helps run LakeFest, a combination boat show, arts and crafts fair, music festival and block party that in 2023 drew an estimated 45,000 people.
Known as the largest in-water boat show in the Southeast, The Logan Martin LakeFest and Boat Show returns to Lakeside Park May 10-12 as “the place to be” for the past 15 Springs, save one coronavirus year. Some might even call it the unofficial start of another spectacular summer on the lake.
Boats on display at discounted prices
“We’re proud that it continues to grow a little bit every year and get bigger and bigger,” Housh said. “This year, we’ve already had a good response from all our sponsors and several vendors, so we’re looking forward to another really good, full event.
The festival will feature over 80 models of boats and personal watercraft, live music on the Tracker Stage, featuring the popular Louisville, Ky. B and The Velcro Pygmies, gourmet food trucks, lake lifestyle vendors and a fireworks show honoring vets from the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City.
Admission is free. But food, drink and vendors’ wares will be for sale, so bring your wallet. Also, for prospective car and truck, boat and personal watercraft buyers, on-site financing will be available courtesy of America’s First Federal Credit Union.
LakeFest is an effort to promote Logan Martin Lake, raise money for local charities and build a stronger sense of community.
The seeds for the wildly popular event took root in a conversation between Housh and his next-door neighbor, Mike Riley, then president of the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, as well as local businessmen Jerry Woods, Lee Holmes, Fred Casey and Joe Paul Abbott. Housh served on the association’s board and ran its website for a time.
“They had this vision of doing an event to really showcase Logan Martin Lake and the surrounding areas,” Housh said.
“If you live here, you know how special the lake is,” he added. “We felt like if we really showcase not only the lake and what it had to offer, but local businesses, vendors, local artisans, craftsmen, restaurants … The event was really about sharing with the outside community. It was kind of a way to welcome them in and share our special little slice of paradise here.”
Folks flock from across the South to the event – Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Atlanta and points in between. Call it a gathering of 40,000 of your closest friends.
“People come to the lake before then. But that weekend, everybody’s there,” Housh said. “You may see your lake friends year-round. But you may only see friends from Birmingham that weekend. It’s a way to have a celebration and look forward to enjoying another season on the lake and the lake lifestyle.”
Housh sums up the uniqueness of LakeFest in one word – “Community – “the people, the sponsors that make it happen. It’s always been a free event. We’re providing entertainment. We’re providing security. We have this massive fireworks show, and we feed the veterans on Friday night. That’s only made possible by people in this community.”
In its 14 years, the event has never had a safety incident, adding to its reputation as a family-friendly festival in this tight-knit community. And volunteers from church and youth groups man parking, concessions and other responsibilities.
“The public really values this event,” Housh said. “And that’s evident in the fact that everyone just comes out and has a good time. It’s a super-positive atmosphere. You can feel it.”
The in-water boat show even has a beach
Logan Martin, it seems, is like New Orleans, in that just about every month, there’s a festival of some sort – LakeFest in Spring, Boo Bash in the Fall, summer’s Rock the Lake in Lincoln, Lakeside Live, Live at Logan Martin and so on. People here respect the lake and its community, celebrating it with family-friendly events.
“There are a lot of different opportunities to come together,” Housh said. “In general, we’re a community that likes to celebrate. We like to celebrate on the lake. We like to celebrate with our friends. So, as a result of that, you see a lot of these festivals popping up.”
Giving back to charity is one aspect that fuels LakeFest. So far, some $500,000 has been donated to local charities – police and fire department foundations, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch, animal shelters, Lakeside Park improvements and the like. Sponsors fund the event, but also boost charities.
“We try to be wise stewards of the blessings that we have and then turn around and give away what we don’t invest in the event,” Housh says.
Looking back, Housh remembers what organizers have overcome, like in year three, when heavy rains nearly washed away vehicles and closed Highway 34.
But one thing remains constant, the glowing, joyous faces of kids and veterans and new boat buyers. And after the event, charities receive big donations.
“Yeah, it’s a little stressful over the course of the weekend. But you always see these glimpses of people being happy, living their best life. Every year, something magical happens,” Housh says.
“If they haven’t come out before, I’d encourage them to come check it out,” Housh said. “It’s fully accessible. It’s pet-friendly. There’s something for the entire family.
There’s a bubbly reason to put LakeFest on your Spring “to-do” list for Mother’s Day weekend: Mimosas for Moms on Sunday. Free Mimosas are in store for mothers on their special day.
And while organizers spearhead the event, Housh is quick to point out that there’s a small army of volunteers – and the community – who help make the magic.
First-time festgoers need to know one thing, Housh said.
“If you haven’t experienced this community yet, this is a great opportunity to feel that. It’s a really special event.”
For many kids, summer camp is a dream come true. There’s swimming, horses, campfires, crafts and new friendships that often last a lifetime. Factor in more than a mile of shoreline on beautiful Logan Martin Lake, and it’s easy to see YMCA Camp Cosby as a field of dreams of sorts.
The lake is a huge part of what makes the camp special, according to Sky York, senior program director. “We have so many activities on the water,” she said. “There’s sailing, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, and we’ve got a section of the lake roped off for swimming with lots of fun inflatables. The kids love it.”
High ropes course presents challenges
The fun doesn’t stop there. Thanks to a partnership with Rambo Marine, which provides the use of ski boats and pontoons, campers can enjoy waterskiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing and tubing while learning about water and boating safety at the same time. “A lot of kids, especially if they’ve grown up in the city, have never gotten to do things like that,” York said.
Trying new things and meeting new people are some of the best parts of camp, she added. “It’s really neat to see kids come out of their shells and get really excited about trying new things,” she said. “I also really enjoy helping guide the staff so they can help kids fall in love with camp.”
100 years and counting
Camp Cosby, which is accredited by the American Camping Association, has been providing summer fun for more than a century. The camp first opened in 1922 after the YMCA bought property north of Trussville that had a 26-acre lake. While it started as a camp for boys, it later offered sessions for girls, too. The camp moved to its current location on 135 acres in Alpine in 1972.
Today, there are eight sessions of summer camp for kids ages 6 to 16, and more than 2,000 campers attend each year. While most sessions are Sunday through Friday, there’s an option for kids attending more than one session to stay over the weekend. In addition, a three-day session is offered for rising kindergarteners and first-graders who may not be ready for a full week, York said.
The goal of camp is to build confidence, inspire independence and foster a spirit of acceptance and family. In addition to watersports and swimming, campers can participate in horseback riding, archery, high and low ropes courses, arts and crafts, ceramics and more. Older kids can even learn to ride and maintain minibikes, and there are separate trails for hiking, horseback riding and minibikes. An outdoor classroom helps campers learn about and develop a love of and appreciation for nature.
The fun isn’t just limited to the summer, though. Camp Cosby offers programs and special events all year long, including Winter Camp, offered during the holiday season, and Teen Retreats held over weekends in the fall and spring. The focus is on leadership, and participants learn employment and life skills, as well.
Not just for kids
One of the biggest draws, though, is Family Camp, offered in the spring and fall, when entire families can stay in a cabin and enjoy the outdoors together. “Some parents may have only been to camp for drop-off and pick-up,” York said. “This gives them an opportunity to enjoy some of the same experiences their kids do.”
Mini-bikes are a favorite at the camp
It’s also a great way to disconnect from electronics and other distractions so family members can better connect with each other. “Sometimes families just want a weekend away,” York said. “It’s a nice respite when they can come and hang out, take some time to get outside, and get a break.”
Family Camp can also be a good way to give new or young campers a glimpse of what they would experience at summer camp. “By the time summer rolls around, they know what to expect and they remember how much fun it can be,” York said.
Camp is a wonderful way to help build relationships, whether with family, counselors or new friends. “We have staff and kids from all over the place. Many times, those camp friendships end up lasting longer than other friendships,” York said. She added that group activities, cabin time and team-building experiences help deepen bonds.
The camp employs more than 100 seasonal staff members, and they come from all over the region, country and world. “We’ve had staff from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America and Mexico,” York said. “I love seeing the counselors bonding with the kids and encouraging them to try new things. Growing up, the counselors I had at summer camp had a big influence in my life.”
In fact, camp, in general, made a big impact. “I have a passion for it,” York said. “It’s a fun way to meet people you might never meet otherwise, and it’s a cool way to try new things. Some of my best memories were made at summer camp. It had a big impact on me as a kid.” l
For more information about YMCA Camp Cosby and its programs, visit campcosby.ymcabham.org.
Carol’s apron says it all. Greek to you? Translation: Good Appetite!
Carol Pappas was in elementary school when a teacher asked the students which food they would want if they were marooned on a desert island. While the other kids’ answers were fairly predictable – pizza, hamburgers or chicken fingers – Carol’s answer was a little different. “I said I would want Greek salad,” she said.
A descendant of Greek immigrants, Carol said the salad, complete with olives and feta cheese, was a staple in their Birmingham home during her childhood. Although her love of Greek cuisine remains a vital part of her identity, her taste in food is not the only thing influenced by her Greek heritage. Her appreciation of community and life on the water stems from her family, especially her father’s side, as well.
“My dad was born in Kastoria,” a city in northern Greece built on Lake Orestiada, she said. “It was fate that I ended up here.”
“Here” is her lakefront home in Logan Martin Lake’s Pine Harbor, the neighborhood she’s called home for nearly four decades. Her love of life on the water, Pell City, and St. Clair County is so ingrained, in fact, that she is the editor and publisher of two magazines that celebrate all the area has to offer, Discover St. Clair Magazine, and this one, LakeLife 24/7®
“I tell everyone that I was born in Birmingham, but Pell City and St. Clair County is my home,” she said.
Greg Pappas with his famous baked lamb
A reporter for 40 years, Carol is much more comfortable being the writer, rather than the subject. It seems fitting, however, for the person who has penned so many stories about St. Clair County and its people to finally share part of her own. In the spirit of sticking to the truth, Carol’s principle for her career in journalism, it’s important to note that the original story planned for this feature fell through at the last minute. So after a little bit of arm twisting (okay, a lot), Carol agreed to share some of the things that define her: her Greek heritage, her love for family and friends, casual gatherings on the water, and the Greek style of cooking, which will always be her favorite.
“My (maternal) grandmother was a big influence in our kitchen and so was my mother,” Carol said. “Everything had a Greek flair to it. If we had baked fish, it was Greek style with lemon and olive oil. We had Greek salad nearly every night, and Sunday dinner was usually chicken or roasted lamb.”
Celebrating roots
Carol’s father, Ernest Pappas, emigrated to the United States with his father when he was 13, and he settled in Birmingham where they had relatives. Her maternal grandparents, Tom and Kaliopi Pappas, had emigrated, as well, and were raising their family in Indiana. Although the families were not related, they share the common Greek surname.
Vickie with one of her specialties, Baklava
After graduating from Auburn University and serving in World War II, Ernest returned to Birmingham “My father was on his way to a wedding in Chicago, and someone told him, ‘There’s this nice Greek family in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You should stop and visit them,’” Carol said. “It sounds strange, but that was the way of life for Greeks at the time.”
Ernest did, he met the family’s four daughters, and fell in love with Blanche. After they married, they made their home in Birmingham’s Crestwood neighborhood, and Ernest served as general manager and a shareholder with Home Baking Company.
They took pride in their Greek heritage and instilled it in their children. Carol and her siblings, Greg and Vickie, still hold the culture and traditions dear. Greg, in fact, owns Pappas’ Grill in Vestavia Hills, which he opened in 1992 after working at and managing other restaurants.
The restaurant’s sole chef, Greg cooks up favorite Greek classics such as Pastichio (Greek Lasagna), Moussaka and Stuffed Grape Leaves. Many are his family’s favorite dishes, while others are recipes he developed and perfected.
Although Vickie and Carol aren’t in the restaurant business, they both love to cook and are inspired by the meals that marked their childhood. “My mother made the best Greek Snapper,” Carol said. “It just melted in your mouth. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
The dish was such as family favorite, it became known to the grandchildren as “Fish a la Yia-Yia,” since yia-yia is a common Greek term for grandmother. “I make it, but it’s not anything like hers,” Carol said.
Vickie mastered Spanakopita, a Greek pie with layers of dough to form the crust and filled with spinach and feta cheese, and she recently taught Carol to make it. “We made the crust from scratch, and the recipe was handed down from my grandmother to my mother,” she said. “I had helped my mother with it, but I had never cooked it myself.”
In addition to stews and fish dishes that were mainstays during her childhood, the family often enjoyed three different whole chicken meals. There was the Greek style roasted chicken, one with tomato sauce, and one stuffed with sauerkraut and rice, which was Carol’s favorite. “I later adapted that recipe because I wasn’t going to cook a whole chicken,” she said with a laugh. “I use chicken breasts and serve it over a bed of sauerkraut and rice.”
Carol said her mother helped start the Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral Greek Food Festival, which recently celebrated its 51st year. One of Carol’s favorite cookbooks, The Greeks Have a Recipe for It, was compiled by the ladies in the church, including her mother and the mothers of her friends. “They’re all the Greek people I grew up with,” she said.
It’s a tattered binder filled with recipes that is among her most treasured possessions, however. One Christmas, she had it reprinted and bound and gave it to members of her family. It features Greek foods based on the Mediterranean diet of fish, chicken, fresh vegetables, and olive oil.
“It’s a very healthy way to eat,” Carol said. “We never had a lot of fried food growing up; everything was baked or broiled. We never used any kind of batter. I didn’t have fried okra until I was in high school, and I had fried green tomatoes for the first time in college. It was a whole new discovery for me.”
A mother’s influence
Just as her mother was a big influence in the kitchen, Blanche Pappas also played an important role in Carol’s career path, which led her to St. Clair County. “I wrote a book report in high school and Mother read it,” she recalled. “She said, ‘You’re a really good writer. You should go into journalism.’”
Since the most common professions for women at the time were teaching and nursing – neither of which seemed like a fit for Carol, she took her mother’s advice. After graduating from Auburn, she took a reporting job with the St. Clair Observer, a weekly newspaper published in Pell City that later was sold and merged into the St. Clair News Aegis. After working in Birmingham for a few years, she joined the staff of The Daily Home as a reporter and became the Pell City bureau chief about five years later. She remained with the paper for 28 years, rising through the ranks before retiring in 2010 as editor and publisher.
Carol soon started Partners by Design, a multimedia marketing and graphic design firm, and serves as president and CEO. Graham Hadley, who was managing editor for The Daily Home, joined the venture and is vice president of the creative division and chief operating officer. In addition to publishing Discover St. Clair Magazine and LakeLife 24/7 Magazine, the company provides consulting, graphic design, photography, social media and marketing services.
The great room at Carol’s, which opens to the kitchen
One of the best parts of her journalism career, according to Carol, is that it brought her to Pell City, the community she is proud to call home. “Pell City was very welcoming to me from the very beginning, and I found that to be true of all of St. Clair County,” she said. “I never thought of myself living in a small town, but it’s been wonderful. Everybody watches out for one another, and it just has a good feeling.”
She moved to the area in 1985 and was fortunate to be able to rent a home on the lake. The water had been an important part of her father’s childhood in Greece, and Carol inherited her love of it from him. She visited Logan Martin often with friends during high school and college, and she has wonderful memories of her father teaching her to fish at Lake Purdy, near Birmingham.
“He missed the water, so they came up all the time,” she said of her parents. “Crappie runs through here, and he would sit and fish for hours. One day we were on the pier, and I told him about a house down the street that was coming on the market. Before I could ask him what he thought about me buying it, he said yes.”
In addition to giving his blessing, her father helped buy the first boat, Carol said. “We called it a recreational partnership,” she added.
Carol said it took five years to afford to renovate the house, but the result is a 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with a with two-tiered deck, a screened porch, and a stunning view of the water.
It’s a favorite gathering place for family and friends, especially for Auburn football games in the fall. “I used to have a bar towel that said, ‘You never know how many friends you have until you have a lake house,’” Carol said and laughed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Carol is active in the adopted community she loves. She served as board chair of the Pell City Center for Education and the Performing Arts and was on the board there for 11 years and is a member of the Pell City Rotary Club. She is also president of the Museum of Pell City, housed in a 4,000 square foot suite in the Municipal Complex. The museum is a celebration of the city’s history, as well as the history of St. Clair County and Alabama.
Lasting legacy
It’s a fitting role for someone who has been shaped by her own heritage and family history. Although her parents are gone now, Carol said she would always be grateful for the values they instilled in their children and for her Greek heritage, which places high value on family, friends and community.
It’s why she shares her love for St. Clair County and its people through Discover St. Clair Magazine and her love for the water inspired LakeLife 24/7.
It’s also what helped to lead her home – to a house she loves with a view she cherishes and neighbors who have become family.
“Now that I’ve lived on the water, I could never live anywhere else,” she said. “No matter how bad the day might get, when you get home and look out on the water, it’s like being on vacation all the time. The sunsets are breathtaking, the water is calming, and it just fills me with peace. It’s a beautiful place to call home.”
GREEK SALAD
Dressing:
½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ cup wine vinegar
1 tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano
Place all ingredients in a covered container and shake well. Set aside until ready to serve.
Salad: In a bowl, place the equivalent of one head of lettuce or assorted greens
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 cucumber sliced
3 scallions chopped or the 2 thin red onion slices cut in half rings
½ cut pitted Kalamata olives
½ cup Feta cheese, crumbled
Add dressing and serve. Serves: 4
TIROPETES (Cheese Triangles)
3 eggs
3 oz. cream cheese
½ lb. Feta cheese
½ lb. melted butter
½ lb. cottage cheese
1 lb. Phyllo pastry sheets
Combine cheese and mix well. Add eggs, one at a time. Cut each pastry sheet into 3-inch strips. (The pastry sheets come in a roll, so you can cut the roll into sections with an electric knife and then roll out section of strips as need. Keep a damp cloth over the unused portions to avoid drying.) Brush the strip with melted butter. Place one teaspoon of the filling on one end of strip and cover over to make a triangle. Continue folding from side to side in the form of a triangle. (Like the paper football from childhood) Proceed this way until all pastry strips are used. Place the triangles on a buttered cookie sheet. Brush tops with melted butter. Bake on 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Makes about 75 pieces.
Notes: Uncooked triangles store well in a tight container in freezer with layers of wax paper in between each row. Simply pull out what you need, bake and you have a great appetizer for company! You can add thawed, frozen spinach to mixture halfway through and make Spanakopites for the remainder.
Story by Paul South Photos by Mackenzie Free and David Smith
Indy, hit the bricks. Daytona, Schmaytona.
When it comes to racing fast boats and fast cars, this Alabama city of 6,845 may be –at least per capita – the speediest town in America.
After all, Lincoln is home to the Alabama Superspeedway. And in November, the city’s picturesque Lincoln’s Landing on the waters of Logan Martin Lake, hosted its first drag boat race.
Think drag racing on the water in sleek, low-slung boats. The premier category of drag boats, Top Fuel, can pierce the water at up to 270 mph.
These boats look fast even when they are not moving
The city’s inaugural drag boat event was a success. Even though attendance was hampered by rainy weather, Lincoln has gone throttle up, making a pitch for drag boat racing’s world championship later this year.
The November race was an effort for Lincoln to get “a foot in the door” in the sport, with an eye toward hosting the world championship, Les Robinson, director of Lincoln’s Landing says.
“That’s kind of the way we looked at it and how we approached it,” Robinson says. “It was a new venue for these guys as well. It’s never been done on this part of (Logan Martin). I don’t know if it’s been done on any part of the lake.”
Drag boat race organizers traveled to Lincoln two or three times to evaluate the site, Robinson says.
“We felt like the venue that we have here would be more than adequate for what they were looking for. We came up with an idea for where the course needed to be.”
Rain and cold put a chill on the turnout, but the racing continued.
“They still ran. They contemplated calling it off. But they had people come from all over the United States and Canada to be here and they wanted to do it,” Robinson says.
Most of the Outdoor Drag Boat Association’s regional points race was visible from the grand pavilion at Lincoln’s Landing, where race fans warmed themselves by a roaring fireplace. Boaters from 42 teams competed in a variety of classifications.
If the city lands the world championship, it will be held the weekend before the Lowe’s RV Stop 250 and the 2024 Fall Xfinity Series Playoff Race on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 respectively.
The NASCAR 2024 Yellawood 500 is set for Oct.6, and Lincoln officials want the race to coincide with Talladega’s autumn speed week.
“That was the plan,” Robinson says. “It’s not etched in stone that they’re coming, and it’s not etched in stone for the date. But that’s the plan.”
Race start
The ODBA teams arrived at midweek prior to the November race, filling nearby motel rooms and boosting the local economy.
The Lincoln’s Landing staff conducted a post-race review, and the venue and personnel earned high marks.
“The facility and the way the park is laid out was perfect for what (the ODBA) was doing,” Robinson says. “There was one situation where we could have had a little bit better flow where they were weighing the boats and where they were taking the fuel samples … But the park layout was great for the racers as well as the spectators.”
Watson and Robinson praised the work of Lincoln’s first responders – law enforcement, fire and EMTs, a veteran force familiar with staffing these types of events.
“Most of these folks have been with us a long time. This is part of their training. It’s their training and their dedication to the job. It’s the whole team,” Watson says.
The only downside – the park had to be closed for fishing on race day because of the course layout. And there is noise.
“(The boats) do create a bit of noise, but we did put that on Facebook that they would be running from 9-5 every day.”
As far as the city’s pitch for the 2024 ODBA world championship, Lincoln’s Landing did the talking.
“I think the park did all the pitching we need,” Robinson says. “I think our facility gave them the idea that ‘This is where we want to be.’ We hope that’s the case. I’m hoping for a positive outcome.”
Mayor Carroll “Lew” Watson agrees.
“We have facilities that aren’t matched by anybody else,” Watson says. “Our facilities are really the top of the chart. We may have to add viewing stands to attract more visitors so they can sit and watch. We have good sites, so that probably will be something for the future.”
Watson thinks city officials should travel to the sites of similar events to learn how those communities prepare and execute those events.
As for Lincoln becoming a racing capital, Robinson says, “If we’re fortunate enough to land this, and we’re pretty confident the races aren’t going anywhere at Talladega (speedway), (ODBA World Championship) could become an annual event for us, I like the analogy.”
If the city gets the world championship, what about the idea of Lincoln becoming a racing capital.
“It would certainly suggest that,” Watson says.
On drag boat racing, Watson says, “I never even knew such an animal existed. But it was interesting to watch. It came off very well. When you go see a drag race, it’s not much different, except one’s on the road and one’s on the water.”
The race and other events are evidence that Lincoln officials are using the landing for more than just a fishing spot.
“We’re capitalizing on what we’ve got, and we’re making the most of it,” Robinson says. “We’ve had three world class fireworks shows out here attracting thousands of people. We never thought that was anything that could be done at the landing until we tried. Everything we’ve done, we had to work really hard to make it happen.”
And the staff had to weather tornadoes and floods, cold and snow to pull off events.
“My staff and I joke, ‘What are they going to throw at us next?’” Robinson says.
The new year is setting up to be a good one for Lincoln’s Landing, which opened in 2020. Fireworks, bass tournaments, a kayak fishing tournament and other events – and a possible world championship – are on the calendar for 2024.
“No matter whether they’re fishing in a bass boat, a kayak or driving a drag boat, they’re all contributing to the local economy. That’s what this place was built for – to bring in events and bring in revenue.”
Ask just about anyone who lives or plays on Logan Martin Lake for directions to General Lee Campground and Marina, and they’ll point you toward Treasure Island, across the water from St. Clair Shores.
The 16-foot-tall orange and blue Gulf sign easily identifies the campground and serves as a beacon for sunbaked campers coming home from a day on the lake.
Ashley Morton has never known a life that wasn’t heavily influenced by the campground, both the business end and the people who make up the community. She was born into the business, and it has matured alongside her. Now she and her husband, Scott, have continued what her grandparents and great grandparents built, managing the day-to-day operations of the campground at General Lee.
Craig, Ashley and Scott in front of a classic Gulf sign
Ashley grew up around the campground, spending most afternoons and summers helping her grandparents, Jean and Sonny (Floyd) Goodgame, with chores around the property. Jean made sure Ashley learned life skills while in her care. “Grand momma taught me what I know about handling money and running a business,” says Ashley.
“In the store, we played what we called ‘grocery games,’ where she would give me a $10 budget and tell me to bring as much food as I could buy with it. But I had to figure in taxes as well. We had fun and learned a lot.”
“My family lived really close to the campground, so my cousin, Blair (Goodgame), and I would ride our bikes to the campground to play,” continues Ashley. “It was so much fun that Blair and I would hide under a pier when they called us to go home. We didn’t ever want to leave.” To this day, summers at the General Lee are teeming with children. It’s a tradition of summer fun that Ashley hopes to share with her own two girls, 3-year-old Aspen and 9-month-old Presley.
Grand momma Jean made things fun for her grandchildren, but she also made sure they learned and practiced the right way do chores, like raking leaves. “Grand momma taught us that you don’t rake them into piles,” Ashley explains. “Of course, we did a little bit, so we could jump in them. But she taught us to rake them into lines so we could burn them safely.”
Leaf raking was, and still is, a never-ending need at the campground. The beautiful trees that provide much-needed shade in the summer relentlessly cover the roads with leaves in the fall and winter months. It is those trees around which the children ride their bikes and conduct squirt gun battles and play hide and seek games in the thick of the summer heat.
And around those trees are nestled the campers and tents that house visitors in spring, summer and fall. There are 111 camping spots, some with full sewer hookups, and others with just water and power. A bathhouse, store with bait and covered storage round out the amenities.
People have been enjoying the amenities at the General Lee since just after the impounding of the Coosa River, which created Logan Martin Lake in 1965. Jean and Sonny, along with Jean’s parents, Clarence and Pauline Lee, built the campground and marina, which opened in 1966, originally selling Chevron gas. Shortly thereafter, they changed to Gulf brand gas and erected the sign, which, though the oil company went out of business in 1985, still stands today.
For people around the lake, that sign has become a landmark. “People tell me all the time that they find their way here by looking for that sign,” laughs Ashley. The marina no longer sells gas, offering only a boat launch and dry boat storage.
“My parents and grandparents built the campground together,” said Craig Goodgame, Ashley’s dad, and owner of the campground. “I was just three when they opened, so, like Ashley, I grew up helping and learning about the business my whole life. It was a great playground. I remember having a good time with the kids who were here at the campground, playing our made-up games of crow and snake.
“When I was a bit older, I used to work all day on the gas island,” he adds. “I’d lather up with suntan oil and lay out on the island until a boat came up for gas. Then when they left, I’d get back to sunning.” He also admits to slipping off while he was supposed to be working, on occasion, to ski with whoever was running a ski boat nearby.
Aerial view on a vintage postcard
In those days, the campground was run by Jean, Craig’s mom, and Ashley’s grandmother, along with Jean’s best friend, Nita Staggs. “Nita and Grand momma did everything that was needed, from pulling out trailers to launching boats. They had an old Willys jeep to pull things in or out,” remembers Ashley. “Everyone thought they were sisters because they were always together. When Nita passed away from cancer in the late `90s, Grand momma ran it alone. She worked seven days a week.”
“Mom was a very, very hard worker,” said Craig. “There used to be a game room and a hot dog hut and an ice cream counter. Then, later, when they sold the hot dog hut, they added an ice cream hut. We still rent kayaks and canoes, but we also used to rent tubes. My mom ran all of that.” These days, the hot dog and ice cream huts are gone, replaced by a picnic area that doubles as an entertainment space that often features live music.
David Burrage has been camping at the General Lee for 54 straight years. He is from Hueytown and camped and fished at the General Lee every summer with his family as a young boy. “I remember my dad would go to work from the camper, and my sister and mom and I would spend our days playing on the lake,” Burrage said. “I brought my own kids here every summer, too. Now that they’re grown, they still come some and bring my grandkids. It’s very family oriented. Everyone watches out for each other.”
Providing a place to make family memories are what Ashley and Scott Morton hope to continue to offer at the General Lee Campground and Marina for many years to come.
And, in case you were wondering, the General Lee is not named after the noted Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The general in this name is Ashley’s great grandfather, Clarence Lee, not a military general, but a man, his family says, who had many of the leadership qualities of a general and ran his world with similar decisiveness.
One of the indescribable joys of lake life is beginning a day, or punctuating day’s end on the dock, boathouse or pier, sipping coffee, tea or something stronger as the sun slowly rises or sinks into a palate of colors, hues of red, orange or deep purple.
One of the indescribable joys of lake life is beginning a day, or punctuating day’s end on the dock, boathouse or pier, sipping coffee, tea or something stronger as the sun slowly rises or sinks into a palate of colors, hues of red, orange or deep purple.
On the lake, these structures are as much a part of a home as screened porches, crackling fireplaces and picture windows. Docks are spots for relaxation, contemplation, fishing, laughter and sometimes tears. And they are often as breathtaking as their accompanying homes, as if they belong together.
And nearby seawalls of riprap, stone, concrete, rock or wood protect precious property from being eaten away by erosion.
On Logan Martin and Neely Henry, there are companies that make magic – crafting piers, docks, seawalls, boatlifts and the like. Their tools are engineering, art, architecture and the environment, state-of-the-art composite materials, treated wood, stone and more than a bit of vision, conjured up year ‘round by the companies and their customers.
Here’s a look at four of the area’s builders and the water from their perspectives:
Mackey Docks: Experience and faith
For the Mackey family, their dock business is a “generational company,” says Eric Mackey. His father, Sonny, and uncles, Kenneth and Jerry, began working the industry in the 1980s.
“My Uncle Kenneth started working in 1983, and started building barges on Weiss Lake, and we just started expanding after that,” Mackey says.
The company specializes in turnkey work.
“We build the complete boathouse and boatlift and all the bells and whistles,” Mackey says. “Sometimes we just do the dock. Sometimes, we do seawalls. Sometimes we do just the boatlift if someone already has a dock, or we replace an older boat lift. We also do simple repairs and maintenance on structures over the water.”
He adds, “I try to focus not on land, but focus on water. It kind of makes it a specialty for me. We do seawalls, but typically prefer boathouses and docks. That’s what we’re really good at.”
What makes Mackey Docks good at its work?
“Experience and the crews we work with,” Mackey replies. “I’ve got some guys who have worked with us over 20 years.”
One of the hot trends in the industry is crafting structures from composite materials that in the long run are more durable, less expensive and require less maintenance than traditional treated lumber docks and boathouses.
“Typically, we used to do 80 percent wood as decking material back in the day,” Mackey says. “Nowadays, we’re a PVC and composite specialist. We’re probably installing 60 to 80 percent composite and PVC material. Long term, the cost is a little bit higher, but the low maintenance is worth it.”
Along with experience, Mackey says a commitment to quality and a strong religious faith drive the business.
“It’s not about me. It’s about people and the team we’ve built, and we’re all sticking together,” Mackey says. “For me, not all the guys in my company are Christians, but my Christian faith sets the standard for me and for my company … I think that sets us apart.”
Unique Waterfronts: Capturing a customer’s vision
While Unique Waterfonts in the Pell City-Cropwell area focuses its work on Logan Martin, Neely Henry and Lay Lakes, the business will travel the length and breadth of Alabama to do its work.
Chelsea Isbell grew up in a family of homebuilders – her father, Greg, and uncles, Jeff and Mike Isbell, began its work 30 years ago. Following the housing crash 14 years ago, the Isbells began subcontracting for Tradesman Company. Unique Waterfronts opened its doors two years ago. The Isbells are now co-owners of Unique Waterfronts. They do work on land and water.
“We have our own barge and our own crew,” Isbell says. “That’s the good thing about us. We’re family owned. We handle everything ourselves.”
Chelsea began working in the construction industry while in college and was hooked. The company does everything – from houses to pool houses, docks and boathouses.
“I was intrigued by the different designs that you can do. The uniqueness that we can make your boathouse look like your house or your house look like your boathouse,” she says. “There are so many different things we can do. I can’t physically do it. But my dad and them can do it. I can have the vision for it and tell them, or the homeowners can have the vision, and we can make it happen.”
She pointed to a recent boathouse project in Alpine.
“We even went as far as to dull the metal roof so that the boathouse looked as old as the house,” she says. “I love that uniqueness. That’s what I love. You turn (customers’) vision into a product, and they love it.”
Unique Waterfronts is willing to tackle just about any job.
“We don’t care how big or small a job is, we’re willing to help get it done. We’ll do a 6-by-20 (square foot) boathouse, or a 2,500 square foot house. Whatever you want us to do, we can do it.”
Advantage Plus: Building docks and building relationships
Advantage Plus began building docks in 2020, but the company’s umbrella opened in 2014 with excavating and construction.
The Turner family also operates Turner Family Farms, a popular Christmas and wedding venue as well as a Halloween pumpkin patch destination.
As far as its water-based business, Advantage Plus, the company does dock building and repair and only does riprap for seawalls. Riprap is a stone that protects lake banks against erosion. The company also builds concrete walls.
“These are services that we already offered elsewhere. But with us living on the lake and so many people needing it … we continued to offer the services,” Victor Turner says.
With lake properties being hot real estate, docks are hot. And in keeping with trends, composite decks are in high demand because of their longevity of 20 years or more.
“Building a dock is not a one-time investment. It’s a relationship,” Turner says.
Of the composite decks, Turner says, “You’re going to get a more comfortable use out of it. You’re not going to have to stain it, or sand it, or replace boards, or have splintering when you walk on it. It’s definitely a desired product.”
Maintaining seawalls has a positive environmental impact. Unprotected land erodes at a rate of six inches a year. But riprap is not a one and done proposition, Turner says, and it must be maintained.
Every job is unique. “It’s not a cookie-cutter business. You’ve definitely got to go out on site and come up with a good schedule to make that job make sense.”
The companies that do the type of work on the lake have “a great vision,” to work with the natural environment and help the customer satisfy their vision, Turner says.
“It’s definitely some art and some vision and hard work, for sure.”
At the heart of Advantage Plus: building relationships and living a deep faith, Turner says.
“In everything under our umbrella and what we do at the farm, our values are to build relationships for the honor of Christ and to help our community while doing so.”
Shoreline Creations: Cutting edge building and consumer education
Shoreline Creations opened its doors in the spring of 2018, but Margaret Isom has been in the marine construction business for 16 years and has worked in commercial construction and in banking doing construction loans.
“I do have a lot of experience in the industry and understand the nuts and bolts about it,” Isom says.
She decided to open Shoreline Creations because “I wanted to take things further and do some of my own things with it,” she says. “I wanted to go in my own direction. It’s all been a giant learning experience.”
The firm offers a wide array of services and products and is the area’s exclusive dealer for SnapJacket.
“We pride ourselves on piers and boathouses and landings and boardwalks,” Isom says. “We’ve gotten into a lot of rock patios and firepits and dredging, seawalls of all types, stabilization of your bank, and boatlifts.”
The company carries Golden Boatlifts.
Lake residents are becoming more conscientious about maintenance, Isom says. The company also tries to bring its clients up to speed on cutting-edge construction methods and the options available to them on materials and maintenance.
“A large part of what we also do is education, because construction methods have changed,” Isom says. “It’s a wonderful time to explain to people the importance of maintenance for their future endeavors. We do pride ourselves on that. And because the economy is tight, cost is a concern.”
Meeting customer desires and safety are paramount, Isom says. Part of the company’s commitment is building Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant docks, walkways and the like for customers who want it.
“We want to provide what (customers) want, but we want them to be safe, and with good construction methods. Once you get that in place, you get that relationship in place to know what their needs and wants are and what they are anticipating.”
Weather and keeping crews are challenges.
At its heart, the business puts the customer first.
“We always do a site visit. We don’t just throw out numbers, or push generic boathouse plans, Isom says. “We do it with their specific needs in mind.”
Tradesman Company: New owners carry on proud tradition
For Tara and Danny Buchanan, the owners of Tradesman Dock Building Company, since buying it from founder Fred Casey in early 2022, the focus has been on carrying on the company’s commitment to excellence.
For them it’s not just about docks, boat lifts, composite materials, and pilings. Tradesman had built four docks for the Buchanans over the years and the couple – veterans of the homebuilding industry – told Casey if he ever wanted to sell, they were interested.
“It wasn’t a huge jump to go into the dock business,” Danny Buchanan says. “Although, it would be pretty intimidating if you didn’t have an extensive construction background as a licensed contractor.”
When the Buchanans bought their first Lake Logan Martin home, they inherited a “terrible” existing dock.
“We quickly realized the dock is your connection to the water,” Danny says. “We met with Tradesman, and it was a wonderful experience. Their longstanding reputation, dating back almost two decades, made choosing to work with them an easy decision.”
He adds, “Our dock actually changed our relationship with the lake. If you’ve got visitors and family and friends and the dock is terrible, you don’t feel safe and can’t have fun.”
Their new Tradesman dock transformed the lake experience, Tara says.
“It went from everybody spending time inside and bypassing the dock to get to the water to the new (Tradesman) dock becoming the central part of our entertaining. It made a huge difference. Everything was focused on the dock, instead of just being the walkway to the boat, it becomes your outdoor living area.
Tradesman does everything from minor dock repairs to full scale construction of docks and piers, demolition, boat lifts and seawalls. We are working toward building a team so everything can be completed in-house.
“We want to be a one-stop shop,” Tara says.
The company uses composite materials and PVC in its construction, providing a lower maintenance, environmentally friendlier option compared to traditional wood decking.
“We just have a commitment to quality,” Tara Buchanan says.
Danny agrees. “We weren’t looking to buy a dock company. But when Tradesman became available, it had such an excellent reputation as a market leader, it was like ‘Wow!’ Being a part of a company that had that history and reputation was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”
He adds, “There are other dock companies out there, but Tradesman has the reputation for being the best. We have a vision for growth and are excited to take the company to the next level.”
On a misty Saturday morning, just after daylight tried its hardest to peek through a solidly overcast sky, Lakeside Park was just awakening.
The gates opened, and volunteers scurried about, preparing for the big event. Tents went up. Swag bags, Tshirts, runner bibs and a host of ‘must haves’ for a 5K run were readied. Sound system? Check. Runner check-in apps? Downloaded. Volunteers in their positions? Ready.
And they’re off!
And at 8 a.m. on Dec. 9, runners from throughout the region took off to make history in the inaugural Pell City Rotary 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk to benefit the St. Clair Sheriff’s Boys Ranch.
From the starting point to the finish line, the event evolved as a true success story, raising over $50,000 to help build a new home at the Boys Ranch and bringing a community together for a common cause. Santa was there, much to the delight of smaller runners, walkers and spectators, and the event is well on its way to becoming a Christmas tradition for Pell City Rotary Club, a leading civic service organization.
“Since I became president of the Pell City Rotary Club, it has been my goal to lead the club in serving the community,” said Serge Brazzolotto. “I wanted to create a new event that would be close to Christmas and that would involve the entire family from infants to grandparents.” A 5K run/1-mile fun walk was a perfect fit.
After hearing a presentation from Michael Smith, the executive director of the Sherrif’s Boys Ranch, about the need for a new house to be built, “I talked to our Board of Directors and Service Club Committee Chair Bill Ellison about the idea, and everyone said, “let’s go for it,” Brazzolotto said.
“Our only problem was that none of us had experience to prepare for such an event,” he added. “I told myself a few times, ‘don’t fool yourself, it won’t happen.’ We had only three months to get all this done.”
Ellison put a 5K team together, and they were – pardon the pun – off to the races. “That team worked tirelessly for three months, day and night, even weekends to get everything together, to get sponsors, social media advertisement and registration and much more,” Brazzolotto said.
Performing the Star Spangled Banner
The team – Gay Blackwell, Kelly Furgerson, Melanie Housh, Kathy Burke, Jaxon Phillips and Casey Cambron –were determined to not only meet the goal, but exceed it. And they did. Because of the effort of all involved, he said, the Boys Ranch will now be able to build its third home for youths.
“Teamwork makes the dreams work,” Ellison said. “I picked people with unique and diversified talent to serve on the 5K committee. They all showed strength, wisdom, courage, commitment, passion and focus throughout the planning, fundraising and day of the event.”
Brazzolotto agreed. “I don’t have the words to thank all who have made this event possible and be such a success – the Rotary 5 K team, the Rotary Club members, the sheriff’s department, the police department, the fire department, Pell City Park and Recreation, Partners by Design, The City of Pell City, all the participants and especially, all who have made donations and sponsored this event and fundraising.”
It was all done in service to the community, in keeping with its motto, “Service Above Self.”
“All Pell City Rotary members enjoy giving back through community service to the community that has been so good to them,” Ellison said. “We’re already planning for next year.”
Though the weather is still cold outside, it is already time to start thinking about the lake season across Alabama. Boat manufacturers are already starting to promote their most popular models, and local marinas and dealers have stepped up to showcase exactly what we can expect to see for sale in the coming months.
Falcon F215 Bassboat
The F215 has been redesigned for the 2024 year with specific attention paid to the width of the bow area, and Buck’s Island will be the only dealer in the region selling the new model. The F215 is truly a dream to fish out of. Featuring some of the largest overall deck space in the industry, the F215 will allow you and a partner to fish in space and make your co-angler smile all day. Like their other models, the F215 features Falcon’s signature forward-opening front rod boxes with an ample front storage separated by two lids. The ride and overall comfort of this boat is second to none, with plenty of performance to get you there in comfort.
Barletta Lusso
One of the top-tier pontoon boats from Lusso, the Barletta brings it all to the water – luxury, speed, comfort and fun. Designed with you, and your on-water experience, in mind, the Barletta Lusso models offer something for everyone. A classic and stylish rail-set, ultra-soft and ultra-comfortable furniture, a sleek helm loaded with technology and leg room, pet-friendly amenities … the list goes on and on. And with a variety of deck layouts, you can find the perfect boat for you. Rambo Marine in Westover can help you pick out the Lusso model – and other Barletta boats – to fit your needs.
Bass Cat Caracal STS
In line with the growing trend in wide-body bass boats, Bass Cat has stepped up their game with the Caracal STS. They employed a wide-body flow of the existing Caracal while stretching the platform into the newest STS (Soft Touch Series) hull design. What you now have is a 96-inch-wide machine, redesigned inside and out, destined to overachieve in all aspects when compared to other 20-foot bass boats in this class. The model name stretches back decades, and this one in particular will leave a profound mark in the Caracal lineage. Like the Falcon, you can find the Bass Cat at Buck’s Island.
Excel Bay Pro Elite 220
In the fishing world, center-console boats hold a special place, and Excel Boats offers exceptional boats, especially in the Bay Pro lineup. The Pro Elite has the widest deck in their lineup. From top to bottom, customers pick Excel because they pay attention to detail. Every detail, from paint quality, welds, heavy-duty seat vinyl, fiberglass console, non-slip floor and more are what you would expect from an Excel. The all-new console has everything and it is where it should be. The dash will accommodate up to a 12-inch fish finder/nav unit. It has room for a 3-inch Bluetooth radio and extra accessory switches, and the new compact gauge set is arranged perfectly. Rodney’s Marine in Cropwell is the place to go to grab one of these fantastic fishing boats.
Nitro Z20 Pro
The NITRO Z20 Pro gives you a host of the most popular high-performance upgrade options at an incredible value. The brain of this fish-catching powerhouse is two new Lowrance HDS LIVE fishfinders networked together—and to a new Lowrance Ghost trolling motor, giving you the power to find fish and stay on them while the competition is still searching.
The basis of the Z20 is Nitro’s NVT hull—a design that uses a series of parabolic curves instead of traditional strakes, resulting in a hull that’s faster, gives more lift while on plane and improves handling. The Z-CORE seating system with Force Flex suspension and contoured frame, designed in collaboration with Kevin VanDam, gives you the most comfortable ride in Nitro’s history. To check out the Z20 Pro, visit Sylacauga Marine & ATV.
Tahoe T21
Another great boat at Sylacauga Marine is the Tahoe T21. A classic multi-use bowrider, this boat promises loads of fun on the lake. Step into the Tahoe T21 and be amazed. Feel the stability, the power, the smooth coursing of its POWERGLIDE hull with HYDROSTEP strakes as you and up to 10 companions fly across the waves. Note the operational ease and efficiency of its TAHOE CRUISE digital dashboard and switch panel; crank up the KICKER stereo with Bluetooth technology. Need some splash time? Tahoe has got you covered, with a removable ski tow pylon, anchor locker, aft swim platforms and telescoping boarding ladder. And of course, you’ll find smart storage galore.
Sylvan X3 CLZ DH
Combining comfort and handling, the Sylvan Mirage line of pontoon boats is a great option if flexibility is what you are looking for. Featured at Skier’s Marine in Westover, the X3 CLZ DH, this pontoon is a great buy. With its long list of standard features – including Sylvan’s exclusive SPX PR20/25 Performance Package, Performance Shield, low-profile sport console, black anodized rails and deck trim, hydraulic steering, docking lights, a third tube and more – the Mirage X Series is one of the most family-friendly options on the water.
Sunchaser Eclipse
Featuring some of the more affordable pontoons on the market, Sunchaser gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Its plush interior, upgraded upholstery and executive helm station elevated on a raised platform for an enhanced sightline are only the beginning of what set Eclipse apart. Premium standard features like extended stern platforms and full-height panels, high back helm chairs that swivel, slide and recline, X-Treme Performance Strakes and third tube technology put Eclipse in a class of its own. For the latest from Sunchaser, visit University Marine in Pell City.
Starcraft SLS
Another great pontoon boat for the value is the Starcraft SLS series. Starcraft pontoon boat innovation continues with the SLS, featuring HMX tubes. With strategically placed strakes, HMX tubes give you better lift, less surface drag, increased speed, faster planing and a tighter turning radius. In short, it’s one exciting ride. Like most of the pontoon platforms these days, the SLS comes in a number of different seating and floor plans. To find the perfect fit for you, check out the Starcraft SLS at Rodney’s Marine in Cropwell.
Yamaha AR Series
If you are looking for boats tailored to the wakeboarding and other tow-behind excitement, Yamaha put together some great packages with its AR series of boats. Available in several different lengths, the Yamaha AR’s have a distinctive styling that will stand out on the water and have a number of affordable setups that won’t break the bank. They come with additional storage and other features that make these wake boats much more versatile than many similar tow-oriented watercraft. Rambo Marine has a variety of AR series boats ready for customers to come see.
Mastercraft XT23
One of the biggest names in tow-behind boats, Mastercraft does not disappoint with its XT23. Another boat featured at Skier’s Marine, the Mastercraft XT23 is a 23’4”-long bowrider with a beam of 8.5 feet. It can seat 16 people and has a draft of 0.76 meters. The XT23 can reach speeds of up to 40 knots. MasterCraft’s SurfStar system truly shines on the XT23 as it can pump out the friendliest waves for kids or deliver waves for pros with maximum height, pop, and length. Inside the boat, the XT23 boasts unrivaled ergonomic comfort, ample storage, and the renowned MasterCraft fit-and-finish.
Avalon Catalina
With a focus on style and a huge range of premium features, Avalon has created some truly remarkable boats with its Catalina line. The Catalina is a stylish and sophisticated mid–range offering that turns heads and quickens pulses. Its DNA includes the same construction, quality and style found in Avalon’s master collection boats; this model is equipped with core features and then can be personalized with as few or as many additional features as you like. This amazing pontoon is available in eleven different layouts. Poor House Branch Marina on Stemley Road in Talladega has a number of Catalinas in stock ready for customers.
Coach RFC
Coach Pontoons’ top seller is its RFC line, and for good reason. Billed as the SUV of the Coach lineup, the RFC pontoons are a solid combination of flexibility and performance. RFC layout maximizes seating and lounging with its perimeter furniture layout. This open layout is perfect for small and large groups. No one gets stuck in a corner seat and ample room for all your toys with underseat storage. Extended rear swim platform and easy-access stainless steel retractable ladder provide great rear access to and from the water, and the ski tow bar is designed for added strength for your watersports needs. You can find your RFC at Poor House Branch Marina.
Bennington 22 SSR
Bennington continues its tradition of creating striking pontoons with the 2024 22 SSR line of tritoons. The line comes with a large variety of design styles, including narrow beam widths. The Quad Bench configuration maximizes storage, seating capacity and lounge space. Many floor plans feature a sleek Fastback stern with speakers that extend your entertainment space. Features include options like bamboo vinyl flooring, stainless-steel-rimmed cup holders and custom gauge cluster designs with zebrawood accents. Visit Woods Surfside Marina in Cropwell to check out the new model year.
Bennington 24 LXSBA
If you are looking for a premium tritoon, the Bennington 24 LXSBA, also available at Woods Surfside, should top your list. There’s a timeless charm found within the LX Model boats, a blending of superb craftmanship, rugged build quality and premium finishes that are familiar, yet distinctly a cut-above. When you step up to the LX Model of boats from Bennington, you’re automatically enrolled into their premium features club: extras like the voyager helm with locking glove box and 12v and USB charging station, vinyl-wrapped bench bases and larger, bolder side Bennington emblems. And the swingback design, introduced several years ago, allows users to face forward or backward depending on the position of the backrest.
Honda BF350 Outboard
Regardless of what kind of boat you have on the water, matching the right engine to your watercraft is a must. New for this year from Honda is the powerful V8 BF350. University Marine is one of several regional dealers that specializes in Honda motors and points to the BF350 as a top contender. The all-new Honda BF350 V8 is truly a landmark achievement: Honda’s first-ever production V8 engine for use on either land or water. Designed to meet the needs of today’s families who want larger boats and the ability to journey farther from shore, the Honda BF350 was created to deliver maximum power with impressive fuel efficiency.
EZ Dock
With all the different varieties of personal watercraft on the market, EZ Dock has PWC storage solutions to fit them all. River’s Edge Marina in Cropwell, which also specializes in boat rentals and is home to the Tiki Hut, is one of the top local EZ Dock dealers in the region. Designed both for saltwater and freshwater applications, their PWC ports’ self-adjusting designs make loading and unloading effortless, no matter what type of waterfront on which your home or business is located. EZ Ports are the perfect solution for those looking for an easy-to-access, drive-on port to keep their PWC high and dry.
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Richard Rybka, David Smith, Joe Paul Abbott, Mike Callahan and Heath Lollar
If you live on or near Logan Martin Lake or Neely Henry, you know that both offer endless opportunities for breathtaking pictures. Whether you’re shooting a closeup of one of our hundreds of bird species, an awe-inspiring sunrise or yet another breathtaking sunset, we live in a place rich in photographic potential. Getting that perfect picture is an art form.
There are a few local photographers who have taken it a huge leap above for a different perspective. They have received acclaim for their photography in and around the lake and beyond. They are producing comprehensive coverage of sports programs. They are chasing storms to help forecast and cover weather events. They’re bringing smiles to our faces with a different perspective of those amazing sunrises and literal birds-eye views of our local wildlife. And they’re doing it from 400 feet in the air.
Pioneering drone photography
David Smith is a certified pilot and a professional drone operator. Because he was already a pilot, he was among the few who could fly a drone commercially before 2016, when the rules regarding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were reevaluated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). After that, extensive training was required to be a licensed drone operator, but not to the extent of full pilot certification.
Smith grew up loving radio-controlled planes and had been flying them since he was 15 years old. From RC planes, he graduated to the latest when drones became available beyond their military origins. The first mass-market drone was the DJI Phantom, hitting the market in 2013. “When drones were brand new, I knew I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to take photos and videos.” His DJI Mavic 3 Cine is just one of seven he currently owns.
Until very recently, Smith worked for ESPN’s College GameDay and Baseball Tonight on the Road as a drone videographer. He was the network’s first drone pilot, retiring just this fall. His drone footage added visual interest to the shots of the set and showed crowds of students at the highlighted university. He also shot additional footage around campus that the directors used before going to commercial breaks.
Smith’s impressive resume also includes serving as chief drone pilot for the 2020 World Games held in Birmingham. “It was a truly incredible experience,” says Smith. “My video was seen all over the world. As chief pilot, I was the only one flying live. Other pilots shot extra video to add to the live broadcast.”
That experience ended up leading to being a part of a search and rescue closer to home. On the way home from shooting some early footage for the World Games, he followed some first responders to the area of Logan Martin Dam. He had all his equipment in the car from the day’s work, so he offered to assist the New London Volunteer Fire Department in their search for a missing woman lost while canoeing.
“I put my drone into the area and flew around. I was able to locate her and to let them know where she was and that she was still alive,” Smith said. “The chief was amazed at how quickly she was located with the drone. They didn’t even have to put their rescue boat in the water.”
These days, Smith is enjoying time with his family. “I used to be gone most of football season,” he says smiling. “Now I have time to pursue some other things.” One thing that is bringing him joy is sharing the love of drone flying with his grandson, 11-year-old Calvin. “We fly almost daily. He’s kicking my … well, I can’t keep up with him.” (Editor’s Note: For more on Dave Smith, see sidebar.)
Taking photography to new heights: Mike Callahan
Mike Callahan says fun is what keeps him flying his drone. Every session he has with his drone is the best, he says. “I keep it under 400 feet, but at that height, what you see is from a totally new perspective,” says the Pell City native. He’d been a photographer for many years before deciding to add a drone to his options.
Mike Callahan
His specialty is nature shots like waterfalls, mountains and wildlife. He enjoys taking his DJI Mini3 Pro into the Talladega National Forest and around Logan Martin Lake. One of his favorite shots is an amazing up-close view of an eagle sitting in its nest.
“You have to be careful with drones around wildlife,” Callahan quickly adds. “I was attacked by an Osprey once and lost my drone. Ospreys are very aggressive.”
He takes that cautionary tale to heart in his work these days. There are guidelines for keeping safe and there are hard and fast rules dictated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specific to drone piloting under their Part 107 certification. Among those very strict requirements is that pilots cannot fly their drones above 400 feet and they cannot fly over people without a special waiver.
While flying, he is also required to always have his drone in his sight.
Flying over open water to capture beautiful sunrises and sunsets is the specialty of Joe Paul Abbott, another of Logan Martin’s drone photographers. His work is seen frequently on the Love Logan Martin Lake Facebook page. He gets up every day at 4:30 to be sure he gets his DJI Mavic Air 2S ready to start shooting from the back deck of his Cropwell home before the sun gets above the horizon. At other times, he’ll take the boat out and have the drone tracking him and grab action shots around the lake using his remote monitor.
A different perspective:Joe Paul Abbott
Joe Paul Abbott and his controller
Abbott picked up photography in the late ‘90s after the birth of his first son with the goal of learning to shoot better family photos. Eventually, he upgraded to digital format, but soon tired of that, too. “I’m a gadget guy,” he admits. “When drones came out, I couldn’t wait. My wife got me my first one.”
He’s been able to use his drone in his work as an independent insurance agent, recalling times when he needed to inspect a house for fire, storm or other damage, but was limited due to an aggressive dog or other challenge. On those occasions, he uses his drone to fly over those challenges.
“When I shoot from my drone, I become 400 feet tall with a wide-angle lens,” Abbott laughs. “You definitely see things up at that height you just don’t see from the ground.” Even local weatherman James Spann is a fan and has aired many of Abbott’s shots on the weather segment of the local news.
Eye on the storm:Heath Lollar
Severe weather is what drove professional storm chaser and drone pilot Heath Lollar into his business. The 2003 Pell City High School graduate was working in graphic design several years after graduation. A customer asked him to work on the design for a truck wrap. They worked together on a couple of jobs for the truck and started talking.
The customer was storm tracker and meteorologist Brett Adair, and the two began sharing their love of all things weather. Adair promised to take him storm chasing, and Lollar has been hooked ever since.
Lollar’s enthusiasm and natural abilities landed him a job as an in-truck videographer and mobile mechanic for Adair’s company, Live Storms Media. He worked with Adair for almost two years before sending a drone into a storm.
“People wondered if drones could handle the winds,” said Lollar. “Turns out, they can. We can take a drone up and look at the wind patterns in the trees. We can tilt it up and time lapse and focus on what the elements of the clouds are doing that we could never see from the ground.” He hasn’t lost a drone to the winds yet, but he knows a pilot who has already lost four drones doing storm work.
Heath pointing out a weather system
Just this year, on Jan. 12, Lollar captured drone video of his first tornado. “We were set up in Old Kingston, Alabama,” recalls Lollar. “That one was an EF3 that ripped an 82-mile path through Selma and Autauga County. It was bad. There were three fatalities where we were, but seven over the path of the storm.” He describes the video he took of trees twisting together and being sucked up into the air. “After we watched it cross the road, it started throwing trees, houses and cars across the field.”
Drones are essential tools for assessing the damage following a storm, but they can also be used to assist in early search and rescue efforts. Drone pilots can help find safe ways for emergency personnel to get to victims. The information that can be gathered during storms from the heights drones can go is invaluable to forecasters in alerting people to what the storm is doing and where it might go next.
Drones also give GPS placement of the storm and play a crucial role in assessing the accurate path the tornado took.
While Lollar enjoys working for the Emmy-nominated team at Live Storms Media, he doesn’t do it for the kudos. He is genuinely concerned for the people who face these storms and wants to do what he can to help.
When he is in town and there is a storm on Logan Martin Lake, where he lives, he immediately sends out his drone to take video to warn lake residents. You can see his posts on Facebook’s Love Logan Martin Lake page.
Lake life is indeed better thanks to our drone photographers who readily share their photographic finesse from 400 feet and below.
David Smith’s mantra to successful drone photography
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Richard Rybka and David Smith
Dave Smith doesn’t believe in chance, in fact, his favorite saying is “Nothing by chance.” A man of faith, he believes there is a far greater purpose for everything that happens. That’s why, when he was laid off from his job this fall, he took it in stride and chose to count his blessings and focus on the “ride of a lifetime” he has been on.
If you watch football, specifically College GameDay on ESPN, you’ve likely seen some of Dave Smith’s drone work. BamaDave, as he is known, tells of getting the call to help the show by setting up satellite equipment at Legion Field for the Alabama versus Tennessee game in 1995.
“That one weekend of work ended up working out so well that they asked me to stay on with them and travel all over doing the show as a videographer,” says Smith. “Lee Corso gave me the name. When we first met before that game, he asked me where I was from and when I told him, he said ‘Nice to meet you, BamaDave.’ It stuck.”
It was over 20 years later that the show started incorporating drone photography. “In March of 2017, I got a call from the network’s senior vice president, asking if I wanted to be a pioneer for ESPN, if I wanted to be their first drone pilot,” tells Smith. “I thought about it for all of five seconds before saying yes!”
Since then, he has spent countless hours traveling to College GameDay host universities, shooting campus footage and adding to the show itself. He was the first crew member to have a child enrolled in the school where the show was being hosted (at Auburn University).
He has also worked on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight on the Road. Between the two shows, he’s been a part of 401 shows and has won several Emmy awards. He’s met hundreds of celebrities, from within the sports world and beyond.
Of all the celebrities he’s met, his most cherished meeting was with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “What started as a weekend gig turned into a lifetime of memories,” Smith says with a smile.
During this year’s Alabama vs. Texas game, College GameDay was in Tuscaloosa, and he was invited back to say his farewells to the crew. “They had a cake for me, and we all sat around and shared stories and a few tears,” he said.
Smith is forever grateful for his wife, Renee’s, support and looks forward to spending more time with his family. He grins as he talks about getting to enjoy doing more woodwork and exploring other hobbies, adding, “Now it’s time to ride off into the sunset and make more memories!”
