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

Remember When: Neely Henry Dam ushered in new era for Coosa River region

Story by Leigh Pritchett
Photos courtesy of Edna Daffron, Margaret Green, Buck Humphries
(from the Scarboro Collection), Alabama Power

Many times in her life, Ellen Hare had heard that a dam would be built on the Coosa River near Ragland.

“I have heard that all my life,” she said in the 1950s to family members.

“Big Mama,” as she was called, wanted to see that dam. “She loved to think about things like that and picture it in her mind,” said Jerry Sue Brannon of Ragland, Hare’s 84-year-old granddaughter.

Later, though, Big Mama resigned herself to the likelihood it would not happen in her lifetime, according to Brannon. “She said, ‘I just won’t live to see that.’”

Indeed, she did not. Hare died in the early 1960s, which was also when construction was starting on H. Neely Henry Dam. The dam went into operation in 1966.

“The first time we crossed the dam,” Brannon recalls, “we said, ‘Big Mama, we’re crossing the dam you didn’t think would be here!’”

Big Mama had been right. Talk about developing the Coosa River had spanned her entire life. The beginning of those discussions date to 1870, according to the publication, Alabama Power Company’s Coosa and Warrior River Projects.

“Many surveys of the Coosa River had been authorized by Congress beginning with a recommendation in the 1870s for 34 locks and dams, with later recommendations in 1892, 1904, 1909, 1931, 1943, 1947, 1952 and 1953 for varying numbers of dams,” the publication reveals. “The last study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers recommended eight dams.”

The river, before the dam was constructed, was “free-flowing,” said Gene Phifer of Riddles Bend in Etowah County.

“It was shallow, but it was swift” and in constant motion, said Ohatchee’s Lewis “Buck” Humphries.

Beth Evans-Smith of Ashville was a little girl when Alabama Power undertook land negotiations to prepare for Neely Henry Dam and the lake it would form. She remembers going to an Alabama Power office with her dad and granddad during negotiations. The Evans family lived three miles from where the dam would be built.

After negotiations were finalized, landowners had two years to get their property ready for the reservoir that would result, Evans-Smith said. Her parents and grandparents had to relocate several structures on their Greensport farm to higher ground, get rid of some cattle and complete other building projects.

“I remember it was chaotic and stressful,” said Evans-Smith.

Leading up to and during the dam’s construction, travel in the area could be a challenge. A road between Greensport and Ragland was closed, and its bridges and culverts deconstructed because it eventually would be under Neely Henry Lake, said Evans-Smith.

There was also an effort by some area residents – among them Brannon’s husband, Charlie (now deceased), Margaret Green of Ashville and Junior Dover (now deceased) of Ohatchee – and archaeologists to find and preserve as many artifacts as possible. Some archaeological activities focused on the Lock 1 area where Green and her parents lived.

“When I was a little girl living at Lock 1, I can remember going to what my father called ‘the bottoms.’ This was land that lay beside the river bank,” said Green, who has researched the Greensport area history and chronicled steamboat travel on the Coosa. “… It was not unusual to find arrowheads down on the bottom land. As we picked up these arrowheads, my father would tell me stories of how my grandfather used to plow that land, and human bones or pieces of broken pottery would be turned to the surface. I think it must have been such a common occurrence every spring when the fields were plowed, and no one thought about the significance. In the early 1960s before Neely Henry Dam was built, and the bottom land was flooded, a team of graduate students from the University of Alabama’s archaeology department came to the area and unearthed several Indian skeletons.”

Humphries said his brother-in-law, Norman Henderson, helped to build the dam. While moving dirt with equipment at the upper end of Wood Island (above Lock 3 on the St. Clair side), Henderson also uncovered graves of Native Americans.

“(Wood Island) was actually a huge trading post (for Native Americans) at one time,” said Humphries, whose knowledge of the Coosa River and the area’s history is extensive. The site had also been a natural ford.

Wood Island, part of the Ten Island series, had been a settlement for Creek Indians, notes Natasha Reshetnikova, in the March 23, 2013, article A magnet for civilization, exploration, conflict on Alabama Power’s Alabama NewsCenter website. Ten Island also held strategic significance in the Creek War and Civil War and was in proximity to Fort Strother, built in 1813.

Like any other massive project, the dam’s construction piqued curiosity and people wanted to see what was happening at the site.

Joan Ford of Ragland and friends would go past the barricades and sneak up for a close look at the work and the huge machinery. “We had a front-row seat,” she said.

Her husband Jack reminisced about seeing large encirclements that were being pumped dry of water for drilling to be done.

And of course, there were stories to share about what was seen, heard or experienced.

Mike Goodson, in History Revisited posted Sept. 27, 2009, on The Gadsden Times’ website, relates a fish tale that circulated. “The divers who worked on … the Neely-Henry Dam at Ohatchee surfaced with stories about giant catfish as large as a man on the murky bottom of the Coosa River.”

Preparing for the lake’s arrival

While the dam was being built, a teenaged Kenneth Swafford undertook a building project of his own, anticipating the fun that would ensue when Lake Gadsden (on the Coosa) deepened.

“I was building a homemade, pontoon boat,” said Swafford, who lives in Rainbow City. “I was just 14 or 15, building my own boat.” The vessel sported a 9.5-horse power motor and pontoons of 55-gallon drums lined with resin.

Boats were an infrequent sight on the Coosa at that time, and when they did appear, they were usually fishing boats, Swafford said. His pleasure boat would surely be a novelty.

Launches and marinas also were few, which limited access to the river, said Steven Baswell, mayor of Ohatchee.

When the dam went into service, what a time of excitement that was.

Phifer, then 18, and his dad went to see – by boat – the dam in operation when it was only a few days old. They found themselves among others watching with great interest from the water.

“That was very memorable,” Phifer said. “That was very fascinating.”

This new dam and the lake it created quickly transformed the landscape, changing communities, travel and the way people regarded the river.

Those who witnessed this metamorphosis said property owners subdivided their land and sold lots for riverfront homes. Property values increased. Marinas, launches, docks and piers were built. Businesses in the vicinity added bait and tackle to their inventory. The river became a popular destination for recreation. Before long, fishing tournaments were being held, drawing anglers from other areas.

The number of boats on the river was ever increasing. “Nowadays, it’s just covered up with boats,” said Phifer.

Added Swafford, “They’re out there night and day, winter and summer.”

With the dam in service, the Coosa River’s level rose. The water became clearer, and fish grew larger in size and number, said Phifer.

He attributed the increase in size and number of fish to two factors. One is that Alabama Power had left some trees that, when covered by water, offered a great habitat for fish. (The trees became a hazard to people and water vessels, an issue that later had to be addressed.) The other is that the nutrients from recently submerged parcels of land seemed to have a positive effect on the fish.

“It really changed this river system when it was put online in 1966. … It was a totally different ecosystem,” said Phifer, who is knowledgeable about the Coosa River environs. He later worked for Alabama Power and, with company support, began in 1999 what would become the Renew Our Rivers cleanup project.

The fact that the river’s water was no longer free-flowing meant anglers had to adjust to stillwater fishing.

“It changed fishing so much that my dad quit fishing (commercially) because he had to go fishing in still water and didn’t know it as well,” said Humphries.

As for travel, Alabama 144 traversed the dam and provided constant access between Ragland and Ohatchee, unlike the ferry services on which people had to depend previously, Baswell said.

This advantage increased traffic into and out of Ragland, said Ford, who served a term as the town’s mayor.

Although its primary function was as a hydroelectric power plant, the dam also became an attraction, a museum and a classroom all in one.

Evans-Smith said some relics found in the vicinity during construction were put on display at the dam for a while.

Ford, who was an educator for three decades, took years of students on field trips to the dam. “Going down under the dam was exciting for them.”

Jerry Sue Brannon got to go into the operations room with husband Charlie, an Alabama Power employee, to watch the dam produce what Charlie called “good, cheap electricity.”

Regarding the Ten Island series, Wood Island had been incorporated into the dam and all the remaining islands, except the top of Rock Island, were covered with lake water, states the Reshetnikova article.

Alabama Power now maintains Ten Island Park, an outlet for swimming, pier and bank fishing, boat launching, hiking, birding and picnicking.

“It ended up, it was the best thing because it generates a lot of energy,” Humphries said of the dam.

Though much history is concealed underneath the lake, one nugget revealed itself in 2007, affording Humphries a rare find.

While walking on Janney Mountain on the Calhoun County side of Lock 3 during drought conditions that had lowered the water level, Humphries spotted three fish weirs that Native Americans had used to trap fish.

So excited he was to see that bit of history before him that he immediately got the camera his wife used for photographing weddings and documented his find … in drizzling rain!

Additional assistance with this article provided by Penny Owens (Town of Ragland); Will Mackey (The Chamber, Gadsden-Etowah County); Hugh Stump (Greater Gadsden Area Tourism); and Karin Cosper (Town of Ohatchee).

Watson said, “the large concrete structure with the fisherman is the north half of dam 5, looking back at Talladega County. This did not go across to St. Clair, only part of the way.”

More about the fifth dam

Photos submitted from Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson
By the time construction commenced on H. Neely Henry Dam in the early 1960s, the quest to improve navigation on the Coosa River was nearing its 100-year mark.

During the first 48 of those years, some projects were completed to make the Coosa River navigable south of Greensport in St. Clair County. In a previous edition of LakeLife 24/7®, an article stated that three locks and the dam for a fourth lock were constructed before Congress stopped appropriating funds for the project.

However, information has been received since, showing more work actually was done.

The publication, Alabama Power Company’s Coosa and Warrior River Projects, states: “Under various Congressional authorizations, six government projects had been completed on the Coosa River by 1918. They consisted of the lock portions of Locks 1, 2 and 3 completed in 1890, Lock 4 and dam completed in 1914, Mayo’s Bar completed in 1915, and dam only No. 5 in 1918. Their continued operation was not justified, so in 1920, the Chief of Engineers reported to the Secretary of War his opinion that the whole existing project should be abandoned due to lack of commercial use.”

Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson took photos in 1963 before Neely Henry Dam was built to record what it was like before the lake was created.

Islands in our streams

Some might call it a universal orientation. If you’re a newcomer or visitor to the lake boating with a seasoned lake dweller, you have likely been on a tour of the most notable islands of Logan Martin Lake.

And if you have, you know that island hopping on Logan Martin is as educational as it is fun, compelling you to do likewise for the next newcomer to the lake.

Come along on our own version of the tour:

Island hopping on Logan Martin

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by David Smith

PIRATE ISLAND

Perhaps the most well known of the islands is Pirate Island. That’s probably because the tiny island owned by Jim and Laurie Regan of Pell City have been welcoming guests for years.

On weekends and holidays, it is surrounded by boats that anchor nearby. The island is as inviting as an old friend. The tropical scene is complete with beach, palm trees, pirate flag, fire pit, hammock and a treasure chest full of goodies for the kids. Its shallow waters in the immediate vicinity make it ideal for boaters to cool off on a hot, summer day. And you can’t miss the gangs of children wading through the water to get to the island … and the treasure chest.

The chest is full of colorful Mardi Gras beads and other treasures for kids to find on their island paradise, and Jim has been known to sprinkle gold coins around the water’s edge for the kids to ‘discover.’ Shrieks of pure joy are sure to follow.

Laurie bought the island for Jim as a birthday present, and they have been ‘hosting’ guests ever since.

Don’t let its size – 75 feet by 50 feet – fool you. It’s the biggest attraction on the lake.

BIG BIRD OR HERON ISLAND

It goes by Big Bird Island and sometimes, Heron Island, aptly named for its inhabitants. Just down from Pirate Island,

treetops above, shoreline below and branches all in between are filled with Great Blue Herons, little Green Herons and Snowy Egrets.

Circle the island a little closer, and you might mistake the cacophony of squawking sounds as audio from Jurassic Park. But don’t worry, according to AllAboutBirds.org, the website of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it’s understandable. Great Blue Herons are “the most vocal on breeding grounds, where they greet their partners with squawking roh-roh-rohs in a landing call when arriving at the nest.”

Snowy Egrets are beautiful, graceful, small and white. They aren’t all that rare, although the species was threatened in the 19th century when they were slaughtered for their plumes. When they became protected, they grew in great numbers and are now extremely common.

If they are there, you’ll find little Green Herons at the edge of the water, crouching to surprise a fish, All About Birds explains. Their “daggerlike bill” is used to “snatch” them. For bait, they use twigs and insects.

Some days, it can mirror a busy airport with birds soaring all around – coming in for a landing or taking off.

GOAT ISLAND

It’s easy to guess how Goat Island got its name. It, too, was named for the island’s inhabitants. The island lies just off the main channel in front of a row of homes in the Pine Harbor and Riviere Estates area.

Years ago, residents placed goats out there to keep the island clean naturally and maintain an aesthetic view of the water without overgrowth blocking the scenery. That’s how they earn their keep.

It’s a landmark around these parts and a popular destination point for newcomers and old timers alike.

SCHOOL BUS ISLAND

Within view of Logan Martin Dam lies an island 150 feet long and 50 feet wide saved from ruin by a band of lake ‘do-gooders’ and Alabama Power Co.

On a map, it’s called Grissom Island. On the water, longtime locals call it by the moniker, School Bus Island, because an abandoned school bus was left behind on the visible strip of land when the lake was created in 1965. The school bus isn’t there anymore, having been lost in a flood, but the name stuck.

David Smith, who lives nearby, noticed that year after year, the island was gradually disappearing. Erosion was taking its toll, so he contacted Alabama Power Company’s Shoreline Management team to see what could be done. Dock builder Fred Casey of Tradesman Co., also a community-minded soul, offered help.

According to Alabama News Center, Casey and company installed 225 tons of riprap, and the shoreline management team stabilized the island. In addition, they created a beach area and left a small inlet so boaters could anchor nearby. And by 4th of July 2018, the lake community celebrated saving the island along with the country’s birthday.

THE CLIFFS OR THE ROCKS

It’s not exactly an island. It’s more of a massive point on the main channel near Lincoln Harbor, but it’s a gathering spot and attraction all in one. Some call it The Cliffs. Others call it The Rocks. No matter what you call it, it’s one of Logan Martin’s many attractions. Its ledges are a traditional jumping off spot for the more daring while boaters gather down below to watch.

History, fun define islands on Neely Henry

Story and photos by Graham Hadley

Submitted photos

When the waters rose along the Coosa River behind Neely Henry Dam, they created a beautiful winding lake dotted with numerous islands.

Ranging from small marshy patches of grass just poking out of the water to wooded tracts large enough to build on, these islands help define lakelife on Neely Henry and are used for everything from duck hunting to residential waterfront neighborhoods that resemble seaside resort communities.

David Partridge, who is one of the owners of Ski World in Gadsden and who grew up on the river, knows many of the islands, most of which are owned by Alabama Power and generally not open for public use, he said. Most of the remaining islands, with a few notable exceptions are in private hands and are also not available to the public except during special events.

But that does not mean the Alabama Power islands don’t get used – there are rules, he said. The areas around many are shallow and good for fishing, especially bowfishing. And the larger wooded ones are great spots for duck hunting – with the caveat that you cannot set foot on dry land.

“You can tie up to a log or stand in the water along the shore. But the minute you set foot on dry land, you are considered to be trespassing. At least that is the way the game warden explained it to me,” he said.

Partridge is especially fond of one, tiny island near the boathouse he uses. “My favorite island is about as big as my boat and has just one tree on it,” he said, noting that, after a day on the lake, he knows he is close to his dock when he spots it on the east side of the lake near Keeling Bend.

KEELING ISLAND

Now not much more than a raised mound of grass, Keeling Island splits the channel near Meadowood Road and Clokey Drive. Partridge said the island used to have a ridge of timber down the middle, but it was clear cut.

Now barely out of the water, the island poses a potential navigation hazard, especially to people new to the lake.

A large sand bar extends south from the island.

WHORTON BEND

By far one of the largest islands on the river, Whorton Bend on the west side of the Coosa is owned by local families and accessed by privately maintained bridges. Parts of the island are landscaped and mowed.

According to the Clokey Family, which owns some of the island and adjoining shoreline property, this island is where Hernando de Soto crossed the Coosa. The island has been used by the community for the Haunted Halloween event for area children. This is a private island and not open for public use, though the south side of the bend used to be a popular anchoring and socializing spot in the 1980s and 1990s, Partridge said.

He does recommend the shallows on the other side of the end of the bend for bowfishing.

Immediately across the lake from the south tip of the island in Glencoe is a cliff in a former rock quarry. People used to jump from the rocks into the lake before a large private residence was built on the top of the cliff.

FIREMAN’S ISLAND

Also located on the east shore near Whorton Bend is Fireman’s Island. Partridge said the property is said to be owned by a group of first responders who use it as a recreational getaway.

The island has a large, covered pavilion and lights, and like most of the other islands, is not open to the public.

PARTY ISLAND

Further south from Bucks Island is one of the few islands that sees regular public use. Partridge said the island is referred to as Party Island, located on the east side of the Coosa in Southside.

The area is a popular anchorage and social gathering spot, especially on weekends.

Like most of the islands on the lake, it is not officially named on charts. But on weekends and holidays, travelling south from the Highway 77 bridges and Bucks Island, it is hard to miss the gathering of recreational watercraft.

BUCK’S ISLAND

One of the most notable islands on Neely Henry is Buck’s Island in Southside on the east bank, just south of the Alabama 77 bridges.

The property was originally the location of Buck’s Island Marina – where they housed and serviced boats. The land, both on the shore and the accompanying island, is covered with bright beach-style homes, complete with a red and white lighthouse.

A prominent sign in the inlet next to the lighthouse lets people know they have arrived at Buck’s Island and kindly reminds people it is a no-wake zone.

The marina business was relocated to 4500 Alabama 77, Southside, and continues to do a thriving business in all things related to the water, from kayaks to boats to apparel.

TEN ISLAND PARK

Not islands any more, but still worth mentioning is Ten Islands Park, on the west side of Neely Henry, just north of the dam.

The historical park is named for a Civil War skirmish – commemorated with a historical marker. The park is accessed by road or water and is part of the Alabama Birding Trails. There is a sand beach, pavilions and observation platform and more.

Partridge again pointed out that though the islands along the Coosa River and Neely Henry Lake are numerous, almost all are either owned by Alabama Power or in private hands and are not generally open to public use.

However, those areas are especially good for fishing, bowfishing and duck hunting, but he recommends checking with the local game warden and Alabama Power before setting foot on any of the islands to be sure you are not trespassing or breaking any other local or state laws.

And a good chart of the lake is a must – some of the islands are barely visible above the water and can pose serious avigation hazards. Because Neely Henry is an artificial lake, water depths, especially near islands, can change drastically in just a short distance.

Fly fishing on the Coosa

All Frank Roden needs is a tie, a fly fish rod and a creek

Story by Paul South
Photos by Wallace Bromberg, Jr.

“Fly fishing is to fishing as ballet is to walking.”

– Howell Raines

“Once you’re a fly fisherman, you’re always a fly fisherman.”

– Frank Roden

From the trout streams of the Great Smoky Mountains to the waters fittingly known as Frank’s Slide at Crow’s Nest Pass in Alberta, Canada, and from Flaming Gorge, Utah, to the tarpon runs in the warm waters of the Florida Gulf Stream, Frank Roden has a trademark.

In the fly-fishing family, he’s “the guy with the tie,” a Windsor-knotted nod to a simpler, more elegant time when fly fishermen dressed to fish like a deacon off to church and before the abomination of “business casual.”

The tie story began when Roden, a 66-year-old Rainbow City auctioneer, furniture salesman and fly-fishing instructor for the iconic Orvis brand, was stalking brown trout in a Smoky Mountain stream. While helping an older angler who struggled to tie a fly on his line, Roden struck up a conversation.

“I miss the days when people used to really dress for fly fishing to the extent of some of us wearing ties,” the older man said.

“I didn’t grow up in those days,” Roden replied. ‘But you know, that’s not going to come back unless we start.’ So I started putting a tie on every time I go trout fishing, and he does the same thing. People have gotten to now where, they say. ‘You must be Frank. We’ve heard about you’, and your tie.

Frank Roden, ready
for a day on the water

“To me, it adds not only the opportunity to stop and talk to somebody because they’re inquisitive. I ran into a fella who said, ‘You’re the best dressed fisherman out here.’ It just opens the door up to conversations and getting to meet people. And you might run into people and end up having dinner together.”

And that leads to the hearing and telling of some outrageous fish stories.

“Some, if they caught as many fish as they said they did, it’d sink the boat,” Roden says.

Roden’s own fly-fishing tale began for him at 13 in some unlikely places – in front of the flicker of a television screen and in a combination Conoco gas station and tackle shop on Highway 77 in Southside.

Roden’s father owned a body and fender shop, where Roden worked on weekends. At lunchtime each Saturday, his Dad would let him run home to watch the ABC outdoor show, American Sportsman. A particular episode featured legendary broadcaster Curt Gowdy fly fishing with an icon of the sport, Lee Wulff.

“That summer, I found a fly-fishing rod. A local shop had a rack full of them. I was having to work to earn my money, and it took me most of the summer to earn the money for the rod and reel.”

Until he had enough money, Roden would go to the service station and watch the rod, tucked among other tackle on the rack, making sure no one bought his coveted fly rod. At one point, he asked his dad for a loan to buy the rod. That is where he learned a life lesson.

“Pop said, ‘You don’t spend it ’til you earn it.’

“I kept working that summer and finally got enough money for my fly rod. I went to the shop and pulled out my wadded-up dollar bills and change, laid them on the counter, I didn’t even know what sales tax was. I just knew how much was marked on the rod.”

Roden remembers only the first name of the man behind the counter – James.

“James said, ‘You took my last rod, you might as well take this’ and put a net on the counter. I was trying to whisper, so that nobody else would overhear that I was broke. I wouldn’t take it. He convinced me to take it. Then he reached and pulled a card of flies off the wall. And laid those down and did the same thing.

“Every Saturday afternoon after that, I’d run up to his shop, take a broom and sweep or run errands, whatever he needed. The afternoon after I got my rod, I went to the lake near home, and I caught 18 bream in an afternoon, and I was hooked ever since.”

Fly fishing is in the midst of something of a revival on the waters of Neely Henry and Logan Martin and the streams of Etowah and St. Clair counties. Places like Big Canoe Creek, Black Creek, Cold Creek upstream and Big Wills Creek. The City of Gadsden has created a winter trout fishery in Black Creek at Noccalula Falls Park, and the city is even promoting fly fishing as part of a tourism push.

He calls Neely Henry and its companion streams “a wonderful venue for fly fishing.”

“There’s a number of streams from the Leesburg Dam to the Ohatchee Dam in the Neely Henry Reservoir. All of these creeks that you run into are good for fly fishing. They all should be explored.”

He had particular praise for the City of Gadsden and its efforts.

“Boy has that been good. It’s been great. We should give them a lot of credit for what they’re doing and for putting the winter trout fishery in.” Greater Gadsden Area Tourism has done a lot to promote the fly fishing here.”

He added a few tips: “On the Coosa River system, what I do, is I look for familiar structure. I will ease along the shoreline and look for fish bedding along the shorelines. I look for busting fish out on the water, nervous water or funneling birds that come down. I’m hunting these fish as much as I’m fishing.”

Roden is like an angling detective probing for clues that will lead him to his catch.

“I’ll tell you what the names of the streams are, but I won’t tell you what rock to stand on. If I tell you what rock to stand on, the mystery is solved.”

Roden is one of the local fly-fishing revival’s chief evangelists. For him, fly fishing is more than a sport.

“It’s more than fishing. It becomes a way of life. This is something that’s going to travel with you throughout life. You may lay that rod down. Twenty years from now, somebody may mention fly fishing and you’ll say, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m a fly fisherman.’ Once you are a fly fisherman, you’re always a fly fisherman.”

It’s a sport that demands patience. Like game hunting, fly fishers have to stalk their prey, matching artificial wet and dry flies to local insects that are food for the fish. As Roden puts it, “You have to match the hatch.” Too, it’s about the cast, the drift, the current, hooking the fish properly and on and on. It is a deliberate sport, where ample patience is as important as an accurate cast.

And then there are the stories. Fish stories, it seems, are as old as Jonah in the Old Testament, tales told on back porches and at dinner tables. Frank Roden loves it all.

“I get carried away listening to ’m because most of them have enough truth in them to sound real.”

In one of his stories from a trip to Canada, Roden was in the zone, catching fish regularly. Nearby, two other anglers struggled, with little to show for their efforts. Ever the sportsman, Roden swapped places with his new acquaintances.

He began where he left off, still catching fish. When his friends asked his secret, Roden had a simple response.

“It may be the tie, guys. I don’t know.”

Editor’s Note: For fly fishing instruction or more information on fly fishing locally, visit the Rainbow City Auction and Fly Shop Facebook page, the Rainbow Fly Fishing Club Facebook page, email rauction@gmail.com or call Frank Roden at 256-490-5450.

Little Bridge Marina and Barbecue returns

Story by Elaine Hobson Miller
Photos by Graham Hadley

When fire swept through Little Bridge Marina and Barbecue in October 2020, folks thought the place would go out of business. They didn’t count on the ingenuity of owners Craig Inzer and Curt Vezertzis, who simply renovated the building next door and started over. They ended up with a place that’s bigger, brighter and has great views of the marina. In other words, they pulled a phoenix out of the ashes.

“It was a total loss,” says Inzer of their fire-ravaged former space. “Now we’ve been in business since April 10 in the new building, which really has a totally different feel and vibe. We have 75 seats in-house instead of 30 and outdoor seating with shade. It’s all glass, so we have one of the best views on Neely Henry.”

Little Bridge Barbecue and Marina were born in 2014 when Inzer and Vezertzis, who grew up together, purchased Rainbow Marina and the old Bait Shack, at the corner of Wharton Bend Road and Highway 77, along with some land across the street. Their intention was to do a little bit of work and lease the buildings. They knew it would be a good investment because there wasn’t much commercial waterfront property left on Neely Henry.

“Curt and I grew up on the river,” Inzer says. “We’ve known each other forever.” Something interesting happened while they were renovating the existing buildings, however. People kept coming by and banging on the doors wanting ice, food, drinks and gas. “We decided if all these people needed these things, maybe there’s a need for a marina store here,” Inzer says.

Just in time for the 2014 Riverfest, they filled up the gas tanks and started Little Bridge Marina, which quickly evolved from a hole-in-the-wall to a full-blown marina and barbecue restaurant. “From that point on we covered all the boating needs and were a seven-days-a-week barbecue place, too,” Inzer says. They were geared toward river traffic at first, but soon realized that a lot of folks who had been there before them couldn’t make it year-round because river traffic drops off in the fall. “We knew the food was what was gonna carry us through the winter,” Inzer says.

Business was booming for five years, then COVID-19 came along. They changed and adapted, going to curbside pickup, and had “enormous” boating traffic because people found they could be on the water during the pandemic instead of being hemmed up together at home. Then, the fire hit, and the business partners were back to square one.

“We owned the building next door, which was a former motorcycle, Jet Ski and four-wheeler shop,” Inzer says. “That’s where our bar and grill was. So instead of trying to rebuild on the existing spot, we renovated that other building and were able to move in and be open for business April 10 of 2021.”

Inzer says the old building was more “hole-in-the-wallish,” with two doors, one window and dim lighting. Seating was family-style with whoever happened to be present at three big tables that accommodated eight diners each. The new place is an open, airy space, holds more people and displays the menu on a big-screen television set. It has views of the marina and the two bridges (Little Bridge and Big Bridge) that connect Southside and Rainbow City, not to mention the bikini-clad boaters who tie up at the pier.

“We have barbecue and daily lunch specials, but we’re known for our smoked turkey,” Inzer says. “We serve ribs and homemade desserts, and we sell beer and wine. Down the road, we hope to have bar drinks back.”

Lunch specials are roasted chicken and meatloaf on Mondays, turkey and dressing on Tuesdays, smoked ham on Wednesdays, roasted chicken on Thursdays and smoked brisket on Fridays. Sides for the specials vary from squash casserole to broccoli casserole and baked sweet potato casserole.

They also serve salads, wraps, stuffed potatoes, smoked sausage, traditional nachos and those with pork or chicken piled on top. They have the traditional barbecue sides of baked beans, potato salad and slaw, along with mac-and-cheese, pasta salad, greens and chips.

Desserts include a rotation of peanut butter pie, strawberry pie, banana pudding and fudge pie.

Vezertzis’ mother works there and uses some homemade recipes from her family cookbooks, such as those for chicken salad, pimento cheese, the casseroles and desserts. “We’re here every day, we cook, we clean, we cater, we bus tables, we deliver,” Inzer says. “We’re open 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays, all year.”

Being on the river gives Little Bridge a different atmosphere than most restaurants. “Having people come in from two different doors makes it kinda different,” Inzer says. “You can come down from church in your Sunday best clothes and have someone in a swimsuit sitting right beside you. Families come off their boats, having been tubing or whatever. People know us and know who is making their food. We get a lot of repeat customers.”

Sgt. Brandon Guffey and Capt. Clay Johnson of the Southside Police Department are regulars at the place. “It’s a lot better now,” Guffey says, meaning since it re-opened after the fire. “There was no view there (next door), and he has
improved the place a lot.” Johnson agrees.

“I like the atmosphere in here. It’s stress-free, being on the water.” Southside City Councilman John Hatley has a similar opinion. “You can’t beat this view,” he says.

Outside on the dock, Imogene Clay and her husband, Ryburn are relaxing under a canopy, watching the boat traffic. Residents of nearby Buck’s Island, they boat over to Little River Bridge every weekend and sometimes during the week. “We used to get gas here, and we’ll be glad when they get it back,” Imogene says. “They have delicious food, too. I had a Greek salad this week that was really good.”

The owners purchased new gas pumps in February, and as of the middle of May, they were still awaiting delivery. “It will be a card-reader system,” Inzer says. “I’m hoping by June it will be up and running. We’re the only family-owned restaurant on Neely Henry Lake, and we’ll be the only seven-day-a-week place you can get gas on Neely Henry once we get the pumps going.”

Through the pandemic and the fire, Inzer and Vezertzis kept six or seven employees on the payroll, helping with the remodeling. “It’s kinda cool,” Inzer says. “I have some employees who have been with me from the very beginning. We’re like a family. We knew we needed them, and they hung in there with us.”

Once the gas pumps are back, the entertainment side of their business will be revived. “We had live music Thursday-Saturday nights,” Inzer says. “It was in a separate building, but now it will be in the same place as the restaurant. We want it to be where you can come up and hang out with the guys or come in with the kids and listen to music.”

Bassmaster Elite Series

Landing big returns for Neely Henry Region

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by David Smith and submitted photos

When it comes to defining success stories, Greater Gadsden Tourism Executive Director Hugh Stump can sum it up in a four-letter word – bass.

With the Whataburger Bassmasters Elite Series now in the history books as Neely Henry’s first, Stump is all smiles. And why not? “It was a phenomenal success. No question about it,” he said.

The report from Bassmasters is that on the web, live and video streaming, the Elite Series on Neely Henry was “the most watched ever,” including Guntersville, which has hosted four Elite Series and is six times as large an area and has a higher profile reputation. “It really blew us away,” Stump said.

Because of a spring flood on the lake, it delayed opening day by a day, so the weigh-in was on Monday rather than Sunday, but Stump said the extra day did not seem to deter participation. “We had 1,500 people at the weigh-in on a workday,” he said. “It took everyone by storm. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

The City of Gadsden partnered with Tourism to make it happen, with both entities investing a sizable financial stake. “The return was well worth it,” Stump said, noting that fishing from Coosa Landing already has a $10 million annual economic impact on the region, and that does not include fishing

tournaments from other ramps in the area. “We can’t do it without the city’s help.” From the financial investment to logistics and labor, the city was a perfect complement in the partnership and is poised to reel in the benefits.

A good regional tournament, he explained, brings in about $100,000 to $250,000 per weekend. With the national exposure the Elite brought to Neely Henry – television, social media, live streaming and web traffic – Neely Henry is on the map.

The anglers especially “loved the Coosa spotted bass. They said it was a 1.5-pound fish that fought like an 8 pounder. They called it the fight of their bass lives. They liked that everything was close by – shopping lodging, restaurants within miles of the ramp,” which bodes well for return visits.

The $100,000 prize offered plenty of incentive for the pros to want to come back, too.

“Hotels, businesses and restaurants did great,” Stump noted. “It hit all the check marks. It brought people in, got national TV and social media attention. More than 5 million minutes of video was viewed on Bassmasters Live.

Catching fish on Neely Henry is the name of the game. Now we’re known for catching fish.”

The Elite Series was able to “highlight Neely Henry to a national audience, and that was our intent,” Stump said. “We’re getting the word out that there’s good fishing here.” A lot of local anglers tuned in, too. The winning catch was 16.5 pounds, the same as everyday anglers.

While the Elite Series was a first for Neely Henry, its partnership with BASS is not. For the past few years, Stump and Tourism have been working with BASS, and Neely Henry was able to land a Bassmasters Open, which brought in 172 boats and 300 anglers. “It’s the second to top tier of the BASS line of tournaments. The Elite is the top.”

The Open had other advantages besides the numbers it lured to the area. With the Open, there is no ‘off limits’ time as in the Elite. Anglers came in 10 days before the tournament and spent the week here, pumping additional money into the economy.

The future continues to look good for Neely Henry and the impact of bass fishing. Just ask Wes Logan of Springville, the Elite Series winner who has fished the lake since he was 5. He already thought the fishing on Neely Henry was good. After pocketing his winnings, he now has 100,000 more reasons to know it’s true.

Wake Surfing

Up-and-coming sport making a splash on Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes

Story and Photos by Graham Hadley

Want to catch the perfect wave, but don’t have time to go to a beach with decent breaks?

Look no farther than the Coosa River.

For the past few years, surfing enthusiasts have been taking to the water behind specially designed ski boats that allow them to literally surf on the lakes.

Gadsden City High School student Jackson Sparks says different boards ride differently.

This is not the old tow-behind surfing from the 1970s and 80s – there is no towing involved.

The boats are built so they throw enormous wakes, similar to the waves you see at the ocean. Some boats achieve this through filling special tanks in the hull with water. Others have large, heavy water bags put in the back.

This causes the boat to “plough” through the water instead of riding up on plane and making those wave-like wakes.

Unlike regular tow-behind water sports like skiing or wake boarding, once a surfer gets up out of the water and starts carving the wake – usually only feet from the back of the boat, they drop the rope and are moving along solely by riding the wave, just like in the ocean.

The boards look something like a cross between a wake board and a scaled-down traditional surf board and are light and easy to handle.

Because of the shape of the board and the dynamics of riding the wake, it is much easier to get up and going on a wake surfer than on skis or wake boards, said David Partridge, one of the owners of Ski World in Gadsden.

He was also quick to point out that wake surfing is much easier on the body that some of the other tow-behind water sports largely because the boat is going so slow, maybe 9 mph, ploughing through the water to generate the wave.

“We get people out here of all ages, teens all the way up to older people. It is really easy to do and a lot of fun,” he said. “Wake surfing is an all-age thing.”

You start out in the water a couple of yards behind the tow boat with a short but otherwise traditional ski rope, laying back in the water with the board sideways and your feet braced on the pad. As the boat starts, you literally pop out of the water and immediately try to find the sweet spot on the wake.

As the boat speeds up, the wake becomes much more wave like. The rider starts letting the momentum riding down the face of the wake carry them along, just like a traditional wave at the beach. Once they hit that spot, they drop the rope and are surfing the perfect wave. And unlike the beach, where the waves eventually peter out – you can ride a boat-generated wave as long as you can stay up.

Ski World co-owner David Partridge talks to boat driver Austin Young about how the boat rides to create the wavelike wake.

You don’t ever have to have surfed a real wave to take up wake surfing – it has an easy learning curve, Partridge said. The big trick to getting up on the board and staying on the board – there are no bindings like with skis or wakeboards – is not to drag your rear-end in the water.

Dragging in the water like that is a “hard no” said Austin Young, who was driving the boat for the wake surfing demonstration, with Jackson Sparks showing off his skills on two different boards, one designed more for speed and the other with mobility in mind (like regular surfboards, the number of fins and length have a lot to do with that).

Young’s boat used the internal ballast system, pumping in water from the lake to make the boat heavy enough to generate a wave. He was also quick to show off his Star Trek looking gauges at the helm, which gave him every piece of information he needed to run the boat and give his rider a great wave to surf.

Wipeout: All good rides must come to an end.

Partridge, whose shop sells ski supplies but not boats, said watercraft like that can easily top $200,000, though less expensive options are available that use the heavy external ballast bags you lay down in the aft boat cabin instead of internal systems.

Partridge, Young and Sparks agreed that while wake surfing is easy and a great water sport for all ages, safety is still paramount. You need a proper boat rigged with the right gear, safety ski vests, enough people to drive and spot, and to follow not only lake boating laws, but to show common courtesy to other boaters and property owners – especially since the surf boats are throwing wakes with heights measured in feet.

Check out our story from Discover The Essence of St. Clair about the wakeboarding judge and his wife on Logan Martin, complete with video.

Catching the Coosa

By Zeke Gossett

On Logan Martin

Getting into the dead heat of summer can cause some challenges when it comes to trying to catch a bass on Logan Martin Lake.

During the month of July, you can still find some bass out deep, but as we move into the month of August, do not look over the shallow bite.

As we move through the month of July and into August the water can be its hottest it has been all year. This is when the transition starts from fish moving from out deep back to the shallows due to lack of oxygen.

To start out in the mornings, I will generally use a squarebill crank bait around docks and rip rap. I’m generally trying to cause a reaction strike from fish that might not want to eat, and a squarebill does a good job at this.

As the day progresses, I will look for shade. This shade can be either from docks or overhanging trees. Usually around the docks, I prefer some type of finesse jig or shaky head.

For the overhanging trees I go with a hollow body frog. This time of year, some fish can be sitting a lot shallower than you think. It will be tough but when you get a bite, it’ll be more than likely a better fish.

On Neely Henry

Neely Henry is going to fish similararly to Logan Martin this time of year. One main difference is that I would target more water willows in the morning with the frog.

Sometimes, this bite can last all day if the conditions are right. The squarebill can still come in handy when passing by some riprap or an isolated stump in the water.

Once the sun comes up, I like to target shallow brush in and around piers with the finesse jig and shaky head. These fish can be sitting anywhere between a foot to seven-feet deep.

Lastly, keep an eye out for schooling fish this time of year. A lot of bait balls will start cruising the surface of the water column, and you can pick these fish off with a small swimbait. I like to keep this swimbait on a spinning rod with small braid in order to make a long cast to fish that might come up way out from the boat.

Keeping it simple is important to having success this time of year. It will be tough, but try some of these techniques and you will find some success.

Catching the Coosa

By Zeke Gossett

On Logan Martin

The months of May and June can be some of the most fun on catching numbers of fish on Logan Martin Lake.

The fish are typically coming off bed and are starting their transition to offshore places, such as deep points, brush piles and roadbeds.

Fish tend to school together on these places and can get in bunches of as many as 50 or 60.

My first choice when the fish pull out to deeper water will be a deep-diving crankbait or swimbait. Around the brush piles, I tend to use some type of soft plastic bait such as a Texas rigged worm or a football jig.

Also, in early May, you can catch the tail end of the shad spawn, which is when water temperatures rise into the upper 60s to low 70s and during the full moon in April and May.

The shad spawn is usually best first thing in the morning around seawalls or grass. You will see the shad flicking on top and rolling on the structure they’re around.

My first two baits I will pick up are either a white buzz bait or white spinnerbait with double willow leaf blades. This bite ends very quickly once the sun comes up but can be some of the most fun if the fish are feeding at that time.

On Neely Henry

Neely Henry Lake has a lot shallower water vegetation compared to Logan Martin. In the months of May and June, I tend to fish a lot shallower on this lake. Fish will most likely be off bed by this time and looking for an easy meal.

The shad spawn has a big impact on this lake as well. The shad tend to spawn on the grass in this lake more.

The two baits I use for the shad spawn on Neely Henry will be a white swim jig or white frog. This bite happens quick but can be super productive for a good morning bite.

Once that bite has gone away, I tend to target these same areas where the shad spawn was that morning. I will slow my presentation way down and go more finesse.

If the conditions are slick calm with no wind, I will target docks near to these areas. My first bait of choice will be a wacky rigged stick bait in a green pumpkin color.

If the wind is still blowing or it is cloudy, I will stay with the white swim jig. Once we get later on into June, the better fish still tend to be shallow. I will flip grass with either a jig or a Texas rigged creature bait.

There are some places fish tend to group up offshore, but this bite has a small window. I would target brush piles in front of piers with a shaky head in order to catch the deeper fish.

Editor’s Note:

Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide.

Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.

Dining on the water

Extra benefits of life on Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes

Story by Elaine Hobson Miller
Photos by Carol Pappas – Submitted photos

Whether you prefer dining inside a restaurant or carrying out your food, you have a lot of choices around Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes that are easily reached by boat. From mom-and-pop diners to national chains, more than a dozen restaurants from Talladega to Gadsden have their own docks or access to one nearby.

This means you can tie up your vessel, be it boat or personal watercraft, and leave it in its slip while you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. In many cases, you can phone ahead and someone will deliver your meal to your boat. That’s a unique service that takes lake living — and dining — to a whole new level.

The Back Porch Grill, located at 270 Marina Dr., Talladega, in Logan Martin’s Clear Creek Harbor, already had space for 30-40 boats before adding nine new piers. Under construction as of this writing, the additions will more than triple the slip number, according to owner Kristi Fincher. Attendants are available on the dock to pump gas and dock boats.

Back Porch Grill

“Our staples are seafood, steaks and burgers, but we have changed our menu a lot,” Fincher says. “We’ve added grilled salmon, grilled blackened grouper and a mahi-mahi taco. We also added shrimp and grits, which consists of grilled or blackened shrimp on a bed of gouda cheese grits. Our new shrimp and crab dip, served with baguettes, has become one of our biggest sellers.” Menu specials, such as snow crab legs or scallops, are available on weekends.

Known for its large porch built around a huge willow tree, the Grill recently added an even bigger porch that seats 60 people. “The new porch has a willow planted beside it,” Fincher says. “People like sitting outside, looking over the lake.”

The restaurant has been in business about 10 years, is open year-round, and features the acoustic band Kudzu playing 1980s music every Thursday night on the new porch. Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Pier 59

Since 1993, Pier 59, 1363 Rivercrest Dr., Vincent, has been across the lake from Coosa Island (Logan Martin). With a pier on either side of the building, it can accommodate a lot of boats. “I’m serving grandkids of people I started out with,” says manager Janet Swann.

Hamburgers, steaks and a variety of seafood are on the menu. “Our crab claws, fried and grilled, are our most popular item,” Swann says. “We also feature Ziggy Salad, a tossed salad topped with steak, shrimp, chicken and French fries. It’s named after our cook.” Wings and chicken fingers are popular, too. “We’re in the process of re-doing our menu, adding alfredo chicken and alfredo shrimp,” Swann says.
A new deck offers outside covered dining.

Open year-round, winter and summer hours vary. Call 205-525-4226 for specific times and days.

Lakeside Grill at Coosa Island

Lakeside Grill, 1095 Coosa Island Rd., Cropwell is a relative newcomer on Logan Martin Lake. This nautical-and-beach-themed establishment opened in June of 2020 at the end of Coosa Island Marina. Its pier can accommodate 30 boats, but new piers will double that number before summer is over, according to manager Tanya Barnett.

While their menu includes a variety of seafood, steaks, burgers, barbecue, salads and desserts, their specialties are Cajun alfredo (chicken or shrimp), hand-cut, 12-ounce ribeyes, loaded barbecue tots (barbecue pork drizzled with barbecue sauce and Ranch dressing, then topped with jalapeño poppers), Cajun-grilled shrimp, Southwestern egg rolls, cheese curds, Cajun barbecue nachos and their signature Philly sandwiches.

“We’re looking to add some summer-friendly dishes, such as fish tacos and a tuna dip,” Barnett says. “We also have homemade peanut butter and Key lime pies for dessert.”

A deck with a bar and a seating capacity of 300, along with live bands on Fridays and Saturdays plus acoustic music on Sundays, make this a lively place to dine. “We also use Jack Rabbit for delivery,” Barnett says. Co-owner (with Nicola Wright) Keith Clements holds degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management and owns Lakeside Boathouse nearby.

Open year-round, Thursdays-Mondays, hours vary from summer to winter.

Between May 1 and Nov. 1, you can dine there Thursdays from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. and Fridays 12 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday brunch is served from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., but the restaurant stays open until 8 p.m. on Sundays. Monday hours are 4 p.m.-9 p.m. “We usually are the only restaurant open on the lake on Mondays,” Barnett says. Their winter hours will be posted on their Facebook page.

Piece of Pie

Piece of the Pie, 1080 Coosa Island Road, Cropwell (Logan Martin) is a new pizza-only joint that opened in early April. Its pier is under renovation and will accommodate about 50 boats when completed, according to co-owners Matt Kronen and Tarang Gandhakwal. “We’re next door to Coosa Marina Store, which I also own, and we have beer, ice and soft drinks there. We’re all in the same building,” says Kronen.

He assembles his pizzas on the premises, and says they feature thin crusts that are “light enough to take on the boat with you.” He uses fresh toppings, including the usual pepperoni, sausage and mushrooms, plus a barbecue pizza, and can substitute alfredo sauce for marinara sauce on any pizza upon request. “We will incorporate other weird toppings as we think of them,” he says.

Piece of the Pie serves carry-out customers only, with no seating area available. “Eventually we will offer delivery to the immediate lake area,” Kronen says. The main chef at Piece of the Pie, he’s also the owner of Snow-Biz, a shaved ice stand at Coosa Island Marina. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, initially. Any changes will be posted on their upcoming Facebook page.

Top O’ the River

Top O’ the River, 1606 Rainbow Dr., Gadsden, is a landmark – not only by land but by water as well. It is accessible by boat. Known for its catfish and seafood, the menu goes well beyond with chicken and steaks, too. Its pond raised catfish – fried or broiled, bone-in or fillet – is a crowd favorite.

Grilled shrimp and chicken kabobs are popular as is the chargrilled ribeye steak. A variety of appetizers and desserts bookend a meal that diners travel for from miles around.

Family owned and operated, the restaurant is open Monday – Friday at 5 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and on Sundays, it opens at noon. Carry out is available at 256-547-9817.

River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast

River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast, 79 Rabbit Branch Circle, Cropwell, is located at River’s Edge Marina in the Rabbit Branch slough on Logan Martin. Open weekends and holidays May through Labor Day, River’s Edge is a walk-up eatery with an outdoor pavilion and picnic tables for on-premises dining. Up to 10 boats can tie up at the pier, with wet-slip time limited to one hour.

The menu includes burgers and other sandwiches, chicken tenders, corn dogs and hot dogs. Specialties are the Yum Yum Burger (with Yum Yum sauce, lettuce, tomato and pickles), the Cowboy Cheeseburger (barbecue sauce, bacon and grilled onions), BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger (barbecue sauce, bacon and cheese) and Double BBQ Bacon Burger (barbecue sauce, double portion of bacon and double portion of cheese). On Saturdays they serve breakfast sandwiches on toast, biscuit or bun, plus breakfast platters of eggs, meat and a choice of bread. Desserts are milkshakes, frozen slush, root beer floats, ice cream cones and a “Bissert” — biscuits drizzled with chocolate syrup and powdered sugar.They also serve traditional breakfast drinks, such as coffee, orange juice and chocolate milk.

Hours are 8 a.m.-11 a.m. for Saturday breakfast, with lunch served 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Manager Anna Emerick suggests checking their Facebook page for holiday hours (Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day), because they vary from one holiday to the next.

Wake Zone

New to Logan Martin is Wake Zone, 6301 Stemley Bridge Road, Pell City, which should soon be able to park 30 boats at five piers. Staff will be available to assist with boat parking.

The restaurant serves steaks, seafood and wings, along with breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. They have the usual breakfast fare of eggs and French toast, and House specialty is their fried fish nuggets, called Wake Bites. Their barbecue is popular, and so are the Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, hamburgers and eight flavors of wings. The restaurant uses Jack Rabbit Delivery, which will deliver within 20 miles of the building.

Open five days a week from April 1-September 1, hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays; 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturdays and 7:30-6 p.m. Sundays. During the winter, they are open
Wednesday-Friday only.

A spacious deck overlooks the main channel of the lake with outdoor dining.

The Brook

The Brook Coffeehouse and Event Center, 4204 Martin St. S, Pell City (Logan Martin) is a full-service coffee house offering espresso coffee drinks, frappés, teas, iced coffees, smoothies, ice cream, hand-spun milkshakes, muffins and limited snacks and cold drinks, according to Linda and Tim Hendrix,

owners. “We do not have a kitchen, but offer pre-packaged snacks,” says Linda Hendrix. “You are welcome to bring your lunch or breakfast and grab your favorite coffee drink from us.”

The coffeehouse is accessible by water during the spring, summer and fall months (when the water is up), as boats can park at the nearby Lakeside Motel piers and walk up. Some customers have even come up by personal watercraft to enjoy a view of the lake from the outdoor deck or in the cozy coffee shop, which includes a warming fireplace in the winter months. “Our coffee bar is like an old-fashioned ice cream bar,” Linda says.

The Event Center is available for rental, but also partners with local churches by providing spaces for Bible studies and small groups at no charge. “We are a nonprofit ministry, and all of our income outside of expenses goes toward helping with community outreach and ministry,” Linda says. “This spring semester has included Transformation Ministry School, Mat Making for the Homeless, Freedom Bible Study, Relationships Bible Study, several men’s groups, painting, book signings and local rehab facility family get-togethers. We also offer free spiritual counseling services.” Rentals have included baby and wedding showers, memorials, funerals, weddings and birthday parties. “This summer, we will offer “Pontoons and Sunset,” where families get together to watch the sun go down, listen to music and fellowship aboard their shared pontoons – launching from the Brook. It will be lots of family fun.”

Open year-round, hours are Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended summer hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Courtyard

Courtyard Oyster Bar & Grill, 4300 Martin Street South, Pell City, can accommodate several boats in a dock next door. Open year round, Wednesdays through Sundays, they have a full menu that includes appetizers, burgers, raw and fried oysters, catfish, hand-breaded chicken tenders and the ever-popular shrimp étouffée and gumbo. “Everything is made fresh here,” says manager Jessalyn Cash. “We have something for everybody.”

An outside deck with a lake view is open to the air during summer, then enclosed in plastic and heated during the winter. “That’s generally where everybody wants to sit,” Cash says.

They have live entertainment every night. Wednesdays it’s karaoke from7 p.m. until closing. Other nights they have acoustic bands, and they try to feature local artists when they can get them.

Wednesdays and Thursdays, they open at 2 pm. and close around midnight. They open for lunch at 11 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, then close at 2 a.m. On Sundays, hours are 11 a.m. until midnight.

“We’re family-friendly until 8 p.m., but after that, no one under the age of 21 is permitted here,” Jessalyn says. “Our staff strives to be open and friendly and to make everyone’s experience good.”

The Ark

Logan Martin’s iconic restaurant, The Ark, is located at 13030 U.S. 78, Riverside. Featuring catfish, hushpuppies, shrimp and oysters fried and grilled, The Ark has been the subject of stories nationwide for its fare.

In addition to seafood, the Ark offers steaks, hamburgers and Cajun specialties like their famous seafood gumbo. Homemade desserts, such as blueberry cobbler, round out an extensive menu that attracts diners from all around.

Its proximity to Talladega Superspeedway makes it a prime ‘fan’ choice, and lake dwellers and visitors alike to flock to The Ark as well. It is accessible by boat. A dock on the main channel below the businesses next door services The Ark’s customers arriving by boat.

Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 pm. and Sunday, 11 am. – 7:30 p.m.

Caribe

Caribe Club and Marina, 84 Blue Eye Rd., Lincoln (Logan Martin), has 22 boat slips at its pier. Open weekends only (Thursdays-Sundays) for both dine-in and take-out, Caribe also delivers to boats or cars. “Last summer we had quite a bit of boats come up,” says Diane Smith, co-owner with her husband, Bobby.

“We serve steaks, burgers, fish and pizza.” Their specialties are grouper fingers, crab cakes, mango salsa, wings and thin-crust pizza.

“We have a couple of unique things for people who are 21 and older, such as a four-foot-deep swimming pool,” Smith says. “We have a few tables by the dock where the younger ones can dine with their parents, but you must be 21 or older to swim or hang out by the pool because we want a relaxing, adult environment.” Specialty drinks are the Caribbean Sunset and the Bushwacker, and you can take them to the pool area.

They have acoustic music almost every Sunday in the summer, and sometimes have other types of live music on Friday and Saturday. They can seat about 100 people inside.

“We are a private club, and you have to be a member to eat here and to enjoy the pool, the lake views and great atmosphere,” Smith says. “You can pay by the month ($25), by the year ($240) or per visit. It’s $1 per visit if you’re eating, $10 if you’re just drinking and lounging poolside. There’s a $5 cover charge when we have entertainment.”

Spring Fling, a free event with music, kicks off the summer season on May 1, and another party, the Coosa Palooza, takes place the last weekend of August.

Open all year round, their summer hours (May 1- October 1) are 5 p.m. until “whenever” on Thursdays and Fridays, noon until “who-knows?” on Saturdays and Sundays. Smith says to check their Facebook page for winter hours.

Jack’s

Jack’s Family Restaurants are well known throughout Alabama and a few other Southern states, but the one at 1414 Rainbow Drive in Gadsden is unique. “We’re the only Jack’s in the company that has a boat dock,” says manager Toni Hubbard. “We even have a place at the dock where you can phone in your order, like at our drive-through, but it has a special ring so we know it’s from the pier.”

The menu has plenty of burgers, fries and specialty sandwiches, the latter changing from time to time, along with soft drinks, ice cream, milkshakes and fried pies. It also has chicken, both fried and grilled, and an extensive breakfast menu that includes the usual sausage, chicken, bacon or egg biscuits, along with a twist on the traditional gravy biscuits so beloved in the South: biscuits with chocolate gravy. “I used to eat that as a kid, but lots of people around here have never heard of it,” Hubbard says.

The boat dock, which is behind the restaurant, fits six to eight boats, and business booms from there during the summer. Jack’s also has a patio out back where lake people often come to dine. “When 4th of July is on a weekend, the boat dock is in constant use due to the fireworks on the lake,” Hubbard says. “The dock is really busy during fishing tournaments, too.”

Jack’s is open seven days a week all year. Their hours are 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays and weekdays, and 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Whether boaters call in their orders ahead of time or after they dock, a server will deliver their food to the pier.

Chili’s

Chili’s Grill & Bar, 340 Albert Rains Blvd. Gadsden (Neely Henry) has a boardwalk area at the dock, which is about 20 yards behind the restaurant. The dock will accommodate four boats.

“Behind the restaurant is a koi pond, and closer to the river and docking area are a splash pad and pavilion,” says manager Eli Trembler. “During summer when the weather is nice, people often pull up and place a to-go order, while others come inside and eat.”

A national chain, Chili’s specializes in ribs, fajitas and burgers. “All of our ribs are smoked in-house, and our fresh meat comes in twice a week, so our burgers are never frozen,” Trimble says. “One of our most popular is the Boss Burger, which consists of a half-pound beef patty with pork brisket, jalapeño sausage and bacon, all topped with barbecue sauce. We have a three-for-$10 special that offers a drink, appetizer and entrée from a select menu all day, every day.”

Open seven days per week, their hours are 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sundays.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings, 91 East Chestnut St., Gadsden (Neely Henry), has a pier about 100 feet from the back of the restaurant that will accommodate four boats, according to manager Jose River. “We actually have a decent amount of people using it,” Rivera says. “We do take-out orders by boat, too. You can call it in to us, and we can take it to you at the pier.”

An Alabama-based chain, Buffalo Wild Wings serves mainly what its name implies: wings. In the Gadsden area, however, it’s all about the burgers, says Rivera. “Some of the best we’ve ever created are right here, and they’re top-notch,” he says. “For example, we have the All-American that is a full hamburger with condiments, American cheese, two hamburger patties and bacon. Our Bacon Hatch Smash Chili Burger has Hatch green chilis, Fresno peppers, and we smash bacon bits into the meat before we cook it.”

Open seven days a week, on Tuesdays, the restaurant offers a BOGO for traditional wings, and on Thursdays a BOGO for boneless wings. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. “When the COVID pandemic is over, we might have some live entertainment,” Rivera says. The restaurant serves alcohol.

Wellington Bleus

Wellington Bleu’s, 1504 Rainbow Drive, Gadsden, currently uses a neighbor’s dock that’s behind the restaurant. But the new steakhouse may be building its own pier soon. “We’re working on a way to call from your boat,” says owner Scott Barkley. “Then we’ll deliver there.”

A classic steakhouse, Wellington cooks up gourmet dishes with a flair and serves them in a casual but elegant atmosphere, according to Barkley. Beef Wellington is their signature dish, but they also do prime beef steaks and a variety of fresh seafood, from mahi-mahi to scallops and shrimp.

“We do catering and business lunches, and we have a huge meeting room for families or businesses to entertain,” Barkley says. “Our outdoor patio can be used for everyday dining or meetings, too.”

The restaurant first opened for a few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then full blast after New Year’s Day. It’s closed Sundays and Mondays, but that is subject to change. “We may be open for Sunday lunch by the time readers see this,” he says. As of this writing, hours are 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturdays, year-round. Barkley advises people to check the restaurant’s Facebook page to keep up with new days, hours and menu selections.

Editor’s Note:Little Bridge Marina at 70 Wharton Bend Rd., in Rainbow City, expanded and reopened April 10 after a fire. It does feature outdoor dining accessible by boat.

A full story about its return is planned in the next issue of LakeLife 24/7.

Greensport still a destination point for memories – old and new

Story by Leigh Pritchett

Photos By David Smith
Submitted photos from Margaret Green,
Beth Evans-Smith, Tammy Lowery
and Stephanie Evans.

Along the shores of Neely Henry Lake is an expanse that has been in one family eight generations.

Its history holds stories of ferry rides, steamboat races, a comic strip character and a message in a bottle.

It is also a story of drawing the past into the present

to preserve for the future. Six-year-old David Evans IV and five-year-old brother, Josiah, are that future and the eighth generation to live on land called “Greensport.”

The boys’ parents, David Evans III and wife, Stephanie, have mixed amenities with pieces of history and cradled them in family and tradition.

The couple assumed operations of the marina, park and campground in February 2020 and are undertaking many projects to make it a premier destination with a secure, family atmosphere.

With the assistance of developer Dale Owens, 90 to 100 RV spaces, with full hook-up and high-speed wireless internet, already have been created. In addition, the expanse features a beach, in-ground pool, vintage store, bath house, laundry facilities, playground and jumping pillow, volleyball court, cornhole, fire pits, golf-cart-friendly biking and walking trails, dog park, boat storage and fueling areas.

A large pavilion at the tip of a peninsula called “The Island” has become a popular setting for gatherings and weddings.

“There’s not a weekend we don’t have it rented out,” said Stephanie, a marketing specialist.

Day-use picnic pavilions line the shore where, in yesteryear, a ferry docked. Already, the pavilions are booked into summer 2021.

“We stay at 95 percent capacity during the week and that goes up to 100 percent on the weekend,” Stephanie said of the pavilions.

Campers from nearly all 50 states, British Columbia and the United Kingdom have stayed at the RV park, she said.

The couple have further plans for a restaurant right at the lake’s edge, an on-site food vendor, another pool, a 120-foot pier and additional RV spaces so that the park can accommodate up to 150 rigs. An original lake house is to be relocated and repurposed for a game room and laundry.

At the same time, the land retains its centuries-old agricultural legacy and has been named an Alabama Bicentennial Farm. “We raise our own line of cattle … (and) market our USDA-inspected beef in the (park) store,” said David III.

‘Steeped in history’

Those conversant with the history of the surrounding area say its name could have been “Green’s Port” at one time, eventually becoming “Greensport.” Or perhaps, it was always “Greensport.”

Regardless, there was a port and “Green’s Ferry was chartered by an act of the legislature with Jacob Green as the bonded ferryman,” notes the book, History of St. Clair County (Alabama), by Mattie Lou Teague Crow. “… The place became Greensport.”

The generations — Dave Evans III, standing; Dave Evans Jr. seated with Dave Evans IV, AKA Quade, and Josiah Evans

Jacob Green was the first of the eight generations to be on the land.

Beth Evans-Smith, the sister of David III, said Jacob settled in the area sometime around 1818.

Jacob had fought in the Revolutionary War as a teenager and in the War of 1812, Beth and David III said. Beth said it is possible Jacob received the acres of “Beaver Valley” farmland as compensation for his military service.

A narrow Coosa River meandered through the farmland, Beth continued.

Greensport is “really steeped in a lot of history,” said Beth, who still lives on the family land. Soldiers during the War of 1812 and the Civil War crossed the Coosa River at Greensport. Native-American artifacts reveal that it held significance for them, too.

Margaret Green of Ashville, a distant cousin of Beth and David III, said Native-American fish weirs have been seen when the water was low. Beth added that David III has a corn-grinding stone one of their ancestors was given by a Native American who befriended them.

Farmers brought their cotton and other crops to the port to be transported to market upriver. Shoals made the river going southward unnavigable, Beth said.

Between 1879 and 1890, three locks were built in an attempt to open navigation south of Greensport. The locks were about .68 miles, 3.86 miles and 5.24 miles below Greensport, according to History of St. Clair County. “The dam for the fourth lock was completed by 1892, … 26 miles below Greensport. The locks for this dam were never (built).” Thus, the river was unnavigable beyond that. “… When the railroads gained a monopoly on freight, and Congress failed to appropriate sufficient funds to cover operational costs, the locks were no longer used.”

The first steamboat to travel the Coosa River sailed from Greensport in 1845. It was the U.S.M. Coosa and transported mail to Rome, Ga., notes History of St. Clair County.

“Throughout the 19th century, Greensport was an important port in the trade routes of the state,” the book continues. “… There were steamboats coming to Greensport every day.”

Periodic steamboat races drew excited crowds along the route, Crow writes.Margaret, who taught in Pell City schools, has three binders of photos and information on the area and probably “a picture of every steamboat that went through Greensport.”

As a port town, Greensport bustled with activity. “It was a big to-do,” Margaret said. “It wasn’t just a little, tiny nothing. It was a thriving community.”

The onboard happenings of one steamboat, the Leota, provided ideas for the character “Popeye.”

“Tom Sims, a cartoonist who wrote ‘Popeye the Sailor Man,’ drew inspiration from his own experiences on working on a

steamboat,” Justinn Overton, executive director of Coosa Riverkeeper, states on the website, coosariver.org. “… Tom lived in Ohatchee, Ala.,, and used the sites, the people, and his father’s steamboat, the Leota, as inspiration for the comic strip.”

The Greensport ferry garnered interest of its own.

An article from the Sept. 19, 1928, edition of The Anniston Star notes that using the ferry would cut 30 miles off a trip from Birmingham to Atlanta.The newspaper’s June 20, 1954, issue states the ferry was quite busy some football Saturdays. “They say that when Alabama used to play Georgia Tech, the cars would stack up for a mile waiting to get across the river,” David Evans Sr., the grandfather of Beth and David III, is quoted as saying. The ferry was also a Sunday destination, as people came just to ride it across and back.

David Sr. and son David Evans Jr. were the last two operators of the ferry, David III said.

The ferry was still in operation in 1957. Beth’s father, David Jr., piloted the ferry until he took a steel plant job. She said a man often brought his special needs child to ride the ferry, and her dad always helped the child embark and disembark. One time, her dad mentioned needing another job, and the child’s father suggested applying at Republic Steel in Gadsden. When her dad did apply, that man happened to be the interviewer, and David Jr. started work immediately.

David Sr. served as St. Clair County’s sheriff for a time, Beth and David III said.

Of the land that stretches in every direction from the store, David III said, “It’s been part of my life since the beginning.”

As young children, he and Beth lived in the home their grandfather had built. David III pointed to a place in the lake to show where the home sat.

In their youth, he and Beth raised heifers and horses. They learned to work, be responsible and deal with the public, Beth said. “We learned a lot.”

On weekends, people who knew their grandfather when he was in the coal mining business in Bibb County often camped on the property. Those, Beth said, were always fun times. “We had a great childhood.”

“Pop” Hoffman, a man known for killing and stuffing rattlesnakes, lived on the premises as well. “He took care of us during the day,” Beth said, referring to her and David III. “(Pop) was our babysitter. … Pop was a grand person. I didn’t know he wasn’t related to me when I was young.”

A prominent memory for her cousin, Margaret, is of her and Beth playing on the newly built piers before the lake appeared.

“We’d just run and jump (off the piers) like we were Superman,” Margaret said.

The marina and park hold a lot of memories as well for Allen Beavers of Attalla.

The 51-year-old said he has been going there since age 5.

As a teen, “(every) Saturday and Sunday during the summer, we were there,” Allen said.

He and wife Tina now vacation there three to four weeks a year, with future plans to stay for months at a time.

Following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis seven years ago, Allen vowed to go every weekend, rain or shine. The couple reserve a day-use picnic pavilion, enjoy the scenery and talk with other picnickers in a setting that Allen describes as “family.”

“I love the place so much,” he said. “… Even if I’m in a wheelchair, I want to be down there.”

Tammy Lowery can understand. She has fond, childhood memories of summer fun and family time on the land. “We would go there and swim for the day and barbecue with the family.”

After vacationing there in 2020, Tammy and husband Dale decided to sell their home in Attalla, buy a fifth-wheel rig, and become permanent residents of the RV park. Son Mason is at college, but son Brayden has an RV in the park as well.

Tammy and Dale now serve as camp hosts, assisting campers after hours.

“We just loved it so much, we never went back home,” Tammy said.

Finding a treasure

A bottle that was floating on the lake at Greensport RV Park was as ordinary as any other bottle floating on a lake.

Day use pavilions perfect for outdoor enjoyment

But its contents and 34-year journey were not ordinary at all.

The bottle and the lives touched by it are highlighted by Fred Hunter of Birmingham’s WBRC-6 in an Aug. 24, 2020, post on wbrc.com.

The post reveals that, in 1986, Argin Hulsey wrote a message, put it in a bottle and prayed over it. Then, he tossed it into Nance’s Creek near Piedmont in Calhoun County – far upstream from Greensport RV Park. Argin trusted that God would put the message in the right hands at the right time.

When the Evanses’ friend, Brandi Rhoades of Springville, found the bottle in the summer of 2020 as she was helping to clean the river banks, she knew it was something special. She called Stephanie and David III to look at the contents, where they opened the message together.

According to the post, this is Argin’s message that traveled through time to reach the Evans family:

“God intended marriage to be a reflection of the unity of The Godhead, an earthly portrait of his Divine Image. Since there are no perfect people, the achievement of that unity requires a choice, a commitment and acceptance of responsibility to the mate and to the children who will be influenced in the family setting.”