For every chili recipe, there’s a cook who thinks his or hers is the best. That’s why the members of Downtown Gadsden Inc. look forward to hosting a friendly competition each year. Because when it comes to dishing out bragging rights, they just can’t resist stirring the pot.
“We open it up to people who think they have the best chili and invite them to come and prove it,” Kay Moore said of the 15th Annual Downtown Gadsden Chili Cook-off. Set for February 4, the contest promises to be one of the hottest events in town. “It’s all about having fun and camaraderie, being downtown and enjoying a lot of good chili,” said Moore, director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc., which organizes the event. In past years, they’ve had about 35 entries and crowds ranging from 700 to 1,000 have gathered to treat their taste buds.
Visitors line the streets to get a taste of the competition.
“We ask the cookers to bring enough to feed a bunch of people,” she said, adding that there’s a $40 entry fee for the cooking teams and anyone can enter the competition. “We’ve had people enter from Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Huntsville and as far away as Kentucky,” she said.
Whether your tastes run from mild to spicy or you prefer the traditional variety, white chicken chili or vegetarian chili, you’re sure to find a batch you love. The judges, however, seem to have a “type.”
“We have all different kinds of chili but for some reason, it’s your good old fashioned regular chili that always wins,” said Moore, adding that the competition is judged blindly. “We have runners who take the chili to the judges and each cup is marked with only a number on the bottom.”
Winning recipe
2022 Chili Cook-off winners
Jeff Martin and his fellow cookers seem to have cracked the code. His team, Dowdy’s Office Equipment, has won the competition the last three years, and he believes they have taken top honors five of the last seven. “We always use the same recipe,” Martin said of his team, which consists of his business partner Lewis Couch and friends David Couch and Ross Hudak. “It’s a recipe we’ve had for 25 years. I think somebody stole it from somebody else.”
Their chili is so good, in fact, that Ted Gentry, a founding member of the band, “Alabama,” bought the rights to the recipe last year. The chili is the menu headliner for Gentry’s Blue Ribbon Chili Wagon that’s often parked at the Alabama Fan Club and Museum in Fort Payne.
“Apparently he went all over the state looking for the best chili,” Martin said. The fact that Gentry has the rights doesn’t mean that the Dowdy crew is out of the running this year, though. “The only provision is that we still get to use it in the chili contest,” he said.
Although the winners earn some prize money and a Crowd Favorite is chosen, as well, the event is mostly a fun way for the community to get together and raise funds to support downtown projects. “Our job is to continue the growth of downtown while keeping our historical heritage,” Moore said. “A downtown of any small town is the heartbeat of the community.”
Story by Scottie Vickery Photos by Mackenzie Free Submitted Photos
Everything in Amy and Derrick Heckman’s Ashville home tells a story.
The handrail going up the steps was original to the Teague Mercantile building on the town square and was hand-hewn from longleaf pine before the Civil War. A cabinet is filled with family quilts made by Amy’s great-grandmother and her sisters. There’s a snapping turtle shell that held a place of honor in Derrick’s family’s lake cabin in Texas, and the collapsible cup her great-grandfather took into the coal mines will always have a special place in Amy’s heart.
“Everything in this house has some special meaning,” Amy said. “It may not have a lot of value, but it’s all precious to us.”
Amy and Derrick said turning the abandoned log cabin into their dream home has been a labor of love.
The Heckmans share a love for making old things new again, and the log cabin they bought on Neely Henry Lake’s Canoe Creek is no exception. It’s been a work in progress for years, but both say it’s been well worth the time and elbow grease they’ve invested. “It’s been one project after another, but it’s been a labor of love,” Amy said.
Their appreciation of family and Ashville history is evident all over the 2-bedroom, 2-bath cabin, and the kitchen and dining room areas are no exception. A 1940s Chambers stove from Derrick’s grandparents’ house takes center stage in the kitchen, and they use it every day. A collection of cast iron skillets from Amy’s great-grandmother and other family members hangs nearby.
They rescued the kitchen table from a nearby old dogtrot house that was slated for demolition and took the piece to a carwash in an effort to pressure wash motor oil stains off before finishing the table with linseed oil. An antique dough bowl filled with rolling pins passed down through the generations rests on top, and a light fixture they made from an old ladder, party lights and muscadine and supplejack vines from the yard, hangs above it.
“We’ve both lived a simplistic lifestyle, whether by choice or circumstance,” Derrick said. “When I was growing up if you needed something, you built it. We try to find old stuff and fix it.”
Cabin sweet cabin
The Heckmans had been house-hunting for about seven years when they stumbled across the log cabin, tucked at the end of a quiet street off Highway 411. They already had a home on Canoe Creek but they wanted more house, less land and deeper water so they could build a boathouse.
When they found the cabin, it was clear that no one had lived there for a while. They were intrigued, so they left a note on the door for the owner. A month later, the phone rang. “It was basically a home to animals,” Amy said. “There were all kinds of wildlife living in it, but it had good bones, and we saw what it could be. We’ve just about gotten it to that place.”
It’s taken a lot of work. They salvaged the kitchen and dining room floors and a claw foot tub, “but other than that, we redid everything,” she said, adding that they first saw the house and property they’ve named Canoe Cove in 2014, bought it in 2015 and moved there in 2017. “It took us that long to get it to where we could live in it. The general footprint is the same, but there is not a piece of that house that was not changed in some way.”
The first thing on the agenda was building a stone fireplace. “When we first bought the house, the very first thing we said to each other was, ‘How can you have a log cabin without a fireplace?’ There was a wood stove, but no fireplace,” she said.
Derrick’s grandfather knew a good bit about construction, so he had learned a lot about building growing up, and a friend taught him to lay the rock. “I’ve learned skills by watching people and just doing it,” he said. “When I was a kid, I could come up with an idea to build something. Sometimes it was by trial and error, but eventually I came up with something that worked.”
Those skills came in handy for their biggest project – building an outdoor pavilion, complete with an outdoor kitchen and a ‘Cracker Barrel fireplace.’ “She kept telling me all she wanted was a Cracker Barrel fireplace, so I went (into the restaurant) with a tape measure,” he said.
They built the pavilion from lumber they milled on the property – the lot was so wooded you couldn’t see the water. Derrick also used the lumber to build the 14-foot table and four Adirondack chairs, as well as the boathouse they added in 2020.
Two cooks, two kitchens
His pride and joy, though, is the outdoor kitchen, complete with a smoker that can handle 30 butts, a deep fryer, grill and flat top.
“We both like cooking, but he’s a natural cook,” Amy said. “There’s no recipe ever followed; no measuring involved. I’m just the opposite.” They often share the cooking duties, Derrick said, and they each take a kitchen. “She cooks the indoor part of the meal, and I cook the outdoor part,” he said and laughed. “I cook anything that might stink up the house. Amy likes pumpkin spice and if it doesn’t smell like pumpkin spice in here, she ain’t happy.”
They use this 1940s Chambers stove from Derrick’s grandparents’ house every day.
Although Amy has been known to find ideas online, it’s no surprise that they also use a lot of recipes handed down from family members. She uses a 1950s cookie press to make her grandmother’s cheese straws, and her spaghetti sauce is a favorite. “It’s very good, but it still never tastes as good as I remember hers being,” Amy said.
They love cooking for family and friends, and as a result, their house is a gathering spot during the holidays. At Thanksgiving, they usually have 12 to 16 guests, and Derrick smokes a turkey while Amy handles many of the sides. “I’ve promised Amy a freight elevator to make it easier to haul stuff inside and out for meals,” Derrick said.
Although it’s usually warm enough at Thanksgiving to eat under the pavilion, there was one memorable year when they ate inside. “We were all sitting at the table, and we looked out the window and there were 20 turkeys standing out in the front yard looking at us while we ate our Thanksgiving turkey,” Derrick said. “It was crazy.”
Much of what they cook is what they’ve grown, caught or hunted. “You don’t have to go far around here to find something to eat,” Derrick said. “If it’s not in the garden, it’s at the boathouse. We’re pretty self-sufficient.”
Their freezer is full of fish, which they enjoy grilled, fried and blackened, as well as venison. “I haven’t bought red meat in 15 years,” Amy said. “Derrick is known for his (venison) burgers. They’re delicious.”
The gardens – there are several – are another source of sustenance. “I grew up gardening; it came naturally to me,” Derrick said. “And Amy loves canning, so we make a good pair.”
Thanks to their teamwork, they enjoy a variety of homegrown fruits and vegetables throughout the year. In addition to blueberries and blackberries, their bounty includes figs, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, squash, strawberries, pumpkin, black-eyed peas, watermelon and purple pole beans. “Everything we have around here, we use,” Amy said.
Leaving the rat race early
So, when do they have time to do it all? It’s been a lot easier since they retired. Derrick retired from the Alabama Forestry Commission in 2017 at age 49, and Amy left the St. Clair County Probate Office in 2019 when she was 47.
“When I was a kid and started working, the first thing my parents told me was if you save 20 or 25 cents out of every dollar you make, you can retire at 50,” Derrick said. “I wasn’t rebellious; I was one of those people who believed my parents. When you start early, you learn to live off that 80 cents and you don’t miss the other 20.”
Amy followed suit not long after they began dating in 2007, and early retirement has given them the freedom to work on the house, tend their gardens, enjoy their time on the lake and indulge their love of of Americana.
“We go picking,” Amy said. “We love collecting things, and it all seems to find a place.” They didn’t have to go far to find many of their treasures. The mantle on the pavilion fireplace was a central beam from under the old Cason-Tipton House, for example, and several finds came from historic buildings they have owned.
In addition to the handrail from Teague Mercantile, a building they owned for about 15 years before selling it earlier this year, the Heckmans salvaged a wood stove from the original Ashville Savings Bank that they owned for a while, as well. It has a place of honor in the loft, which is home to Amy’s library.
“I’m a huge reader, and I asked for my own library,” she said. “I wanted a place for my books. It just makes me happy to come up here.”
The same can be said for the house as a whole. Amy and Derrick love knowing they created their home, filled with memories from generations of love, together. “We wanted it to be cozy and comfortable, but we wanted it to have character, as well,” she said. “A lot of things we have belonged to family, and we wouldn’t trade anything for it. We’d both rather have something old than new any day.”
Blackened Catfish
Large catfish filets (Use filets from 2- or 3-pound catfish. Caught fresh is best!)
Fire-n-Smoke Fish Monger seasoning
Zatarain’s ground cayenne pepper
Olive oil or Pam spray
Pepper jelly
Rinse filets with water. Lightly sprinkle with Fish Monger seasoning and cayenne pepper (lightly, the pepper is powerful.)
Let marinate in refrigerator for 3-4 hours. Heat a cast iron skillet or flat top on high. Lightly sprinkle filets with olive oil or Pam spray. Lay filets in skillet or on flat top and cover with a lid. (This is crucial. I use a pot lid.)
Brown until golden; it usually has blackened edges. (This takes practice.) Serve on a bed of shrimp and grits, rice, etouffee or jambalaya. Drizzle with pepper jelly to finish. Enjoy!
Blueberry Pecan Sour Cream Cake
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plus over-filled ½ cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
2 cups blueberries
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bundt pan.
In mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in sour cream and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to batter until just blended. Fold in blueberries. Spoon half the batter into pan.
Combine brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Sprinkle ½ mixture over batter. Spoon remaining batter on top and then sprinkle remaining pecan mixture.
Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes. (Cooking times may vary depending on oven.)
Shrimp and Grits
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup uncooked quick cook grits
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 tbsp butter
2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp parsley
6 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Bring broth to boil. Stir in grits. Cook, stirring occasionally 5-7 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in salt and next 3 ingredients. Set aside and keep warm.
Cook bacon and remove from pan. Cook shrimp in same pan 3 minutes or until almost pink. Add lemon juice and next four ingredients and cook 3 minutes. Stir in crumbled bacon.
Spoon grits onto plate or bowl and top with shrimp mixture.
Corn and Black Bean Salsa
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
3 cups fresh, frozen or canned corn kernels
2 cans black beans, drained
1 tsp salt
½ tsp cumin
1 cup diced fresh or canned tomatoes
½ cup red onion
1 jalapeño
3 tbsp lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
Cook corn in skillet until slightly charred. Add salt and cumin.
Combine remaining ingredients, add corn, stir and enjoy!
Summer 2022 garnered much interest for Neely Henry Lake, with a full house of supportive participants hitting the water for Neely Henry Lake Association’s Poker Run. While boaters soaked in the sun and crossed their fingers for a royal flush, the event served as an exceptionally successful fundraiser for local and neighboring communities.
Grabbing a playing card
Original founding NHLA board member and officer Hap Bryant inspired the poker run, designing the idea from his past as a motorcycle rider. Bryant and his fellow bikers often participated in poker runs – racing to designated stops and collecting cards along the way – with the hopes of ending the route with a winning hand.
While Bryant never dissuaded a victory, he expressed that the true joy the event produced came from the camaraderie he and the other bike-enthusiasts shared. Although Bryant himself has since passed away, the NHLA’s own poker run channeled his joviality into planning its event, dedicating the fundraiser in his memory.
The poker run mirrored Bryant’s bike design, replacing motorcycles with boats. NHLA’s event committee – alongside board members Randy Elrod, Stace Beecham and Hugh Stump, led the effort. They established five points up and down Neely Henry Lake, positioning greeters at each stop to give boaters the opportunity to select a card.
The race was not timed, with the mentality that boaters could leisurely cruise from one point to another, enjoying a peaceful and fun day on the lake.
“We strive to communicate to the public how important our lake is – environmentally and economically,” said NHLA President Dave Tumlin, describing how the poker run reinforced the association’s mission. “Our mission is to preserve, protect and improve life on the Coosa River. With such a great turnout, I learned how much our communities love and appreciate our lake, and how in working as a team, we can help introduce even more people to the joy and pleasure of spending time on a clean and safe lake.”
Over 150 dedicated members and families, who all share a common focus to protect and preserve the natural asset in Neely Henry Lake and surrounding waterways, comprise NHLA’s membership.
On a mission
The organization sponsors and co-sponsors several local projects throughout the year. The poker run supported the association’s Annual Christmas Boat Parade, an event it created and a collaborative effort with Downtown Gadsden, Inc. It integrates the parade with First Friday and the city’s tree lighting.
The association also coordinates with Southside and Rainbow City to promote parades for both municipalities, generating more and more spectators each year, gathering crowds looking forward to the countless twinkling lights, music and holiday festivities.
Most recently, the association partnered with Rainbow City and Southside to debut “Dinner and a Movie” at the new Southside marina, which supported Southside Elementary School. Families flocked to the waterfront property, with 800 attendees – both on land and boat – grabbing snacks from local food vendors as they watched the iconic classic, Jaws.
Studying the course
“At our bimonthly meetings, we have expert speakers that help communicate various subjects, including environmental importance, safety and history of the lake,” said Tumlin, discussing the significance of supporting these projects. “Recent speakers have talked on a major fish study going on, with changes to shoreline construction rules and other similar topics. Three years ago, with support from Greater Gadsden Area Tourism, we had Jacksonville State University complete an economic impact study of Neely Henry Lake on Etowah County. The results were startling. The study found that Neely Henry Lake had annual economic activity of $523,731,618 to Etowah County! If you add in Calhoun and St. Clair counties, the annual activity number is $570,663,991!”
The association partners with Alabama Power each year to build and deploy fish habitats in various locations on the lake, while supporting the Renew Our Rivers project alongside frequent educational programs geared toward improving the quality and appreciation of the lake.
In October, in collaboration with Alabama Power, the association will build 100 “spider blocks,” long-lasting structures that attract bait and game fish, to promote the sport at a world-class level. Though in years past the structures were deployed out of Rainbow City Landing and River Rocks Landing, this year, the association will build out of Greensport Marina on Neely Henry’s St. Clair side.
While the association commits itself to treasuring the enrichment and value the lake and local waterways generates for its community, opportunities such as the poker run arise as an outlet of support to fulfill its mission. It’s a purpose that those affiliated with the association strive to preserve, not only for themselves, but for the future of the beloved place they call home.
“Our team is fully committed to the future of Neely Henry Lake,” said Tumlin. “We hope that the actions we take, be it education on the environment, improving the quality of water and habitat or helping us all to better appreciate our lake, will allow our kids and grandkids to enjoy this magnificent natural asset for many decades to come.”
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Richard Rybka Submitted Photos
Quinten Edward Lumpkin had a vision. He believed in family, community, the Golden Rule and the American dream. It was his vision that eventually led to a beautiful development of seaside-inspired homes on the shores of the Coosa River. Though he would never see the first home built, the lighthouse on the peninsula was built with him in mind.
He only had $21 to his name when “Buck,” as he’d been called since childhood, came home from the Navy in 1948. When he didn’t find a job in his hometown of Gadsden, he figured he’d just open his own business.
He found a storefront in downtown Gadsden that he could rent for $12.75 a month. Not wanting to use more than half the cash he had to live on, he got his brother-in-law to co-sign on a $150 loan. With that, he opened an engine repair and sales shop that evolved into Buck’s Boats.
The old storefront location didn’t work for long, though, as there was no rollup door to bring in merchandise. They had to turn boats on their sides to fit them through the standard doorway. It was so small that only three aluminum boats would fit inside, with enough extra room for five or six outboard motors.
They moved to a former Buick dealership, which gave them more space, but still only 10 boats fit in the showroom. In 1969, Buck borrowed enough money to purchase 13 acres on the shores of the Coosa River. He had sold his home to help raise the deposit on the property, so he and his wife, Pauline, had a partially sunken houseboat dredged up and pulled to the property.
They cleaned it up and lived there while they figured out how to fund the building of the store. The boats were sold and serviced under a revival tent they got when an evangelist, who was one of their customers, fell behind on his boat payments and offered the tent as a partial payment.
Always the creative thinker, Buck saw his chance to fund his building when he read an ad in the newspaper of a Gadsden foundry seeking bids to demolish their building. He bid $10.
The next lowest bid was $56,000 from a construction company. The foundry owner refused Buck’s bid, thinking he would likely not have the means to complete the work on time.
Undaunted, Buck took out a bond for $56,000 to protect the owner and completed the demolition with two weeks to spare. Then he took the parts and reassembled it on his own 13-acre plot of land.
After a 17-year career with Mercury Motors, Buck’s son, Tony, bought the business in 1989 and renamed it Buck’s Island. Now located just minutes from the shores of Neely Henry Lake, it boasts a staff of 33.
Three generations of the family are now involved in the business. Mary, his wife of 32 years, runs the day-to-day operations. Their daughter Katie is in the sales department, while another daughter, Angela, runs the service department with her master technician husband, Israel.
Fishing boats fill a large space in Buck’s showroom.
“As a kid, I loved being here as much as I do now,” says Angela. “I remember wandering around in the old attic space and seeing things brought back from other countries by my grandfather.” She also remembers the fun of jumping from boat to boat in the showroom, a love that her own daughter now shares.
Tony, too, grew up spending his days with his dad at the business. “We didn’t have money for daycare,” explains Tony. “Mom worked in the sales tax office for the State of Alabama, so I’d come to work every day with Dad until I started school. He took a broom one day, cut the handle in half and handed it to me and said to get to work. I helped in the business all the way through high school.”
One day after he had earned a degree in industrial design from Auburn University, Tony asked his dad how he had learned his business skills. “I knew my dad had quit school in the 8th grade to support his mother and sisters after his dad died. So I said, ‘Dad, how’d you learn to run a business?’ He said, ‘Son, I learned in Sunday school. I learned that if you treat customers the way you want to be treated, you’ll never want for business.’ ”
That Golden Rule philosophy still drives the business today. “We do a lot of business – about 10 times the business the average boat dealer does. What that means is that we have more stock than most,” explains Tony. “We also don’t sell boats. We help facilitate people in buying a boat and guide them through the process. We try to step into the customer’s shoes and have empathy with the customer. We just treat them like we’d want to be treated.”
Yet another vision
So what does Buck’s Island, the boat sales and service business, have to do with Buck’s Island, the housing development? In short, it was Buck’s dream from the time he purchased the land that one day he would move the boat business to build homes on the water’s edge.
“My dad had told me about his vision of building homes on the 13 acres whenever city water was available. We had to get new zoning regulations passed to allow the houses to be built the way we wanted,” said Tony.
The lighthouse that identifies the development is a tribute to Buck.
He partnered with a builder and in 2000, built the first 10 houses in what they called Harbor Point, a peninsula on the grounds of the property. Three years later, they moved the boat business to a temporary rental building in Rainbow City so they could tear down the building to make room for the rest of the subdivision on the 13-acre plot.
As they were building the new housing on the property, they began building their new boat showroom and service center in a new location on Highway 77. The highway location has provided greater visibility and boosted their business.
The builder has almost completed the last home on the Buck’s Island development, capping the number at 47 homes. The lighthouse Tony built to draw attention to the property on the banks of the Coosa is also a tribute to the man who inspired the development of the brightly colored waterfront homes.
He loved visiting the Caribbean islands and guided Tony in planning the development. “He said to make everyone feel like they’re on vacation when they come home every day,” explains Tony. Sadly, Buck passed away in 1993 before seeing his vision become reality.
What Buck started with his $150 investment has fueled a deeply rooted passion for giving back to community. Buck’s Island sponsors Fish Fest, a day of fishing and seminars, and sponsors more than 40 high school fishing teams. “They’re our future,” Mary underscores.
Editor’s Note: You can find Buck’s Island at 4500 Hwy 77. Their inventory includes Bentley and Crest pontoon boats, as well as Skeeter, G3, Avid, Falcon and RescueONE Connector Boats. They’ve also added fishing kayaks and a tackle shop.
One of Tony’s RescueONE connector boats is ready to join a first responders team.
See a need and fill it
Buck’s earns worldwide reputation for first-responder boat
Story by Roxann Edsall
Coming up with a product that is sold worldwide and helps first responders to be safer and more efficient is something to be proud of. Southside native and business owner, Tony Lumpkin, is profoundly thankful for such an opportunity.
He developed a boat that will connect together with others to build a large floating platform of any shape or size. The design is particularly useful for water rescues, recoveries, dive operations and flood evacuations.
Called RescueONE Connector Boats, they are virtually impossible to tip over when connected, according to Lumpkin. Sold by his Marine One Corporation and assembled at Buck’s Island, the boats are used by emergency rescue teams worldwide. “They’re all over the world and in every state except Alaska,” says Lumpkin. “The Thailand navy has 105 of them, Philippines has 35. We sell about 100 of them a year.”
The idea got started in 1992 when two guys from the Calhoun County Rescue Squad came in to Buck’s Island looking at jon boats for their rescue operation. “They couldn’t find anything that fit their needs,” explains Lumpkin.
“So I listened to what they did and even went out with them on a rescue operation so I could understand what they needed. Then I worked on designing one for them.”
The boats are specially designed to hook together through an interlocking frame design. Figure eight lashings give the connection added stability. Add-ons include a retractable dive platform, a portable fire pump and a stacked boat trailer that can haul two connector boats at the same time.
“In many cases, volunteer rescue squads give their own time to give families closure,” tells Lumpkin. “If I can make something to make their jobs a little easier, I’m happy to do it.”
Traffic rolls by the faded sign on I-759 East in Gadsden, the drivers completely unaware of the oasis that lies below. Just off Exit 4B, on the banks of the muddy Coosa, 20 acres of peace and tranquility lie accessible by boat or vehicle.
River Rocks Landing Resort is a little bit of heaven tucked away near a busy city, so close to downtown Gadsden that you can see city hall from the front porch of its office building.
“Look at this view,” says Stacey Windom of Rainbow City, waving toward the river, where a great egret has just taken off with a fish in its mouth. Windom is seated at the bar of the campground’s latest addition, Current Market & Deli, enjoying a pizza. “This campground has all the amenities: pool, water, walkways. This summer, I watched the bass tournament as boats went up and down the river. I camp here a lot with my family, and I bring folks here for dinner, because it’s so convenient.”
As if to illustrate the campground’s amenities, a woman pedals by Current on a bicycle, while a couple strolls hand in hand on one of the gravel paths. Even though it’s September, another woman drops her towel onto a lounge chair by the pool, enjoying the remaining warm days of summer. Overhead, interstate traffic whizzes by, but the woman at the pool can barely hear it. If she were at the back of the campground, she wouldn’t hear the traffic at all.
In weather like this, you might find campground manager Carson Dabbs in a rocking chair on that office porch, his laptop on his knees and a notepad open on the porch railing in front of him, next to a Bluetooth speaker connected to Spotify.
A tiny house, one of seven available for rent
“People don’t understand how nice it is here,” says Dabbs, who lives on the property with his wife and two preschool daughters. “It’s secluded, but it’s so close to some of the best food in the state and shopping, too. We’re family-friendly and a home away from home. I greet folks when they come in because I know them.”
One reason he knows them is that so many return year after year for a weekend or a week, and a few even stay there permanently. Formerly known as River Country Landing, the campground has existed almost 30 years. The old sign is still visible from U.S. 759, and it still says River Country, although the letters are faded. River Rocks plans to redo it this fall.
“We changed hands three years ago,” says Dabbs. “The widow of the original owner ran it after her husband died but was ready to retire. The owner now is Wes Long of Guntersville. He also has a new Fairfield Inn in Albertville and a Hampton Inn in Guntersville and Jacksonville.”
River Rocks has 169 campsites, including the tiny houses and rental camper, along with a boat dock. Then there is the Banana House, a three-story building on the point that earned its nickname because it’s yellow and is surrounded by banana trees. The five-bedroom house, with its wide porches, looks like something from a travel brochure of a Caribbean resort. It sleeps 10 and has its own boat dock. The point itself can be rented for weddings and other special events.
The campground’s main dock has 28 slips, some rented by the year, others by the day, almost all of them rented by campers. The latter come in all ages. A lot of them are locals, but many come from surrounding states such as Georgia and Tennessee. “A group comes down from Canada every year,” Dabbs says. “Our name is beginning to spread among campers. Word of mouth is most of the advertising.”
Long has added to and improved the campground’s amenities. There are now three swimming pools, including an infinity pool (its edge appears to blend with the river); a 4-foot-deep heated pool and a kiddie pool that’s connected to a splash pad. He also added the restaurant, seven tiny houses and a camper for rent.
“We’ve also just opened up our tree house, which sleeps six, and includes a mother-in-law bedroom downstairs,” Dabbs points out.
The tiny houses, built by Clayton Homes of Addison are brought in on wheels and stay on wheels. Some have lofts just tall enough for kids to sleep in. Each tiny house has a name, such as the Sunset House. A small chapel on the riverbank seats 20. A local church started a Sunday service there but had to move it to a room in the office building to accommodate the number of worshippers.
A new basketball court is behind the children’s playground. Several community firepits are scattered about the grounds, along with picnic tables and wooden swings under tall shade trees. The swing facing the water near the restaurant is Dabbs’ favorite spot.
CurrentMarket & Deli opened in March and features pizzas, a catfish po’ boy and Dabbs’ personal favorite, loaded fries. It’s open seven days a week serves breakfast on weekends, and is accessible to non-campers who park outside the gate via a gravel path. In addition, boats can tie up at the small dock next to the market and enter from the river.
“Jessica and Jason Wilson, Chris and Christi Robinson are partners in the restaurant,” Dabbs says. “Chris owns Blackstone Pub & Eatery, and Jason started Back Forty Beer Company, both in downtown Gadsden. Jason also owns Coldwater Mountain Pub in Anniston.” Jessica is Current’s manager.
Dining space for about 50 people is available inside or on the deck, where a fan keeps the breezes blowing on warm days. Each morning, a family of ducks, including both parents and five ducklings, preens under a weeping willow tree next to the river, across the path from Current. They’re waiting on the lunch crowd to toss them their scraps and are known to follow diners down the path toward their cars.
“We have to make use of all our space, so we built a patio over the storm shelters next to Current,” says Dabbs, explaining more of the campground’s amenities. “In spring and fall, we have live music on the patio, weather permitting, usually Friday or Saturday night, sometimes both during holidays. We feature local groups.” The music most requested by campers and diners is traditional country and Southern rock from the 70s and 80s.
Willow tree shades restaurant
Those who attended Riverfest the first day of October were treated to some of those styles of music. Drake White, a traditional country singer who grew up in Hokes Bluff, entertained the crowd. So did Anderson East from Athens, a blues and Americana musician who was nominated for a Grammy Award in the American Roots category in 2019. Sponsored for many years by the city of Gadsden, the festival had a small version as a test run last year at River Rocks.
“It rained all weekend last year, but we took it on the chin and decided to really go after it this year. It went really well. We had about 1,500 people to turn out for the music, food trucks, arts & crafts and entertainment. Buffalo Rock and River Rocks were the primary sponsors, but we had 10-12 smaller ones, too.”
Another entertainment venue for River Rocks is its annual Drive-Through Christmas Lights display. Beginning Thanksgiving night, the grounds will be open after dark for cars to drive through and view the colorful lights, Nativity scene, blow-ups and animated characters. The cost is $3 for children and $5 for adults.
Dabbs’ daughters, two-year-old Raelynn, and Baeleigh, who will be five at the end of October, consider River Rocks Landing their personal playground and all the guests they meet their friends. “We’ll be driving through, and Baeleigh will say, ‘Daddy, there’s people in my pool,’” he says, grinning like a proud daddy. “Here, everyone is her friend. Both my daughters love it when we turn on the Christmas lights.”
Ancient tradition helps Gadsden families build a brighter future
Story by Paul South Photos by Mackenzie Free
On a short, sun-soaked stretch of the Coosa, folks celebrated an ancient Chinese tradition to help solve a present-day problem and give some Etowah County families a brighter future.
The Gadsden-Etowah affiliate of Habitat for Humanity’s annual Dragon Boat Festival resumed after a two-year, pandemic-related hiatus, raising money to help low-income families realize the dream of home ownership.
Gadsden City Parks & Rec ‘Noccalu-oars’
Colorful watercraft, powered by dedicated rowers, driven by a drumbeat – including one pacesetter bearing a striking resemblance to Elvis – raced to boost the local Habitat effort.
In its 26-year history, Gadsden-Etowah Habitat has built 57 homes, with more to come. A 58th home is fittingly expected to be completed by Thanksgiving.
The idea for a dragon boat race came from a brainstorming session among the organization’s local board searching for fundraising ideas. The races are popular in Florida.
And while participation this year was down – only nine boats competed in 2022 – the dragon boat race has made a splash in Gadsden. Business, civic and school groups are involved. And it’s not just the race, but music, food and fun.
“The city loves it,” Habitat Executive Director Sarah Meehan said. “Even though participation was down, enthusiasm was up. I think when there’s not as many teams competing, people get very excited, because they think they have a better chance.”
The race is on a short course, but rowers paddle at a furious pace.
“A minute, 15 (seconds), and you’re done,” she said.
The races featured multiple heats, and boats compete in two classes – recreational and competitive.
And while the races may seemingly sprint by in a blink, they pay big dividends for Habitat and for the families it will help. This year’s race raised more than $38,000 to go toward building future Habitat homes. Sponsorships generate the funding.
Founded in 1976 by the late Millard Fuller and his wife, Linda, the national Habitat organization has local chapters. In Gadsden, it was founded by Steve and Suzanne Scharfenberg.
How does Habitat work?
There are misconceptions about Habitat homeowners, chosen after a rigorous application process. They must make a down payment to cover the first year of insurance and a $600 deposit. They also must repay a 20-year, no-interest mortgage and accompanying insurance and property taxes. Plus, they have to invest 300 hours of “sweat equity” – physical labor put toward their own or other Habitat homes.
“A lot of people think Habitat homes are free,” Meehan said. “They’re not.” She added, “We enter into that partnership with that family. We are partners for the next 20-plus years and beyond.”
She added, “Families are invested. They’re paying a mortgage. They have to buy in.”
Habitat “budget coaches” help Habitat families craft and maintain a budget.
And as for the sweat equity, Meehan said, “Three-hundred hours seems like a lot. But we’ve never had anybody not get their sweat equity hours.”
Sometimes, before the roof is raised on a Habitat home, the organization has to knock down an invisible wall. “There is an aspect of cynicism,” Meehan said. “When you’re buying into a mission, when you’re buying into a goal, it’s hard. These are people that are very low income. They have not had help. They have not had chances. So, you have to break down that wall to get them to fully buy in. And when they do, it’s amazing.”
There wasn’t a drop of cynicism on the Coosa at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival. Powering the all-volunteer effort were two groups of high school students. The Titan Ambassadors from Gadsden City High School and a team of local homeschoolers.
Teams set up colorfully themed tents and provided music and food. The drummer that sets the rowing pace like something you’d see in an old Kirk Douglas movie, dresses in costume compatible with the theme.
The Alley’s ‘Gutter Gang’
The winning team with their Elvis drummer – The Alley, a local bowling alley – featured a tent with girls dressed as 1950s waitresses, who served root beer floats to competitors, volunteers and spectators. “They were so awesome,” Meehan said.
The City of Gadsden sponsored two teams, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Special Programming for Achievement Network (SPAN) program that works to improve the lives of at-risk youths and families in Etowah County.
Kim Back, a longtime Gadsden City school teacher, is the sponsor of the Titan Ambassadors. She tries to impress upon her students the importance of making a difference in their hometown. When getting her kids involved, she looks for organizations that help Gadsden, and that are instantly recognizable on a college application or resumé.
“The concept when they started the dragon boat race, I knew high school kids were really going to be psyched about that. It’s something that excites them.”
In ancient China, dragon boat races sought to appease the gods, beseeching them to soak parched farmlands with rain. On the Coosa, teams want to “make it rain” for Habitat and bring a flood of hope to take a step toward ending substandard housing in Gadsden.
For Meehan, a former banker, events like the Dragon Boat Festival and work for Habitat are, “what I was called by God to do.” And this mix of hope and happiness is what Gadsden is about.
“(Habitat and the Dragon Boat Festival) say everything about Gadsden …. Ultimately, this community wants to build houses to help families.”
She recalled a recent groundbreaking for a Habitat home that is etched in her memory and signifies what the whole program is about. She mingled with people as a concrete truck prepared to lay the foundation. The home’s footings in the red clay muck and the truck were the only signs that a house would soon be there.
“The truck was so much more than a symbol,” she said. “It was the story of this amazing woman. Seeing her and seeing her family there, and they’re just looking. This is going to be her house. Her mom was crying. It was witnessing them and her moment. Her land. It’s her house. They weren’t talking. It was a moment.”
GET INVOLVED
The Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity affiliate is always looking for volunteers. The learn more about Habitat or to volunteer, call 256-543-1898 or visit gadsdenhabitat.com.
“Paddleboards are like a surfboard. Nose at the front, tail at the back. The most stable part is the middle of the board where the handle is at, so that’s where you’ll stand up.”
Carrie Machen, co-owner of GadRock, a rock climbing and paddleboarding facility located on the banks of the Coosa River in Gadsden, is explaining the basics of paddleboarding to this newbie. The sun is finally peeking out from behind the clouds on a day that began with a storm producing sheets of rain of Old Testament proportions.
Convinced that the weather is safe for a little paddleboarding, Machen continues her instructions. “Now the paddle. You want that blade to angle away from your body, you want one hand at the top of the handle, one halfway down the shaft,” she says.
“The most dangerous part of the handles is the ‘T’ part, so be sure that you’ve got a hand on that paddle at all times,” Machen explains, making a special point to emphasize that the upward thrust of the paddle as it moves through the water could force it to pop up and smack the rider in the chops if he/she isn’t careful. Unlikely to happen? Sure. Unpleasant when it does happen? Absolutely.
“The stroke is bending at the waist and thinking about pulling your body to your paddle. You want your paddle to be pretty straight,” Machen continues. “The paddle goes in as far as you can get with that stretch, bend at the waist, and it comes out at your feet. As you come back past your feet, you’re pushing the nose of the board into the water.”
Following a few more minutes of demonstration on dry land, it’s time to toss the paddleboards over and jump into the water. For the next hour, we paddle along the Coosa River, parallel to I-759, the laid-back gurgling of the water drowning out the traffic on the busy interstate.
Before there was a paddleboard, there was a vision
Gadsden native Carrie Machen and a friend, Kate Wilson, initially conceived GadRock as an indoor climbing gym to support the growing rock-climbing community in Northeast Alabama and to promote the sport to a new generation. Machen also gained an interest in paddling sports while attending Auburn University and envisioned GadRock as a place to introduce the region to the joys of paddle sports.
“I took a kayaking class at Auburn and kind of fell in love with paddling on the water. I’m not hardcore like a lot of people, but I do enjoy being out on the water,” Machen says.
“At first, I thought about kayaks but then I tried stand-up paddling for myself, and I loved it,” she adds. “There’s freedom in it. You can stand up or sit down on your boards and they’re lighter in weight than kayaks.” Machen went on to explain the many options in stand-up paddleboards, from entry-level recreational boards, competition boards, boards designed for fishing, and even inflatable boards which can be inflated and deflated quickly and are a cinch to travel with. “The inflatable paddleboards are very easy to transport. I’ve flown with mine before,” says Machen.
Machen has been a certified paddleboard instructor for the past five years and enjoys introducing the sport to newcomers of all ages. While it may seem like a complicated activity to master, Machen says it’s quite simple once you get the hang of it. The most difficult aspects are learning to stand up on the board, which is optional by the way, and learning to climb back on the board when – not if – you fall into the water.
“Some people are a little intimidated by it,” Machen says. “They think they’re going to fall in. You do fall in, but that’s no big deal. “Maybe a little bit intimidating, but it shouldn’t be because it’s not a hard sport to learn.”
Although based in Etowah County, Machen is familiar with the waterways of the surrounding areas, including Henry Neely and Logan Martin lakes, and says both are well-suited for paddleboarding.
Part of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, a 650-mile-long trail through many of Alabama’s major rivers, including the Coosa River, Neely Henry and Logan Martin are points along the trail and offer paddleboarders unique opportunities for exploring the diverse and fascinating wildlife throughout the area.
“There are points along the trail in our area on Neely Henry and Logan Martin where there are islands in the water and you can camp,” Machen explained. “There’s a lot of boat traffic in some places, but if you stay close to the shore it’s not a big deal.
“The Creeks are a lot of fun to explore,” she added. “Sometimes instead of going out to Neely Henry, which is fun to do, I like to go in the creeks that feed into Neely Henry and explore those. They are full of wildlife – herons, egrets, cormorants, turtles, bald eagles – and you’re able to get into some of the areas that you can’t get into with a kayak or a canoe.”
Meanwhile, back at the paddleboard lesson
After a spectacularly clumsy and downright hilarious fall into the water during an attempt to stand up, this rookie paddleboarder decided to experience the rest of the adventure on his knees. It doesn’t take long before some basics of paddling, turning and stopping are mastered.
We paddle toward a small island, thick with green vegetation and pine trees, where a flock of white gulls mills about in the marsh. Clearly used to Machen and other paddleboarders, only a handful of these large, graceful, white birds fly off as we paddle closer.
After a few minutes of birdwatching and enjoying the relative silence in the middle of the inlet, we turn our boards around and paddle to the dock – back to the hectic, busyness of dry land.
What’s SUP?
SUP is the acronym for Stand Up Paddleboard, and GadRock features special SUP tour packages designed for beginners, nature lovers, even yoga and fitness versions.
Readying for adventure
The SUP Eco Tour teams paddlers with knowledgeable guides to learn more about Lake Gadsden’s wildlife, tributaries and historic lore. “Sunset tours are especially fun!,” according to its website.
Beginners are welcome for the SUP Intro Tour. Make sure your techniques are correct and learn the basics en route to more advanced tours available.
Yoga on a paddleboard? That’s right. This tour combines the basics of paddling and an hour of practicing “balance, control and mindfulness.”
What a way to stay in shape with the SUP Fitness Tour. It’s quite a workout focusing on paddling and control, speed, stretching, strength and balance.
Want something a little more laid back? Try the SUP & SIP Tour – a sunset exploration of tributary creeks and wildlife. A relaxing atmosphere, music and a complimentary beverage holder contribute to the ambience of the evening on the water. And if you want to imbibe, BYOB.
Summer 2022 proved sweeter for the City of Southside as the village on the Coosa debuted its highly anticipated waterfront park. Lovingly coined Southside Landing, the park beckoned residents and visitors to its pristine property on May 1 – and it has been smooth sailing ever since.
Residents frequented Southside Landing this summer, as the community embraced the waterfront park with an enthusiastic celebration of the city’s latest attraction. From boaters and fishermen enjoying the river to children laughing on the playground, people treasure the new jewel on the Coosa each day.
Southside Landing offers a little reprieve for everyone, including a boat launch, pier, playground, picnic tables and restrooms. Blackstone Bait Shack – a tangent of local beloved restaurant Blackstone Pub & Eatery – is in the process of opening soon.
The concept for Southside Landing arose when the previous mayoral administration took the initiative to purchase property for a boat launch, pier, bait shack and boat slips. When current mayor, Dana Snyder, entered her new position, she began discussing the plans formerly in place as one of her top priorities – determining to finish the park and open the space to the public.
Children frequent the new inclusive playground available at Southside’s waterfront park.
“Southside Landing is the gateway to our city,” said Snyder. “It is a place to gather, play, read, relax, exercise and eat – any day of the week. It offers residents and visitors alike a place to enjoy our beautiful river and soon, a place to hang out, with food and drinks! We will continue to improve it yearly.”
Snyder elaborated on these potential improvements, describing the growth she envisions for the space and Southside overall. She foresees future developments on the horizon, including further retail establishments and restaurants, alongside additions to the playground or walking trail.
She hopes to incorporate outdoor exercise equipment in different spots along the path for all ages to enjoy as a motivating factor for children and adults alike to practice healthy habits and exercise outdoors. Purchasing shades to cover the existing playground and the patio at Blackstone Bait Shack emerge as another endeavor. And Snyder is discussing plans for a possible kayak launch on the Landing’s back side, to provide easy access to present kayakers, while sparking an interest in the activity in others.
As locals soak in the sunshine during summer months and indulge in the recreation at their fingertips at Southside Landing, Snyder shared that the waterfront park transcends seasonal appeal. With city- and county-organized events scheduled from month to month, Southside Landing holds the potential to become a beloved tourist destination in Etowah County year-round.
Small tournaments have already launched from the Landing, with the city’s first sponsored tournament debuting on Sept. 17. Plans for Southside’s collaborative Christmas Boat Parade, hosted alongside Rainbow City, is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10.
Southside on the move
Southside Landing marks the beginning of a “New Southside,” according to Snyder, who discussed how the park intwines with the city’s innovative progress. As Southside Landing attracts tourism and creates a safe, pleasant space for residents, Snyder and her team strive to implement updates citywide.
A couple overlooks the Southside Bridge on the pier at the waterfront park.
With the incentive of providing better and more efficient services to citizens and businesses, Southside recently upgraded its city’s software and procedures, including a pay scale that offers more incentive for employees.
A paving project – affecting over 30 city roads – is almost complete, coinciding with the city’s plans for initiating its own garbage service.
A new fire station, which will accommodate the growing need of health and safety services and establish a place for the city’s first responders to serve residents and businesses is in the works.
Next is the expansion of Southside’s police department. Snyder announced that Southside almost has completed its strategic plan, which will provide the city and its officials with essential information in designing blueprints for future development and boosting economic success.
By improving its infrastructure and services, Snyder said, Southside will be ready for the future growth that is expected throughout its city in the near future.
“Southside Landing is here for residents’ use, because of the hard work of the past and present administrations,” said Snyder, noting that the efforts of dedicated individuals who understood the park’s significance and brought such success to fruition.
“The past administration took an opportunity presented to them and purchased the land with a vision for development of a boat launch and facility to provide public access to the Coosa River – our biggest asset for tourism and citizens. We want everyone to enjoy the park and have fun, while taking pride in Southside Landing and treating it with respect.”
Snyder welcomed the community to experience Southside Landing for themselves, celebrating the improvements taking place throughout the city and looking forward to those yet to come.
She invited residents and interested individuals to share their thoughts with her on the project, noting that her open-door policy remains intact, as does her passion for the lovely city she calls home.
There’s more to July than fireworks on and around our lakes, but of course, spectacular shows always take center stage. Or should we say, center sky?
On July 4, there are plenty of options on the water for viewing fireworks displays to celebrate our country’s birthday.
Logan Martin Lake
Pell City Lakeside Park – Come by boat, vehicle or on foot to this huge fireworks show that gets bigger and better every year. Hundreds of passenger-filled boats fill the lake to see the show that can also be viewed from the park. The fireworks begin at 9 p.m. on July 4.
Wood’s Surfside Marina – July 2 at 9 p.m., fireworks light up the skies over the marina with an impressive show.
Lincoln’s Landing – Festivities at Angler’s Pointe get underway at 4 p.m. with a free concert by Mike Parker, American Idol Season 20 Top-10 finalist. Food trucks and vendors will be set up as well.
River’s Edge Marina will present its fireworks show and event, beginning at 7 p.m. July 2. The fireworks show will end the night. The marina will have bouncy houses, a band, and the restaurant will be open along with their Tiki Hut. Southern Snow and Shaved Ice will be joining the festivities. No outside alcohol will be allowed.
At 8:30 p.m., get ready for the fireworks show at Lincoln’s Landing right next door.
Neely Henry Lake/Coosa River
Coosa Landing – A 4th of July tradition, the fireworks show over the water in downtown Gadsden, this stunning show kicks off at 9 p.m.
Greensport Marina – This show is reserved for entertaining guests of the marina and RV park, but it can be viewed from the water. It gets underway at 9 p.m.
Summer Concert Series in Lincoln
In addition to fireworks all around on both the lakes, Lincoln Parks and Recreation continues its Summer Concert Series at Randolph Park. Held on the third Saturday of the month from June to October from 5 to 7 p.m., the series features all genres of music, and it’s free to the public.
In July, New Ground, a Southern gospel band will be headlining the concert. On Aug. 20, it will be Official Clutch Band, a jazz and blues group; Sept. 17, Allen Tolbert Unit, a bluegrass band; and on Oct. 15, Tremayne will close out the series with its brand of country music.
Series sponsors are Brandon Tate, State Farm, and Natasha O’Konski, Keller Williams.
Christmas in July at Pier 59
Pier 59 will be hosting the 13th Annual Christmas in July fundraiser on July 23. Benefiting the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Foundation, the proceeds from this event help purchase Christmas gifts for students at AIDB.
You won’t want to miss this day of fun for a good cause. Live music is from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Boat Poker Run launches at noon with hands in by 4 p.m. Registration is at 11 a.m.
A live auction starts at 5 p.m., and there also will be a $5,000 giveaway for $50 a ticket.
As backhoes rumble and workers toil to bring a new sportsplex to life near the banks of the Coosa, no one could blame leaders of the City of Gadsden and Gadsden State Community College if they borrowed a line from a Hollywood classic:
“If you build it, they will come.”
But the new multimillion dollar project – softball and baseball fields, running track, even a Miracle League field for athletes with disabilities – won’t see the appearance of “Moonlight” Graham, “Shoeless Joe” Jackson or Jackson’s 1919 Chicago Black Sox teammates from Field of Dreams.
Instead, the City of Gadsden and GSCC have teamed up on the project, in hopes of hitting an economic grand slam for the city through big crowds flocking to the area for tournaments, for the college through increased visibility and in turn, a hoped-for rise in student enrollment.
“This is a long-term partnership between the city and the college,” Gadsden Public Affairs Coordinator Michael Rodgers said. “They are an important part of the community, and they’ve got some great things going for them.”
Phase 1 of the project – three NCAA-regulation multipurpose athletic fields – has been completed on the former site of the aquaculture pond. Those fields can also be scaled down to accommodate youth sports like soccer, according to Rodgers. A lighted walking trail, concession and restroom facilities and parking are included.
In Phase 2, four existing athletic fields will be renovated and improved. Phase 3 will be the Miracle League Park, where the quiet courage of athletes with disabilities will be louder than the crack of the bat.
The first three phases will total approximately $16 million, with phase three expected to be complete around late spring of 2023. Additional phases will likely occur if the next administration chooses to expand the Park.Work has been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic and accompanying supply-chain issues.The sportsplex is a new chapter in the longstanding partnership between the city and GSCC. The college was founded in 1925 as the Alabama College of Trades. The present-day institution is the result of a merger between the Alabama Technical College, Gadsden State Technical Institute, Gadsden State Junior College and Harry M. Ayers State Technical College. The school now has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students.
GSCC President Dr. Kathy Murphy hopes the project will grow the student roster in tandem with the resurrection of Cardinals baseball, women’s softball and the beginning of a cross-country program.
Cardinals softball and baseball will resume play in 2024. Baseball was shuttered at GSCC in 2011. Softball was discontinued in 2016.
“The opportunity to have the sports complex located on our campus allows people to come to our campus. So first of all, it’s an opportunity for visibility for our college.”
Land for the project comes through a lease agreement between the city and the college. While GSCC provides land and infrastructure, the city provides funding. It’s an example of cooperation and financial stewardship between the partners.
“We understand taxpayers’ money and that they expect us all to be savvy,” Murphy said. “When we think about being savvy, replicating facilities doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. So, the fact that the softball complex will be on our campus … and the fact that the city is going to allow Gadsden State to use one of those renovated fields that they are designing and building as we speak, is going to be exceptionally beneficial to our college.”
Murphy added that while the project property belongs to the college, the city has made the investment in improvement of those fields and the complex.
The fruits of that teamwork between the school and the city create “positive metrics,” says Murphy.
And as for the resurrection of baseball and softball and the expansion of athletics, Murphy believes it is critical to enhance overall student experience and growing the student body.
“We want to increase our enrollment,” she said. “We have many great athletes in our community and in our region and the service area that Gadsden State has here. We want to give those students the ability to continue their athletic career here, and also to come to Gadsden State, where they’ll receive a quality education and be able to continue their academic and athletic careers forward from here if they choose.”
As far as the benefit to the city, Etowah and surrounding counties, youth-sports-related tourism means an economic win, with booked hotel rooms, packed restaurants and crowded stores.
And it dovetails with a three-pronged economic development strategy of tourism, service sector jobs and industrial growth.
“When you bring people to town for whatever reason, they will spend money here, which stimulates the local economy and supports local businesses … That’s sort of the same idea that we used when developing Coosa Landing,” Rodgers said.
Too, the complex will bring more visitors to Noccalula Falls and surrounding river attractions, like the Venue at Coosa Landing, a multipurpose development on the river. As the crow flies, the sports complex is 1.5 miles downriver from Coosa Landing.
The bottom line? The riverfront development effort – from new construction to stocking Noccaula Falls with rainbow trout – aims to turn the Gadsden area into a tourist destination and to enhance the quality of life for locals.
“It’s both something for the community and also to benefit the community as far as bringing people to Gadsden, because this is a facility where we will be able to schedule some of our youth games. Part of the goal is to have a top-of-the-line facility to bring in some statewide tournaments, whether that is soccer, softball or whatever,” Rodgers said.
“It’s also accessible to I-759. It’s easy to get to. So, the longer-term plan is to get this out there to allow us to recruit some of these major traveling statewide sporting events.”
Another benefit will be a healthier community, Murphy said. Alabama lags behind the rest of the nation in the health of its citizens.
“I want to believe that the sports complex will make a difference in the health and wellness of our community as more people get out and exercise and participate in soccer or softball, or baseball, or whatever they choose to do in our sports complex,” Murphy said.
There’s also a larger benefit when considering the long-range impact of cooperative ventures like the sports complex. Borrowing again from James Earl Jones in Field of Dreams: “This field, this game, can remind us of all that once was good, and can be again.”
Murphy put it in a practical context, fitting in these divided days. “We have got to begin to demonstrate to the world how we find solutions together; how we take our resources, and the city takes its resources, and how do we put those resources together and create something better than we were separately.”
