6 Quirky Little Towns In Alabama
Quirky, unique, weird, just a few ways to describe Alabama’s history. The Civil Rights movement and the creation of Blues Music are just some of Alabama’s historical accolades. Still, it’s also the state's unusual and bizarre moments that make it a desirable place to visit. Did you know that Mobile hosted the first Mardi Gras event? Or that Magnolia Springs is the only town in the U.S. to have a solely water-based mail route? Between the larger towns and the smaller ones, there is some distinctiveness in all of them. Discover the lesser-known attractions and characteristics of these six weird little towns in Alabama.
Millbrook
A town within a town? Well, one real town and one fictional. Millbrook is the home of Spectre, a fictional town in the Oscar-nominated movie Big Fish. Visit the remains of filming at the Spectre Set Ruins. Take a stroll down Main Street and find yourself on the abandoned set of the 2003 movie. Lining the street, visitors will find movie props that include six homes, the church, two trees from the spooky forest, and columns from the front of Jenny's house. The forgotten set is located on Jackson Lake Island, an uninhabited, privately owned island that is open to visitors. Left untouched, nature took over, and the island has free-roaming goats, ducks, and turtles exploring the marshy areas. The island owners allow guests to visit the island and explore, grill, and use the provided amenities.
After visiting the island, continue exploring and learning at the Alabama Nature Center. The 350 acres are the backdrop for an outdoor classroom intended for hiking, learning at the Discovery Hall, or participating in their special events.
Tuscumbia
Tuscumbia is the birthplace of Helen Keller, and the town embraces its notable historical figure at the Helen Keller Birthplace. The museum is located within her childhood home, which was built in 1820 and survived the Civil War. The compound, affectionately named Ivy Green, offers and encourages tours of the home and grounds. Within the grounds of Green Ivy, visitors will find Helen Keller’s Water Pump. The original pump is where Helen Keller was taught by Anne Sullivan how to communicate. She learned her first word, water, at this exact pump.
Another uniquely entertaining attraction in Tuscumbia is a dive bar, a real hole in the wall, literally. Formed within a large natural rock formation in the Appalachian Foothills, visitors can wet their whistle at the Rattlesnake Saloon. It may be a quirky bar now, but at one time, the monumental archeological site was believed to be the original home of some of the first inhabitants of Alabama, the Paleolithic Native Americans.
Elberta
Elberta is a true theme park. With their larger-than-life oddities spread throughout town, on land and in water, visitors will be left in awe of the town’s unique sculptures. At the Barber Marina, the Lady in the Lake statue can be found sitting in the bay. Literally in the water, the statue of the oversized woman resting in the lake is meant to be reminiscent of sitting in a bathtub. The sculpture features a female with bent legs, but if her legs were to be stretched, her full length would be taller than the Statue of Liberty. Another monument that attracts visitors is a replicated, Alabama version of Stonehenge. Visit Bamahenge, a full-size replica created and situated to be an exact representation of the historical landmark in the United Kingdom. The fiberglass installation was created by Virginia artist Mark Cline.
Even more epically large monuments exist in Elberta, and these next extinct attractions are another example. Dinosaurs in the Woods, another sculpture park created by Mark Cline, is a trail of seven dinosaurs roaming through the woods. A road running through the park will take tourists to the dinosaurs, and additional dirt roads can get you up close and personal with the statues.
Enterprise
A Boll Weevil is a beetle that was indigenous to Mexico but eventually found its way to Enterprise, Alabama. Farmers were losing cotton crops rapidly to the new critter in town, until farmers started switching to peanut farming. Peanuts and cotton finally made their return, and as a result, farmers learned to diversify their crops and certainly capitalized on it. The town now commemorates the time when they turned tragedy into triumph with a statue honoring the pest that had a profound influence on that town’s agriculture and economy. The Boll Weevil Monument, located in the downtown area, is a tribute erected in 1919 by residents to show their appreciation for the influential insect. The Monument includes a woman holding a pedestal with a boll weevil perched on top. Enjoy even more of the Boll Weevil tributes with a trip to Weevil Way. Over 28 6-foot-tall Weevils represent and are customized by community businesses and organizations to commemorate the tight-knit community. Make sure to get a map of where all the statues are located and see how many you can find!
For a fancier, less beetle-focused activity, take in dinner and a show at Southern Broadway Theater Company. In historic downtown, the one-of-a-kind dinner-theatre experience with original productions, paired with chef-crafted cuisine, allows guests to get a complete Southern Broadway experience. Enjoy local and regional artists with your three-course meal.
Evergreen
Evergreen has been known to cause quite a stir with its reputation for sightings of Bigfoot and the Alabama Booger Monster. To commemorate their massive, hairy creatures, the town has erected monuments to these folktales. Representing the self-proclaimed Bigfoot Capitol of the World, the Bigfoot Statue is located just off the interstate for other sci-fi enthusiasts to visit. Bigfoot and the Alabama Booger Monster also get a special shoutout at the annual Evergreen Collard Green Festival. Recognized in 1973 as the Collard Green Capital of Alabama, Evergreen decided to host a festival featuring cookoffs of collard greens and cornbread, as well as steak. The festival also features a car show, arts & crafts, food vendors, and more.
If you can't make it to the festival, visitors still have the opportunity to try some old-fashioned southern foods at Conecuh Sausage. Family-owned and operated since 1947, the reputable meat shop has stayed true to its famous hickory-smoked sausage and fine meats. Besides meats, the store also offers unique gift items, home decor, hunting accessories, and more. Pick up some of their finest meats and recreate one of their recipes posted on the website.
Clanton
Chilton County is the self-proclaimed “Peach Capitol of Alabama,” and to commemorate that, the city of Clanton claims the one of the most recognizable peach-shaped water towers in the Southern U.S. Built in 1992 and standing at 120 feet tall, the Big Peach Water Tower represents the county’s substantial peach production. Enjoy the peach production with a taste at the Peach Park. The fruit market provides homemade ice cream and cobblers, a fresh fruit bar, fried pies, and a gift shop. Visitors are also encouraged to stroll the lovely gardens found within the grounds.
Another farm that sells traditional Southern foods is Heaton Pecan Farm. Specializing in high-quality gifts and candies since 1962, the farm has expanded to “the barn” to increase business with the addition of chocolate-coated, roasted, and other candied pecans and other unique pecan treats. As well as gifts for any occasion, an ice cream counter featuring sixteen different homemade ice cream flavors, and a tasty breakfast and unique lunch menu.
Bigfoot and Boll Weevils and Bamahenge, oh my! Some of Alabama’s attractions might not be conventionally attractive, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting. Perhaps it's their uniqueness or oddities that make them more desirable to visit. Not just the sights themselves, but the stories behind them. Whether the stories hold historical accuracy or are folklore passed down from generations, the attractions live up to their hype. Take an alternative trip to Alabama to see its lesser-visited sights in these six quirky little towns.
