Ever seen creativity afloat? If you made it to Boo Bash on Logan Martin 2025, you couldn’t miss it.
From boats dressed as Pac Man, Creepy Castle and Ghostbusters, creative juices were flowing like Logan Martin Dam when the spillway gates are open.
After party at Tiki Hut
Not to be outdone, docks were in full Halloween regalia with the likes of Pine Harbor Urgent Care, a not-so comforting medical theme of saws, knives, blood and bones.
Little Dock of Horrors was a double deck of ghoulish goblins, ghosts, and grimacing ghouls. And Fear the Pier had boats and revelers approaching with trepidation.
Pac Man boat
And Boo Slough made sure everyone got to enjoy the day. No dock? No boat? No problem. Logan Martin Lake Protection Association and Pell City Parks and Recreation hosted fun, inflatables and giveaways at Lakeside Park, easily accessible by vehicle, boat or on foot.
Now in its fourth year, Boo Bash has grown into a full-scale movement, bringing the entire lake community together in a festive seasonal celebration. And its proceeds go to a worthy cause – LMLPA’s safety program.
Think dock-to-dock trick-or-treating is just for kids? Think again. It’s hard to tell which age group has the most fun. There’s plenty of treats for adults and pooches, too.
Capped off with an after party at presenting sponsor, The Tiki Hut, Boo Bash gets bigger and better every year thanks to the two simple words that began it all – “What if?” The brainchild of Kelli Lasseter and Sonya Hubbard and bolstered by a growing army of volunteers, Boo Bash has now become a Logan Martin tradition.
And the Logan Martin community thanks all involved on an idea well done. See you next year!
Parents, don’t panic. This is still a family-friendly magazine, safe for children. In fact, this story is about an Alabama Power initiative that makes the planet better for our kids and grandkids and brings colorful, fragrant beauty to Logan Martin and other Alabama lakes.
It takes a variety of flowers to serve the needs of pollinators
In 2018, the utility began its pollinator plot program at nine sites around Alabama. Two pollinator-friendly plots are located in Double Cove Park at Logan Martin near the dam. The program is part of The Preserves, 65 public recreational sites along the state’s shorelines.
Each half-acre plot was built in the wake of a decline in pollinator populations, notably bees. But a variety of wildlife, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, lizards and bats are pollinators that plants depend on to survive and thrive.
That spread of pollen doesn’t just help flowers to blossom, it impacts the food supply. Each plot is seeded with a custom blend of native seeds specific to each site – a recipe of annuals, biannuals and perennials. Each plot commonly includes milkweed species, black-eyed Susans and goldenrod. The seed mix is created following a soil analysis at Auburn University.
The company partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service in developing the pollinator sites.
“Our goal was to establish pollinator friendly sites at each Alabama Power public recreation site capable of development,” said Garret Parker, Alabama Power team leader on Shoreline Recreation and Compliance.
Goals for the program include:
Enhancing existing recreation sites.
Protecting the scenic, recreational and environmental aspects of each site.
Encouraging stakeholders to enjoy, learn and grow a deeper appreciation of Alabama’s ecology and natural landscape.
The plots have to be redone every five years, Parker said. It generally takes about three months to re-do the plots.
“The wildflowers come back every year, but over time you get a lot of invasive weeds and grasses and sometimes even trees,” Parker said. “They slowly start to get into the plots and out-compete the native wildflowers.”
In late fall, employees plant a wildflower seed mixture that by next spring and summer will be a cornucopia of beauty, color and fragrance – bergamot, black-eyed Susans, blue false indigo, butterfly milkweed, purple cornflower and others.
Fighting off the threats
In the past quarter century, pollinator populations and their habitats have drastically declined, thanks to a number of factors, including pesticides, pollution, pests, pathogens and changes in land use, such as increasing human development, according to the Pollinator Partnership. It is an organization that collaborates with farmers, gardeners, land managers, scientists and industry to improve pollinator populations.
Double Cove Park is home to two Pollinator Plots
Climate change also plays a key role, according to the partnership. The increased temperatures have damaged habitat and the food supply for pollinators, as has extreme drought and an increase in the number of weather-related disasters.
Here are a few examples of how pollinator populations have declined:
Several species of native bumblebees, including the common bumblebee, the western bumblebee and the Rusty Patched bumblebee, have experienced a decline in population. Researchers have seen a decline in the geographic range of the species.
The number of managed beehives in the United States has declined from 5 million in the 1940s to 2.68 million in 2023, according to USDA statistics.
The monarch butterfly population loss has increased from between 35 to 49 percent to 58 percent.
Along with the pollinator plots, the utility has worked with universities like Auburn, researchers, state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to grow the pollinator population, Parker said.
“Alabama Power coordinated with the Auburn University Bee Lab and the Electric Power Research Institute to conduct a multi-year research study on ways to protect pollinator friendly plant species when conducting required vegetation management on utility rights of way,” Parker said. We also work with state and federal partners and NGOs to protect specific species such as the white fringeless orchid.”
Among the NGOs partnering with Alabama Power is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The company also supports the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Alabama Audubon Society and their efforts to establish wildlife and pollinator friendly vegetation.
An example of the partnerships is between the power company and Auburn University’s Bee Laboratory. The university uses “citizen science” by encouraging public participation in the National Colony Loss & Management Survey. It’s a “boots on the ground” effort to monitor bee population.
The utility is among a number of partners with Auburn, including the University of Maryland and the USDA.
This past summer, the utility worked with the Pollinator Partnership to sponsor its annual Pollinator Week, a celebration of the birds and bees, butterflies and other animals that go crazy over Alabama wildflowers. Humans like the picturesque plots too.
Why is the program important? “By prioritizing environmental stewardship,” Parker said, “we’re safeguarding resources and opportunities for future generations.”
Editor’s Note:Community members can find a pollinator plot to host a counting event near them by downloading the free Shorelines mobile app or visiting apcshorelines.com.
Chapel in the Pines celebrates 60 years of worship on the banks of Logan Martin Lake
Story by Roxann Edsall Submitted Photos
The engine of the approaching personal watercraft quiets to idle speed, the unit plowing through the water headed for the pier. Arriving at the pier moments later, its driver allows it to spin and stop and begins to tie off.
Wearing T-shirts, shorts and visors, the driver and his passenger hop onto the pier, greeting passengers of another arriving boat. Walking past the parking lot, they follow the path into the woods. It’s Sunday on the lake, and they’re headed to church at Chapel in the Pines.
Pets are welcome at Chapel in the Pines
For 60 years now, residents of Logan Martin Lake, along with their guests and visitors to the area, have gathered at the river to worship at the outdoor chapel known as Chapel in the Pines. Since its inception, the plan has always been for the service to be short and informal, allowing both time to worship and time to play on Sunday mornings. Visitors are encouraged to come to the 30-minute non-denominational service in casual attire, then hit the water to continue lake-loving activities for the rest of the weekend. Services are held at 8:30 a.m. beginning the first Sunday in May and continuing through the September.
Weekly church services at Chapel in the Pines are a ministry of Pell City First United Methodist Church. “We are happy to be able to offer the community an opportunity to gather at a weekly ecumenical service,” said Pell City FUMC senior pastor Rachel Gonia. “People who are here visiting during the summer have a place to come when they’re away from their home church.”
The message is delivered by a different preacher each week, with a representation by each religious denomination in the local area. That was one of the unique things that drew Sue Pat DuBose and her late husband, John, to Chapel in the Pines in 1984, eventually serving on the chapel board for five years. “We lived across the street, and we’d hear people singing, but we couldn’t hear the speaker,” says DuBose. “So, we walked over, and we enjoyed it so much. It was exciting, because, at that time, you never knew who the preacher was going to be or who was going to do the music.”
These memories were among many shared at the end of this season of Chapel in the Pines during an anniversary celebration honoring the history of this Logan Martin tradition. Deanna Lawley, a former chapel board member, recounted events from its early years. “It was like a homecoming when the season began,” she remembers. “We’d go over there when it was still dark to sweep off and around the benches before the people arrived.”
That was when Chapel in the Pines was in its first location in Pine Harbor Marina, where University Marine at Pine Harbor Marina is now. Pine Harbor Resort developer Thomas Casaday set aside land there with an outdoor chapel in mind to encourage lakeside residents, particularly those in Pine Harbor, to make time to worship while enjoying the lake.
For 49 years, the 16-foot tall cross at the marina at Pine Harbor drew people to the outdoor worship space. When the long-team lease expired in 2014 and negotiations to renew the lease with the new owners failed, the search was on for a new home.
A cross marks the way to the outdoor chapel
Sam Huffstutler, Pell City FUMC pastor at the time, worked with the Chapel in the Pines Board and found a partnership with city leaders in Pell City. The resulting deal with Pell City gave the church authorization to build a 300-seat outdoor amphitheater at Lakeside Park. The traditional Christmas Eve service that year was the first service held at the new location.
Chapel in the Pines welcomes believers from all denominations at any stage of their faith journey. Creating a community of faith in the lake community and serving local and global partners through acts of faith and service is their mission. Any money collected above small operating costs goes back to the community through grants given out to local nonprofits, such as the St. Clair County Boys Ranch, Gateway Community Garden, The Gideons International and First Priority.
Celebrating community and common ground is an important reason that Carl Wallace, author of Lake Ramblings, attends Chapel regularly. “Love of the lake provides us a common ground for a diverse community,” says Wallace. “Chapel in the Pines is an extension of the common ground and provides a predictably safe place, a place of encouragement, a place of worship.”
When the world went sideways during the height of COVID-19 when many places of worship shut their doors for a time, Chapel in the Pines became a place of spiritual peace for many in the Logan Martin area. Organizers found a way to still gather for worship, allowing seating in every other pew and encouraging social distancing.
During that time, Wallace was still writing his Saturday morning “Lake Ramblings” on Facebook and posted about the precautions he and his wife, Mar, would make to allow them to participate in chapel.
“We’d take our lawn chairs and sit up on the hill across from the entrance to the amphitheater. We’ll be socially distanced, but we’ll be part of the service,” Wallace recalls. “We talked about that experience in ‘Lake Ramblings’ the next week and comedically called the hill ‘Scaredy Cat Hill.’ The next Sunday, we had nine more on the hill, then 12 more, then a bunch of us. Scaredy Cat Hill allowed us to gather in that common ground of Chapel in the Pines and gave us the encouragement we so desperately needed.”
Scaredy Cat Hill is no longer necessary, thankfully. Still, Chapel in the Pines continues to be the source of encouragement to many families, even as they say their final goodbyes to loved ones. DuBose chose to hold the memorial for her husband at Chapel after he passed away in April. “My husband loved Chapel so much and always told me when he passed, he wanted his service held to be held there,” said DuBose.
Suellen and Jim Dargan chose the chapel as their wedding venue and left by personal watercraft after tying the knot
Suellen and Jim Dargan rented the spot for their wedding in May of 2022. Both were serving and volunteering at Chapel in the Pines and consider it a very special place. “We both wanted something special and unique for our wedding,” said (Jim) Dargan. “And we wanted it there so we could travel on our Sea-Doo to and from the ceremony.”
Traveling to church by boat or personal watercraft, whether for church or for special occasions, gives Logan Martin Lake lovers another way to make memories with family and friends. “We’ve made lifelong friends who are more like family through Chapel in the Pines,” says Chapel Board member Amy Stinson.
Chapel in the Pines will hold a Christmas Eve service again this year at 3 p.m. You’ll want to drive the car to that one and maybe bring a blanket or two.
Editor’s note: The amphitheater at Lakeside Park where Chapel in the Pines is held can be rented for weddings, birthdays, or other special events by contacting Pell City Parks and Recreation.
Six times. Six wins. Not bad. Not bad at all for Logan Martin fan favorite Salli O’Donnell as she capped another win in the Great Alabama 650’s 2025 edition with a first solo finish, first female finish and third overall.
Finishing first overall and first tandem winners, Bobby Johnson and Matt Taylor, captured the top titles in a time of 5 days, 9 hours, 3 minutes.
Overall Solo and Female Solo winner Sallie O’Donnell heads to Logan Martin portage
Chris Thomas was first male solo finish, and Trey Reaves, last year’s solo and overall top finisher, was in tandem this year with John Wellens. They finished second overall.
A 650-mile Alabama professional ultra-endurance paddle race through Alabama Scenic River Trail on Weiss Lake, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Coosa River and Alabama River to Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan, the epic event stretched from Oct. 4-14. Racers have 10 days to complete, but the winners arrived at Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan at the 5-day mark.
The Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) maintains and promotes the core National Water Trail, along with a network of over 6,500 miles of paddling trails throughout the state.
Paddler navigates the trail
The organization’s trail network spans from North Alabama mountain streams and whitewater rapids to South Alabama’s river deltas, making it one of the most varied water trail networks in the nation.
As a nonprofit, ASRT operates through collaborations with local partners, organizations, and outfitters, serving as the state’s paddling resource for all skill levels.
The Great Alabama 650, ASRT’s signature race, highlights the full scope of these waterways, promoting appreciation and recognition of the state’s exceptional water recreation opportunities.
They call it the world’s longest paddle race and at 650 miles across Alabama’s waterways, it is one of the world’s toughest endurance races, too.
Only 47 percent who start the race at Weiss Lake in Alabama’s north even make it to the finish line at Mobile Bay’s Fort Morgan, underscoring the resilience and sheer determination it takes to complete the grueling trek.
The Great Alabama 650 Race returns Oct. 4-14, embarking on yet another adventure that draws fans up and down Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes as paddlers head further south.
It takes paddleboard, canoe and kayak paddlers along the core of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, which sets a couple of records on its own as the longest river trail in a single state and the longest national water trail.
Great Alabama 650 first-place finish
Traditionally, paddlers arrive in Gadsden on Neely Henry in the nighttime hours of Day 1 and reach Logan Martin on the morning of Day 2. From whatever vantage point fans can find with a view of main channels, a growing base of fans watch each year as paddlers make their way along the lakes.
Popular spots in Gadsden are along the riverwalk at Coosa Landing. Logan Martin tends to watch from lakeside homes or near the portage at Logan Martin Dam.
Or, they keep up with each racer’s progress on a live map on the race’s website, alabamascenicreivertrail.com/great-alabama-650. You can even volunteer for an even closer view and personal experience by registering on the website.
Racers have 10 days to complete the 650-mile course, but the 2024 male solo winner, Trey Reaves, finished in 7 days, 3 hours and 20 minutes. It was back-to-back wins for Reaves, who finished the 2023 edition in 6 days, 1 hour and 31 minutes. Record time was set by West Hansen in 2021 with 5 days, 19 hours and 9 minutes.
Ryan Gillikin was the female solo winner in 2024 in 8 days, 18 hours, 37 minutes. From the race’s inception in 2019 through 2023, Salli O’Donnell won all of them, setting the record in 2021 of 4 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes. O’Donnell has become a fan favorite on Logan Martin.
There’s also a two-person tandem team category, too, with Jessica Nance and Candi Hill capturing the 2024 title in 8 days, 22 hours, 35 minutes. The record is held by Paul Cox and Joe Mann at 4 days, 17 hours, 4 minutes in 2021.
They weather rain, wind, sun and fluctuating temperatures, from rushing whitewater to river deltas – all in hopes of completing this grueling race with prize purses worth $2,000 each. They’ll quickly tell you it’s not for the money, it’s the challenge.
So, grab your binoculars or find a closeup, waterfront perch and enjoy the race. It’s not just an adventure for the paddlers, it’s a lake life event you won’t want to miss.
Signature lakewide event to be even bigger and better in 2025
Story by Paul South Submitted Photos
Boo Bash, one of the lake’s fastest growing and most popular events, is back for its fourth Halloween celebration of costumes, candy and camaraderie for trick or treaters of all ages.
Boo Bash 2025 is set for Sunday, Oct. 5, from noon to 4 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, Oct. 12 from noon to 4 will be the makeup date.
More than 1,500 people participated in last year’s festival of frightful fun, an increase of more than 50 percent over a drought-stricken 2023.
For newcomers who have never participated in the fall event, lake residents decorate their docks and welcome a trick or treat fleet of boaters and their costumed crews. And, taking a page from the 1959 movie Godzilla, Boo Bash will also make mischief on land and water. Boo Bashers can gather at Lakeside Park, where restaurants and other sponsors also get in on the fun.
Don’t panic. While the giant amphibian wanted to destroy Tokyo, Boo Bash remains committed to building a better, safer, stronger lake community. Proceeds from the event will again go toward helping the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association fund solar-powered buoys – “BOO-ees” in Bash lingo – to be placed in shallow water to protect boaters.
Last year, Boo Bash raised enough money to fund 10 of the beacons. So far in the program, LMLPA has placed 70 buoys on the lake.
The 2024 event drew a big crowd, even while going one-on- one with an Alabama football game. “It actually went really well,” said Kelli Lasseter, who along with her partner Sonya Hubbard, leads an ever-growing corps of Boo Bash merry pranksters. “We made the decision to move it back to Sunday because it did interfere with so many of the children’s fall sports. There were also some safety concerns from last year that we hope moving it back to Sunday can help resolve. Safety is priority number one.”
Tiki Hut at Rivers Edge teams up with the LMLPA to put the event together
Boo Bash is again teaming with the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, The Tiki Hut at River’s Edge and the City of Pell City. As of this writing, a sponsorship drive was underway.
For the first time in 2024, the event featured a land component and that, along with the Tiki Hut open in what’s normally the off season, last year was unique, Lasseter said. Tiki Hut, a wildly popular summertime stop, usually closes for the season on Labor Day. But in 2024, it opened for Boo Bash and will do so again in 2025.
“Having Tiki Hut open was really cool, as was the addition of the land stop,” Lasseter said. CEPA also got into the spirit on Pirate Island with a theme that would make Blackbeard raise the Jolly Roger. They will be back in 2025.
Another fun new partner will be the Logan Martin Duck Hunt, which has had folks scavenging the lakeshore for numbered rubber ducks. Lasseter hopes the quackers will attract new Bashers from the upper part of the lake and its sloughs.
The year-round scavenger hunt is another treat in the Boo Bash Halloween bag, boosting the event’s mission to build community.
“We are really excited to partner with the Logan Martin Duck Hunt. A scavenger hunt has been on the list for awhile and this was just a perfect way to make that happen for everyone.” Lasseter said.
Stacy Deegan, co-creator of the hunt, is excited to be joining the Boo Bash spook-tacular.
“Boo Bash stands alone as being a significant event for lake residents and friends of the lake,” she said. “We are honored to be asked to collaborate with the organizers.
“Incorporating the Logan Martin Duck scavenger hunt with Boo Bash just adds a little bonus activity and gives the participants more to look forward to and enjoy,” Deegan added.” You can’t have too much fun, can you?”
Neal Stephenson, president of the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, said the association’s work to place the hazard buoys began in 2019, and the partnership with Boo Bash began last year.
“I think the partnership that our organization has done with Boo Bash has given our organization more visibility on the lake,” Stephenson said. “It’s increased our ability to donate more buoys to this program because our funding is based on volunteer donations. Because of this partnership with Boo Bash, we were able to accelerate and increase the number of buoys we have to donate to the lake.”
Stephenson is excited about the possibilities for Boo Bash 2025 and the LMLPA’s drive to place 100 buoys on the lake.
“If we have another year this year like we did last year with Boo Bash – between that and our own donations – we should be getting close to our goal,” Stephenson said.
Even in the sweltering July heat, momentum for the Fall’s Boo Bash was mounting, Lasseter said. “Excitement is already building. People are reaching out to us – new people who want to host a pier and our incredible host piers that continue to come back every year,” Lasseter said.
An example of the buzz? One new lake family doesn’t have a pier yet but plans to decorate their pontoon and float it out to greet revelers with treats.
Lasseter hopes Boo Bash and its stories will have a long life – a Halloween treat for generations on Logan Martin.
“I hope that Boo will continue to grow in this community and bring people from all walks of life together long after we’ve passed the torch to someone else.”
Events like Boo Bash and the duck hunt and places like Pirate Island are needed, Lasseter said, especially in tough times like today.
“It’s so important to take a break from the heaviness of day-to-day stuff,” she said. “To have just one day not to have any worries or cares and be able to tap into imagination and fun is everything to so many. Letting go of those worries for a few hours and enjoying the moment is something I love.”
Boo Bash sends a clear message, Lasseter said.
“What an amazing community we have on Logan Martin Lake. How selfless the people are to give hundreds of dollars of their own money to make this event happen,” Lasseter said. “I hope everyone walks away with smiles and memories. Oh, and bags full of wonderful treats!”
And as far as what Lasseter hopes people will remember about Boo in the years to come? Well, she had this to say. “When they think about Boo Bash, I want them to remember the fun they had but more importantly, I want them to remember the amazing people on this lake who made it all possible. Logan Martin is a very special place and Boo Bash is just one example of our residents’ hospitality and generosity. I am not sure you find this everywhere, but you will always find it here.”
Editor’s Note: For more information about Boo Bash on Logan Martin Lake, visit its Facebook page at Boo Bash on Logan Martin or email them at boobashonloganmartin@gmail.com.
NHLA leading effort to create angler’s dream lake on the Coosa
Story by Paul South Photos by Tricia Lybrook
Dave Tumlin has a whopper of a fish story, complete with possibly a spark of the Divine.
It was early Spring. Tumlin and his brother Billy came to fish for Crappie on Neely Henry Lake, the place his family had called home since 1968. The Tumlins were among Neely Henry’s first families.
“There wasn’t anybody here. There was a dirt road,” Tumlin recalled. The brothers went to a spot they’d never fished before. “I always thought it might be a really good place, because the guy had a lit-up cross hanging on his dock. I called it the Jesus Dock.”
Dave Tumlin grabbing a hose for mixing the concrete
They caught – but didn’t keep – over 100 fish that day in that location near the cross. They never moved.
“We were using jigs. We were using minnows. We were using minnow heads off the deck of the boat that fell off the hook,” Tumlin said. “It was a phenomenal day.”
Now president of the Neely Henry Lake Association, Tumlin and the NHLA members, along with a small gathering of devoted volunteers, want other anglers to have divine days on the lake. They’re working to boost fish populations by constructing fish habitat.
For nearly two decades, the lake association, in partnership with Alabama Power, has worked to create new habitats for the Crappie, bass and other species that call Neely Henry home.
The organization joins with the utility biannually to build and place new fish habitats on the lake. The most recent event occurred in March. The date for fall construction has not yet been set, Tumlin said.
The evolution of an angler’s idea
The association got hooked on fish habitats thanks to a member’s idea.
“One of our members, who is a tournament fisherman, ran into a buddy from another lake who told him about this partnership with the power company,” Tumlin said. “So our member got in touch with the power company and asked what we needed to do to do it at Neely Henry.” The answer? “Just ask.”
NHLA did ask, and it all started with hundreds of discarded Christmas trees that had seen their Yuletide glory fade into precious holiday memories.
“As best I can recall, it all started at Ten Islands and at Rainbow Landing,” Tumlin said. “(The utility) would bring two or three giant dump trucks and dump the Christmas trees in the parking lot.”
From there, some 10 to 20 NHLA members and other volunteers would tie the trees together in bundles of five evergreens, weighted with concrete blocks. Some volunteers bundled. Others loaded them om the barges, and still others dropped the weighted trees into the lake.
“Alabama Power supplied it all,” Tumlin said. “Christmas trees. The rope to tie them together, gloves, water for us to drink if it was too hot, concrete blocks, then the barges we would load those on. It’s really been a neat evolution and a great partnership.” The association tells the utility where they want the habitat placed and the water depth.
It takes a large group effort to put the buckets together
There was one problem with that inaugural habitat build. Just as grass withers and flowers fade with the seasons, Christmas trees in lakes disintegrate over time. And the numbers of discarded Christmas trees declined.
That led to another idea: Spider blocks. Hundreds of ‘em.
Tumlin explained: “If you can visualize a two-hole concrete block with half-inch PVC pipe, four feet long or so. Six or eight of those legs, if you will, are sticking out of the holes. Then we would pour concrete in the holes and let it dry. That was not quite as labor-intensive as the Christmas trees. That took a lot of people and a lot of effort.”
But the Spider Blocks created their own web of challenges.
“We had to wait a week for the concrete to set up, “Tumlin said.” It was difficult to load them. The concept was a lot like the Christmas trees, but (the blocks) last a lot longer. We did them for a couple of years.”
An upside of the blocks was that moss would grow more quickly, providing a buffet for fish. Then the food chain took over. “The little fish would eat the moss and the big fish would eat the little fish,” Tumlin said.
In its current incarnation, the NHLA habitat construction relies on durable five-gallon plastic buckets. “We went from Spider Blocks to Spider Buckets,” Tumlin said. “We’ve been doing that for the last six or seven years (including a hiatus during the pandemic).”
The concept is similar to the blocks, with PVC “legs” and concrete in the buckets. But with an assembly line process, projects like the one last fall at Greensport Marina, took less than two hours. Volunteers place 100 buckets in the water – 20 in each location, known only to volunteers – to create artificial habitats. The buckets create an almost permanent presence under the water.
“Then, we wait for something good to happen.” Tumlin said. “Magic.”
He added, “A lot of fishermen come out to help because they want to know where the habitats are going to be.”
Tumlin praised Alabama Power and its partnership with NHLA and volunteers. “We just supply the labor.”
Spider buckets going in the water
And adults aren’t the only ones getting into the act. Last year, a homeschool group of kids came and helped with the project while learning the science of fish habitats and biodiversity.
“They came out. We gave them gloves, and they helped build with us.”
A driving force has kept the lake association committed to the biannual habitat builds. “When this came along, all of these members were really pumped up and said, if we can go out and put out 300 Christmas trees that’s got to help the fish habitat, which means we’ll have more fun. It’ll be exciting for us, and it will help the lake at the same time.”
He added, “That’s probably the biggest driver, knowing that on our own, without great expense, partnering with the power company, we could improve the fish habitat and the fish population on the lake.”
The effort also strengthens the Neely Henry community. “You get to see some guys you only see twice a year,” Tumlin said. “It’s always fun to catch up on family and tell the fishing stories.”
It’s rewarding, he said. “Knowing that we’re helping this lake and the camaraderie, those are the two biggest drivers. Knowing that in a small way, we are making this lake a better place, it helps not only us, but everyone who uses and enjoys this lake.”
And the habitat effort says something about lake residents and folks who enjoy the lake. “There are a lot of caring people who live on this lake that go above and beyond to keep it the beautiful body of water that it is.”
All of the bodies of water in the region have groups looking to protect them – Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, Neely Henry Lake Association, Coosa Riverkeeper, just to name a few.
Oxford High School students at a Watershed Science Day
Calhoun and Talladega counties have the Choccolocco Creek Watershed.
Flowing from the headwaters of the Talladega National Forest into Lake Logan Martin at Lincoln, Choccolocco Creek drains nearly 376 square miles of land across four Alabama counties. It’s home to about 70 fish species, including the threatened holiday darter, pygmy sculpin and blue shiner, and supports 22% of Alabama’s freshwater fish species despite covering less than 1% of the state’s land area.
Jennifer Yates Hudson, district coordinator for the Calhoun County Conservation District and the Choccolocco Creek Watershed project, said the nonprofit’s role goes beyond conservation science.
“The Choccolocco Creek Watershed is a non-profit organization supporting area projects that improve the quality of life for our communities through promoting recreational and outdoor activities while protecting our natural areas and water quality,” Hudson said.
Inspiring Adventure
Two programs currently encourage residents to get outdoors: the 100 Choccolocco Miles Challenge and the Choccolocco Ambassadors program.
Hudson explained that the 100 Miles Challenge is “designed to inspire our regional communities to lead active, healthy lifestyles while exploring our beautiful watershed areas.” Participants can hike, bike, swim, paddle, walk, ride or roll 100 miles each year within the watershed. All miles also count toward the statewide 100 Alabama Miles Challenge.
Classroom in the Forest is another educational opportunity
The Ambassadors program seeks outdoor enthusiasts who post photos, videos and blogs about their experiences. “Our hope is to inspire communities to get out and experience Choccolocco Creek Watershed firsthand,” Hudson said.
Recreation and Future Projects
The Choccolocco Kayak Center, launched seven years ago in partnership with the City of Oxford, remains one of the group’s most visible projects. The center offers casual paddlers easy access to the creek. Future plans include extending kayaking opportunities and creating a Blueway into Lincoln.
The watershed is also developing plans for a Choccolocco Nature Center and outdoor multiuse trails. Hudson said the project aims to establish “a regional area conservation hub that promotes a love of environmental literacy and serves as a nature-based center for community activity.”
Educating the Public
Education is a key part of the watershed’s mission. Each year, the group hosts workshops and seminars about conservation practices, cost-share programs and current projects. “We also host education workshops and ‘Watershed Science Days’ for students and teachers,” Hudson said, adding that topics include water quality, forestry and wildlife, soil health and land use impacts.
Faith Christian students and teachers help with a cleanup effort
Stewardship also begins at home, she said, encouraging homeowners to be “good backyard conservationists,” using practices such as water conservation, mulching, composting, planting trees and installing rain barrels.
Protecting a Crucial Resource
“Protecting natural resources in any watershed is necessary to maintain the health and well-being of all living things, both now and in the future, and is essential for maintaining community sustainability,” she said.
For Hudson, that means balancing recreation, conservation and education — and ensuring residents understand the creek’s value. “Clean, healthy watersheds depend on an informed public to make the right decisions when it comes to the environment and actions by the community,” she said.
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Mackenzie Free Submitted Photos
Even as summer winds down, families are enjoying making memories on Logan Martin Lake. Boats pulling tubes of squealing children pass by, personal watercrafts bounce on the waves, finding air off the wakes of larger boats. Pontoons filled to the brim with friends and family cruise along, tunes heralding their passing.
Can it get any better? Why, yes, it can!
Enjoying ice cream from the bow of a pontoon boat on a hot summer day
The children are usually the first to see it. Even those too young to read can recognize the signature lime green pontoon boat with a flag that reads two happy words – Ice Cream. Hopping up and down, they frantically wave their arms to let him know they’re screaming for ice cream. The Ice Cream Man on the Lake pilots his sweet ride to within arm’s reach of the crowd, and the ordering begins.
Somehow, ice cream seems to be a leveling agent. No matter what age or maturity level, people just seem happier, and certainly cooler, with an ice cream in hand, especially if they’re also in or around the lake. It’s a treat that would be hard to transport on the water, which makes the delivery to one’s boat even more of a memory-making event.
Pelham and Angie Smith have made many happy memories with their children that include the Ice Cream Man on the Lake. “We get it pretty often,” says Pelham. “This is the first time in the last couple of years, though.” Their 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old children aboard give the experience an enthusiastic thumbs up.
This is the fifth summer that Keith O’Neal, along with his wife, Elaine, have operated the ice cream boat on Logan Martin Lake. When they bought the boat from a friend, they did it with the idea of having some kind of food service boat on the lake. Their first idea of a hotdog and hamburger boat was rejected after assessing the challenges associated with cooking food on a boat. Then they heard from a friend about an ice cream boat operated on Harris Lake in Wedowee and decided to bring the idea to life on Logan Martin Lake.
O’Neal, who owns and operates six other businesses, says they don’t do this for money. “We do it for the fun,” says O’Neal. “It’s seeing children happy. We make sure everyone who wants to buy one gets one. And if a child doesn’t have the money, we’re not going to leave them out.
“We take care of people,” O’Neal goes on. “If they don’t have the money with them, we’ll give them the ice cream, and we’ve had them track us down months later to bring the money.” They offer 24 items and, to keep everything simple, all items are $4 each. They take cash, Cash App and Venmo, but no debit or credit cards.
Greg and Amy Stinson had cash in hand when they cruised up to the boat for an ice cream sandwich and a Snicker’s ice cream bar.
“We pulled up to the boat on our jet ski and they used a pole to pull us in position to order,” said Amy. “They were both very friendly, and the ice cream bars were a refreshing treat on a hot day.”
Refreshing and wonderful is just how Audrey and her three kids described their experience with the Ice Cream Man on the Lake. They’re gathered with friends and fellow boaters at Fireball Flatts. Half the crowd are in the water trying to cool off on this scorching summer afternoon. The other half are in the boats in the shade of their Biminis. The sight of the ice cream boat had the children going crazy to flag him down.
The purchase of a Batman cherry-flavored ice cream and a Ninja Turtle ice cream on a stick brought smiles to the faces of the younger children. An original Bomb Pop was the choice for some of the older kids, while a more mature Snicker’s ice cream bar was chosen by an adult in the group.
While O’Neal says they do this for the fun of it, the venture represents a considerable amount of work. “We spend thousands of dollars on product from the distributor and load the freezers and generator on the truck, which, thankfully, we have a crane to do,” says O’Neal. “This is all before we bring the boat to the water to launch. And most of the time, we have people who want ice cream before we can even get on the water.”
It also takes a lot of work to keep both the ice cream boat and the customers’ boats from bouncing off each other with the waves.
That’s the job of one of at least two people aboard. Depending on the weekend, they have as many as six people working on the boat. “We have four bumpers on the sides of our boat all the time,” explains O’Neal. “But the boats still hit.”
O’Neal says they want to deliver the ice cream safely, so they watch the weather closely. “If the weather forecast calls for 50% chance of rain or higher, we don’t go out,” O’Neal says. “The freezers and generator don’t need to be in the bad weather and neither do the people.”
Peanuts! Get your peanuts!
The ice cream boat is not the only snack boat on the lake. Two summers ago, they were joined by a second snack boat afloat, the peanut boat by Lakeside Peanut and Concessions. Scott and Shandi Martin own and run the company and are on the water nearly every weekend of the summer selling three flavors of boiled peanuts.
Selling peanuts to a passing boat
Scott prepares the peanuts at home, a process that takes two days. He then loads them on the boat in the morning before heading out. They typically sell three flavors – original, Kickin’ Cajun and Dill Pickle, occasionally adding specialty flavors like The Logan (steakhouse flavor) and Garlic Lemon Pepper. They’re even considering a Ghost Pepper flavor for Boo Bash on Logan Martin.
They also offer Shandi’s specialty flavored lemonades and fresh fried pork skins. Lemonade is $5 for a 16-ounce cup. Peanuts are eight dollars for a 32-ounce cup and pork skins are $10 for a gallon bag.
Martin refers to his wife as “the brains of the operation.” Shandi, he says, does everything but the cooking. She does the labeling, ordering and the “going and getting.” His days are already busy with his full-time truck driving job. The couple also plans to reopen their Lakeside Peanuts and Concessions land-based food truck in October.
Carrying peanuts
back to waiting crowd
Meanwhile, Martin says they sell out almost every time they go out on the water. They cater more to the adults, who, he says, like to have peanuts with their “cold beverages.” “We even get messages from people when we’re not able to get out asking where we are,” he says. “Some of the same people come week after week.”
Wendy Farmer is a huge fan of the peanut boat. She and her husband, Jeff, recently found the boat north of the I-20 bridge. They had some friends onboard their boat who had never tried boiled peanuts, so Wendy insisted they get some. “When the owners heard that our friends had never even heard of boiled peanuts, they gave us a cup of Cajun flavored ones for free,” Wendy recounts.
“Our daughter, Atley, ate the regular ones and loved them,” added Wendy, “and she’s a picky eater. And Jack, our son, literally ate them for breakfast the next two days.” The family also considers it a lucky day to find the ice cream boat afloat.
Both the peanut boat and the ice cream boat have Facebook pages. Both Martin and O’Neal post to their pages before they head out each weekend to let fans know what section of the lake they can be found on a given day. Check them out on their pages – Lakeside Peanuts and Concessions and The Ice Cream Man on the Lake.
Scott refers to his customers as his “Awesome Peanut Fam.” “We’re all family,” he says, “straight up.” Every weekend, then, is just a family reunion. Nuts included.
Your place for camping, glamping, music, outdoor fun and much more on Logan Martin Lake
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Graham Hadley Submitted photos
It would surprise no one to say there are many camping opportunities around Logan Martin Lake. What might be a surprise is that you can spend the night in a covered wagon, reminiscent of those used by 18th century pioneers as they moved westward. Thankfully, unlike the primitive conditions those adventurers faced, your stay would include air conditioning and an indoor bathroom complete with a shower.
Glamping tents come with a porch and even a full bathroom
These glamping spaces are some of the unique offerings at Angler’s Pointe, the 160-acre rental, recreational and entertainment community adjacent to Lincoln’s Landing tournament fishing park and picnic area. They also offer tent glamping and some more traditional options, including covered and uncovered RV parking, bungalows, cottages, and tiny homes for short-term rental.
Angler’s Pointe is the perfect neighbor for Lincoln’s Landing, providing much-needed resort-style accommodations for tournament anglers and families since 2023. Not surprisingly, the draw of the lake itself and the desire to own a piece of it, even if just temporarily, keeps a steady stream of renters coming in.
“We do get an influx of people renting when there’s a tournament,” says DeLane Griffin, CEO of McCaig & Griffin, the lakeside and commercial development company that has developed the property. “But, by far, the largest segment that’s renting from us is families and couples who just want to come spend a few days or a week on the lake, whether they’re renting an RV space, a bungalow, a cottage, a tiny house or one of our glamping options.”
Soak in a vintage-style tub bubble bath
Glamping, or glamorous camping, is a concept embraced by those who enjoy the outdoors and outdoor activities, but not the primitive conditions of typical overnight camping. Its rise in popularity in the early 2000s resulted in the word being added to the Oxford dictionary in 2016.
It hardly qualifies for roughing it to step into the air-conditioned luxury of one of the four glamping tents after spending the day playing in the lake. They are cool, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious. One tent takes it to the next level of relaxation and features an elegant clawfoot tub. Another tent features a window seat for reading or just watching for wildlife in the open field.
“We went a little bit beyond what some places do,” Griffin explains. “So, it’s glamping with a little extra. We thought it was a bit nicer to have the bathrooms inside the units.”
He brought the idea for the wagon rental spaces to the development after he and his wife, Deanna, stayed in one on a visit to Kentucky. The wagons are made by the Conestoga company and are fully outfitted with bathroom walls for privacy. Living and sleeping areas are “open concept,” with furniture defining the space.
One wagon even has room for the whole family
You can leave your camping gear at home, since both tents and wagons are equipped with upscale home furnishings and antique furniture. Each unit also has a name and theme. With names like Sahara, Wanderlust and Jumanji, each unit’s décor is perfectly suited to its theme. While they do not have kitchens, there are small refrigerators, along with spacious back porches with space enough for a guest to bring a grill for cooking.
The porches of the tents and wagons face a common-use area dubbed, “The Frontier,” which features a chuckwagon, fire pits with conversation areas, covered picnic spots, swings and plenty of open space for games. “Hopefully, we’re going to expand on that in the future with outdoor cowboy dinners and outdoor entertainment,” says Griffin.
Although the resort has been booking since 2023, there is still much to be done to complete the vision. His company had been negotiating with a larger company to finish the build out faster, but after a year of negotiations, he says, the plan fell through. “So, we are back at it, picking up our dream for the property,” Griffin says. “We have more of each kind of lot in the process of being built.”
Disc golf and more games by the Yard
Griffin sees the building pause as a blessing, since the added time allowed them to receive feedback from guests. “We’re hearing a lot from people not related to Lincoln’s Landing, people from Nashville to Atlanta,” explains Griffin. “They’ve given us good ideas about what they would like to see.”
With those requests in mind, Griffin says, they will be starting soon to provide those onsite amenities guests want like a pool, pickleball courts and a playground. They are also looking for vendors who could do restaurants or eateries on the property.
“As we grow, and we have the tenants there to support it, we will have regular food vendors and more bands in The Yard,” says Griffin. The Yard is an outdoor stage and field area that has already hosted several concerts and outdoor vendor shows.
“We’ve worked with Lincoln every year with the July 4th fireworks event,” says Griffin. “That’s a one-day event, and we’ve always had food and a concert and that type of stuff building up to the fireworks. We’d like to see that expand to a full week event.” Griffin adds that they have already had several events in The Yard to raise money to support veterans and first responders.
Community is important to Griffin and to the dreams he has for Angler’s Pointe. “Our Patriotic Palooza was a three-day event that honored both people who have served and given us our independence and first responders, the people we count on to keep us safe each day. We don’t make any money from it. Any proceeds go back into trying to create a better experience for the community and to give back to these organizations.”
Live music at the Yard
Griffin is proud of the direction the development is moving and says he looks forward to realizing his dream. “Like most dreams, it doesn’t come easy,” he admits. “My most proud moment will be when we fully complete it. I think people in the community want Lincoln to be nice. I’m proud to have been a part of that.”
As they continue to expand, Angler’s Pointe will offer even more inventory in each of the rental options. Whatever your style of lake life, you can find it right next-door to Lincoln’s Landing. And if soaking in a clawfoot tub while tent camping sounds good, grab your loofah. Glamping could be just right for you.
