NEELY HENRY NEWS – Page 6 – LakeLife 24/7 Magazine

GadRock, a lakeside destination point for climbing, paddleboarding

Story by Katie Bohannon
Photos by Meghan Frondorf

When innovative indoor climbing “microgym” GadRock made its debut in 2018, The City of Champions added another trophy to its display case. Located on Rainbow Drive overlooking serene Lake Gadsden, adventure awaits all seeking to explore something new in Etowah County, with GadRock proving the perfect escape on the water.

GadRock co-owners and friends Carrie Machen and Kate Wilson coined the term “microgym” as a nod to their past. The pair initially sparked a friendship while working at local microbrewery Back Forty Beer Company in downtown Gadsden, where a meager chat prompted the duo to dive into a massive venture. Both avid outdoorswomen and fitness enthusiasts, Machen and Wilson juggled the idea of a space where rock climbers – such as Machen’s son – could train indoors. Wilson’s solution was a concept already brewing in Machen’s mind: a gym.

She first familiarized herself with indoor rock-climbing facilities at YoungLife Camp Windy Gap neighboring Asheville, N.C. While she was an efficient recreational outdoor rock climber, the immersive world of artificial rope walls and bouldering areas intrigued Machen. Her family had joined gyms across the country, as they traveled from state to state with her husband’s military career. Drawing from these previous experiences, she and Wilson began the extensive search for the perfect location for GadRock, settling on a vacant lot at 1403 Rainbow Drive, which was full of potential.

Massachusetts-centered design company, Rockwerx, Inc., Chase Building Group and CDP Design, LLC conjured GadRock’s concept into a tangible footprint, constructing 4,500 square feet of climbing space. Courses vary in difficulty between both the rope climbing area and bouldering area, with one of the gym’s feature walls towering 40 feet high. Unobstructed, captivating views of the lake dazzle climbers, who peer down at the glistening water via garage-style doors that lift when the weather permits.

GadRock offers options for climbers of all levels of expertise and comfort. The microgym’s welcoming staff eliminates the intimidation that sometimes hinders new visitors, demonstrating necessary rope skills and the correct way to climb and belay during classes. Guests can choose from lead climbing or top roping. They are common forms of indoor climbing that incorporate harnesses and rope anchored from above and belayed from the ground, or bouldering, which features no harness or rope, just a crash pad to catch any who fall. Bouldering climbers seldom ascend higher than 20 feet as they deduce solutions to the “problems” appearing in boulder routes to reach their destinations.

On land and water

While GadRock nurtures the climbing community that circulates throughout Etowah County, its prime accessibility to Lake Gadsden unlocks another realm of opportunity for visitors to enjoy: paddleboarding. Machen and Wilson began paddling classes before climbing ever became available at GadRock, both earning their coaching certification the summer they started construction of the microgym.

Though some gym-goers flock to GadRock for just climbing or only paddling, gym members have access to both sports. The gym provides everything climbers or paddlers need concerning equipment, from harnesses and chalk to boards.

“Paddleboarding is another sense of community out there on the water,” said Machen. “It’s very peaceful out there on Lake Gadsden, with lots of wildlife that is fun to see. During the summer, a lot of people will come in here for a climbing session because it’s cool inside, then get out on the water and paddle and swim.”

Five classes cater to paddleboarders of all stages: SUP Intro Tour, SUP Fitness Tour, SUP Eco Tour, SUP Yoga Tour or a SUP & SIP Tour. Designed for beginners, the Intro Tour reigns true to its name, introducing beginners to the basics of paddleboarding. Machen shared that by the end of the Intro Tour, most people are standing up and paddling without a hitch.

A history of Lake Gadsden alongside the Coosa River, native wildlife spotting and exploration of the area characterize the Eco Tour, with the Yoga Tour emerging as a peaceful relaxation time on the water. Wilson leads the Fitness Tour, which incorporates a HIIT-style workout with aggressive paddling for 45 minutes to an hour of efficient exercise.

The SUP & SIP Tour, which Machen describes as the most popular and leisurely tour, is pure fun. A group gathers to explore tributary creeks, circling back to GadRock’s dock to enjoy a drink while watching the sunset.

“Stand-up paddling for this area is very new. So is indoor climbing,” said Machen. “With GadRock, we were introducing these new sports to people. I believe people might see our guests paddling and think that it looks hard and intimidating, but it absolutely isn’t – same with climbing. If you look at how tall the walls are, that might look overwhelming for some people. We try to take that intimidation factor out by having clinics and classes for paddling.”

Machen noted that in both climbing and paddling, GadRock transforms exercise from traditional techniques people sometimes dread, into unique, fun and interactive activities that generate excitement. Complimentary cross-training sports, both paddling and climbing are full-body workouts, using the same muscles.

After tearing her ACL climbing, paddling became a form of rehabilitation for Machen, aiding in her regaining her strength. Machen shared that not only does paddling and climbing minister to an individual’s physical wellness, but both contribute to improving one’s mental health.

“I love to get out on the water,” said Machen, who gains her greatest ideas while paddling by herself (or with her dog, who she often takes with her). “Sometimes, I’ll just stop and listen to the sounds around me and just let my mind drift and think. I’m more reflective when I’m out on the water.”

While paddling proves restorative and contemplative, climbing exercises a person’s mind in an alternate way. Machen noted that climbing is full of mistakes, but the sport teaches that to fail does not make a person a failure – it just gives him or her another opportunity to stand up and try again.

“When I’m climbing, I’m thinking about the next move, or what I’m doing right then in the moment, how to accomplish my goals on the wall,” said Machen. “I like that, because you’re not thinking about everything else in your life or in the world. You can take some time climbing and reflect on the present.”

Machen furthered paddling’s link to climbing, emphasizing that the Coosa River runs through all her favorite outdoor spots. From Southeastern Climbers Coalition’s Hospital Boulders on Lookout Mountain to Chandler Mountain’s Horse Pens 40, to Cherokee Rock Village and Moss Rock Preserve, a stone’s throw in Hoover, Etowah County and surrounding communities provide residents with countless remarkable chances for adventure. As climbing generates a deeper sense of understanding concerning nature, paddling parallels that appreciation, with Machen and other paddlers involved in efforts to protect the natural resources at their fingertips.

“The paddling and climbing communities are amazing,” said Machen. “They’re the people who are out there on the rocks and on the water. If you’re never on the water, you may never appreciate it as much as someone who is using it. We (these communities) are the people most invested in protecting those assets, concerned with water quality and access points. Even if you never get out on the water, if you just sit beside the lake and see the visual beauty … we should all look around and appreciate what (these resources) bring to our community.” As a child growing up in Gadsden, Machen often trekked through the little wooded areas of Clubview, excavating the pliable earth in creek beds and overturning rocks to uncover arrowheads. While Machen surmised that she probably found them all, cradling those arrowheads in her palms, her ears filled with the tranquil burble of water foreshadowed a future intwined with conservation and community.

Catch the Rainbow

Gadsden’s Black Creek becoming a fly-fishing hotbed for rainbow trout

Story by Paul South
Photos by Mackenzie Free
Sumitted photos

Frank Roden, it seems, always has a ripping good fish tale. Roden, an expert fly angler and Rainbow City antique dealer known as “the guy with the tie” on the trout streams of St. Clair and Etowah counties, has a great story that illustrates how fly angling has taken off in the area, particularly in the Black Creek Gorge and the streams near Noccalula Falls.

A fly-fishing instructor endorsed by the iconic outdoor brand, Orvis, Roden has seen folks from multiple states fly fish, thanks in part to the City of Gadsden’s restocking efforts, now in its third year on Black Creek.

“There was a man from Hattiesburg, Miss., who was coming to the area and stopped to fly fish one day and once he fly fished it, he we went back home and returned a week later with his family of four in an RV, rented space in a local campground and stayed for a week with his family to fly fish and to visit the Greater Gadsden area,” Roden says.

While the man fished, his family shopped on Broad Street in downtown Gadsden, along with buying the basics – food and fuel.

“He said he would definitely be back to visit because of the things that he saw and the things he and his family were able to get involved with while he was here,” Roden says.

Frank Roden stocking the creek near Noccalula Falls

He’s heard a creel full of stories like that, of anglers coming from the Gulf Coast and southern Florida to fly fish. No longer would they have to travel to the Appalachian waters of Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

“They said (Gadsden) puts them four hours closer to trout than they were before, Roden says.

The Mississippi fish tale is poetry to government and tourism officials in Gadsden like Hugh Stump, executive director of Greater Gadsden Tourism. For the past three years in November and May, Gadsden has restocked Black Creek with rainbow trout, an iconic North American game fish prized by fly anglers around the world.

Most recently, the city put 1,000 10 to 14-inch rainbows into Black Creek, where the trout season runs from Nov. 15 to May 31. According to an independent economic impact study commissioned by the Greater Gadsden Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, overnight visitors who come to the area to fly fish spend an average of $110.72 per person, while day-trippers spend $50.52 per person. The city realizes more than $6.50 return on investment for every dollar spent promoting fly fishing.

The annual stocking and promotion efforts benefit anglers from Etowah, St. Clair, Jefferson and other nearby counties, who now have fly fishing close to home.

“The idea behind the stocking was to create another amenity for people who are visiting the area,” Stump says. “But it’s also an amenity for people who live here. The (local) Rainbow City Fly Fishing Club has a lot of members, and they don’t have to drive to Georgia or North Carolina anymore to fly fish, so it’s in their backyard.”

The Rainbow City club returns the favor by assisting the restocking effort on a volunteer basis.

Another economic aspect, according to the study, is that 49% of respondents who fly fished Black Creek have a household income of $100,000 or more. And environmental tourism gives Gadsden another lure in its economic development tackle box.

“Ecotourism, like wineries, breweries, fly fishing, that kind of stuff is sustainable. It’s natural,” Stump says. “You don’t have to build a building … It’s there. It’s natural. And we’re just amplifying it for people to enjoy it. That’s what we’re trying to do here in Gadsden.”

He added, “We’re not trying to do just ecotourism. It’s just one facet.”

Gadsden City Councilman Kent Back says the effort has boosted the economy, not just by fishing, but in the city’s revitalized downtown district. While anglers fish, their spouses and children browse in local shops and dine in local eateries.

“We know that’s happening,” Back says.

The city also built cabins near Noccalula Falls that Back says are “really, really nice and moderately priced.

“When you’re in those cabins, you think you’re in Gatlinburg,” Back says.

While a trout permit and an Alabama fishing license are required to fly fish for trout in Black Creek Gorge, anglers will also be able to fish for other species as they always have.

“Technically, fishing of any sort is not allowed in the gorge,” Stump says. “The only way you can fish in the gorge is with a City of Gadsden trout permit and a State of Alabama fishing license. But we’re not busting people’s chops if they’re just fishing for their dinner, because we don’t have any way to really maintain and police that.”

Black Creek offers unique challenges for fly anglers, Roden says. A small stream, the waters are canopied by trees along its banks. Reading the currents can offer a fun puzzle for anglers to solve. And the area is slowly becoming a hotbed for fly fishing. Along with Black Creek, the nearby Sipsey River – Alabama’s only year-round trout fishery – are increasingly popular.

“The interest is building daily,” Roden says.

Roden would like to see the Alabama tourism officials take a page from one of its past efforts, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. A fly-fishing trail would also boost the economies of Alabama’s smaller towns.

“I would like to see a fly-fishing trail developed in Alabama, much the same as the golf trail,” he says.

Roden is one of the area’s most fervent fishing evangelists. “Fly fishing is more than about fishing,” Roden says. “It’s a way of life.”

And along with the economic and environmental benefits, fly fishing Black Creek catches another intangible – joy.

And the colorful catch brings more than just a trophy fish. “Everybody who catches a rainbow has a smile on their face,” Roden says.

Little Bridge connects history, communities

Story Katie Bohannon
Submitted photos

While in 2022 Little Bridge’s eye-catching arches coincide with a beloved Etowah County restaurant and marina, 82 years ago Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge first served as a gateway between sister cities – sparking a unified narrative its presence nurtures today.

June 17, 1939, signified the official opening of a bridge that would bear many names in its lifetime. The late 1930s referred to the passage as Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, a structure 864 feet in length supported with a trio of concrete piers and foundations resting on solid rock. Former Southside Mayor Jane Keenum remembered the bridge’s opening in 1939, sharing her experience in a Gadsden Times article celebrating the city’s 40^th anniversary. Keenum noted that the bridge was designed to turn to allow boats to pass through.

The bridge earned its original namesake from the surge of transportation in Southside that flourished on the Coosa River in ferries. Though Gilbert’s Ferry was the largest, Lister Ferry boated routes to Rainbow City, and Fowler Ferry traveled from Pilgrims Rest to Whorton Bend – all communities the bridge continues to serve years after its construction.

“These old ferries brought out a lazy feeling around summer, when one would doze off in the early afternoon holding a fishing pole,” said Etowah County historian Danny Crownover, detailing how the operations influenced life on the Coosa. “It was living just like Huckleberry Finn!”

In a 2013 article for The Messenger, Crownover referenced 1963 Assistant County Engineer Paul Ryan’s perception of the Coosa’s ferries, which he coined as the “only means of transportation for people who live near the banks of the river.” The ferries proved vital for Southside and Rainbow City residents, saving them a 15 to 30-mile trip to either Gadsden or Leesburg to cross the Coosa River.

State Rep. Joe Ford demonstrates the narrowness of the bridge, which was too tight for two school buses to pass one another.

“In many instances, a family lives on one side of the river and works a crop on the other side,” said Ryan. “It would take them a long time to get to their fields if they had to drive it. By using a ferry, they can make the trip in a matter of minutes.”

Former Southside Mayor Eddie Hedgspeth told reporter Lisa Rodgers that his great-grandfather Mark H. Smith ran Gilbert’s Ferry for 30 years, during a time when buggies were charged 50 cents, wagons cost 25 cents, horseback riders were 10 cents and individuals could pay 5 cents to cross the river. When Smith sold the ferry to the county, rides became free.

Smith’s feet waded into the past and the future of river transportation. Though his ferry represented a way of life for Etowah County, he later donated land on both sides of the Coosa to build Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, introducing a new age on the river for residents.

Fluctuation in water levels following Alabama Power Company’s development of the Coosa River and Etowah County’s blueprints for bridges (to take the place of ferries) phased out the memorable Mark Twain era. Some 20 years following the debut of Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, an Alabama Power Company construction program erected the H. Neely Henry, Weiss, Logan Martin and Bouldin dams.

Little Bridge Marina owner Craig Inzer, Jr., recalled stories he heard of Etowah County residents who were instrumental in the transformation of the land beneath Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge. When Lawyer Rowan Bone and businessman Jay Troutman learned of the water level’s increase due to the dams during the 1960s, they decided to move their land into the future.

“They dug that farmland up and put dirt where the road is (now),” said Inzer. “They put boat slips in, so when the water came up, they had boat slips (and were prepared).”

Since its inception, Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge played a pivotal role in the relationship between two mirroring municipalities in Etowah County, connecting Rainbow City and Southside. The year 1850 witnessed the small agricultural merger of Pilgrims Rest, Cedar Bend and Green Valley, giving birth to Southside. The “loveliest village on the Coosa,” settles at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, resting along the banks of the river.

Green Valley proved the catalyst for the city’s industry with its grist, blacksmith and sorghum mill, while Brannon Springs and Alabama 77 operated a cotton gin. Like its bridge, the community hopped from name to name until Southside stuck in the 1920s and became incorporated in 1957.

Rainbow City’s rolling green hills were home to one of the earliest settlements in Etowah County with families from Georgia and North and South Carolina migrating to Alabama to put down roots in the early 1800s. According to the city’s history, Hernando DeSoto’s troops first visited the area in 1540. Where the Pensacola Trading Path crossed the Coosa, a bridge now stands. Incorporated in 1950, Rainbow City houses numerous thriving businesses alongside Southside, with its current mayors and administration working hand in hand to foster prosperity for its citizens.

The narrow Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, now referred to as the Southside Bridge or lovingly called Little Bridge, once welcomed traffic to and from Southside. Its cramped two-lane space proved too constricting for vehicles, with photographs highlighting how local school buses barely scraped past one another.

During the late 1970s, Southside secured a $7-million bond project and constructed a new bridge to serve as the southbound lane between cities. This bridge is now a two-lane entrance and exit to the city.

Today, Little Bridge remains solely a northbound lane on Alabama 77 with residents driving over generations of history – traveling to and from prominent communities, illustrating the unified spirit of Etowah County each time they pass underneath its arches.

Editor’s Note: Gadsden Public Library staff Craig Scott, Kevin Graves and Debbie Walker contributed to this article, along with Craig Inzer, Jr., and Danny Crownover, City of Rainbow City and the City of Southside.

Rocking the Banks of Greensport

Entertains, builds momentum

Story by Eryn Ellard
Photos by Meghan Frondorf and Mackenzie Free

Entertainment took top billing with featured bands, Confederate Railroad, $till Broke and Sweet Tea Trio

What began the day as a fall festival turned into an unforgettable concert by evening, entertaining crowds throughout despite an uncooperative Mother Nature at times.

It was Greensport Marina’s inaugural Rocking the Banks of Greensport music festival, debuting Oct. 30, and it did not disappoint for those who turned out. Headlined by Confederate Railroad, Sweet Tea Trio and $tillbroke bands, it was an ideal venue for a memorable evening, even with colder weather and periods of rain coming in.

Music, lights, plenty of food and beverages and a lakeside view, it had all the makings of a destination point that should see crowds return and grow, especially since organizers are planning to move it to a warmer weather month.

The place

Nestled in the rolling hills of Ashville along the banks of Neely Henry Lake lies Greensport Marina, a sprawling family-owned venue that draws in tourists and regulars alike. Greensport is now home to almost 100 RV spaces with hookups and high-speed internet access.

Owner and marketing specialist Stephanie Evans said the marina is at 90% capacity during peak season weekdays and 100% for peak season weekends. It features an in-ground pool, beach area and large pavilion used for events and weddings.

When she and her husband began running the marina in 2020, she wanted to upgrade amenities, such as the pool and pavilion addition, that would be home to a secure and safe family-friendly environment.

Making it happen

Planning for Rocking the Banks of Greensport began in early July with securing the musical talent. “We wanted a lot of energy and excitement,” Evans said. Longtime musician and family friend, Johnny Adams, with the popular band, $tillbroke, helped to secure contracts for the bands and equipment.

After the bands were secured, it was nonstop planning for the event. “Every day was consumed by preparing, advertising and planning from that point forward along with the marina’s normal business operations,” Evans said. Local radio stations along with social media helped get the word out about the concert and fall festival. There was a costume contest, and over 50 vendors were in attendance – peddling everything from crafts, one-of-a-kind gifts, and of course, food trucks were in abundance.

The weather on Halloween weekend turned out to be less than kind, but Confederate Railroad, $tillbroke and Sweet Tea Trio still rocked for the crowds that came out to enjoy the concert.

“Despite the extreme cold and rain, we still had a large number of people to show up and enjoy,” Evans said. “It also gave us the opportunity to see what worked great and areas we need to improve on with a large number of attendees.” Evans noted that those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment.

Room to grow

Also located on-site is a large open field that is gently sloped, easily setting up as a beautiful, natural amphitheater. Evans noted that space could hold 10,000 people comfortably. “Our ultimate goal is to provide a beautiful venue with high-end performers, and to attract people to come within a three-hour radius of the marina. “We want every event, large or small, to be enjoyable so that everyone will want to return for the next.”

There are plans to hold the second annual Rocking the Banks of Greensport in June of 2022 rather than in the fall. One of their ultimate goals is to one day have Kid Rock perform.

St. Clair County Tourism Coordinator Blair Goodgame said events like Rocking the Banks are a crucial part of local tourism in the area and are vital to improving the quality of life in St. Clair County. “Events like these bring new people to the area, and we know once they visit, they will want to come back again and again,” Goodgame said.

Looking forward to 2022, Goodgame said she can’t wait for the June concert at Greensport. “With the summer heat and kids out of school, even more people will be looking to road trip to places like Greensport.” Goodgame also noted that there are also so many other things to do at Greensport, such as kayaking, picnicking, sampling local cuisine, among other things. “That’s the beauty of St. Clair – you always get more than you expect here.”

The Venue at Coosa Landing

Gadsden riverfront resurgence

Story by Katie Bohannon
Submitted Photos

Three years ago, the City of Gadsden introduced a premier, multi-purpose rental facility with the heart of its community’s interests in mind. Today, The Venue at Coosa Landing resides at the forefront of Gadsden’s entertainment scene, housing spectacular events each week on the banks of the Coosa River.

The Venue’s inception symbolizes the third phase in the further development of Gadsden’s riverfront, coinciding with the Coosa Landing Boat Launch and The Riverwalk at Coosa Landing. The Riverwalk debuted five years ago in late 2016 as a two-year project including pedestrian boardwalks along the river, a pedestrian bridge, a pier, docks and three pavilions. While The Riverwalk neared completion in October of the following year, the Gadsden City Council approved a $12.5-million bid for The Venue’s construction, announcing its creation in early 2017.

“The mayor (Sherman Guyton) wanted to purchase the property when it was available, and we had all talked about developing the riverfront,” said Director of Governmental Affairs and Economic Development for the City of Gadsden, who was instrumental in The Venue’s establishment. “We had just opened the boardwalk there, and we were working on The Venue at the same time. We were also working to recruit some retail businesses and some developments from the hotel industry. After talking with several people, we thought we needed an entertainment-type venue, so we started with that.”

Though Gadsden provides ample rental properties in spaces such as the Pitman Theatre, the Downtown Civic Center and 210 at the Tracks, The Venue served as a replacement for its antiquated predecessor, Convention Hall.

Birmingham architectural firm Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds, Inc. was responsible for The Venue’s design, converting the pre-existing vacant building at 201 George Wallace Drive – once a Kmart – into a 21^st-Century masterpiece.

When The Venue opened its doors to the public in September of 2018, it emerged as 55,000 square feet of possibility. As a multi-purpose facility designed to accommodate a plethora of events, The Venue houses three meeting rooms capable of separating into individual spaces for more privacy or smaller sizes or combining to form one grand hall.

The meeting rooms seat up to 200 people, with the facility’s 15,000-square-foot Main Hall housing 1,200 visitors. Like all areas of The Venue, the Main Hall adapts to each event’s precise needs, dividing into two expansive ballrooms at the snap of a finger. A stage equipped with a premier audio-visual system (that extends to all areas throughout the facility) proves perfect for concerts, plays and other performances.

The Venue’s stainless steel commercial kitchen caters approximately 2,000 people, alongside a concession stand in the main lobby. Two mirrored dressing rooms with bathrooms and nearby backstage access join a multi-functional green room and a fully furnished patio, directly intertwining with the riverfront parks and marina, so guests can freely filter indoors and out. A special opening allows for vehicle access inside the facility, making event preparation, assembly and organization simple and efficient.

“Mayor Guyton, the administration and the City Council all bought in on the project,” said Davis. “The Venue has helped with local events, but it has also expanded what kinds of events we can host and bring to Gadsden. I don’t know of another facility like it in Northeast Alabama.”

Holiday parties, exhibits, fundraisers, conventions, trade shows, banquets and conferences are among the ceaseless types of events The Venue houses on a regular basis. From enticing food vendors aligning the walls at A Taste of Northeast Alabama to childhood literacy supporters gathering at elaborately decorated tablescapes at The Girlfriend Gala, from private birthday parties and weddings to Mixed Martial Arts fighting and Gadsden’s first-ever Latin Festival, The Venue encompasses all spectrums of entertainment.

The Venue Administrative Supervisor Scott Elkins oversees the facility’s successful operation, working closely in conjunction with his fellow staff members and Marketing Director Deb Hawkins.

Prior to supervising The Venue, Elkins held a position at Gadsden’s Parks and Recreation Department, managing the Downtown Civic Center, 210 at the Tracks, the Pitman Theatre and Convention Hall. While Elkins’ previous experience with rental venues enlightened him to the importance of premium customer service, he shared that one unique aspect of working at The Venue is the freedom to recruit events to the space himself. He and Hawkins brainstorm events beneficial for the community for citizens to enjoy, giving them the opportunity for new experiences in the comfort of their hometown.

“The Venue reaches the whole community,” said Elkins, describing how its multi-purpose design accommodates all preferences and interests.

Elkins said pleasing his customers remains synonymous with The Venue’s success. He hopes for further growth in The Venue’s future, with the location serving as a hub where the community can convene time and time again.

“What I’ve learned is even though we might have 160-plus events in a year in the Main Hall, to that one person (hosting the event), that’s their only event that year,” said Elkins. “You have to treat that as the only event you have the whole year. You have to make sure that it’s special, regardless if it’s a birthday party for 25 people or an event for 1,500. I enjoy the people the most, of course … seeing them happy. I enjoy the people the most, of course … seeing them happy. Making people happy – that’s what it’s about.”

In August, the City of Gadsden announced the opening of Park Boulevard, yet another addition to the riverfront. As a $1.3-million project financed through Tax Increment Financing funds designated specifically for the area, the road connects The Venue to the Coosa Landing Boat Launch.

Convenience and safety are two positive impacts Park Boulevard poses for the city, with the location home to several fishing tournaments and events throughout the year. Park Boulevard allows for overflow parking at The Venue, improving traffic flow and providing anglers and boaters with a direct route to the boat docks.

“Most cities would love to have a river running through downtown,” said Mayor Sherman Guyton. “This road is an important step in continuing to develop the riverfront and make the area more accessible.”

In the Kitchen

If you ask Terri and Don Uptain to pick their favorite spot at their Neely Henry Lake home, they’d be hard pressed
to choose between the kitchen and the gazebo just outside its door.

Story Scottie Vickery
Photos by Kelsey Bain

If you ask Terri and Don Uptain to pick their favorite spot at their Neely Henry Lake home, they’d be hard pressed to choose between the kitchen and the gazebo just outside its door.

Like in many homes, the kitchen is the gathering place for family and friends, and every detail in theirs was planned to accommodate their lifestyle, needs and even their kitchen gadgets. The eight-arch brick gazebo, just off the breezeway that runs the length of the house, boasts cool breezes and is the perfect spot to read a book, enjoy a peaceful meal or spend some quiet time in nature.

“This lot was just a hidden gem that sat here for years,” Don said. The Uptains, who built their home near Shoal Creek 11 years ago, were thrilled to make it their own. Each living area – the family room, kitchen and all five bedrooms – has a spectacular view overlooking Rock Island.

One of a series of islands that made up the area of the Coosa River known as Ten Island, Rock Island is the only one that remains visible after the construction of Neely Henry Dam. “All the others were flooded,” Don said. “Before COVID, someone used to do a fireworks show on the Fourth of July on Rock Island. We had a great seat.”

Holidays on the lake were the perfect opportunities to fire up the grill, something Terri said Don do often. “Actually, he’s a better cook than I am,” she said. “I’m definitely a recipe follower. Some people taste to see if the seasonings are right, but I smell. I have to get him to do the tasting.”

Although they share many of the kitchen duties, Don acknowledges that Terri has come a long way. “I’ll say she’s much better than she was when we got married,” he said with a laugh. They both remember the time she served pork chops with undercooked, crunchy rice.

In fairness, the Uptains, who recently celebrated their 49^th wedding anniversary, were only 18 when they got married after graduating from Erwin High School in Center Point. Don joined the Navy a few years later and they count San Diego and Guam among the places they lived.

“When we were stationed on Guam, one of the wives was from the Philippines, and she could really cook,” Terri said. “She taught us to make lumpia, and it’s still one of our favorite things.”

The dish, which is similar to an egg roll, includes ground beef, carrots, bean sprouts, black olives and corn wrapped in a thin wrapper and fried. “For me, it’s an all-day process, but we love it,” said Terri, adding that she found the lumpia wrappers at Rainbow City International Market in Gadsden.

In recent years, Terri and Don have picked up some more recipes during their travels. One of their favorite dishes is Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops that they pair with Mediterranean rice. “We went on a cruise to the Greek Isles, and I figured that they would know how to do lamb,” Don said. He’d been disappointed when he’d ordered lamb in a Birmingham restaurant, but one bite of the dish on the trip convinced him of its merits.

“The way you season it is important,” he said, adding that he and Terri got some tips from the chef and experimented in their own kitchen until they found the perfect blend of ingredients. “If you overcook it, it’s nothing but shoe leather,” he said.

Property features a boardwalk the length of the waterfront

Building a home

There’s plenty of room for creating in the Uptains’ kitchen, which features a large island with lots of storage, a Wolf gas range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a deep, single-basin sink. A huge pantry just off the kitchen offers plenty of room for groceries, serving dishes and small appliances.

Terri, who designed the home before turning it over to an architect to make it official, oversaw every detail. She focused on the flow of the kitchen and even measured her bread machine before determining how wide the cabinet she planned to store it in should be.

“She designed this house and the one we lived in before in Beaver Ridge” in Ashville, Don said. “She’d take her drawing to the architects and tell them that this is what she wanted, but she didn’t know if it would work. They never changed a thing.”

The Uptains weren’t planning on building when they bought the lot with nearly 600 feet of shoreline. They had looked for years for a lot at Logan Martin and kept a boat there when a friend from church told them they ought to take a look at the lot on Neely Henry.

Paul Kell, who was the owner of Kell Realty before he passed away in 2011, had owned the lot and built the boathouse and the boardwalk in the 1990s, Don said. The lot is about eight miles from Ragland’s Main Street, and “once we got here, I said, ‘There’s no way I’ll drive this far out every day,’” Don said.

He couldn’t get the beautiful scenery off his mind, though, so they took another look a few weeks later. “That time it didn’t seem as far,” he said with a grin. They used it as a weekend place for nearly a year before deciding to build and moving to the lake full time in May 2010. “We decided we liked it out here,” he said. “You just can’t beat the views.”

Room for a family

Although they didn’t know it during the building process, their daughter Amber and her two boys ended up moving in with them, and they were there for 10 of the 11 years they’ve been in the home. “When we were building, there was space for a bonus room upstairs over the garage, and the builder said they could add flooring and wiring,” Terri said.

“We weren’t planning on doing anything with it, but we ended up finishing out the room,” she said. “Then we found out Amber and the boys were coming. It was the perfect place for them, and it had to be God’s work.”

The lake was a wonderful spot for the boys, who were 3 and 10 months old at the time, to grow up. The Uptains’ other daughter, Dana, and her family were frequent visitors, as well. “Her husband is an avid fisherman,” Don said. “He took our neighbors’ grandson out one time, and they caught about 20 bass in just a few hours.”

Don and Terri said they have especially enjoyed all the wildlife on the lake. In addition to fish and turtles, they’ve seen everything from red foxes, gray foxes, turkeys and deer to osprey, bald eagles, egrets and herons. “We were sitting in the gazebo one day and looked up and there was a deer swimming across the lake,” Terri said. “I’d never seen that before.”

Don’s favorite spot is the gazebo, and Terri knows that if she can’t find him, it’s the first place she should look. “I’d be out here 80 percent of the time if I could,” Don said. “My favorite thing to do is just sit our here and watch the boats, the people and the wildlife. There’s always something to see here; it’s the most relaxing place on earth.”

Although life on Neely Henry has been a wonderful chapter in their lives, the Uptains have listed their house and are making plans to build a new one in the Friendship community of St. Clair County. “I was an Army brat growing up, so I would move every few years or so,” Don said.

Terri said that 10 or 11 years in one place seems to be their norm. “That’s how long we seem to stay before we move,” she said. “I think our interests change or something happens in our lives. Now that the boys are gone, we just don’t get the Sea-Doo or the boat out much.”

Although they’ll miss the water and the laid-back lifestyle the lake affords, they know it’s time for a mountain view and for someone else to love life on Neely Henry. “I hope someone with a family can enjoy it as much as we have,” Terri said.

Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops

8 Lamb Chops, about 1¼” thick
¼ cup Olive Oil
1¼ teaspoons Granulated Onion
1½ teaspoons Salt
1¼ teaspoons Granulated Garlic
Olive Oil
Salt
2 Tablespoons Fresh Rosemary, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Fresh Oregano, finely chopped

Wash and pat dry the lamb chops. Drizzle olive oil on the top side of chops and spread with your hands. Sprinkle each chop with salt, onion, garlic, rosemary, and oregano. Use your hands to work the seasonings into the olive oil. Carefully, turn chops over and repeat this process on the other side.
Place chops on preheated grill (500 degrees). Cook to medium/rare or medium doneness. Be sure to not overcook. Remove from grill, cover with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Mediterranean Rice

3 cups Jasmine Rice, cooked
1 teaspoon Cavender’s Greek Seasoning
½ teaspoon Salt
4 Tablespoons Greek Dressing
¼ cup Black Olives, chopped
¼ cup Onions, chopped
¼ cup Canned Muchrooms, chopped
3/8 cup Canned Artichokes, chopped
1/8 cup Capers

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Adjust ingredient amounts to suit your taste. Enjoy!

Boat parades, lights in the park and more

Holidays on display on Neely Henry and Logan Martin Lakes

Story by Katie Bohannon
Submitted photos

Over 30 years transpired before Etowah County welcomed the Christmas boat parade back on its waters, with the community collecting in droves to witness a spectacular show for the seasons. Last year’s Christmas Boat Parade – the first in decades – inspired a resurgence on the horizon, as twinkling lights illuminated the lake once again, drifting happy golden days of yore closer to home.

This year, Etowah County will have not one, but two Christmas boat parades to usher in the season. The Gadsden Boat Parade is set for Dec. 3, and the Southside-Rainbow City Christmas Boat Parade will launch on Dec. 5, a relatively new addition to Christmas festivities in Etowah.

Southside resident Randy Elrod treasures fond childhood memories of Gadsden’s Christmas Boat Parade and street parade, recalling the excitement and joy he experienced during the holiday events.

Today, Elrod owns and operates Victory Marine & Outdoor Toys, LLC, a boat and outdoor toy repair shop in Glencoe. As a board member of the Neely Henry Lake Association, Elrod understands the importance of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of life surrounding Neely Henry Lake and Etowah County’s neighboring waters.

Formed as a nonprofit environmental and recreational organization, the Neely Henry Lake Association educates the community on practices that directly affect the lake, while partnering with likeminded advocates and municipalities to host engaging activities and projects for the public.

Elrod’s affiliation with both his personal passion for lake life, his professional involvement as a business owner and his public service with the Neely Henry Lake Association coincided with his desire to revive an event unlike any other holiday gathering – the Christmas boat parade. Although the parade returned to Gadsden first, when COVID-19 cancelled the city’s events, Elrod sought other alternatives. Keen to provide the community with a safe, entertaining evening and spread some holiday cheer, he decided to move the parade to Southside and Rainbow City.

Elrod partnered with Southside Mayor Dana Snyder and Rainbow City Mayor Joe Taylor to organize the event, where boats launched from Rainbow Landing and aligned with other participants on the Coosa River above Little Bridge Marina. The parade traveled down the river past Buck’s Island and looped back. While 2020’s parade featured only seven boats, its audience surpassed all expectation.

“I was really shocked,” said Elrod, discussing the crowd that arrived. “Since it was such short notice planning), and the weather turned bad on us a couple of days prior, I expected it to be a small crowd. I was really impressed with our community turnout…it was great. It’s really overwhelming to see that many people turn out the first year in Southside and Rainbow City.”

Over 200 cars parked to witness the parade by the bridge, traveling from across Etowah County and neighboring areas, including out of state. Decorated vehicles mirrored the promenade of boats, with lawn chairs ordaining the grounds as viewers settled into their seats. Families and friends gathered along the water, with children brightening and laughing as the parade passed by.

Though the parade is not a city-sponsored event, Snyder and Taylor proved instrumental in ensuring its success. Snyder shared that while Southside only prepared for a week prior to the parade, the community’s response served as a paramount reminder of the support citizens extend to one another countywide.

“It just blew up,” said Snyder. “I think the community is starving for new things to do, and they were excited about the new administration. It was amazing to see who came from other counties and out-of-state to see this Christmas boat parade. We put the parade on within a week, then we had the lighting of the Christmas tree, with the Southside High School band playing Christmas music for our Christmas with Santa event. A lot of people turned out for that, too. Those were two different events that got people excited about what the future was going to bring.”

Taylor expressed that the parade represented more than an enjoyable evening for citizens, but a unified effort that illustrated Rainbow City and Southside collaborating as two municipalities with the betterment of their residents in mind. While Southside and Rainbow City both house populations of approximately 10,000 each, combined, the two make up a large portion of the county. As neighboring cities, the pair’s residents share multiple assets and resources – from educational systems to entertainment and businesses.

Connecting communities

“The river is our connective tissue,” said Taylor. “It’s the muscle strand between our areas that we understand. We’ve called each other our sister city. Our governments (Rainbow City and Southside) work together and we do very well. Southside has a great mayor and council and we’ve been able to do some collective work.

“We’re continuously flowing back and forth in our education, and we just felt if we could do that in entertainment, we could move up and begin to share business and residential opportunities. I think that’s one of the things people want to see – that we’re going to come together and not be the city on the other side of the river.”

Taylor hopes the parade serves as only the beginning for a stronger partnership between Southside and Rainbow City, as both strive to enhance their riverfronts and the quality of life for their citizens. With so many shared areas, from Little Bridge Marina to boat ramps, Taylor and Snyder welcome a positive relationship that benefits both cities, willing to assist one another to achieve success.

Elrod commended the Neely Henry Lake Association, Snyder and Taylor for their contributions to the parade, expressing his gratitude for their efforts. Following the success of last year, preparation for the 2021 Christmas Boat Parade began the moment the boaters returned to dry land. Plans for this year’s parade include 45 minutes to an hour of dazzling boats, garnering a greater quantity than 2020. Elrod anticipates a larger crowd than before, hoping to increase every year.

“It’s a great season to do things that bring the community together,” said Snyder, inviting the community to attend. “I think with COVID going on for these past two years, this will give them something to do outside that they feel safe. Bring your lawn chairs, visit with each other, enjoy the lights and the season.”

Gadsden boat parade returns

In addition to Southside and Rainbow City, a second boat parade is scheduled for Gadsden on Friday, December 3. Gadsden’s boat parade marks its first since COVID-19 cancellations occurred.

“Residents of Gadsden and Etowah County enjoy the Coosa River every day of the year, and the annual boat parade is an opportunity to add some Christmas spirit,” said Gadsden Public Affairs Coordinator Michael Rodgers. “Many cities would love to have a river flowing through downtown, so it’s great that the community is able to capitalize on our special situation with a special event.”

Those interested in joining the parades are encouraged to contact Randy Elrod at 256-490-5959. No entry fee is required – participants just bring their boats, light them up and enjoy the ride.

“We all love a parade, but this offers (the community) something totally different,” said Taylor. “To find out there are people getting out and decorating a boat, requiring lighting and generators, I think it’s one of those things that makes people laugh and smile and have a moment out. It’s kind of small (and we’d like for it to get bigger), but it’s meaningful. It’ll make for a really good evening – it gives us an opportunity to show our hospitality.” “I think the boat parade offers the community a chance to come together and participate in something other than a stand-on-the-street Christmas parade,” said Elrod. “I do it because of the children – seeing them light up when the lights come by…I enjoyed it then like these kids enjoy it now. We are a lake community, so it’s the perfect opportunity for the community to come out and support something on the lake.”

Christmas at the Falls a spectacular light show

Ready to be dazzled for the holidays? Head to Christmas at the Falls as Noccalula Falls and the City of Gadsden team up to provide millions of lights throughout the park. Take in the view from paved walking trails or ride the park’s train.

Christmas at the Falls is slated for Nov. 25 – Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

Santa will be appearing in the post office and general store and due to COVID-19 concerns, he’ll be able to talk to the kids from a safe distance.

Weather conditions may cause closure at certain times, and the train will not be running in inclement weather.

Tickets are available online only: noccalulafallspark.com.

Lights in the Park

Story by Scottie Vickery
Photos by Graham Hadley

Looking for a way to make sure your holidays are merry and bright? Make plans to visit Lights in the Park, the Pell City Parks and Recreation Department’s annual gift to the community. The drive-through lights display at Lakeside Park has become a beloved tradition, and it’s one that keeps getting better.

“It’s gotten a little bigger each year,” said Valerie Painter, who is manager of the Pell City Civic Center and oversees the yearly event. “People really look forward to it.”

The tradition started more than 20 years ago, and the event was designed to give local businesses, churches, organizations or individuals an opportunity to spread some holiday cheer and get free advertising in the process. Participating groups can include signs with their displays, and anything goes for the decorations – as long as the display is lighted, holiday-themed and family-friendly.

“It’s a great way for businesses, especially small businesses to get their name out there,” Painter said. In keeping with the spirit of the holidays, there’s no charge for the organizations or the community members who come to enjoy the displays. “This is just a fun way for the city to give back to the community,” she said. “The park is such a beautiful venue, even in the fall and winter.”

Thousands of people drive through Lights in the Park each year, scheduled this holiday season from Dec. 1 through Jan. 2.

It’s gotten so popular, in fact, that the number of cars has more than doubled over the past three years. In 2020, more than 9,300 cars drove through the light display, up from just over 7,300 the year before and 4,070 in 2018. “We have some people who come through two and three times a week,” Painter said.

Each year, there are spots for 55 to 60 displays, depending on size, and they go fast. “It’s first come, first serve, and the businesses start calling months in advance,” said Painter, who got her first call in April this year. “We hate to turn anyone away, but we only have so much electricity,” she said.

In addition to decorations, various churches have provided live nativity scenes on certain nights. Last year, visitors could sync their drive with holiday music from a local radio station, and that will be the case again this season. Vignettes from past years have ranged from Santa and his reindeer to toy soldiers, Christmas trains and a candy shop.

“Everyone has really come a long way in recent years and stepped up with their displays,” Painter said, adding that a little healthy competition has made the event even more special. “A lot of the businesses will add something each year because they see that everyone else’s is getting bigger and better. They want their display to be the one that everyone’s talking about.”

Taking Care of Neely Henry

Renew Our Rivers

Story by Elaine Hobson
Submitted photos

Fish habitats, marine patrol, increased depth, Renew Our Rivers, educational programs for school kids, Water Wars with Georgia — phew! The Neely Henry Lake Association is involved in a lot of programs to preserve, protect and improve the quality of life in and around Neely Henry Lake.

“Quality of life, the environment and safety are our chief concerns,” says NHLA president Dave Tumlin. “But we like to have fun, too.”

Some of that fun comes from their annual two-night Christmas Boat Parade, which began in 2018 and skipped last year due to COVID concerns. It will be back full throttle Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.

Friday, Dec. 3, the parade will be held in Gadsden along the Coosa Landing marina area. Sunday, Dec. 5, it will be held in the Rainbow City/Southside area, between Rainbow Landing and the Southside Marina. Details (contact person, start times, parade maps, etc.) for both parades will be posted on the NHLA website (neelyhenrylakeassociation.com) and Facebook page.

The Great Alabama 650, a 650-mile paddle race across Alabama that passed through the Coosa River again in September, is another fun time for lake residents and more. Billed as “the world’s longest annual paddle race,” it starts in Northeast Alabama and ends at Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay.

The NHLA was formed in the mid-90s with 15-20 members, but gradually grew larger and was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1999. Today, it boasts more than 250 members. “We were formed for two reasons,” Tumlin says of the NHLA. “The first was a safety issue. We wanted Alabama Power to cut trees along the eastern side of the river because they were rotting and falling into the lake, and boaters couldn’t see them. APC responded and had the trees removed.

Also, APC was dropping the lake three to five feet every winter to prevent flooding in the Gadsden area. The flooding was caused by heavy rainfall and a narrow section below Gadsden known as Minnesota Bend that restricted flow.

In 1999, the NHLA petitioned Alabama Power, the Corps of Engineers and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish a fall and winter elevation of 507 feet above sea level on the lake. This is two feet higher than the 505-foot elevations previously allowed. After a number of meetings with the various entities involved, the request was approved in 2001. That improved boating safety and access to the lake and significantly increased property values and recreation/tourism, according to an informational brochure published by the NHLA.

Alabama Power started the dam-building project that created Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes in 1966, the same year Tumlin’s father began building his lake house. The elder Tumlin had purchased a 160-acre farm with 1.5 miles of frontage on the Coosa in 1962, sight unseen.

Completed in the spring of 1968, his house was one of the first ones built along that waterfront. “You used to see pastures on the banks of the Coosa,” Tumlin says. His dad sold off lots through the years, and The Farm, as his family calls it, is down to 30 acres, including a small cemetery that has become the burial grounds for the Tumlin family.

“I bought out my siblings’ shares after dad died in 2014,” Tumlin says. “I just sold a lot to a couple from Georgia, who chose Neely Henry after much research because of the lake’s quality of life and stability of water level.”

He says the NHLA focuses on sharing information for the people on the lake by having monthly meetings, addressing concerns such as the fish population. “We got the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to come to a meeting and talk about the fish population, which they say is good and stable,” Tumlin says. “It’s full of crappie and bass.”

Representatives of APC have attended association meetings to talk about aquatic weeds and their control and shoreline management regulations. Alabama Power controls permits for structures or other changes along the shoreline, such as boathouse size and location and the building of seawalls. “You have to go through APC to get a permit for any shoreline changes,” Tumlin explains.

Other speakers have talked about the Native Americans who used to live along the Coosa and the artifacts people find along its shores. They also hosted the Alabama Marine Patrolspeaking on boating safety and regulations. It’s all about providing informational resources to lake residents and businesses.

The association is a key participant in Renew Our Rivers, a regional cleanup project that began on Neely Henry in 2000 and now covers most of the rivers in Alabama. It has spread also to Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.

“That program was started as Renew the Coosa here in Gadsden by Gene Phifer, a Southern Company-Alabama Power employee, who is also a former president of the association and is still on our board of directors,” Tumlin says. “Volunteers will choose a part of the river or lake and spend a day picking up trash, most of it in the form of litter that starts in a city or community and eventually washes into our lakes and rivers.”

Churches, civic organizations, even prisoners participate in the program, which has resulted in 14 million pounds of debris removed from all participating areas through the years.

Two educational components to NHLA activities include the Message in the Bottle, which is part of the Renew Our Rivers program, and the Water Festival held each year at Gadsden State Community College.

Message in the Bottle was named after a 19-year-old “message” found in a plastic bottle during the 2001 Renew Our Rivers event. It involves schools in Etowah County, and more than 10,000 students have participated.

The Water Festival highlights the importance of clean water and the detrimental impacts of pollution. The festival provides a learning experience that utilizes instructor-led, basic laboratory demonstrations and subsequent discussions for fourth-grade students in Etowah County.

“Every four or five years, we coordinate with APC to approve a scheduled maintenance drawdown of the lake,” Tumlin says. “They drop it low, and people know about it ahead of time, so they get their boats out and line up contractors to repair piers and seawalls. The last one was about four years ago, and we hope to have another drawdown scheduled within the next year.”

Tumlin underscored the importance of the drawdown in maintaining structures along the lake. He was in his boat when the last drawdown took place. He looked back at his boathouse and noticed one of his pier pilings was rotted. “I got a piece of wooden pilingthat had floated down and washed ashore and made the repair,” he says.

Projects for preserving, protecting

The association has placed fishing-line receptacles near boat-launch areas on the Neely Henry in Calhoun, St. Clair and Etowah counties for collecting and recycling used fishing lines. “These lines are hazardous to many species of birds and aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms, as well as boat propellers and motors,” the NHLA brochure states.

Since 2005, members of the NHLA have worked with Alabama Power personnel to place hundreds of Christmas trees at various locations in Neely Henry to serve as fish habitats. The trees are secured to the bottom of the lake with concrete weights. Floats are attached to the tops of the trees so they will remain upright, and they are placed in deep water to prevent a safety hazard to boaters, swimmers and skiers.

An ongoing project has been facilitating the discussions about the 30-year-old “Water Wars” between Alabama and Georgia. “The NHLA is working with Alabama state agencies, local, state and national political leaders, other lake associations, environmental and angling associations, civic organizations and concerned citizen groups in an attempt to prevent future major water losses to Alabama,” according to NHLA literature.

The crux of the Water Wars is that Georgia continues to request and obtain more and more water from the Alabama, Coosa, Tallapoosa (ACT) Basin and the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint (AFC) Basin. The NHLA is concerned that Georgia has plans to take even more water than the amounts they are currently taking, which could have an immense environmental, economic and recreational impact on Alabama.

“Georgia continues to request (from the Corps of Engineers) and obtain more water from the Etowah River, which reduces water flow to the Coosa,” an NHLA white paper states. Much of the battle has been fought in court, but Alabama has come out on the losing end of these court battles in part because it has no comprehensive water management program, according to Tumlin. “That’s something the association is pushing for,” he says.

Their newsletter on their website (neelyhenrylakeassociation.com) and Facebook page contains a Call to Action section that the association uses as an informational platform. “When someone brings up an issue, like the recent Corp of Engineers proposal that would lower Neely Henry more frequently and more significantly, we research it and may put out a Call to Action to make people aware of what’s happening,” Tumlin says. “This allows our membership and the public to get involved and communicate their opinions to elected representatives and/or the appropriate agencies.”

Another example of A Call to Action involves the animal rendering plant that is being proposed for Etowah County. “Things could happen, such as settling ponds overflowing and draining into creeks, then the lake,” says Tumlin. “Neely Henry is one of only a handful of lakes along the Coosa that does not have any fish-eating restrictions, and we want to keep it that way.”

Three years ago, Jacksonville State University, sponsored by the lake association and Greater Etowah Tourism, did an Economic Impact Study on the Coosa River that included all of Etowah County and parts of Calhoun and St. Clair counties. According to Tumlin, they found that the total economic activity in these areas comes to $570,663,000 per year. They found a direct impact of $12,000,000, but additional impact comes from home values, restaurants and other businesses.

Tumlin says there are very few open lots left along the lake and estimates that 95% of the people who live on its shores are full-time residents. “We care about this lake.”

Alabama 650 Paddle Race

Breaks records and delights followers

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Meghan Frondorf
and Wallace Bromberg Jr.
Submitted photos

Twenty of the fiercest, most elite paddlers in the world battled stormy elements at the start but finished strong in record time in the third edition of the Great Alabama 650, the world’s longest annual paddle race.

In late September, paddlers muscled their way through the 650-mile course from Weiss Lake in the north to Fort Morgan in the south, which covered the stretches of Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes in between.

The statewide race has all the components of a great adventure – whitewater, tidewater currents, hikes around nearly a dozen dams – en route to a finish line 650 miles from the start.

Top finishers were:

Joe Mann and Paul Cox – 4 days, 17 hours, 2 minutes
Salli O’Donnell – 4 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes
West Hansen, 5 days, 19 hours, 9 minutes

The Alabama 650 website featured a live map throughout the race with up-to-the-minute updates on each of the boats’ locations. Facebook and Instagram posts from the field and countless photos, videos and updates came from novice spectators and volunteers along the route during its duration. Hashtag was #AL650.

The map helped spur the interest of spectators all along the course to get a firsthand look at the paddlers coming by. According to Alabama 650 officials, spectators cheered for racers on river banks in Gadsden, Pell City, Wetumpka, Montgomery, Selma, Fairhope and dozens of other points along the way.

The racecourse is the core section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, a 6,000-plus mile, mapped river trail system. The 650 miles at the core of the river trails extends from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Northeast Alabama through alligator country to the Gulf of Mexico.

Racers had up to 10 days to finish the race to compete for the top spot in three divisions – Male Solo, Female Solo and Two Person Team.

Portages, where paddlers and their crews put in and take out their boats, were nine dams on the Coosa and Alabama rivers.

Volunteers, along with paddlers’ crews, were stationed at portages, helping with logistics of getting the paddlers through each point.

Logan Martin’s Max Jolley served as portage chief at Logan Martin Dam, coordinating volunteers and keeping the pace moving as paddlers came in throughout a 24-hour period in days 2 and 3 of the race.

The first arrivals were about 6 a.m. on Sunday and the last of the paddlers came in between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday. He said he was amazed at the speed of this year’s race. “They were two to three hours ahead of last year.”

Jolley, who has been kayaking himself for 30 years, (but not on that level, he is quick to point out) has been involved since the inception of the race. “When I saw it, I wanted to get involved.” Now, he’s hooked. “One of the best things is you get to talk to the crew and the paddlers” on everything from weather to boat traffic. “They like coming down Logan Martin,” where people “greet, wave and clap as they go by.”

O’Donnell, the female solo winner, is a Logan Martin favorite. She has even joined a Facebook group locally, where she talks to fans, and they wish her well or congratulate her. In one post, she talked of stopping a bit for some sleep at the new Lincoln’s Landing.

In an interview with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Outdoor Alabama, Cox, a member of the winning team estimated he and partner Mann managed an hour of sleep at Wetumpka, two at Selma and two as they neared Fort Morgan for the finish.

“That’s what you have to do to be fast,” Cox recounted to Outdoor Alabama. “Sometimes you have to fight off the sleep monsters. There were definitely moments when I wasn’t paddling well. I was trying to stay upright, splashing myself with water. You have to talk to each other and tell stories. My partner, Joe, is a great storyteller, but he finally told me no more stories. That’s when I knew we needed to pull over and get some sleep.”

O’Donnell, now a member of Love Logan Martin Facebook group, posted her report of the race – a lengthy, detailed account – three weeks later on the group’s page:

This is what she had to say about Logan Martin:

“That stretch is one of my favorite sections along the course because not only is it beautiful but normally there is a lot of boat traffic to keep me entertained. This year was totally different, the lake was practically empty due to the weather. I recall 3 or 4 boats on the whole stretch and the skies remained low, gray and wet. Most of all, I missed bantering with the locals, aka the Logan Martians, although a few brave souls hung out on their docks to cheer us on as we passed by!”

She was paddling alongside Hansen as they came into Logan Martin, and they paddled together to the dam. “West and I reached the Logan Martin Dam portage around 10:15 on Sunday morning and after our 45-minute mandatory hold, off we went towards Lay Dam.”

Heading into Fort Morgan two days later, she wrote, “As I approached CheckPoint 3, I began to have issues with my back-up GPS (remember I lost my primary GPS on the morning of Day 2 / Logan Martin Lake). Water spots under the screen appeared and grew until I couldn’t see anything at all. Fortunately, it was during the daylight and I was familiar with the area.

“Unfortunately, I had no watch and without my GPS I had no idea what time it was or how far I had traveled. I rounded the checkpoint and headed west towards a point of land that I eventually passed and then I headed southwest down into the cove thinking I was on the approach to Fort Morgan. The waves were stern quartering and with my surf rudder I was having fun riding across the backs of waves to keep me high in the cove or running with the waves when it was time to dip down towards Fort Morgan.

“I was having a blast until I finally realized I had headed down one cove too early and had to climb back out (later I would realize it was a 5-mile climb) northwesterly to round the real final point of land before turning southwest for the final 5 miles to Fort Morgan.

West Hansen, winner men’s solo, sets new record

“Once I got around that point of land, I took a short break to adjust myself in my boat and get a quick bite to eat. When I looked up, I saw Rod and Bobby about one hundred yards from me! They took off and again I watched them turn into a dot, only a little more than 5 miles to the finish and they beat me by 16 minutes. Dang it, Bobby!!”

O’Donnell’s post gives ‘Logan Martians’ and the rest a first-person glimpse of what it was like on Logan Martin that Sunday – early in the race – and later legs of the journey toward a record finish: 4 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes.

Her physical condition? She wrote:

“Weight loss of less than 1 pound

Blisters on hands but none that opened

No skin rubs

No skin rashes

No aching muscles

Approximately a total of 13 hours of sleep

Tired but content!”

Jennifer Fratzke’s impressions were a little more succinct: “It’s the funnest, coolest, hardest, most awesome race ever.”

Editor’s Note: Next year’s Great Alabama 650 is scheduled for Oct. 1-11. Registration opens Jan. 1 at noon CST.

About the Alabama Scenic River Trail

The Alabama Scenic River Trail is the longest river trail in the United States.

When it was established in 2008, the river trail was comprised of just one 650-mile stretch of contiguous waterways. It extended from Weiss Lake in Northeast Alabama through the Mobile Bay, a waterway so biologically diverse, it is called “America’s Amazon.”

Today, the river trail includes more than 6,000 miles of mapped river trail and 60 boat rental shops exist on its banks to help paddlers tour the state’s vast aquatic resources.

You may learn more at AlabamaScenicRiverTrail.com.

Gadsden’s First Friday

A story of comeback, resurgence, revitalization

Story and photos by Katie Bohannon

After months of cancellation and anticipation, one of the Southeast’s select street parties resurged in The City of Champions – with the free event’s June debut proving bigger and better than ever.

The return of downtown’s beloved First Friday restores a pre-pandemic feeling of fellowship for locals and tourists alike. Meander through downtown at the dawn of each month, and Gadsden will greet you with something special.

When First Friday blocks off Broad Street, downtown comes alive. Eye-catching antique automobiles, with vibrant colors and bold styles, beckon admirers to weave into the 1950s and out of the 80s with a simple stroll. Eager listeners cluster, tapping their feet where bands perform on street corners, inhaling the sweet aroma of powdered sugar from food vendors or savory scents of freshly cooked meals floating from favorite restaurants.

Children pull apart funnel cakes with sticky fingers, trailing behind parents pushing strollers, waving at familiar faces sitting outside storefronts. Boutiques swell with customers browsing unique merchandise, making note of their next visit. Reflections of laughing friends pass in shop windows as artists gather in the museum, while families reconnect with neighbors and jovial store owners welcome guests by name.

Though First Friday prompts people to reminisce about Gadsden’s “good old days,” its paramount success serves as a reminder that good is far from gone.

COVID-19 brought First Friday to an unprecedented halt in March of 2020, the hiatus proving wise in its mission of maintaining the health and safety of in- and out-of-town residents. As First Friday celebrates its 15^th anniversary in 2021, Gadsden celebrates the event’s influence on the city, recalling the spark that ignited tradition.

In the beginning

First Friday began in January of 2006, when East Gadsden native Sylvia Smith cultivated a blueprint to attract visitors to downtown Gadsden to shop and dine. Smith, who owned and operated The Stone Market on Court Street, mirrored Gadsden’s First Friday from a concept her daughter discovered while living in Augusta, Ga.

In downtown Augusta, Smith’s daughter joined crowds of friends and families with their children, visiting art galleries and listening to musicians playing in the street. Smith’s daughter shared that while the event is fun for the community, it also serves a dual purpose – to boost downtown’s worth.

Smith was no stranger to Gadsden’s value. As a child, she and her sisters frequented downtown Gadsden with their mother, who entertained them with window shopping and walks up and down Broad Street. She treasured fond memories of 10-cents worth of malted milk balls at McClellan’s and registering (and winning) door prizes when stores held promotions.

“Going downtown was a really happy thing we did in my childhood,” said Smith. “That was the way I viewed downtown. I was in Gadsden as a young adult with children when Gadsden died. Downtown was full of empty buildings. Teenagers were driving up and down Broad Street in cruisers, making messes of the storefronts and breaking windows. Businesses were closed. That was the saddest thing, to see that as my hometown. My hope was to see that go away, to see businesses have storefronts with products and lights in the windows – and I’ve gotten to see that.”

Smith planted a seed in her quaint store, inviting artists like Earthborn Pottery’s Tena Payne to provide interactive insight for guests on how she created her designs. With Italian hand-painted dinnerware and wines from small family-owned vineyards across the world, Smith welcomed the public to The Stone Market to promote her vendors, featuring wine tastings and in-house cooking demonstrations.

“That (first) night, my store was completely packed with people,” said Smith. “People came in fur coats and diamond earrings! I was so blown away by what people thought about me doing that. It was funny and rewarding and so cool … I was in awe of the support. I didn’t view First Friday as just for me, ever – not once. It was something citywide I was working for.”

The interest The Stone Market’s First Friday generated for Gadsden soon turned heads. Before long, Smith’s fellow business owners, who shared her drive to rejuvenate the city, gathered for a meeting at The Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. During the meeting, local business owners underwent a training session to discover the best methods of promotion for downtown, brainstorming ideas and forging a toolkit for future events.

In October of 2007, Director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc. Kay Moore joined the coalition of merchants seeking to better their city. As a nonprofit community partnership that fosters the economic development of downtown, DGI’s purpose aligned with First Friday’s mission and laid the foundation for Gadsden’s growth.

Moore partnered with downtown merchants and instrumental figures like Smith and Little Faces Doll Shop’s Terry Jennings, whose endless connections with classic car clubs incorporated the vintage vehicles that would bring First Friday fame – drawing visitors from all over the Southeast from Mississippi to Florida. In June of this year, the Rainbow City Hot Rod Club invited classic car enthusiasts from Tennessee and Georgia to display 550 cars for the summer cruise-in.

“(Since First Friday) we have gone from a 60% occupancy rate to a 90% occupancy rate on Broad Street,” said Moore. “If I have somebody call and ask to rent a space, I don’t really have a space for them to rent. I would attribute the great majority of that to First Friday, because people would come and see Gadsden has a great downtown.”

“First Friday has enabled us to be a bigger part of the community. It has been something that has really helped our restaurants and retail stores to grow. It brought businesses that were looking to expand. And for different people who were wanting to open a small business, First Friday gave them the courage to step out and do it.”

While Broad Street featured few restaurants at the time of First Friday’s inception, Smith echoed Moore’s sentiments of First Friday’s inspirational influence. Today, downtown Gadsden offers guests a plethora of dining options – from pizza at Blackstone Pub & Eatery and pimento cheese burgers at The Rail Public House, seafood at C&J’s Crab Shack to chicken and waffles at Harp & Clover. First Friday goers can satisfy their dessert cravings with ice cream at Scoop Du Jour, indulge in specialty cheesecakes at Gadsden Variety Café or stop by one of the friendly food vendors parked throughout Broad Street.

Moore’s passion for Gadsden, like Smith, is rooted in a childhood enriched with family visits to downtown, which she described as “the center of the community.”

Those involved with First Friday’s creation, with their commitment and keen eye for Gadsden’s potential, parallel the incredible community response to the event. First Friday lifted the fog for neighboring municipalities to witness a hidden gem just a few miles away and reminded Gadsden residents of the merit abiding in their hometown.

Year after year, droves of enthusiastic supporters flock to the monthly event, drawn by the festive and cheerful atmosphere that never ceases.

“First Friday is fun for all who come,” said Moore. “People come for several different reasons. For some, it’s just to meet up with friends, wander around and look. Some of them come to listen to the entertainment we have, some of them come to just enjoy themselves and get out. It’s evolved over the years, but it’s one of those things that’s come about to bring people together.”

From crowds standing shoulder-to-shoulder watching July 4^th fireworks on the Memorial Bridge to First Friday visitors who fall in love with downtown and decide to make Gadsden their permanent home, the event’s camaraderie and impact on its community prove profound.

Smith, who now lives in Foley, where she owns and operates upscale, American restaurant Local and Company Food + Drink with Ephraim Kadish, attested to First Friday’s realm of influence that drifted as far as the coast. Smith shared that Foley recently selected Gadsden to model after, learning from her hometown methods of improvement for The Forward City.

“Even in Baldwin County now, almost every single day someone comes in the restaurant who heard I’m from Gadsden and tells me a story about someone in their family, a friend or someone they know who is from Gadsden,” said Smith. “And I know them a lot of times. It’s amazing the connection. I always say, Gadsden raised some of the best people in the world. They may leave for other opportunities, but they come back.”

As First Friday continues to evolve, the event represents more than a mere incentive to rekindle a city’s spot on a map. First Friday illustrates a lasting legacy fashioned among residents committed to sparking a positive change, welcoming visitors near and far to experience an event as worthwhile as its people.

“I think I knew that First Friday could become what it is today,” said Smith. “That the people who live in Gadsden and surrounding cities would start coming back, like when I was a child and walked up and down the streets with those beautiful buildings and went into shops where people knew you by name. Gadsden is a gorgeous city – the river runs through it, and the people there are so generous and friendly. It’s truly a hometown feeling to be there.”