8 Playfully Peculiar Towns In Alabama

Alabama is a state with many unique characteristics and historical fun facts. For example, the first 911 call was placed in Alabama, and it was the first state to declare Christmas a holiday. It’s also the home of the only all-water year-round mail route in the U.S. Some of these events have landmarks to celebrate and honor them, while others are just anecdotes and local lore, but each of these eight playfully peculiar towns in Alabama have a story to tell and personality to spare.

Fackler

Enjoy one of Fackler’s most stunning natural landmarks, Neversink Pit. The 16-story sinkhole and waterfall is a geological wonder that entices many adventurers to repel down its 162 feet to the ground floor. Endangered plant species and a vulnerable bat population call the cave home, but to outsiders it’s a chance to view something truly remarkable. A permit is required to enter the pit, and visitors must go in groups of at least three in order to meet safety policies and protocol.

For a spectacular landmark above ground, visitors will want to stop at The Walls of Jericho. The land spans Alabama and Tennessee, with the Alabama portion making up part of the James D. Martin - Skyline Wildlife Management Area. The hiking trail covers a fairly strenuous 6 miles, round trip, and the area also serves as grounds for birdwatching, hunting, horseback riding, and camping. Another well-known interesting sideshow in Fackler is The Rock Zoo. What appears to be a regular everyday farm at first glance is actually a collection of very large rocks painted to look like bull, calf, turtle, giraffe, goat, and more that have been scattered throughout the farm for visitors to enjoy.

Haleyville

In the middle of a forest lies a bridge that's 148 feet long. But the truly unique feature of this bridge is that it has been formed entirely by nature. Alabama’s Natural Bridge is a sandstone and iron ore bridge that formed millions of years ago. Standing 60 feet high over a cave area, the bridge is unfortunately no longer open to walk across due to safety concerns, but visitors are still encouraged to explore the area.

Another visually appealing nature park in Haleyville is the Rocky Ravine Park. The park offers a variety of trails and paths along different types of terrain for varying skill levels. Shelters and playgrounds are additional amenities available throughout the park for guests of all ages to enjoy the area. For a final retreat in town, golf enthusiasts should head to the Haleyville Country Club. The challenging, 18-hole course boasts well-groomed greens and scenic fairways.

Tuscumbia

Throw on your cowboy boots and a pair of chaps if you got them, and head to this literal hole in the wall. The Rattlesnake Saloon is formed within a large natural rock formation in the Appalachian foothills. Although today it is one of the state’s quirkiest bars, it is also a monumental archeological site and believed to be the original home of some of the first inhabitants of Alabama, the Paleolithic Native Americans. If a drink and a meal aren't enough, you can spend a night at Seven Springs Lodge, where accommodations include rustic cabins, RV and tent sites, and even a converted grain silo.

Besides a bar built into the side of a mountain, Tuscumbia is known for a monumental person in American history. The Helen Keller Birthplace Museum features her original home, Green Ivy, and offers tours of the grounds. Another momentous landmark in the history of Helen Keller is the water pump, where Keller’s teacher, Anne Sullivan, heard her speak her first word.

Elberta

Immerse yourself in the larger-than-life attractions in the town of Elberta. Start with a visit to the Barber Marina and partake in a self-guided sight-seeing tour of the The Lady in the Lake statue can be found in the Bay at the marina and is reminiscent of a woman sitting in a bathtub with her legs bent. The full length of the sculpture would be taller than the Statue of Liberty if extended.

Another Barber Marina lure is the Stonehenge replica, Bamahenge. This full-size replica is created and situated to be an exact representation of the historical landmark in the United Kingdom. Both fiberglass installations were created by Virginia artist, Mark Cline. For a more traditional style of excursion, pay a visit to the Baldwin County Heritage Museum. The multi-building museum includes six rooms, a house, a church constructed in 1908, a blacksmith shop, a potato shed, vintage tractors and other farm items across the five acres. History buffs will enjoy the collection of antiques, appliances, and rich history on the museum grounds.

Clanton

While Georgia may be known as the Peach State, Alabama boasts the second-tallest peach-shaped water tower in the United States, after the Peachoid in South Carolina. In Clanton, you will find Big Peach. Built in 1992, it stands 120 feet tall and was designed and created to honor Chilton County's reputation as the "Peach Capital of Alabama," because of its substantial peach production.

Partake in some of that sweet, local goodness at Peach Park. The fruit market and eatery offers homemade ice cream and cobblers, a fresh fruit bar, fried pies, and a gift shop. The grounds also include lovely gardens for visitors to stroll through. For a final stop in Clanton, Higgins Ferry Park provides fishing, camping, swimming, and boating opportunities at its location on Lake Mitchell. The man-made reservoir was created to provide flood control and supply hydroelectricity to central Alabama, but has since become popular for outdoor recreation.

Millbrook

Within the town of Millbrook lies another town, this one fictional. Spectre, created for the movie Big Fish, can be explored at the Spectre Set Ruins. Saunter down the abandoned Main Street and find yourself right in the middle of the 2003 Hollywood hit. Along the street, visitors will find six homes from the movie, the church, two trees that were part of the spooky forest, as well as columns from the front of Jenny's house.

The fictional town can be found on Jackson Lake Island, which is home to more than just the abandoned movie set. Left uninhabited, nature took over and wildlife run free. See goats roaming the island, as well as ducks and turtles. Although privately owned, visitors are welcome to explore the island and use the amenities, which include picnic tables, grills, a playground, and bathrooms. Afterwards, continue to the Alabama Nature Center, a 350-acre open-air classroom with boardwalks, trails, and an outdoor education facility.

Scottsboro

Shopaholics can visit Scottsboro for an exclusive, somewhat controversial, shopping experience. The Unclaimed Baggage Center resells items from traveler’s lost luggage. After an extended period of remaining unclaimed, suitcases full of potential goodies get sold to the shopping center, where they are resold to the public. Over 7,000 new items are added daily! Some incredibly rare lost luggage is on display at their museum and includes a violin from the 1700s, historical Egyptian artifacts, and "Hoggle," the gnome-like gatekeeper from Jim Henson's movie, Labyrinth.

After a truly original shopping experience, take in the history and culture of the town at the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center and learn about the story and legacy of nine African American boys wrongly convicted of a violent crime in the 1930s and sentenced to death. While they were eventually pardoned, their case and lives became examples of racial injustice seen and felt around the world. Meanwhile, the Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center provides visitors with displays of Jackson County related to its rich pioneer history, customs, traditions, and art. The museum is comprised of four separate outposts that include the Brown-Proctor House, the Addition, a pioneer village called Sagetown, and the Little Courthouse.

Foley

Foley is home to multiple out-of-the-ordinary museums, such as the Holmes Medical Museum. Once the first hospital in Baldwin County, the building is now a tribute to the history of healthcare. The hospital rooms that served patients from 1936-1958 have been preserved and include an actual operating room with the original medical tools and equipment as a testament to how far the field of medicine has come over the past 70 years.

Another interesting museum is the Foley Railroad Museum. Built in 1909, the railway hub was active for over 60 years before becoming a museum, with a model train center and express train offering rides around the grounds to kids and the young at heart. After the excitement of the interactive museum, venture over to Graham Creek Nature Preserve for a bit of outdoor recreation. The 500-acre park is equipped with miles of hiking trails, access to Wolf Bay, a disc golf course, and even an archery range. The newly-installed Interpretive Center provides visitors with information about the park.

A little coastal, a little country, a lot southern, Alabama has something to offer visitors of all interests. From natural landmarks that create caves and bridges, to bars built into the landscape, each stop is unique and something to write home about. These eight towns are examples of the state's diverse and dynamic nature, and they deserve a spot on your next road trip through playfully peculiar Alabama.