Tourism 20/20 by Tallapoosa Publishers

TOURISM 20/20 LAKE MARTIN, ALABAMA

Our Hope for the Future

2020 Progress Edition Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

Emily McDaniel

Rhonda Watson

Anna Speaks

REALTOR®

256.786.9170

256.750.2898

256.794.1729

emcdaniel@russelllands.com

rwatson@russelllands.com

aspeaks@russelllands.com

For more information about homes or homesites at Russell Lands On Lake Martin or to schedule a tour, contact one of our Sales Executives at 256.215.7011.

TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

L A K E M A R T I N, A L A B A M A

The Ridge –Where Home is Worth a Thousand Words Ownership at The Ridge comes with an array of extras—The Ridge Club, a 10-acre recreation complex; miles of trails, as well as nature and waterfront parks; and the state-of-the-art Ridge Marina—all designed to connect you with family, friends, nature, and always, the lake.

R U S S E L L L A N D S O N L AK E MA RT I N. C OM |

256 . 215 . 7 011

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

FROM THE PUBLISHER 

In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, this publication – our annual Parade edition – is about hope. When the spread is finally contained and we turn our attention to recovery on numerous fronts, tourism will be more important than ever in the Lake Martin area. When that happens – and it will – we need to be ready to welcome visitors and the economic impact that they will have in our community. While a number of the events and activities discussed here have been or will be cancelled in the coming weeks, visitors Steve Baker to the area will look to us for joy and special times with family and friends in the year ahead after the quarantines are lifted. Rolling out the welcome mat for them is in our nature. It’s who we are and what we do, and it amounts to a staggering portion of our local economy – nearly 30 percent prior to the present concerns. Tourism has helped our community to make a living by being nice and showing our friends a good time in the past, and it will continue to do so when our friends come to visit after this is all over. And it has an impact on all of us, not just the frontline service providers. When a Ruby Tuesday waitress picks up a tip left by visiting fishermen and uses it to pay the preschool her child attends, tourists have supported local education. When a concierge stocks the cupboards at a rental house on the lake for a postcoronavirus family reunion, tourists will support not only the jobs of stockers and clerks at the grocery stores but also the jobs in this community where the stockers and clerks spend their paychecks. They also will be supporting local infrastructure – our roads and water plants – through sales tax paid on groceries. And it’s not just grocery stores. Phone stores, pharmacies, banks, schools, hospitals – every job in this community benefits from tourists who spend money here. It’s important for us to remember that in the face of coronavirus and its immediate effects. Rolling out the welcome mat to tourists isn’t – and shouldn’t be – our only industry, but it does have the potential to make a substantial contribution to our local economy and the lake area lifestyle we love. We’ve included a section in this publication that highlights some – certainly not all – of our community’s favorite activities, so that we can look forward to getting out and spending time having fun with family and friends in this idyllic small town when the opportunity returns. It’s almost time for another summer at Lake Martin in Alexander City. Let’s look forward to it with hope.

- STAFF Chairman - KENNETH BOONE Publisher - STEVE BAKER Newspaper Managing Editor - SANTANA WOOD Magazine Managing Editor - BETSY ILER Magazine Editor - AMY PASSARETTI Art Director - AUDRA SPEARS Director of Marketing - TIPPY HUNTER Digital Marketing - KAT RAIFORD Director of Circulation - ERIN BURTON Business Manager - ANGELA MULLINS ALEXANDER CITY Writer & Photographer - CLIFF WILLIAMS Writer - BREANNA HILL Sports Editor - LIZI ARBOGAST Production Manager - LEE CHAMPION Production Assistant - MAC DAVIS Advertising Manager - RACHEL MCCOLLOUGH Advertising Sales - JULIE HARBIN Advertising Sales - LIZ HOLLAND Digital Success Manager - ELLE FULLER Office Clerk - LINDA EWING WETUMPKA Advertising Manager - MARILYN HAWKINS Writer - DANIEL DYE Sports Writer - CALEB TURRENTINE Office Clerk - DONNA PARKER TALLASSEE Writer - CARMEN RODGERS Advertising Sales - ANDY CARR CONTRIBUTORS Carmen Rodgers Lonna Upton Judith Jager John Denney

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010 256-234-4281 | alexcityoutlook.com | lakemagazine.life 127 Company Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-567-7811 | thewetumpkaherald.com

Steve Baker, Publisher

211 Barnett Boulevard, Tallassee, AL 36078 334-283-5658 | tallasseetribune.com Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune, The Eclectic Observer, Lake Magazine, Lake Martin Living, Elmore County Living, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press. © 2020 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.

TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

TABLE OF CONTENTS î &#x201C;

Letter from Publisher....................................................... ...4 Staff.................................................................................................... 4

100

BUSINESS The Tourism Initiative ....................................................... 10 Quality of Place .......................................................................12 Branding Alexander City................................................. 14 Sports Tourism.........................................................................18 Lake Martin Weddings ................................................... 20 Big Fishing ................................................................................26 Russell Lands On Lake Martin................................... 30 Building on Lake Martin .................................................36 Wind Creek State Park ....................................................38 SUPPORT Martin Dam ............................................................................. 42 Safety at the Lake.................................................................44 Healthcare..................................................................................47 Advocates for Quality ......................................................48 Alexander City Chamber of Commerce .............52 Main Street Alexander City .......................................... 54 Need A Tow? ............................................................................56 PEOPLE Mayor Tommy Spraggins................................................59 Commissioner Steve Robinson................................. 60 Sandra Fuller ...........................................................................63 Marianne Hudson ............................................................... 64 Follow the Money................................................................. 66 Taranisha Anderson Kevin Jones Mark Gilliland Phil Spraggins Linda Gunn Sarah Neighbors & Amy Hill Tammi Montgomery

EVENTS Go Jump in the Lake ..........................................................71 Russell Forest Run ...............................................................72 Anniversary of the Battle ...............................................74 Russell Marine In-Water Boat Show .....................77

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Marble Fest .............................................................................. 78 WCSP Egg Hunt ...................................................................79

280 Boogie ................................................................................79 Cemetery Tour & Art Show ..........................................80 Derby Day ..................................................................................83 Art on the Lake ......................................................................83 RXR Fest .....................................................................................84 Cornhole Tournament .................................................... 86 Orienteering at WCSP ..................................................... 86 Lil Calypso Art Show ......................................................... 88 Sun Festival & Jazz Fest .................................................. 90 Sail the Breeze ........................................................................92 Fourth of July Blast ............................................................ 94

108

Summer Theatre Workshop ...................................... 96 Duck Norris Derby .............................................................. 96 Labor Day Concert ............................................................. 98 Muster on the Tallapoosa ........................................... 100 Alabama Art Colony ........................................................ 104 Fall Family Fest at Russell Crossroads .............. 104 WCSP Fall Festival .............................................................105 Renew Our Rivers Cleanup ....................................... 108 Christmas at Crossroads .............................................. 109 Christmas Takes the Stage ........................................ 109 Christmas Parades & More ..........................................110 MORE THINGS TO DO

ON THE COVER: When the health crisis is over, returning tourists will help our economy to grow and our community to prosper. It will be important for us to be ready to welcome them. Photo by Kenneth Boone

Miles of Hiking Trails ......................................................... 112 Alexander City Farmers Market ...............................114 Lake Martin Living Art & Photography Contest........ 115 Trivia Night................................................................................ 115 Friday on the Green............................................................118 Music on the Deck.............................................................120

Lake Area Poker Runs ....................................................120 The Arts........................................................................................ 121 Go Camping............................................................................124 Horizons Unlimited............................................................126 Business Card Directory................................................128 Our Advertisers ....................................................................129

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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BUSINESS 

The Tourism Initiative The recovery blueprint already exists in the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Partners in Progress five-year plan STORY BY BETSY ILER

lready a seasonal destination, Lake Martin and the surrounding area remain poised for intentional year round tourism. Under the auspices of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Partners in Progress five-year plan, a new steering committee has made significant progress toward measurable objectives in just one year, and these initiatives will be even more important to the local economy when the coronavirus quarantines are lifted, said Donna Gabel, who chairs the plan’s Destination Marketing and Community Engagement initiative. As executive director of the Alexander City Housing Authority, Gabel has approached with passion the chamber’s mission to develop a unified tourism strategy because she sees in it opportunities for not only ACHA clients but also the wider community. “Tourism will provide more jobs for our clients here, and that means financial stability for them and for the community,” she said. In its first year, the initiative has achieved or taken substantial steps toward more than half of its objectives; the first being the formation of a destination marketing organization. Gabel works with a tourism board made up of 12 community members that have direct contact with visitors to the community through recreation, entertainment, dining, lodging, retail sales and more. Sandra Fuller, the Tallapoosa County tourism director, is a member of the Lake Martin Tourism board, as well. “Sandra has been wonderful to work with. She’s been very helpful. Our objective is to share information between the two tourism authorities,” she said. “We want to work together cohesively. “We’ve done a lot of work in a year’s time – all of it very positive. There has been a learning curve. None of us have done anything like this before, but we have learned from

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each other, shared ideas and enthusiasm. We’re all on the same page. We want the same things, and we do our due diligence to try to avoid mistakes.” This initiative is funded through the lodging tax, which was raised to 10 percent last year. Still below that of many tourism destinations in the state, the tax is paid by visitors to the area. It is not a Donna Gabel tax levied on local residents. Gabel said the board has learned much from conversations and visits to like-minded organizations in other communities. “We wanted to know how they did it in Tuscaloosa, in Guntersville, in Huntsville; how did they become the destinations that they are? That has been key,” she explained. “We also looked at how they use social media.” The Lake Martin Tourism Board commissioned TPIDigital with the building of a tourism website that is expected to launch this spring, and a new tourism director will come on board soon. As the new tourism director settles into the position, connections with regional and statewide tourism agencies will grow stronger. Those agencies could help the local board find the best ways to market what this community has to offer, Gabel said. And though the tourism director will help to create widespread gains, the entire community will benefit. “Each facet of what we’re doing is bringing in new business and helping existing businesses to grow. We all work to make this a thriving community, and it’s the responsibility of every individual that lives here to promote the community,” she said. “We are researching and identifying new additional opportunities, and over the next three or four years, I think we will see a huge impact,” she said. For more information about the destination marketing objectives, select Partners in Progress from the Chamber Programs tab at alexcitychamber.com.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

BUSINESS 

Quality of Place

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

conomic vitality in Alexander City could hinge on quality of life/place, and public involvement is more important than any other part of the process, according to former Auburn University Executive Director of Government and Economic Development Institute Dr. Joe Sumners. Sumners, who has been involved with economic development since 2000, spoke to government, business and community leaders at Central Alabama Community College’s Betty Carol Graham Center last spring. His presentation supported the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Partners in Progress five-year strategic plan for 2019-2023. The plan’s initiatives include stepping up retail and commercial recruitment; supporting existing business growth and entrepreneurship; partnering with education; and establishing a destination marketing organization to promote the local area as a tourist destination with entertainment venues, recreational opportunities and sports tournaments and events. 12

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“Strong economies are built on strong communities.” Sumners said. “To be successful, a community needs infrastructure – physical roads, buildings. It needs the human element – a workforce, quality schools. And it needs the civic element. “This doesn’t get as much attention as the other aspects, but it’s really the most important. A community needs strong leadership, public involvement and a community-mindedness of pride and optimism. You need all three to be successful.” Economic development is broader than simply recruiting industry, Sumners said. “It’s anything that you do to improve quality of place.” Industrial leaders who are looking to locate usually begin the search with a broad perspective, narrowing their criteria down to a particular region of the country and focusing on areas that meet that broad criteria, be it access to interstate transportation or proximity to their targeted markets or something else. That process continues until the selection comes down to just a few identified communities, with the criteria becoming more

specific at each level of the search, Sumners said. “It’s very competitive to see who is going to get these jobs because if you don’t make your place great and somebody else does, who will they choose?” He cited a 2018 survey by Area Development Magazine in which 82.8 percent of industry leaders said they could make the most money in a community where quality of place is a factor. Sumners said communities that want to succeed need many civic leaders, not as gatekeepers or watchdogs but as door openers. “These are the communities that will thrive,” he said. “Places that are apathetic and wait for the mayor or someone else to take care of it will not succeed.” Ed Collari, CEO and president of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, said Alexander City has more going for it than many other Southern communities. “Our biggest asset is that giant lake. We can use that as a basis for quality of place,” Collari said. “Also, we are in a good location among three strong cities. We get a lot of traffic on U.S. Highway 280. That’s our heartbeat,” he added. One obstacle that keeps communities from creating quality of place, Sumners said, is disconnectedness; various entities within a community are doing good things but not in concert with each other. They are, in effect, silos. “There’s the business community silo and the school silo, the healthcare silo, and all of these silos are together, next to each other and working hard at what they do, but they are not working together,” Sumners said. “They could create prosperity by alliance if these key interests or stakeholders got together on a regular basis to create and maintain a plan of working together.” It’s a plan that has come together recently in Alexander City, said Collari. “We meet regularly with the city, economic development and Main Sreet for an open discussion of ideas. We get a full recap on what we’re all doing, so we have an understanding of how we can help each other,” Collari said. “We’re on each other’s boards, so we’re actively helping each other make progress.” As a result, he added, sales tax revenues are at an all-time high in Alexander City, and commerce is booming. “It’s not just happenstance. It’s that we’re working

Boating, swimming and spending time together at the lake are favorite pastimes

together. We don’t always agree on everything, but that doesn’t stop us from talking.” In addition, Collari said, the focus of the conversations is not protective of where credit is due. “Who’s getting credit for what is not the point. We do it for the community, and sometimes, you sacrifice on your end so that someone else can succeed. It’s about what’s best for the city, for the community,” he said. Doing that requires trust and communication, Collari said. It takes time to build those relationships, but the payoff usually exceeds expectations. The Lake Martin Innovation Center is an example of that success. When the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce launched the business and entrepreneurship incubator, they combined the corporate gift of a building with sweat equity and grant funds to turn it into a facility that could host budding businesses – an ambitious challenge in a rural community, Collari said. But four years later, the business incubator is operating at full capacity, and the chamber is looking to graduate tenants – to help them transition to new offices and larger spaces in Alexander City and make room at the innovation center for more start-ups. Other projects in the works include the municipal complex that is expected to open late next year and Russell Marine’s superstore on U.S. Highway 280. “It’s not about what the chamber is doing; it’s about how the chamber can support these ongoing efforts; how we can help each other,” he explained. “We got a lot of help with the innovation center, and good things are happening now. This program is a model. We’ve had a good number of folks from other cities in Alabama, and even from other states, come to see how we did it. Tourism is another aspect of the area’s economic development that could benefit from organizations working together. The economic boost of recent fishing tournaments (see page 26) is a result of cooperation between Wind Creek State Park, the City of Alexander City and the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce. The City Parks and Recreation Department worked with Main Street Alexander City to launch the Downtown Christmas event last December (see page 110), and the Living History Cemetery Tour and Art Show is a result of collaboration between Russell Medical and Alexander City Theatre II (see page 80). The ecnomic impact of tourism extends beyond a visitor’s initial purchase of goods or services. Monies spent in one store or restaurant support jobs in local areas that do not work directly with tourists (see Follow the Money on page 66). Creating and maintaining the Lake Martin area’s quality of place is a community-wide effort that will benefit the whole community, Collari said. “It’s that continued trust-building, having conversations instead of sitting in our silos trying to make it happen on our own. Looking at the resources we have together and working together.” Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

BUSINESS 

Branding Alexander City STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY AUDRA SPEARS

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his spring, Main Street planned to unveil a branding tagline that local leadership expects will take Alexander City and the Lake Martin area to the next level and beyond as a contender for tourism dollars and more. The brand, which has

been more than six months in development, will position the community as a vacation destination to rival any other in Alabama. It also represents unprecedented collaboration and trust among city officials and business leaders in Alexander City.

The Alexander City brand will welcome visitors to Lake Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Treasured waters Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

“Everybody is working together for the first time. I have been here four years, and this is the most collaborative that our community has been in that time,” said Ed Collari, Alexander City Chamber President and CEO. “We meet regularly with the mayor, with economic development and Main Street. We talk about what we are working on and how we can help each other. We’re on each other’s boards. We’re not protective of who’s getting credit for what. We are doing it for the community.” Main Street Executive Director Stacey Jeffcoat agreed. “At no time in the past did the city, chamber and Main Street work as a team. We have developed a strong partnership and a united message of local pride, focused on the positive aspects of our community. We are working to overcome the past and build a future – as the biggest playground in Alabama,” Jeffcoat said. The objective for all of the collaborating entities, Collari said, is to create quality of place to attract visitors, families, industries with career ladders and other opportunities for economic growth. They started with wayfinding. During a Main Street assessment project last year, a team of consultants noted that Alexander City lacked wayfinding signage and clear branding as a tourism destination. The consultant team suggested that pairing the two concepts citywide – from retail stores to sports, entertainment, city services and recreation – would send a welcoming message to tourists, entrepreneurs and industries. It also could make the community more attractive to industries that could offer jobs with growth potential. Developing a citywide brand required a level of collaboration that the city previously had not known, Collari explained. “It required that we trust and support each other,” he said. “It means that we all are focused on what’s best for the city, for the community, instead of what is best 16

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for each of our own individual organizations. It’s taking the mindset of ‘we had to be willing to sacrifice this time so someone else can succeed; and next time, it will be our turn to succeed.’” That collaboration already has resulted in progress, as the new branding that will be revealed over the coming months will provide easily recognized signage for Alexander City and the surrounding lake area. The signage will be characterized by a collection of fonts, colors and styles that tourists will recognize as aids to the places and activities they want to visit, including the sportplex in Alexander City, downtown shops, Wind Creek State Park and more. “Those consistent colors and fonts make a statement,” Collari said. That statement will inform potential industry that the community is working together to create an environment that is attractive to their employees; it’s a place that supports entrepreneurship; it is a community that is creating quality of place. To make it happen, projects and endeavors need the support of leaders across the community, Collari said, from education to economic development, tourism, city services, infrastructure and more. And people are an important component. “Passion brings people back to a community. When they love a community, they want to give back to it, and here, we have the opportunity to do that. People can really get involved and make a difference. They get engaged in the community because they recognize that they can have an impact,” he said. Continued collaboration is the key to continued growth, he said. “We need to continue to work together, to improve communication, build relationships, build trust. It comes with time. We have to continue to talk. That’s the biggest thing,” he said.

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Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

Visiting teams will help to revive the home of the Wildcats

BUSINESS 

Sports Tourism STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI

hen Alexander City Parks and Recreation Director Sonny Wilson moved back to his hometown in 2011, he set out to upgrade the City’s park facilities. He has certainly done that and more. Baseball, softball, soccer and fishing events can accommodate up to 900 youth on weekends, putting visitors in a position to spend money here locally when activities resume. Wilson’s master plan has already made leaps and bounds on infrastructure, which has considerable impact on the economy. “We have a lot to offer here,” said Wilson. “It may not look shiny and new, but every year we make improvements in different areas. We’ve spent around $1 million over the last few years on projects at our parks and recreational facilities.” The parks and rec department maintains four parks, approximately 250 acres; two city pools; four playgrounds; one boat ramp; and a public golf course. These areas remain appealing and enhance the quality life, thanks to the work of a 10-man maintenance crew. There are 25 fulltime employees that fall under the city parks and recreation payroll. That’s 25 local residents who re-invest their paychecks back into the community. Visitors add to that economic upturn when coming to town for sport tournaments, which can sometimes last for up to a week. Sometimes tournaments with nearby teams may not see as many overnight spectators, but they’re still likely eating in town, shopping and buying gas, said Wilson. The hope is to see even more tourists come to town when it is safe again to do so. In the meantime, the city continues 18

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to enhance the quality of its facilities. “We take the money we get from the City and try to rotate it around each year to each of the fields and parks,” said Wilson. “If we put some money into softball one year, the next year we’ll focus on baseball, for example.” Wilson is most proud of the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex and all its amenities. His team has devoted time and funds to improve what the area can offer. In 2018, the bridge at the Sportplex was replaced to handle the weight of the school busses that once had to drive around the park via U.S. Highway 280 to get to the ball fields. “We also put in sidewalks at the Sportplex. You would be surprised at how many people use that and come out here to walk. It’s a good, safe place for exercise,” said Wilson. The Sportplex hosts many events and festivals that attract hundreds of visitors from outside the community. The popular Oktoberfest is set to turn 40 this year and typically sees anywhere from 3,000 to 7,000 attendees, including many from outside the area. There are usually about 100 vendors and a multitude of activities for the whole family. While Christmas in the Park was always a huge success at the Sportplex, this past season, Alexander City Parks and Rec Department partnered with Main Street Alexander City to host a Downtown Christmas. This event, complete with snow tubing in Strand Park; photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus; cookie decorating; reindeer races and more, was wildly successful and brought fresh faces to the community. “The Sportplex is definitely our most unique asset,” said Wilson. “Our Sportplex has character. There is more nature and more available recreation than most people even know.” The Charles E. Bailey Sportplex was built 34 years ago

and includes a 3-mile trail through varied woods and terrain for off-road bicycle riding, hiking and terrain running; an archery range; baseball and softball fields that meet tournament standards; a horse riding arena; a disk golf course; outdoor fitness trail; basketball gymnasium; an active senior center and playgrounds. Currently, the City is planning to install a splash pad, which is expected to be a huge draw, and will upgrade the dog park. A few years back, the City built a soccer complex that is now valued at more than $2.5 million. They were able to do a lot of the work in-house, which kept costs at a minimum. Funds will need to allocated for a parking lot. “Every project we propose needs a five-year plan,” said Wilson. “We just don’t have the funds to do it all at once, so sometimes the public doesn’t notice. But we get it done.” The City purchased Byar’s Field, which was turning into an eyesore but will be a practice facility that adds value to the area. Various other projects, including indoor batting cages and upkeep at the football stadium, have helped maintain quality of life in the area. The parks and recreation department also maintains the local public golf course. Lakewinds Golf Course has undergone some major renovations and is seeing more golfers from outside the area come to enjoy its course. “We redid the pro shop; have all new golf carts; did some renovations on the course,” said Wilson. “We’ve increased our online presence and added the option to reserve tee

times online.” The site also promotes ‘hot deals,’ which offers discounted rates. Wilson said the course sees a lot of folks from Auburn and others with second homes at the lake, as well. This has all aided in the vitality of the area and proves that locals and tourists are likely to continue to spend money on recreation when the coronavirus crisis has passed. “Comparing our fiscal year Oct. 2018 to Feb. 2019 with Oct. 2019 to Feb. 2020, we have seen at least a 3 percent increase in revenue,” said Wilson. With the help of Wilson and his team, Alexander City will continue to raise the bar on fun and opportunities in town for the whole family.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

BUSINESS 

Lake Martin Weddings Lake Martin weddings will offer opportunities for families to gather for new beginnings

STORY BY LONNA UPTON PHOTOS BY ALEC & KATIE PHOTOGRAPHY, JESSIE BARKSDALE PHOTOGRAPHY, T2 PHOTOGRAPHY, KEVIN LANIER & MEGAN MULLINS

20 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

ake Martin hosts dreams of all kinds, wedding dreams included, and making those wedding dreams come true adds more than $6 million to the local economy every year. While anti-coronavirus practices have lead to the postponement of some nup-

tials, the celebrations will be that much sweeter when the all-clear sounds. Couples seeking an experience of Southern charm, beautiful venues and entertainment for guests find that Lake Martin is the perfect place to tie the knot. Venues here offer spectacular views and activities that turn an afternoon wedding into a

weekend-long celebration. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially true if the bride and groom have a history at the lake. Whether vows are exchanged on the lakeshore overlooking sparkling water, in a picturesque lakeside chapel or at one of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful lake homes, Lake Martin is a popular destination for the biggest party most families ever host.

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Talented florists and decorators will make weddings beautiful

An estimated 250 couples choose Tallapoosa County and Lake Martin for their celebrations every year, according to probate records and lake area wedding venue operators. Weddingwire. com reports that the average nuptial event costs $28,600 for a hometown wedding and $30,000 for a destination event. That figure alone is a staggering contribution to the local economy, but in addition to the cost of the wedding event itself, a weekend wedding at the lake typically includes additional services. Weekend guest accommodations and additional meals are only the beginning. Friday activities for the wedding party and guests might include rounds of golf for the groomsmen and shopping and luncheons for the ladies; boating; horseback rides; kayaking expeditions; hikes; zip line tours; and more. A Lake Martin wedding typically turns a one-day event into a mini-vacation for the 94 guests who, on average, attend a destination wedding. These activities allow brides and grooms more time to spend with family and friends; they also increase local sales and services, putting money into the hands of marina and gas station attendants, wait staff at area restaurants, shopkeepers and recreation venue operators. When couples choose to use local florists, caterers and other 22

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Splendid outdoor venues will set the stage for celebration

wedding vendors, even more revenue is added to the area economy. Sandra Fuller, director of tourism for Tallapoosa County, said just under 25 percent of weddings are destination events, and she believes the lake area has exceptional venues for special celebrations, due to the variety of venues available on and off the lake. “We have top-notch venues. There are so many beautiful sites in Tallapoosa County – the perfect Southern charm at the Mitchell House, vineyards and farms, and settings on the lake. Weddings bring in tourists just like an attraction would, and they all need places to stay and food to eat, so the area benefits,” Fuller said. As marketing manager/special events manager and the primary contact for weddings at Russell Lands On Lake Martin, Emily Sprayberry fields questions from brides and directs them to the many venues Russell Lands has to offer. These include SpringHouse, The Stables, The Carriage House, The Lodge at Cocktail Slough, Willow Point Golf and Country Club, Heaven Hill and more. Sprayberry said she has seen how tourism through weddings at the lake leads to multiple visits. A weekend wedding experience offers guests a glimpse of what Lake Martin has to offer, and people often come back to

vacation, attend additional events or even make their homes here. “The wedding industry involves such a wide variety of vendors, from venues and restaurants to florists and beauty salons. The economic impact a wedding has to the area has a tremendous ripple effect benefiting our entire community. And since destination weddings are still very popular, we continue to have people visiting from all over the country, experiencing our unique venues, special events, one-of-kind restaurants and the beauty of Lake Martin. We hear so often from wedding guests who are visiting for the first time that they definitely will be back,” Sprayberry said. Children’s Harbor provides a beautiful chapel with a lighthouse on the water as the background for weddings all year. Church in the Pines, situated just across the road from Children’s Harbor, hosts numerous weddings – more than one on seasonal weekends – in its rustic outdoor chapel with a view of the lake. Since Kowaliga Restaurant, SpringHouse and Catherine’s Market are so close, many brides choose these restaurants as venues for rehearsal dinners or receptions. In Dadeville, Creekside Lodge, with Lake Martin as its backdrop, serves as a wedding destination, as well as lodging for guests of weddings that may

The lake will provide a spectacular backdrop.

And the celebrations will be magnificient

have chosen another venue in the area. With 27 rooms, including three twobedroom, fully-equipped condos, the lodge sees tourists year round hailing from far and wide. “The weddings in our area are important for us because they bring in tourists who may not have known about the lake, who then become repeat customers. At Creekside Lodge we offer one-stop shopping, so to speak, with a venue for the ceremony, an event coordinator, on-site catering and lodging all in one place, but we also are happy to house guests for weddings at other venues. All of the locals who work in those jobs benefit from tourists on the lake,” said Sherri Wilson, manager of Creekside Lodge. Additional lake wedding venues include Church of the Living Waters at StillWaters and the lakeside chapel and vineyards at New Water Farms. Offthe-water venues include the historic Mitchell House, Hodges Vineyard, White Acres and receptions at The Mill Two Eighty. Locals who work at wedding venues and nearby restaurants and lodging, as well as those who work with wedding vendors – florists, photographers, videographers, caterers and local boutiques – benefit when a Lake Martin area venue hosts a dream destination wedding. Megan Mullins, owner of Megan

Mullins Photography, takes wedding photographs all over Alabama; however, she grew up in Alexander City, so she has a special place in her heart for local weddings. “Bringing business to the lake area, to any business, affects every other business, and weddings truly do that. Bringing in tourists encourages local stores and vendors to want to be bigger and better to attract more visitors. It’s easy to stay in a bubble and never want things to change, but bringing in outsiders means growth, makes things a little different, and that’s what keeps a place alive,” Mullins said. Justin Clayton, a videographer who shoots weddings all over Alabama, is from the Lake Martin area. He said he believes destination weddings are important ton the area because they bring money into the community that would otherwise go to the beach, the mountains or some other destination wedding location. “I think having so many gorgeous venues where Lake Martin is a part or at the centerpiece of the venue definitely helps in bringing in couples from across the Southeast. I’ve shot weddings all over the state and region, and, honestly, no other venue compares to the weddings I’ve shot here. When couples from out of town and their families and friends have their

first Lake Martin experience, so many tell me they plan to visit the lake again. Also, the dollars that weddings generate for venues, florists, caterers and others are put back into marketing for tourism of all kinds – not just weddings – which benefits everyone who lives in the area,” Clayton said. Wedding planner and freelance designer Jeffery Long is proud to call Alexander City and Lake Martin his home. He is also excited that the area has become a destination for beautiful celebrations, weddings included. “Weddings in the area, regardless of whether they are on the lake or not, always give the local economy a boost. All the services needed, even gas stations and restaurants, in-town lodging – everyone who works at a location that the wedding party or guests need – benefits from the money spent by the tourists at that wedding. No matter the size, large, small or in-between, weddings give back to the locals who live in the lake area,” Long said. Lodging in the area includes major chain hotels and smaller motels, as well as Mistletoe Bough, a quaint bed and breakfast in a historic Victorian home in Alexander City. Homes also are available to rent in all areas of the lake and are easy to find with an online search or a call to any local real estate agent. Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

Krystal Cummings, PharmD ___ Audrey Newsome, PharmD

221 E. South Street • Dadeville, AL • 256-825-0063

24 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

—MK —

Mark King’s Furniture Lake Martin’s Premium Choice for Furniture OPEN TO THE TRADE & THE PUBLIC 256.234.4275 • FREE DELIVERY Visit us on Facebook • 1425 Dadeville Road • Alexander City, AL Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

BUSINESS 

Big Fishing STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

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Fishing tournaments bring anglers, fans and media coverage that fill local hotels and restaurants

Bass fishing is big business at Lake Martin

“

Fishing is very much a living history, and these guys eat and breathe it and love to share it. When they share it at Lake Martin, the local economy gets a boost.”

~ Jason Christy

ishing has a substantial economic impact at Lake Martin, especially in winter, the lake’s “other” season. Wind Creek State Park alone hosts more than 30 tournaments per season. Tournament anglers book hotel rooms, shop for groceries, eat at restaurants and buy gas – all of which support local jobs and generate sales and lodging taxes that support local education and infrastructure. The lake broke into the recreational tourism fishing scene in 2015 when the Alabama Bass Trail added Lake Martin to its list of communities that feature premier fishing areas. The first ABT tournament was held in 2016 and brought attention not only to the lake but also to the communities that support Lake Martin visitors. “People coming to the area means that they stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores,” said then-president of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Ann Rye when the announcement was made. ABT tournaments attract as many as 225 boats – each carrying two anglers. Individuals and teams that compete on the ABT often visit a tournament lake in advance of the tourney date to learn the lake, generating more revenue for local businesses. In addition, film crews often follow the tournaments, adding more hotel bookings and restaurant receipts to the local economy and bringing nationwide attention to the lake area. “It’s great exposure for the community and a huge economic driver,” said Ed Collari, Alexander City Chamber of Commerce president and CEO since 2016. “The more tournaments we can get here, the better.” A recent economic impact study of the ABT series indicated that last year’s one-day tournament had a total economic impact of more than $574,000 in the Lake Martin area, said Collari. The study, conducted by ABT in partnership with the MBA program at Jacksonville State University, tracked direct angler spending at more than $561 per day, including lodging, dining, shopping, fuel and tournament supplies. In addition, the tournament supported the equivalent of six full-time local jobs, generating earnings that also were spent locally. Collari said the ABT series has visited Lake Martin for Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

Anglers show off a winning catch

the last four or five years with the Alexander City City Council paying the $10,000 host fee. “Due to the success of those events, Alex City and Lake Martin were awarded the ABT Championship this October, which is a two-day competition,” Collari said. The 2020 ABT Championship will take place Oct. 23-24 at Wind Creek State Park. Efforts to bring more tournaments to the area paid off in a big way in Feb. 2018 when the Bassmaster Elite Series opened its annual season here with the world’s top 111 professional anglers. Along with tour pros and their support teams, representatives from fishing’s top name national sponsors, spectators and an ESPN film crew swelled the population of Alexander City alone by an estimated 15,000, filling hotel rooms to capacity and creating waiting lists at local restaurants for more than a week. The economic impact from this one tour was projected at more than $1 million, according to Bassmaster data. The Bassmaster Elite Series brought about 2,000 spectators in 2018, despite heavy rains throughout the tournament, Collari said. Since then, the growth of fishing at Lake Martin has been exponential, said the late Mike Oglesbee of OGS Tournaments. Oglesbee passed away in October after a brief illness. “When we started doing tournaments here five years ago, I could schedule a tournament with just four months of lead time; now, I have to schedule them 18 months in advance,” Oglesbee said last summer. “That is a pretty good indicator of the growth of the sport, as well as the growth of Lake Martin.

“Also, you’ll see some of the better anglers that are on the national stage here. Most of them are approachable. You can talk to them. Learn from them.” People want to fish where the pros fish, Collari said following the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament. Wind Creek State Park, which hosted the pro event, is now booked every winter weekend with tournaments, occasionally with more than one event on a single day or weekend. Recently, the area hosted another major tour event when Major League Fishing/Fishing League Worldwide held its third FLW tournament of the season at Lake Martin. Collari said anglers arrived in the area the weekend prior to the event, which started March 15 with three practice days, and took precautions against spreading the coronavirus. The competition opened March 19 with 150 professional anglers, some of whom also had support personnel with them. Their presence in the area was a substantial contribution to the local economy, as anglers lodged in local venues and made purchases in local stores. Though tournaments may be cancelled for the near future, when the schedule resumes, local residents can play a large part in making visiting anglers feel welcome, Collari said. “They’re easy to recognize – a lot of them are pulling boats – but whether they are fishing or not, thank them for coming to the community. If you see them come in to a local restaurant or shop, help them if you have an opportunity,” he suggested.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

BUSINESS PROFILE î &#x201C;

Lake homes are nestled into the woods to blend with nature

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Willow Point Golf Course offers 18 challenging holes

Russell Marine will open a boating superstore in Alexander City this year

Russell Lands on Lake Martin STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

s one of the largest employers in the Lake Martin area, Russell Lands On Lake Martin has a direct impact on the livelihood and lifestyles of a substantial number of people living, working and playing in the area. The presence of Russell Lands in Tallapoosa, Coosa and Elmore counties is due entirely to the lake and the development surrounding it. “In fact, without the lake, Russell Lands as we know it today, probably wouldn’t be here. We might be purely a timber company, which means there are hundreds of people who might not live or work here either. Russell Lands On Lake Martin carefully plans and executes its lake neighborhoods to attract and maintain a thriving community that positively affects the economy in the entire lake area,” said Roger Holliday, vice president of Russell Lands. Thousands of visitors enjoy time spent on and around the exceptional water of Lake Martin each year during all four seasons. Some visitors to the area choose the lake as the perfect location for a vacation home or choose full-time living at the lake. Whatever the reason for the visit − tourist, homeowner, during or after the coronavirus quarantine − Russell Lands provides avenues for people to come to the lake. Russell Crossroads, a centrally located town center on state Route 63, offers homeowners and tourists alike an Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

opportunity to shop at Catherine’s Market, a gourmet experience that serves fresh salads, sandwiches and homemade bakery items. Catherine’s has fresh organic vegetables, a variety of choice cuts of meat and seafood and an exquisite selection of wines to complement meals at the lake. SpringHouse, a fine dining option at Russell Crossroads, lends a touch of class in an elegant, rustic venue with exquisitely prepared meals. With its landmark clock tower and interactive sundial exhibit, Russell Crossroads also hosts family-friendly activities, such as horseback riding at The Stables; wildlife presentations and guided nature tours; biking and kayaking. A Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads is free to the community in October, and two juried art shows – one in July, Arti Gras, and one in November, The Holiday Bazaar – draw hundreds of shoppers to Lake Martin. Russell Lands prioritizes entertainment on the lake as well. The Amp, a natural amphitheater near Children’s Harbor, provides concerts for tourists and full-time and part-time residents around the lake. Concerts from the high school band, as well as local talent and nationally recognized bands, have appeared at The Amp. Two other popular Russell Lands’ venues offer musical entertainment as well. Fridays on the Green at Russell Crossroads kick off weekends at the lake with free live music on the lawn every Friday evening in the summer season. Families bring their own refreshments or place to-go orders at Catherine’s, or they just enjoy the evening watching their children play with hula-hoops and glow sticks in the wide-open space on a summer night. Kowaliga Restaurant features live music on the deck every Sunday evening in season, creating a perfect ambience for diners overlooking the lake and the pier. A favorite activity for the children is the feeding of the turtles that frequent the shallow water off the restaurant’s deck and beach. The Fourth of July week, the busiest of the summer on Lake Martin, finds homeowners and tourists enjoying plenty of fun in the sun. Russell Marine’s annual boat parade, which features more than 50 boat entries each year, awards prizes to the largest flag and the most patriotic crew. This event has become a tradition, as entrants go to great lengths to decorate their vessels with original and unique patriotic fare; however, the real joy in the event is in how lake lovers come together to celebrate America’s birth. A night of live music and one of the largest fireworks shows in the Southeast at The Amp rounds out the celebration of freedom. In keeping with Russell Lands’ commitment to maintain acres of pristine land around the lake, the Russell Forest Trail Association, with more than 100 miles of trails, manages and restores land around the lake for residents and tourists alike. Walkers, cyclists and equestrians are welcome to join the association and enjoy the trails. The Russell Forest Run, an annual 10K and 5K, attracts hundreds of runners each year to raise funds for the local school system. And, for the more serious athletes, the Lake Martin Ultra 100 entices competitors from across the United States to run the trails. Wedding and reception venues on Russell Lands’ 32

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Boats dock at Kowaliga Restaurant

A floating mat near the dock keeps the children entertained

properties include Willow Point Golf and Country Club, SpringHouse, The Lodge at Cocktail Slough, Heaven Hill, The Stables, The Ridge and any number of outdoor settings on the water. The wedding guests and the wedding party often are treated to lake activities over the weekend stay – golf for the groomsmen; a pool day for the bridesmaids; cocktails overlooking the lake for family and friends; or an afternoon of boating on a beautiful fall day to take in the changing leaves. If bridal parties and guests are visiting Lake Martin for the first time when they come to a wedding, the experience always leaves them wanting more. Not only does Russell Lands On Lake Martin cater to tourists and homeowners, but also, the company provides employment to boost the economy in the lake area. In 2019, Russell Lands provided jobs for 325 full-time employees, 97 part-time, 70 seasonal and 65 temporary, totaling 557 people whose lives are directly and positively affected by Russell Lands and Lake Martin. Those employees hold jobs ranging from landscaping to real estate, builders to waitresses, administrative staff to sommeliers. Construction in Russell Lands’ developments continues to provide jobs for builders and subcontractors in electric, plumbing, carpentry, stone mason and numerous other trades needed to take a house from excavation to final inspection for the new homeowner. Russell Lands On Lake Martin has developed 16 neighborhoods on the lake, with plans in process to add more options in the near future. River North, Kowaliga, Real Island and The Ridge marinas, all owned by Russell Marine, a division of Russell Lands, provide service and storage for boaters all over the lake. Russell Marine Boating and Outdoors, opening in the spring of 2020 on U.S. Highway 280 in Alexander City, will be yet another tourist destination. “The store will have two areas on the main level. One area will feature pre-owned boats – one of the largest preowned boat stores of its kind under one roof, which will attract consumers from all over the country. These consumers are water enthusiasts and will see firsthand what Lake Martin has to offer. The other part of the store will be a lake lifestyle area featuring 20,000 square feet of new boats, including two new lines of fishing boats, personal watercraft, water accessories, marine supplies, lake apparel and Can-Am off-road vehicles that will appeal to tourists as well,” said Dave Commander, president of Russell Marine. Also, in the lake area, Russell Do it Center and Building Supply stores in Alexander City, Eclectic and Dadeville provide anything a builder, homeowner or hobbyist might need, from hardware to hardwood floors. Russell Home Décor in Alexander City offers decorator services and a showroom to browse lighting, plumbing, carpet and other finish fixtures for lake homes. Since the inception of Russell Lands On Lake Martin, the Russell family and employees of Russell Lands have established a vision for Lake Martin as a premier destination – for vacationing and for living – by supporting quality of life with cultural events, recreational opportunities and exceptional neighborhood living in the Lake Martin area.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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Residential | Commercial | Interior | Exterior

256-307-4061 columbus-auburn.certapro.com Mike & Kris Dobbs Owners 1550 Opelika Road Suite 6 Box 294 �| Auburn, AL 36830 Each CertaPro Painters ® business is independently owned and operated. Each CertaPro Painters® business is independently owned and operated.

THE RIDGE MARINA 256-397-1300 RIVER NORTH MARINA 256-397-1500 KOWALIGA MARINA 256-397-1210 REAL ISLAND MARINA 256-397-1200

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

BUSINESS 

Building on Lake Martin STORY BY LONNA UPTON PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

Since the first stone was laid in 1923 to begin construction of Martin Dam, the area surrounding the backwaters of the Tallapoosa River has experienced remarkable change. In addition to increasing the value of the land, the lake brings tourists and homeowners that directly impact local economies by increasing employment opportunities for construction, services personnel and support for local businesses and restaurants. In 2018, RCLCO Real Estate Advisors conducted an analysis of Lake Martin’s economic impact. Commissioned by the City of Alexander City, Coosa County, Elmore County, Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, Lake Martin Resource Association, Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership, Russell Lands, Inc., and Tallapoosa County, the resulting Fiscal and Economic Impact on Lake Martin report places the value of the lake at more than $4.7 billion dollars. That number includes tax revenue, land and home values, as well as jobs in construction, hotels, golf courses, marinas, retail stores and services. The report states that, in Tallapoosa County alone, the area impacted by the lake was valued at more than $2.9 billion, of which 80 percent is represented by waterfront property. In Elmore County, with 87 percent represented by waterfront property, more than $1.6 billion dollars in revenue is generated due to the impact of the lake. And, in Coosa County, upward of $222 million dollars, with 27 percent waterfront property, can be attributed to the lake. Homebuilder Chad Stearns said he believes development around Lake Martin positively impacts the economy and also the families who live in the lake area. “Construction and development around Lake Martin 36

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has a positive impact by not only raising property values but also by providing jobs, improving quality of life and, most importantly, by creating special places to spend quality time with family and friends,” Stearns said. The total general fund benefit of lake tax revenues for the three counties was reported at nearly $2 million annually. The RCLCO report projects future county revenue generated through 2037 at the following: road and bridge funds – more than $51 million; State of Alabama property taxes – more than $114 million; and county school districts – more than $139 million. Because Lake Martin exists and homes are built on the water, jobs exist that otherwise would not be available for people living in the lake area. The RCLCO reports that more than 1,000 people are directly employed due to development at the lake. With an average of 203 new houses built around the lake each

Lake Martin homes provide places where families can gather

“

Construction and development around Lake Martin has a positive impact by not only raising property values but also by providing jobs, improving quality of life and, most importantly, by creating special places to spend quality time with family and friends.”

year, construction subcontractors needed to build those homes include plumbers, electricians, carpenters, HVAC specialists, excavators, landscapers and dozens of others. These positions are filled by local tradesmen. Andrew McGreer, Steve Fuller and David Robinette, partners in Lake Martin Signature Construction, are proud to be part of the controlled development of Lake Martin that Alabama Power and Russell Lands on Lake Martin have overseen with vision and conservation. “The lake generates excitement, which creates tourism. Tourism creates a desire to rent or purchase at the lake, and construction to meet those needs grows this economy. As a company, we feel great supporting the employment of people who live in the lake area,” said McGreer. Beyond employing people to build homes, employees in the counties around the lake support development with $32 million in annual building material sales

~ Chad Stearns

at hardware stores; stone, tile and brick supplies; appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures; and materials for sea walls and docks. “We buy supplies locally, rarely going outside the lake market for building materials, fixtures, stone and other supplies we need. That equals jobs for everyone employed at those stores,” said McGreer. The RCLCO reports that approximately 50 percent of the homes on the lake are for permanent residents and 50 percent are for homeowners that build vacation getaways or second homes. Permanent residents and visitors on the lake keep the stores open for customers; the restaurants serving guests; the gas fueling cars and campers; and the marinas repairing and storing boats. With a common understanding of the economic boost that new residents and tourists bring, Lake Martin lovers can look forward to a bright future, welcoming newcomers with open arms.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

BUSINESS PROFILE 

Wind Creek State Park STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

Wind Creek State Park’s 1,445 acres hug the shoreline of Lake Martin – a recreational mecca and anglers’ paradise. One of the largest state-owned campgrounds in Alabama, WCSP offers affordable rates and recreational amenities to keep visitors playing at the lake for weeks – and the local economy thriving. Lake Martin’s State park supports 34 to 39 local jobs and last year contributed more than $140,000 to Alexander City’s lodging tax fund. In 38 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

addition, campers and park visitors often shop at local stores, which supports more jobs and generates tax revenues for the city’s education system, said WCSP Superintendent Bruce Adams. “Our total guest stays for the fiscal year ended in September 2019 was over 150,000 people, including campers in the equine area,” Adams said. Another 103,000 people visited the park for special events and vendor activities, such as the Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventure Tour. A twotiered canopy attraction with 11 zip lines, six sky walks and daring bridge

walks, the aerial adventure pays the park a percentage of total receipts. The canopy tour promises a bird’s-eye view of the lake and an exhilarating ride. Visit windcreekzipline.com to book an adventure. Another concession – Creem at the Creek, an ice cream and snack bar – also contributes a percentage of revenue to the park’s bottom line. In addition, the park calendar includes year-round events and activities to which non-campers are invited, from the annual Halloween Festival that draws thousands of visitors to

Clockwise from left: Park amenities include the Aerial Adventures canopy zip line; A child dreams the afternoon away in a campsite hammock; Anglers camp at the park to stay close to fishing opportunities; The campground offers 586 sites with water, sewer and electrical services; The putt-putt course was added last year and is another recreation opportunity for children; The park also provides a venue for the annual Water Festival, which teaches local fourth graders the importance of water.

view campground decorations to night hikes, nature workshops and longdistance horseback rides. These events are free to registered campers, but locals and tourists can pay a minimal day-use fee to join the fun. Campers and non-campers also enjoy access to the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s archery range, swimming beach, forest trails, picnic pavilions, boat launch and all day-use areas, as well as the new puttputt golf course. Opened in June of last year, the lake areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only putt-putt generated more than $18,000 in its first season. Total revenue at WCSP last year

totaled nearly $2.4 million, 26 percent of which was paid in local salaries. More than $93,000 was spent locally to purchase supplies for park services, maintenance and repairs. The bulk of revenues are generated by some 320 acres of the park that are devoted to its 586 campsites, all of which offer water and electrical hook ups and 157 of which are right on the lake. There are 39 premium sites that include waterfront access, water, sewer, electrical and television service, as well as extra-long pads to accommodate large RV units. Campers also have access to bath-

houses and laundry facilities that are located throughout the campground and at the park marina. In addition, cabin rentals are available year round, and the park reserves an equine area for campers with horse trailers. In addition, WCSP contributed more than $412,000 to the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s park system, which helps to pay for administrative salaries, website maintenance and park system promotion. Wind Creek State Park plays an important role in the local economy and keeps visitors and local residents playing at Lake Martin.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

SUPPORT 

Martin Dam STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

ithout Martin Dam, Alexander City would likely be a small rural town in the South, a supply center for farmers and timber interests along a shallow winding, picturesque river. Not deep enough to support riverboat traffic and the commerce that would have accompanied it in the early part of the last century, outdoor adventures today could have been limited to canoe and kayak excursions, along with hiking and horseback riding. But a hundred years ago, president of what would one day become the Alabama Power Company, Thomas W. Martin, sited a 2000-foot long dam at a place along the Tallapoosa River called Cherokee Bluffs. It was an action that changed everything upstream in the Tallapoosa River Basin. Construction began on the 168-foot tall dam in 1923, and whole communities in the valley that was slated for backfilling with river water were relocated to higher ground. Old home places disappeared, and 12 cemeteries were moved. The water level fluctuated heavily – due to droughts, floods and hydrogeneration during those early years. The water was muddy most of the time, as silt washed into the river during rains. Driftwood and other debris came with the silt and settled in back sloughs where some of it remained for another 70 years until Lake Martin Resource Association started leading hundreds of volunteers during annual cleanups through the Alabama Power 42 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

Renew Our Rivers program. In the dam’s early days, silting prompted predictions that the backwater would have a useful life of only about 50 years. A land conservation campaign encouraged converting land use to timber and grassland to control erosion, and by the 1940s, the water began to clear. Still, recreation did not catch on quickly. With water levels that rose and fell intermittently under lack of a management plan, it was difficult for recreation to take a foothold. Even the fishing suffered from the water level changes. It was the late 1940s, ’50s and ’60s before water skiing expositions and boat races drew audiences to the lake. Fishermen and families began to build rustic cabins on the mosquito-ridden backwater. A lot could be purchased for about $7,000 then. Today, half a million dollars is not an unusual asking price for a waterfront lot at Lake Martin. In the early 1970s, Alabama Power’s license to operate Martin Dam came up for renewal. A contingent of local residents and business leaders flew to Washington, D.C., and were successful in negotiating standardized water levels at the lake. With some assurance of consistency, the lake’s popularity grew. Homes were built; neighborhoods established; and Lake Martin became the vacation and second home destination that is today. With the diligence of advocacy groups, stringent environmental safeguards were adopted, and Lake Martin was designated as the state’s only

Treasured Lake by decree of the governor in 2011. Recreation is a $70.4 million business today and is responsible for more than 1,000 jobs, according to an independent economic impact study by RCLCO in 2018. Lakefront real estate generates more than $10 million in property taxes annually. And visitors swell the economies in Alexander City and other lake area communities. While supporting recreation is a stipulated purpose of the dam, according to Alabama Power’s most recent operation license, flood prevention, downstream navigation, wildlife habitat requirements and power generation figure into management of the reservoir as well.

Alabama Power uses four generation units to harness energy and help to regulate water levels on Lake Martin

Working in tandem with three additional dams on the Tallapoosa River, flood prevention is the primary function at Martin Dam. In winter, the water level is drawn down 7 feet to create storage capacity for spring rain runoff. Once every six years, the lake level drops 10 feet instead of 7 feet to allow for dock repairs and other maintenance. The drawdown also helps to control spread of invasive weeds. Lake Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water level also is subject to navigation requirements in the Alabama River in accordance with the Army Corps of Engineers water manual. Outside of flood prevention and downstream navigation, the water level at Lake Martin is guided by a

rule curve that begins the refill to summer pool on March 1 and pulls the virtual plug on Sept. 1 or Oct. 15, depending on the amount of water in the river basin. While actual operation of the dam has kept up with technological advances, the aesthetic charm of the original Art Deco powerhouse on the west bank of the Tallapoosa River has been preserved. The wide, heavy copper-clad doors and tiled floors remain, as do the antique dials, indicator lights and switches that recall the grandeur of its original construction. A tour of the dam includes a walk through the powerhouse and a glimpse of the great turbines that generate enough power to supply

45,000 homes at full capacity. During a tour, visitors walk along the parapet where a crane lifts the 30-foot by 16-foot, 40,000-pound spillway gates to release lake water at a rate of 3 million gallons per minute. Tours are suspended until further notice, but when they can be resumed, please call for reservations. To schedule a tour of the lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important landmark when this quarantine time is ovr, call 205-257-1167.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

SUPPORT 

Safety at the Lake First responders work together to serve and protect STORY BY LONNA UPTON

esidents and tourists in small towns rarely take the opportunity to boast about the safety of their community. They feel safe, but they really do not know what is happening behind the scenes to maintain that safety. In the Lake Martin area, layers of expertise work cohesively among the Lake Martin area team of police, fire, security and emergency response personnel at all times of the year and in all situations, but most diligently now in the pending cornonavirus situation. A common thread runs through the leaders of those organizations: It is their love of smalltown life, the people who live or visit here and the good life that comes with community. Jason Moran, director of the Tallapoosa County Emergency Management Agency considers himself an almostlifelong resident of Tallapoosa County. He has strong memories of learning to ski at the lake and catching his first fish. His personal interest in the safety of family, neighbors, friends and visitors keeps him focused on his job working in conjunction with police and fire departments in the county. The main role of the EMA is to build relationships with all the county agencies so everyone is familiar with each other and their respective roles when disaster strikes. A Local Emergency Planning Committee coordinates with all agencies to conduct occasional community-based exercises, helping agency personnel put names with faces before a true disaster hits. The EMA also oversees Tallapoosa Alert, a mass notification system that currently reaches more than 16,000 residents who have signed up for the service. Another of EMA’s goals is to sign up residents for the system, which could help to prevent loss of life in an emergency. “Our notification system and our emergency personnel are second to none. Career or volunteer, we all have 44 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

a vested interest in our communities, and we want the best for everyone here. It doesn’t matter if someone is in Tallapoosa County for the weekend or if they have lived here all their lives, our first responders are here to serve everyone,” Moran said. Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner has lived in Alexander City and worked with the police department for 28 years. Although he’s not from the area, he and his wife met in Alexander City and loved the smalltown atmosphere of the city and the lake community, a perfect place to raise children. Currently, the ACPD employees 51 sworn police officers that work in teams of eight officers working 12 hour shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We offer hometown type police services, and no call or request is too big or small. The Alexander City Police Department serves the city of Alexander City’s jurisdiction, not just the city limits. Also, we are blessed to have a great working relationship with Russell Lands Security, especially since a majority of the security force either worked for or retired from our department,” Turner said. Turner is excited to announce that ACPD expects to add a marine patrol boat to the department this year to help keep Lake Martin and the surrounding area safe place for residents and tourists. Reese McAllister, Alexander City Fire Chief, grew up in Alexander City and is proud to serve his hometown. He works alongside 52 full-time and 12 part-time firefighters. The Alexander City stations have automatic aid agreements with the Willow Point and Our Town volunteer fire departments. They also have mutual aid agreements with Kellyton and Hackneyville volunteer fire departments. “We are always willing to offer assistance to any fire department who requests our service. We also have a great working relationship with Steve Morgan, head of Russell

Lands Security, and we are willing to assist each other in any way,” McAllister said. ACFD provides CPR training, fire safety and education for citizens in town and in outlying communities, and has provided smoke detectors and address markers to residents of Alexander City. “Of the 64 employees, 34 of those are paramedics. We have nine Advanced Life Support equipped ambulances, a rescue truck, a HAZMAT special response group to address hazardous materials and a dive team ready to respond if needed. We are well trained, staffed and equipped, as illustrated by our Insurance Services Office protection class rating of 2, to respond to any emergency or HAZMAT situation that may arise in our community. Nationwide, only 2 percent of fire departments achieve a rating of 2 or greater,” McAllister said. In addition to ACFD, the area is served by 13 volunteer fire departments with a total of approximately 225 volunteers throughout the county. Dadeville has a paid/volunteer fire department. “These men and women give of their own time to train and help others in the community. We also have two public-safety answering points where 911 dispatchers are located. These dispatchers are the connection from the caller to the responder, which is critical. They do an outstanding job,” said Moran. Steve Morgan, Chief of Security for Russell Lands on Lake Martin, is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement and an Alexander City native. “We have 16 trained security officers at three locations. We provide 24/7 security at all Russell Lands businesses, properties, 10 neighborhoods and more than 240 lake cabins in three counties – Tallapoosa, Coosa and Elmore. Our area also includes more than 100 miles of nature trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders,” Morgan said. Morgan touts the symbiotic relationship between his security guards and the Alexander City police and fire departments, the district attorney’s office, county sheriff’s office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. “We are in constant contact with each other. The entire brotherhood of law enforcement is like a family. We are here for each other,” Morgan said. To that end, Russell Lands hosts a semi-annual law enforcement meeting at Willow Point for networking and information sharing. In addition to fire, police and emergency management, Tallapoosa County provides four designated tornado shelters. Daviston Community Safe Room and the New Site Volunteer Fire Department basement open in the event of severe weather. The Alexander City City Hall and the Tallapoosa County Courthouse in Dadeville open if the threat level is enhanced or greater. Police Chief Turner believes that visiting or living in the Lake Martin area offers a chance to step back in time 40 years to a simpler, kinder way of life. Whether fulltime in the Lake Martin area, visiting or camping for the weekend, safety services are top-notch, staffed by people who serve their community with passion and efficiency.

Great Location • Peaceful Setting • Comfortable Living Spacious One Bedroom Homes Now Available!

ALEXANDER CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT Emergencies: 911 Department: 256.397.1023

1 Court Square • Alexander City, AL

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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SUPPORT 

Russell Medical

Russell Medical is a UAB-affiliated hospital

STORY BY BETSY ILER

ussell Medical is on the frontline of health care in the Lake Martin area 24/7 and 365 days a year. A UAB affiliated facility, our local medical center prepared the facility, their staff and the community as the virus advanced. The hospital and the services it offers also plays an important role in supporting local tourism. While healthcare is not the first service a visitor to Lake Martin looks for, it’s reassuring to know that a variety of quality medical options are available at the lake. Russell Medical sees a steady stream of tourism patients in its emergency department and urgent care facility year round, from minor fishing in winter to Chimney Rock injuries in the summer months, but services at this UAB connection also include cancer treatment, a helipad, a fitness center and available appointments with physicians and a variety of specialists. “We’re proud to be part of UAB Health System now,” said Russell Medical Marketing Director Susan Foy. “People recognize what that means in terms of quality healthcare, and they know UAB is what they will get when they walk through our doors.” Foy sends that message to tourists and other visitors through a variety of channels. Full-page ads are placed in the Lake and Lake Martin Living magazines, which serve the Lake Martin area with timely articles about the people, places and activities around the lake. Information about Russell Medical can also be found on the Wind Creek State Park maps, on shopping carts at Winn Dixie and on public transit busses. “Don’t wait until there’s an emergency at the lake to find us,” she urges visitors. “Put Russell Medical contact information in your cellphone, so healthcare will be available at the touch of button when you need us.” Those healthcare services include a regional full service facility with a 24/7 emergency room; an Urgent Care facility that is open seven days a week for non-emergencies; and the state’s first UAB satellite cancer treatment center. “We see a steady stream of anglers through the winter fishing season, usually for minor things like fishing lures and cuts. In the summer months, we see a lot of injuries

from people who jump off Chimney Rock, as well as wakeboarding incidents, bee stings, poison ivy, dehydration and boating injuries,” Foy said. In the springtime, the emergency room also sees a few snakebites. These visits are in addition to healthcare needs for local residents. The hospital is centrally located in Alexander City on U.S. Highway 280 near the main thoroughfares to lake communities. The Urgent Care facility is on the hospital campus in a building that also houses Total Healthcare, a state-of-the-art primary care office for four area physicians. While the Urgent Care facility does not see children under the age of 3 years old, local pediatricians maintain weekend hours to care for local and visiting children who need care outside of standard office hours. Also located on the Russell Medical property is the UAB Medicine Russell Cancer Center, a regional leader in screenings, diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, advanced technology, rehabilitative care and support. The facility offers a multidisciplinary care team of medical and radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, dosimetrist, therapist, clinical dietician and support staff, so many cancer patients visiting the lake can receive care locally for more than 100 forms of cancer. When the quarantine has passed, visitors will again be able to keep up with their regular physical therapy and fitness workout schedules at the Russell Medical Total Fitness center in the hospital. An extension of wellness services, Total Fitness complements clinical services through a staff of exercise specialists and licensed therapists in the 20,000-square-foot facility that includes two fitness gyms with weights and aerobic exercise equipment; regular classes; personal trainers; an indoor fitness pool with a wheelchair ramp, benches, grab bars and aquatic exercise equipment; a therapy pool featuring hydro-massage, aquatic treadmills and adjustable water current, lockers, showers and towel service. The center also offers flexible membership options to affordably meet the needs of part-time residents and visitors. Visit russellcares.com for more information about Russell Medical facilities and services.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

SUPPORT 

STORY BY JUDITH JAGER PHOTO BY AUDRA SPEARS & SUBMITTED BY JOHN THOMPSON

hey don’t call it Beautiful Lake Martin for the heck of it. A whole lot of dedication and work goes into preserving our 41,150 acres of shimmering blue water and 880 miles of pristine shoreline. Much of Lake Martin’s natural beauty can be attributed to the local nonprofit organizations that invest time and resources into making sure Lake Martin remains charming and safe for residents and visitors alike. Lake Watch Lake Martin originally commenced in 1992 out of concern for the amount of pollution entering the water by way of local factories.

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“Sometimes the water even turned hues of purple and blue from textile dyes being dumped in the lake,” said Lake Watch President Eric Reutebuch. Through diligence, persistence and determination, Lake Watch was instrumental in establishing the Alabama Treasured Lake criteria, which carries certain protections and water quality standards. “Basically, this status limits the amount of pollution that is dumped into the lake. Lake Martin is the one and only Treasured Alabama Lake and is one of the cleanest, if not the cleanest, in the state,” Reutebuch said. Today, Lake Watch has more than 150 members, living both on and off the lake, that work hard to maintain

Advocates for the Lake

Three nonprofit watchdog organizations work to keep the lake clean and safe

that Treasured status. “We test water chemistry and for bacteria at about 15 to 20 sites on the lake and in streams flowing into the lake every month,” he said. “Between all of the testing supplies and time to perform these tests, it takes a village.” In a related effort, Lake Watch is focused on water education and outreach, especially at the elementary school level. Lake Watch members also have taken on the responsibility of being the eyes and ears of water quality at Lake Martin.

“If there is someone illicitly dumping into the lake we need to know,” Reutebuch said. For more than 25 years, Lake Watch has identified, monitored and played a role in eradicating pollution sources to keep them from compromising Lake Martin’s Treasured Lake status. To learn more about Lake Watch Lake Martin, visit the website at lakewatch.org. Lake Martin Resource Association first began in the late 1960s due to major concerns with the lake’s very low water levels. Today, under careful stewardship, LMRA continues its mission in making Lake Martin a better place every day through its initiatives, programs and community involvement. “We have about 1,400 members currently, about 50 percent being fulltime residents and the other half being part-time residents,” said LMRA President John Thompson. Thompson said the organization is only possible because of its dedicated members and volunteers. “We have some members that are not even residents. Some members are avid boaters or people that frequent Lake Martin or Wind Creek State Park for recreational fishing or camping,” he said. Thompson said LMRA is devoted to boater safety through a variety of programs that include the Women on Lake Martin boating class, environmental education and buoy placement. “We are responsible for every buoy on Lake Martin,” Thompson said. The organization has installed and maintains the 440 hazard buoys on the lake, including 85 lighted buoys for evening boaters. Buoy placement is performed by the Boater Safety Committee under the direction of Chairman Rendell Clark. Thompson said 65 percent of the LMRA budget is dedicated to buoy placement, and he hopes increased membership will bring an additional 115 lighted buoys to the Lake Martin waters. LMRA member Bobby Welch from Birmingham, Alabama, said he and his family have enjoyed summers at Lake Martin for years. “We feel safe knowing that shallow spots and underwater obstructions are identified with hazard buoys,” Welch said. LMRA members and volunteers also have the opportunity to serve the organization through several different programs throughout the year, the newest being the Lake Martin Treasured Mile Program. “Our Treasured Mile Program has been great for getting residents involved, and really, any person or group that is willing to adopt an area on the lake is welcome to be a part of the program,” Thompson explained. The program is a partnership between LMRA and Alabama Power Company with sponsorship from Russell Lands On Lake Martin. The intent of the program is to promote public participation in controlling litter year round at Lake Martin through the littercontrol adoption of designated shoreline segments or Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

Alabama Power islands. tion on behalf of Lake Martin as a whole; and promotTo join LMRA or to make a donation to the lighted ing the safe and secure recreational use and cleanliness buoy program, visit lmra.info. of Lake Martin. When the coronavirus situaThe HOBOs monitor and tion passes and you are swimactively advocate for Lake ming around the dock with Martin’s interest in the ongoing friends or jumping off Chimney Water Wars with Georgia and Rock into a full body of clean Florida and spend a large portion lake water, remember to be of their efforts lobbying for the thankful for the HOBOs. The lake’s water levels. Cunningham, members of the Lake Martin along with other HOBO memHome Owners and Boat bers, plays an integral part in Owners Association also play making sure Alabama’s water a role in keeping Lake Martin’s resources stay in Alabama. water in Lake Martin and are For some time now, officials dedicated to preserving memoout of Atlanta have continued ries and opportunities for future their efforts of trying to pump memories at Lake Martin for water from Lake Allatoona, generations to come. which would indirectly affect HOBO President Jesse and possibly lower water levels Cunningham said all memberat Lake Martin. Cunningham ship dues and donations are put said it is vital that our Alabama Shirley Cook and John Thompson on a trash-filled toward activities that promote lakes remain as full as possible, boat at last year’s ROR cleanup and defend Lake Martin. These not only for recreational use but activities include working with also to ensure preparedness in government entities to ensure case of a statewide drought. proper and sustainable water levels are maintained Visit akemartinhobos.com to learn more. throughout the year; advocating for laws and legisla-

Preserving Alabama’s natural resources starts in our backyard. Did you know longleaf pines are home to roughly 120 endangered or threatened plant and animal species? That’s why Alabama Power is working hard to help them grow. We’ve teamed up with partners across our state to preserve the natural resources that make Alabama a great place to put down roots – especially if you’re a longleaf pine.

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256-596-3081

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SUPPORT î &#x201C;

Alexander City Chamber of Commerce hosts a number of local concerts

Kids turn out for a Sun Festival event

LMIC provides work space for visitors and startups

Alexander City Chamber STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & CLIFF WILLIAMS

eaders in promoting and supporting local business through traditional means, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce also looks beyond the textbook to encourage growth by supporting business people who visit the area, which will be all the more important once the coronavirus threat has passed. With that objective in mind, the Lake Martin Innovation Center was developed as an office-awayfrom-the-office for vacationers. Meeting space, business equipment and other services are available to visitors for a nominal fee, making it possible for meetings, seminars and other business to be conducted at the lake. The chamber also takes a leadership role in a variety of events that draw tourists to the area, including Sun Festival, a week-long celebration of summer, followed by the Jazz Fest concert series; the Lead Forward expo for women; the annual Christmas parade; and Lake Martin Young Professionals activities, including the annual polar plunge and the Strand Sessions summer concert series in Strand Park down52

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town. In addition, the center serves as a business incubator, providing office space and support for start-up entrepreneurs. The chamber also supports future business leaders through the Wildcat Entrepreneur Academy and the Gateway Education program. The entrepreneur academy provides opportunities for local high school students to start businesses with the help of local investors, and through Gateway, graduating high school seniors could launch their college careers with two years of paid tuition at Central Alabama Community College. After successfully completing a five-year Our Future Is Now campaign, the chamber is building on that success with a new five-year plan focused on community development. Initiatives for the plan address retail and commercial recruitment, existing business growth and entrepreneurship, partnership with education and destination marketing and community engagement. To learn more or participate in chamber programs, call 256-234-3461 or visit alexcitychamber.com.

ALEXANDER CITY

FIRE & EMS

38 Court Square | Alexander City, AL

256-329-6780 ★E M E R G E N C Y ★ Reese McAlister Fire Chief

911

SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

SUPPORT  Main Street Alexander City offers boutique shopping with a vintage vibe

Main Street

STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS, COURTNEY LAYFIELD & RANDY WILSON

ain Street Alexander City attracts not only residents but also tourists to the area as the nonprofit downtown advocate has hosted events and created unique shopping and dining experiences. The organization will continue to support downtown merchants and businesses as possible through the current crsis situation. Many events attract people from surrounding areas, including second-home owners at Lake Martin and families that visit the area for the day or weekend. “We target advertising to surrounding areas and the lake to bring people into our downtown area by presenting options for them to enjoy. Merchants are always saying they get a lot of business from tourists, 54 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

especially during peak lake season,” said Main Street Alexander City Executive Director Stacey Jeffcoat. “All of our locally owned businesses offer shopping and service options that are one-of-a-kind to Alexander City. Main Street tries to provide people with something to do to spend their time and money downtown.” Main Street works closely with the city, Alexander City Chamber of Commerce and tourism directors to recruit businesses to town and shape an appealing environment. These community groups also have collaborated on a cohesive brand for the city, which will help to solidify an identity to present for tourists. Last fall, the organization invested in a lighting project through which selected trees were professionally wrapped in LED lights. Working on timers, the lights

Stacey Jeffcoat and Morgan Pike

“

Main Street hosts events year round that cater to a wide demographic, so there is something for everyone.”

~ Stacey Jeffcoat

turn on at night year round, not just during holidays or special events. “This not only adds ambiance to the town, but also studies show that lighting affects how much time people are spending in a location. They’re more likely to linger,” said Jeffcoat. The Main Street Alabama-designated community also works to preserve the historic buildings that add to the charm and character of downtown. The group recently updated its Alexander City signage on U.S. Highway 280 with arrows directing visitors to downtown. New way-finding signage is in the works as well to make it easy for tourists to find the historic downtown district. Alabama Department of Transportation has agreed to install overhead sig-

The farmers market bustles at Broad Street Plaza

nage on U.S. Highway 280 at the intersections of state Routes 63 and 22. “We hope to catch people when they’re driving through on 280. When 280 is good, Main Street is good,” said Jeffcoat. Through its four-point approach of design, organization, promotion and economic vitality, Main Street Alexander City supports local businesses, creates opportunities and experiences for residents and draws newcomers to the area with its distinctive brand. The more Main Street improves and maintains the heart of Alexander City, the more the town will continue to prosper, Jeffcoat said.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

SUPPORT 

Need a tow? STORY BY LONNA UPTON PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

Danah and Chad Gilliland

had and Danah Gilliland, owners of TowBoatUS on Lake Martin, have found just the right combination of family time, work and community service, allowing them to enjoy every moment of their time on the water. “We both enjoy helping people, and we both want to be servants to the community. Our business allows us to help stranded boaters or to recover missing property in the water, and our community service keeps us connected to the people and the lake we love in a different way,” Gilliland said. The national organization of TowBoatUS recognized the Gillilands at the national conference last year for the balance they have found between work and service. The Gillilands set a new TowBoatUS record for the most $85 inland memberships sold in a year – 800 in 2019. They also made a presentation describing their community service efforts, so other locations might see what can happen in a community when TowBoatUS locations go above and beyond. While Danah handles the behind-the-scenes work of their business, Chad works with two full-time and three part-time employees to handle rescue efforts. Their three large boats are easy to spot with the TowBoatUS logo and colors. Besides towing, basic maintenance repairs to get boats started again and occasional gasoline needed for a boat to make it to a marina, the Gillilands’ company also assists the marine police in finding missing persons in boats.

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“We dive for missing jewelry, cell phones and other items all the time. But we also worked up in Scottsboro last year after the marina fire. We have the equipment to locate sunken boats and to bring them out of the water,” Gilliland said. Locally, the Gillilands enjoy sponsoring fishing tournaments and other special events. They help with the Russell Lands’ Women on the Water class. And they volunteer for every Lake Martin Resource Association cleanup. “We have a couple of barges that we can use to carry the trash collected. We really think what the LMRA does is so important. In fact, the lake is my office, and I take it personally when trash is dumped in the lake. My employees know that if they see any trash in the water, they should retrieve it immediately. I travel all over the country for recovery efforts and environmental issues, and I don’t think people realize how great we have it here. I can say that other lakes cannot compare to the beauty of Lake Martin,” Gilliland said. Gilliland’s previous careers in law enforcement and fire fighting enable him to easily assist the marine police. Some of his employees were previously in law enforcement, as well. They have the knowledge to assess situations and handle them correctly. Since the marine police are understaffed, the 911 dispatcher contacts TowBoatUS when the marine police are not available. “I believe our circle of friends gets smaller between 9 p.m. and the morning. It is hard to call a friend to help you at night, or in the early morning or when it’s freezing outside. We are always available. And for visitors to the lake, it is especially important to have help when they may not have someone to call,” Gilliland said. Gilliland is from Alexander City and Danah is from Clay County. They both are proud to call Lake Martin home. Gilliland said they especially like the family feel of Lake Martin. “There are plenty of activities and opportunities for recreation on the lake. We like having so many restaurants on the water. And all the marinas do such a good job. They don’t just sell boats. They teach the buyers how to use their new boats. Lake Martin has so much to offer, and we are just proud to be a part of it. I think feeling safe on the water is priceless, and a call to us means we will get you all squared away, so you can enjoy the rest of your time,” Gilliland said.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

Dr. George W. Hardy General Dentistry

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LOCAL PEOPLE 

Mayor of Alexander City

Tommy Spraggins STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

ommy Spraggins initially carried the tourreally do this.’” ism banner as president of the Alexander Focused on a cohesive look for wayfinding signage, City City Council. When he became mayor logos and events, the new Alexander City brand shares upon the untimely death of beloved Mayor colors, fonts and styles across a spectrum of organizaJim Nabors last year, he found himself even tions and businesses. more involved. While some projects had “Instead of looking disjointed with everyone having a been started under Nabors’ tenure, including City Hall’s different style, we will send a consistent, unified message – move to an updated facility on the U.S. Highway 280 cora positive message – that visitors are welcome,” Spraggins ridor and the Russell Marine superstore that is slated to said. open this spring, other new opportunities emerged – such as Fishing tournaments are one of those areas of tourism the soon-to-be-revealed branding growth that will benefit from campaign – as Spraggins settled these changes, he said. Mayor Spraggins advocated into the office of mayor. The city’s airport, Thomas C. early for a tourism initiative As an Alexander City native Russell Field, is another point on the city council, Spraggins of entry for tourists and visitors, immediately saw the benefit of Spraggins said. City officials have a full-time tourism director for taken the opportunity to make the area when Alexander City changes focused on making visiChamber of Commerce President tors feel welcomed. and CEO Ed Collari made the A new sign at the airport suggestion a couple of years ago. entrance puts it in words, That position is expected to be ‘Welcome to Alexander City,’ and filled soon. Spraggins said the new airport “It just made sense to have a manager, Jackson Hatton, is a full-time person in that position. I great fit with his positive outlook. would attend statewide meetings Among the next steps, he for municipalities, and others at said, is bringing on board a new the meetings were shocked that director for the Lake Martin Area Alexander City and Lake Martin Economic Development Alliance. had no full-time dedicated tour“All of these organizations – ism director. People’s reactions the city, the chamber, Main Street were ‘how could you not?’” Spraggins said. – we used to work independently at the same goals. This To fund the position, the city moved to increase the lodg- working together is new, but it’s really working. We’ve set ing tax, which at the time was considerably less than the a precedent. We will bring the LMAEDA into that workstate average. ing relationship, too, and for future administrations, work“Tourism drives these numbers,” Spraggins said. “The ing together like this won’t be something new: It will be tax is applied to lodging only, so it doesn’t cost the citizens expected,” he added. of Alexander City anything, but it benefits all of us. It will For Spraggins, the tourism effort is as personal as it is provide additional jobs and higher sales tax revenues.” professional. Alexander City has always been home to Those jobs and revenues will be important to the area him. He grew up here, and after graduating from Auburn when the all-clear sounds. University, he came home to work in the textile industry. Shortly after the lodging tax increase was approved, He sees the city’s well-being and prosperity as a matter of Main Street Alexander City Director Stacey Jeffcoat personal stewardship. invited the mayor and council to a presentation by the “It is personal,” Spraggins said. “I hope it’s personal for statewide Main Street organization, which had just everyone who lives here. I would like for all of us to be completed a revitalization assessment for the downtown positive about Alexander City, especially when we meet entertainment district. visitors in our grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations. “When they presented their ideas about branding, it Be friendly, welcome them and ask them to please come blew us away,” Spraggins said. “We thought, ‘we could back.” Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

LOCAL PEOPLE 

Tallapoosa County Commissioner

Steve Robinson STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

fforts to organize a tourism initiative kicked off in the area about six years ago and gained momentum. Though Lake Martin was well established as a second home and vacation market by 2014, only isolated projects aimed at drawing visitors into town. The prospect of developing a tourist-friendly community – with cohesive wayfinding, marketing campaigns and the addition of year round events and activities – was daunting, but those with vision began the conversations. They saw what could be, rolled up their sleeves and asked the big question: How do we make it happen? Tallapoosa County Commissioner Steve Robinson was one of them, and he saw a new local industry as the vehicle that could drive the venture forward. “We were meeting with a group from the Sabal Trail pipeline, and I wanted to take some of the benefits we were going to receive in property taxes to fund tourism in our county,” Robinson said. “We needed to help get the word out to people, so they would know what Tallapoosa County has to offer. The contributions that visitors make here – through lodging, eating in restaurants, participating in activities and sporting events – we see a lot of benefit from that.” Sabal Trail became a community partner, not only by bringing the natural gas pipeline through Tallapoosa County but also by funding local projects aimed at eco-

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nomic growth. Among these projects is the provision of grant funds for the renovation that created Lake Martin Innovation Center in a former bank office. “Sabal Trail did what they told us they were going to do, so we did start our tourism authority to help identify and Commissioner Steve Robinson promote activities in the lead the county,” he said. tourism Robinson wrote a charge job description for the in the county county’s tourism director position, and Sandra Fuller has served in that role for more than a year now. “We knew that our first year we would be collecting data and establishing a social presence,” Robinson said. “We’re seeing success a year in. The networking that Sandra has been able to do has plugged her into several different things, including that she can talk directly to her peers and gain an understanding of what they are doing in their communities.” Doing so will help to plan events that could revive the local tourism effort following the downturn that came with the global cornomavirus pandemic. “Some of it is guessing, but we’re beginning to quantify even the guesses and refining those,” Robinson explained. “We’re looking for where we can get the upticks, trying to help others increase the success. It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money, but it takes time. “I welcome any word about what we could and should be doing as an attraction to our community,” he said.

www.slworld.com

“Wherever SL is going is the future of automotive.”

“People are our driving force.”

SL Alabama associates volunteering to assist the Lake Martin Area United Way with their 2018 Day of Action.

“Committed to our community and our employees.” 2481 Airport Blvd., Alexander City, AL 35010 PH: 256-397-8511 FX: 256-397-8512 Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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Sandra Fuller

LOCAL PEOPLE 

Tallapoosa County Tourism Director Sandra Fuller STORY BY BETSY ILER

ourism is an industry that could come back strong and quick when the coronavirus quarantine is over, more so than other industries, and it will be more vital than ever to our economy, said Tallapoosa County Tourism Director Sandra Fuller. “After people have been confined for this long period of time, when it is lifted, people will be ready to get out and do things,” Fuller said. “We want them to have things to do here. That will be very important to our economy.” Restaurants and small businesses are likely to take the biggest hits during the quarantine, she said, and the community needs to be ready to support them when restrictions are no longer necessary. To be ready to hold events, she explained, it is better to postpone and reschedule them, than to cancel them. Doing so will make it easier to pick up where we left off when a new date is set. “Keep up your planning for an event and wait until the last minute to cancel it,” she suggested. In addition, keeping her informed of the status of events will help her to post an up-to-date a list of things to do for people as they come to the lake. Fuller is planning to post a blog about local tourism businesses, especially including restaurants, during the quarantine, so people can support these local businesses and still be safe in the interim. “It’s important for us to remember that we live in nature; there are things we can get out and do during the quarantine time. I saw something on social media that said, ‘Hiking is not cancelled. Fishing is not can-

celled. Mountain biking is not cancelled. Watching sunsets is not cancelled. Nature is not closed.’ And it’s true. We can still get outdoors and do things. Not in big groups, but it’s good for us to be outside,” she said. Our proximity to nature also can help the area through the quarantine, she said, as there are houses that can be rented and activities available at the lake. The access to nature also makes Lake Martin a desirable environment in which to quarantine. “You can rent a house at the lake and go hiking; go fishing; go out on the boat. Lake living is still accessible in a way that people can stay safe,” she said. During the confinement period, Fuller will continue to promote the Lake Martin area on social media, on the website at tallapoosacountytourism.com and through statewide tourism avenues, so people looking to go somewhere when the situation eases will keep Lake Martin in mind. “We want people to be safe, but we also want to continue to promote our local venues; then, as quickly as we can, we need to hold events. We won’t know when we can do that until we get there, but we will need to get our events back on the calendar as soon as possible because people will be looking for things to do,” she explained. “And we want to get out and do things outside in the meantime.” While these current activities in nature don’t directly add to the local economy, they could help to keep us mentally sharp and active and ready to kick off the summer at Lake Martin when the opportunities return, she said.

Kayaking the Harold Banks Canoe Trail on the Tallapoosa River is one of many activities Fuller promotes in the area

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

Marianne Hudson

LOCAL PEOPLE 

Naturalist at Crossroads STORY BY LONNA UPTON PHOTO BY JOHN DENNEY

ussell Lands Naturalist Marianne Hudson specializes in helping children and families connect with the environment. Since 2009, she has served as interpreter between visitors and the local flora and fauna that live at Lake Martin and in the 25,000-acre Russell Forest on the water’s edge. Her classroom extends from the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads, where she teaches children and adults about Lake Martin’s diverse biology, to the outdoors, where her eager audiences can see the wonder of the natural world for themselves. Though local residents enjoy visiting Hudson’s cabin classroom and exploring the 125 miles of Russell Forest trails with her, it’s the tourists that keep her busy throughout the year as they get to know the beauty of Lake Martin, its shorelines and forests. “Tourism brings a great influx of economic and intellectual currency, which furthers the flavor of the Lake Martin area. Some of my visitors are from other states, so it’s important for me to be able to relate the flora and fauna found in Russell Forest to that found in their own backyards,” Hudson explained. “By examining similarities and differences between their local habitats and those we explore together, my visitors can extend their experience back to their own homes. Learning to relate what they’ve learned here to what they regularly encounter fosters a strong foundation for future interest.” Hudson earned a wildlife biology degree at the University of Maryland, and she is licensed in Alabama as a wildlife rehabilitator to raise and release wildlife. Her extensive experience in outdoor classrooms makes her the perfect teacher for children of all ages. The Naturalist Cabin serves as her home base for presentations and exhibits. “Russell Forest and Russell Crossroads are essential for visitors to establish a sense of place. Any neighborhood is more comfortable when you’re familiar with the neighbors,” she said. “The bounty of wildness in Russell Forest allows visitors to immerse themselves in their surround64 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

ings, and the amenities at Russell Crossroads offer a personal connection that lets visitors know they are welcome.” Hudson said she tries to immerse visitors, so that even in just one outing, they could find things they hadn’t noticed before. Her favorite areas of the lake are the creeks at the ends of sloughs, which make beautiful habitats and create little neighborhoods for small creatures. Although the Russell Forest is populated by large fauna, such as deer and turkeys, these animals are wary of visitors to the woods. Hudson’s focus is usually on the snakes, insects and smaller creatures that explorers often have more opportunities to encounter. In addition to her work with Russell Lands, Hudson works for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. There, she answers questions and leads seminars to educate Alabama residents on how to solve problems that occur between people and nature. She also is a passionate deer hunter, falconer and raptor trainer. Prior to joining ADCNR, she worked as a biologist and educator at Auburn University’s Southeastern Raptor Center, but her work at Russell Lands is especially important to her. “I meet so many families! One of my favorite things is when a family returns to visit me, and the children have brought something with them that they wanted me to see. It may be a special rock or even a lizard that they caught, and they knew I would share in their excitement. We spend time appreciating the small stuff. Just yesterday, a young lady texted me a photo of an opossum she encountered in the woods. Ten years ago, she was a little girl, and I helped her discover some amazing things. Now, she drives her own car, has her own phone and spends her own time in the woods. Yet, she still thinks of me when she finds a treasure. And to get that text – a decade later – that’s an incredible feeling,” Hudson said.

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LOCAL PEOPLE 

Tourism Dollars Tourism dollars enter the community through a variety of vendors and services; but then, they are spent at other local businesses that are not directly connected to the tourism industry. In this way,

tourists support jobs across the city. We asked the following business owners and service providers how they spend the tourism dollars that they receive. Here is what they said.

Mark Gilliland

Bartender Mark Gilliland STORY BY LONNA UPTON

ark Gilliland opened the Ocie and Belle’s lounge on Main Street in downtown Alexander City in 2017. He credits Alexander City and lake residents for bringing in their part-time neighbors and friends to the bar. Those visitors often return on their own when they are in town. Gilliland worked for years in liquor distribution but had never been a bartender. He visited many bars across the country, so he could see what was progressive and ahead of the curve in the business of tending and owning a bar. He knew he wanted to open a bar, but Alexander City was not on his radar until friends convinced him to come back to his hometown where the city was making great progress with economic development and tourism. “I’ve always liked dive bars, so when we found the space downtown, I knew I could have the cozy feel that I wanted – a feeling like you are sitting at home or in your basement,” Gilliland said. 66 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

The process of opening the new space took about a year-and-a-half. With the help of David Taylor, Gilliland’s father-in-law, the renovation took shape beautifully. Gilliland credits Taylor with the pine and cedar used in the bar, along with the original brick, definitely a decorative look that has paid off. “Lake residents, fulltime and part-time, who come into the bar allow me to hire bartenders who spend money at local businesses I can personally support other local Main Street businesses. And most important, I take care of my family, including buying groceries and gas locally and having children in the preschool at Jacob’s Ladder, which supports the teachers who work there,” Gilliland said.

LOCAL PEOPLE 

Waitress

As tourism recovers, restaurant revenues wiil support local jobs

Taranisha Anderson STORY BY LONNA UPTON

lexander City’s Taranisha Anderson is on the frontline of the local tourism industry. A server and bartender at Ruby Tuesday on U.S. Highway 280, Anderson serves in an industry that receives 27 percent of total tourism spending across the state, the highest-impact industry, according to the 2018 Alabama Tourism Department Report. She hears first-hand what visitors think of the Lake Martin area. “Those big days with tourists in town really keep us busy. We love the game day traffic that pulls people in. Even the high school games bring in people from out of town who can see how great Alexander City is,” Anderson said. Anderson has heard construction and road workers in

Marinas provide services to visitors and residents

the restaurant comment positively on the area. “The boat shows and tournaments are really great for all the restaurants. There are so many people who have never been to the lake. When they are here, they learn about the fireworks, and Jazz Fest and the car shows – so many things we have to do here that they are not even aware of,” Anderson said. She said she recognizes that tourist attractions in Alexander City help to provide the income she needs to take care of her mother in Rockford. “And with the money I make, I support local stores and their employees by shopping at Walmart and Winn Dixie. I support restaurants and other servers by eating at G’s Kountry Kitchen and J.R.’s Sportsbar and Grill and Ruby Tuesday, of course,” she said.

Boat Mechanic Kevin Jones STORY LONNA UPTON

evin Jones, boat mechanic at Blue Creek Marina for 23 years, has seen changes on Lake Martin, not only in the number of homes being built, but in the number of boats he sees at the marina year-round. He believes the changes are all positive for people who work in lake-related jobs. “I’m originally from New Jersey, so I used to see the beach areas go from sleepy little towns in the winter to crazy in the summer. It has a little of that here at the lake, although we are more year-round now. In fact, the biggest difference I’ve seen at my job is that we’ve gone from slow winters to busy all year, and that is a good thing,” Jones said. Jones lives in Reeltown and has only a 10-mile commute to work at Blue Creek. He said although homes may be popping up all around the lake, and the woods may change from

time to time, he knows construction means he and others will always have a job to support their families. With 400 boat slips for both winter and summer storage, Blue Creek handles boats for full-time and part-time homeowners, as well as an increasing number of weekend visitors. “The lake’s the lake, and people want to enjoy it. There’s room for everyone – homeowners and campers and people who just come for the day. People are attracted to the water, and that’s what will always keep the people coming to the lake – and us working,” Jones said. “Because I work at a marina and tourists on the lake need us, their money spent allows me to keep my home, buy the things we need, and that helps the people who work in those stores. It also lets me be the Grandpa who buys things for our newest little one,” Jones said. Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

LOCAL PEOPLE 

Decorator Phil Spraggins

Phil Spraggins

STORY BY LONNA UPTON

hil Spraggins, owner of Phil Interior Design, moved home to Alexander City 20 years ago because he wanted to be part of the exciting growth around Lake Martin, especially with new homeowners on the water. He is a strong advocate for shopping locally and supporting the small businesses in the area. “I spend the money I make in my business trying to put it straight back into the community. I shop the furniture stores in Alexander City – King’s, Holley’s and McGhee’s. And I am so happy that Half Moon Interiors is on Main Street for my accessories. I always look here before I go out of town for anything, so the money I make from tourism supports businesses and employees that aren’t on the lake,” Spraggins said. Spraggins designs and decorates homes on and

around the lake. He also manages homes for part-time owners that need someone trustworthy to look after their homes when they can’t be there. “Homeowners ask me to oversee the work of electricians, cleaning services, painting and so many other jobs that are needed here directly because of tourism,” he said. “Newcomers think we are only a lake with water sports and fishing; then, they find out we are vast and diverse. They go into town for Jazz Fest, for instance, and fall in love with this great, little town,” Spraggins said.

Rental Agent Linda Gunn

Linda Gunn

STORY BY LONNA UPTON

lexander City native Linda Gunn has seen Lake Martin residents wrestle with the pros and cons of tourism around Lake Martin through the years, but as a real estate agent for more than 30 years, she credits tourism with positive change and growth in the lake area. Gunn Homes and Land works with home buyers and sellers, as well as vacation renters on the lake. She believes tourism trickles down and eventually affects just about everyone in town. “I love to see Georgia car tags, Florida tags, tags from other places in Alabama and other states in the driveways of rental houses. Those visitors are going to our gas stations, our convenience stores and produce stands. They buy groceries and eat at the restaurants in town and on the

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lake,” Gunn said. “Businesses in the lake area profit from visitors, whether renters or campers, who come to the lake. In fact, every business in our lake community benefits,” Gunn said. “Because tourists buy and rent homes on the lake, I can use my commissions to support people who work where I shop – Cloud Nine, Downtown Girl, Winn Dixie and Piggly Wiggly. I can enjoy buying wine at Emporium Wine, which means those tourists’ dollars that end up as my commissions are keeping another small business open in Alexander City.

LOCAL PEOPLE 

Retail Sales

Amy Hill & Sarah Neighbors STORY BY LONNA UPTON

arah Neighbors and Amy Hill credit Lake Martin tourism with a large part of the success at Cloud Nine, their boutique on Alexander City’s Main Street. “We love our permanent resident customers and part-time residents or tourists,” said Neighbors, who started the store with nine other women. Neighbors and Hill believe that Alexander City’s fulltime residents are the foundation of their business, but they also know that part-time lake homeowners or folks who are renting or camping on Lake Martin are essential to keep their business growing. “Shopping has changed over the years, and customer service is what really sells Cloud Nine. We have regular customers who live in Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, Memphis and other cities who can find items in our store that they cannot find easily in the big cities. We get to know our customers, so we can help them put things together or find and wrap the perfect gift,” Neighbors said.

Amy Hill

Sarah Neighbors

“We know that the money spent in our store by residents and tourists allows us to hire five people who live in Alexander City. Their money is then spent to buy groceries, to take care of their families and to support other local establishments, creating a domino effect that works to keep our town progressing,” Neighbors said.

Concierge

Tammi Montgomery

Tammi Montgomery STORY BY LONNA UPTON

Five years ago Tammi Montgomery moved to Alexander City and realized that part-time homeowners on Lake Martin had a need that was not being met. Homeowners were looking people to check on their homes, guide them through the maze of services needed when they didn’t know the area. So Montgomery rolled out her own business, Simply Personal on Lake Martin, a concierge service designed for part-time homeowners that need one-time or scheduled help with services. “Homeowners on the lake have invested not only in their own relaxation but also in the lake area itself. It’s good stewardship to provide information to them for local landscapers, housekeepers, pet sitters, or just someone to check to see if their home has damage after a storm. I can fill needs or just offer peace of mind. When you think about

it, we have insurance for our homes, but sometimes we need assurance – a way to know that our homes are safe or just that everything is ready for an upcoming visit,” Montgomery said. Montgomery sees her business as a way to help grow the tourism industry in the lake area. “Because I recommend local vendors, or I suggest local attractions, I am helping businesses in our community. When I do a pre-visit preparation for a homeowner, I buy groceries from a local store. I stock the wine refrigerator locally. I can hire someone to clean the pollen-covered porch – all local sources,” Montgomery said. “Having availability of services and activities for them is a win-win to our economic growth,” Montgomery said.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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EVENTS  The Lake Martin Young Professionals Polar Plunge raises funds for the LMRA buoy program

Go jump in the lake, in January

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

One of the biggest and best parties at Lake Martin takes place at the least expected time – the middle of January. It’s the Annual Lake Martin Young Professionals Polar Plunge, which helps fund a boating safety project on the lake. And the good news is: You don’t have to get wet to have a great time. Hosted by Kowaliga Restaurant, the event features live music, delicious food and a great view of the gluttons for punishment that actually charge into the frigid lake water in the middle of January, and the even braver race out to a buoy in a dash to win $100. Crazy? Yes! But it’s for a good cause, and it’s lots of fun. Now a well-attended annual event, the first polar plunge took place five years ago in 16-degree temperatures, but it was such a great time that even more plungers and spectators signed up for the event the following year. The plunge benefits Light Up Lake Martin, a Lake Martin Resource Association program that purchases and places lighted buoys in hazard areas on the lake.

LMRA purchases and maintains some 400 hazard buoys on Lake Martin, but less than one quarter of these are lighted. The organization has determined that, with the growth of night boating on the lake, close to 200 lighted buoys are needed. Each lighted buoys costs upward of $400, so this fundraiser helps the nonprofit lake advocacy organization make substantial progress toward the goal. This year’s efforts raised more than $3,000, adding to the approximately $14,000 that was raised in previous years. “The event has grown to become one that people really look forward to. It’s fun, sort of unique and supports a great organization – LMRA – that does tremendous work for Lake Martin in keeping it clean, safe and prosperous,” said Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Vice President Jacob Meacham, who coordinates the LMYP. “The partnership with LMRA is one of the driving forces for the support that turns out for the event, and Kowaliga Restaurant provides a great atmosphere for a really fun time.”

The party starts at 10 a.m. at Kowaliga Restaurant, and would-be plungers can register until 11:45 a.m. The official plunge takes place at noon, followed by the Dash for Cash. Dressing rooms are available to plungers immediately after they emerge from the lake, so they can dry off and change clothes. T-shirts are $20 for spectators but only $10 for those who take the plunge. Tickets to the LMYP Polar Plunge are $20, whether the ticketholder chooses to plunge or just observe from the bank. Children under age 8 are admitted free to this familyfriendly event. Tickets include admission to the party and the spread of great food, as well as the entertainment, which starts at 1 p.m. The event wraps up at 4 p.m. Visit the Lake Martin Young Professionals Facebook page in early January for details and ticket information.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

EVENTS 

Russell Forest Run

The Russell Forest Run has attracted runners from across Alabama, as well as neighboring states, to raise money for the Alexander City Schools Education Foundation. The event includes a 10K and a 5K run and is well known for the post-run party at The Stables at Russell Crossroads. “We try to make it a lot of fun,” said Russell Lands Director of Marketing Operations Robert Gunn. “We have live music and our grits bar, which has become very famous far and wide. People always seem to have a good time. “The trail run attracts several hundred walkers and runners. Each year, this event raises about $10,000 for local schools. The course is constructed of clay, sand and gravel, which offers a softer, more forgiving surface than a traditional road run.”

The course starts at the Town Green at Russell Crossroads and passes the Community Garden. This year, it crossed under state Route 63 before entering the forest. It is an electronically timed event, and runners who register early receive commemorative T-shirts. Many runners have collected every shirt since the event began 11 years ago. Among other projects, ACSEF provides students access to technology, such as iPads and notebook computers, to supplement their education. The foundation also provides grants to teachers and makes additional improvements to programs and equipment that affect the entire student body. For information about the run, visit the website at russellforestrun.com or call 256-397-1019.

Looking for a challenge?

Though this year’s race was cancelled as a measure to curb spread of the coronavirus, dates for the 2021 Lake Martin UltraRun will be announced soon. Ultra runners find a challenging and versatile course through Russell Forest in March for this event, one of the few races across the country that is run entirely on trails. The run offers three length options – 27, 50 and 100 miles – over rolling hills, carriage paths and wooded trails. The course is composed of four 25-mile loops and is an excellent choice for all ability levels. A consistent up-and-down

TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

run, the course includes nearly 14,000 feet of elevation gain at the 100-mile length. Runners are treated to picturesque views along the shores of Lake Martin, as well as its creeks. The route includes 16 aid stations that provide snacks and medical aid. Drop bags are allowed at two locations, and time on the course is limited to 30 hours. Visit southasterntrailruns.com/lake-martin-100 for information about next year’s event.

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T he Best in Home, Garden & Lake Living Essentials Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

EVENTS  This bend in the river attacts visitors from across the country to our area

The 1814 battle is re-enacted at the park annually

Battle of Horseshoe Bend STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

The site of a battle that defeated the Native American population in March of 1814 and eventually ceded more than 23 million acres to the U.S., Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is an important tourism venue in the Lake Martin area. More than 800 local tribesmen died on the battlefield that is commemorated each year with demonstrations of traditional Creek Indian life and frontier life from the year 1814. HBNMP is a great place to visit year round and

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with precautions could be navigated during the coronavirus quarantine, as the visitor center closed in February for renovations and is expected to remain closed until late March. Visit the website at nps.gov/ hobe/planyour visit/ before going. Educational panels that have been placed throughout the park describe Andrew Jackson’s calculated ambush of the Red Stick peoples and their failed attempts to escape across the river. In addition, a 2.8mile nature trail through the woods takes hikers past

other sites of interest related to the battle. Picnic sites are available in two locations at the park: One is located near the visitor center, and the other is near the Miller Bridge boat ramp on county Road 49. Picnicking is not permitted on the battlefield or in the Tohopeka Village site. The park also is part of the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail and is a popular location for bird watching and bird walks, and the Alabama Scenic River Trail takes paddlers around the bend of the river in

one of the most pristine river sections in Alabama. Shore fishing is allowed at the Miller Bridge boat ramp only. Bicycling is allowed on the 3-mile paved tour road inside the park gates but not on the nature trail, the battlefield or at the Tohopeka Village site. For more information, visit nps.gov/hobe.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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EVENTS 

More than 140 boats are on display at this annual event

Russell Marine In-Water Boat Show

Lake Martin ’s postponed signature events, including the Russell Marine’s In-Water Boat Show that is typically held in April, will be rescheduled soon after the precautions against the spread of the coronavirus are lifted. The show will be a great way to celebrate the recovery by demoing new boats and Sea-Doos, chowing down on hot dogs, catching a concert lakeside and saving on purchases of the new season’s gear. The Ridge Marina hosts this free event every year, putting more than 70 boats in the water and 70 on land to showcase the new models from Godfrey Pontoon Boats, Scarab Jet Boat, Nautique, Sea Ray,

Key West and Sea-Doo. Just added new brands this year will include SeaArk, Bass Cat, Bryant, Crevalle Boats and off-road vehicles from Can-Am. These boats will be in the water and available for demo rides and test drives. Back on shore, there will be live music, as well as a tent sale of T-shirts, tubes and pro shop accessories with great discounts on safety vests, apparel and lake toys. Look for an announcement of the rescheduled date at russellmarine.net.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

EVENTS  Marcello Giorgi sculpts a delicate statue from Sylacauga’s marble

Sylacauga Marble Fest

Among the unique geological features of the Lake Martin area, Sylacauga’s high-quality marble deposits attract visitors to the area, especially during the two-week long Marble Festival. Though this event has been cancelled in the interest of public health this year, plans are being made for Marble Fest 2021. Marble artists from across the country – even across the ocean – have visited Sylacuaga as on-site sculptors for this one-of-a-kind event. Last year, more than 30 sculptors worked day and night on marble statues of their own designs, setting up work stations in Blue Bell Park on Norton Avenue. During the annual 14-day program, tours of the Sylacauga marble quarry are open to the public; sculptures from across the country are offered for sale; children take part in a marble-themed poster contest; and artists are recognized with a party and the mayor’s reception. Sylacauga’s fine-grained marble is nearly pure calcite with an extremely similar makeup to Italy’s white Carrara marble. This Alabama small town just north of Alexander City boasts the largest operating calcium carbonate mine in the world, producing fine calcium carbonate filler and coating grades for paper and packaging manufacture, as well as marble for construction and art. “Last year, quarry tours sold out the week before the festival even started, and we sold more sculptures than we

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ever have in the past,” said Ted Spears, Marble Festival chairman. The 11th Annual Sylacauga Marble Festival in 2019 saw record-breaking numbers of sculptors and visitors, who strolled among the sculptors, admiring their works and asking questions. Each year, a visiting master sculptor attends the marble festival as an ambassador to represent the cultural exchange between two marble-based areas. The ambassador also makes presentations at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and at the B.B. Comer Library in Sylacauga, as both are sponsors for the event. The Sylacauga Marble Festival originated in 2011 as part of a cultural exchange program sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and Pietrasanta in Tuscany, Italy, home to the Carrara Mines and known as the town of marble. “The mission is to recreate the magic of marble through its artistic, commercial and industrial applications,” said Spears. Aside from arranged quarry tours, the Imerys-Gantt’s Quarry Observation Point Site is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The scenic overlook contains historical markers about the history of marble from the time Dr. Edward Gantt discovered the stone while on duty with Andrew Jackson’s forces in the 1800s. There are nearly 3,000 components in the world that contain marble as extracted calcium deposits, and four of Sylacauga’s industries are located in the area due to the marble quarries, said Spears. “Sylacauga Marble Company is the only producer of dimensional marble for artistic use, as well as marble for building construction,” he added. For more information about the Sylacauga Marble Festival, visit bbcomerlibrary.net/marblefestival.

The Easter Bunny helps children collect 3,000 eggs at WCSP

EVENTS 

Easter Egg Hunt at Wind Creek

Hundreds of children turn out every year for the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Wind Creek State Park on Lake Martin. Held in the north picnic area, the event features more than 3,000 candy-filled eggs and tiny toys, as well as golden eggs with special prizes. The race for the goodies is divided into three age categories and is held the weekend before Easter.

Campers participate for free. Non-campers are welcome to participate for a nominal park day-use fee. Set up for the event begins at about 6:30 a.m., and the first hunt starts around 10:30 a.m. Volunteers are needed to prepare for this popular event. Call the park office at 256-329-0845 for more information or volunteer details.

Music lovers gather for this all-day concert

The quaint town of Waverly, which touches three counties in Alabama including Tallapoosa, morphs into one of the most sought-after destinations of the South in April of each year when Standard Deluxe hosts the annual Old 280 Boogie. Originally started as a celebration of the re-route of U.S. Highway 280 that keeps tractor-trailers from barreling down the small town’s streets, the Boogie is a multi-cultural music and arts festival that boasts attendance of more than 1,000 concertgoers. Attendees claim a spot in the shaded outdoor amphitheater and spend the day. “There’s always a good vibe here. Everyone’s happy. People drive in from all over the South; some even fly in. It’s become a place for reunions,” said Scott Peek, owner of Standard Deluxe. Vendors set up around the outdoor amphitheater and sell homemade wares; food trucks park on site; and other local

Old 280 Boogie

produce and art are available. The Standard Deluxe T-shirt shop, which is the business that put the venue on the map, remains open as well. Peek said he’s gained new screen-printing business from bands that have passed through for the first time, and he often books bands for which he prints materials. The mutual exposure greatly enhances the band assortment and eclectic mix of the Boogie. The daylong jamboree is a family friendly event, but pets are not permitted. To get the most out of the experience, bring chairs, blankets and coolers. The location is BYOB, but please no glass. The show goes on rain or shine. Gates typically open around 11 a.m., and the fun continues well into the night. For more information about the Old 280 Boogie or a listing of other shows and amenities at Standard Deluxe, visit StandardDeluxe.com.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

EVENTS 

Living History Cemetery Tour and Art Show

Roberta Russell, played by Lynn Grimsley tells a group of tourists about the area’s history at the cemetery tour while (below) Lila Graves helps a shopper choose one of her T-shirt designs at THe mill Two Eighty art show

A new date will be announced for this stroll through time when Alexander City Theatre II and Russell Medical Foundation team up to present the Second Annual Living History Cemetery Tour and Art Show. The tour, held at the City of Alexander City Cemetery, features local actors in period costumes at the graves of deceased townspeople who played pivotal roles in shaping the community. Patrons browse a one-of-a-kind art show indoors at The Mill Two Eighty event center while waiting for their scheduled tour time. The Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., editorial team helped with research for some of the featured characters in this annual community event. Last year’s inaugural event featured monolgues that discussed the founding of the city and local events that included the Civil War and the 1902 burning of the city. This year’s tour will put the spotlight on contributions made to the area by railroad magnate E.P. Alexander, for whom the city is named, and Professor Jim Pearson, an early influence in local public education. This year’s event also is slated to include William E. Benson, the son of a former slave who established the Kowaliga Industrial School to teach trade skills to former slaves; Coach Hamp Lyon, Fred Dobbs and prominent local attorney and public

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figure Tom Radney also will be featured this year. The art show is a free companion event to the tour, where the public will be able to browse unique lake home décor, furnishings, gifts and more all day. Look for more information in The Outlook and in Lake Martin Living magazine and lakemagazine.life and at actheatre2.com.

CONVENIENCE • EATS • ENTERTAINMENT

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EVENTS  The fun of seersucker suits and big hats raises money for local charities

Derby Day

Break out the wild hats and seersucker suits for a Derby Day celebration that is unique to Lake Martin. Hosted by Russell Lands at The Stables at Russell Crossroads, this free event raises funds for Children’s Harbor and features mint juleps, pimento cheese stuffed eggs and more. The gathering starts at 4 p.m., and party-goers are

Art P on the Lake

invited to place bets on which horse will win the Run for the Roses. There’s live entertainment and a big screen on which to watch the race. Prizes are awarded for best Derby attire. This year’s race will take place on Saturday, May 2, so start looking for that stylish Derby Day hat and that dashing seersucker suit.

Plans already are under way for the 15th Annual Art on the Lake, an event that showcases the works of more than 60 juried artisans and vendors from across the Southeast. Set on the beautiful campus of Children’s Harbor over Memorial Day weekend, the exhibit and sale draws upwards of 5,000 people every year. The pet friendly, family friendly show includes a Kid Zone, live music, a cocktail bar and more. A portion of proceeds from art sales benefits Children’s Harbor, a camp for seriously ill children and their families.

This free event is great fun. Browse through the art, meet and greet friends and enjoy a beautiful lakeside location. Free parking is available in the field just across the Kowaliga Bridge. No parking is allowed in the show area. Catch a free shuttle from the parking area to the art show, and a shuttle will take you back to your car when you’ve picked up all the great art you want at the event. Strolling among one-of-a-kind handiworks along this gorgeous stretch of Lake Martin shoreline is one of the best ways to spend a cool morning or sunny afternoon at the lake. Be sure to put this event on your calendar.

Shoppers browse original art at Children’s Harbor

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

EVENTS 

RXR Fest

RXR Fest sets the tone for a laid back, music-filled summer at the lake. Hosted by Russell Lands on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads, this free event includes performances by a series of musicians Friday and Saturday nights. Some of the music is local, some regional, and on occasion, a national act happens along, too. There’s plenty of parking, and pets on leashes are welcome. Bring a cooler, lawn chairs and a picnic – or stroll across the Green to Catherine’s Marketto pick up a meal and a cool beverage. Join the kids in a lawn game; chat with friends and neighbors; check out the exhibits through the windows of the Clock Tower and know that every weekend at Lake Martin could be just like this. Clockwise from far right: The Sturdivant family gathers on the lawn for a festive weekend; Children love the ice cream treat from Catherine’s; The Bank Walkers and other regional performers keep the music going all weekend.

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The tournament draws players from across the state

EVENTS 

Annual Cornhole Tournament

Some 40 contestants competed for the top title at the Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce Fourth Annual Cornhole Tournament last May, and 39 of them are looking forward to wresting that title at this year’s event. While not a sanctioned contest, the competition held at Dadeville’s world-famous Rodeo Club is supported by the Alabama Cornhole Association. More than three-quarters of the entrants were from outside Tallapoosa County, said The Rodeo Club owner Ed Shikoski. “This is one of our pride and joy events here. It’s fun and brings in tourists to the Lake Martin Event Center,” he said. The winning prize money was given to the top three teams: $500, $300 and $200, respectively. Entry fees were $25 per person, which included a signature T-shirt for each contestant. Contestants also were entered into a raffle to win gift baskets, gift cards and cornhole boards. The cornhole tournament started at D.A.R.E Park with a

Orienteering at WCSP

A Scout checks in at an orienteering checkpoint 86 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

meager number of contestants but has grown exponentially each year, said Shikoski. The second year, it took place midJuly, which was miserably hot, so it was moved indoors the following year. The date was moved to mid-May for the fourth year to avoid the summer’s worst heat and humidity. “This year, the weather was very cooperative, and it was a beautiful day,” said Shikoski. During the month of May, The Rodeo Club also holds its annual barbecue cook-off and festival. “This event brings in a lot of tourists from around the state who compete with their recipes for delicious food,” said Shikoski. For more information about The Rodeo Club’s yearlong events, visit its Facebook page.

Hosted by Birmingham’s Vulcan Orienteering Club, ‘the thinking man’s’ sport offers an off-the-water sports competition at Wind Creek State Park two times every year – first in May and again in November. “It’s called the thinking man’s sport because you have to run from one control station to the next and plan your route, reading your map as you go,” explained VOC’s James Pilsman. Equipped with a topographical map of the area, participants negotiate a skill-level appropriate course through WCSP’s woods, electronically checking in at a series of stations (called controls) to verify completion of the course. The goal, Pilsman said, is to make the best time of the day by choosing the most efficient route. The map is marked with internationally recognized symbols for land features – such

as boulders, marshes, thickets, fences, waterways and caves. Participants choose routes that go over, around or through these features, thinking ahead about how to negotiate each one to their best advantage. Players must strategize their routes according to the obstacles that might lie ahead. Each course will take between one and three hours to complete, said Pilsman, depending on the speed with which the players traverse the terrain and how well they choose their routes. Misreading the map or losing the orientation line of the compass could require players to backtrack, costing valuable time, he explained. Wind Creek also offers a permanent orienteering course, and anyone wishing to run the course could download and print a map from the hiking section of the park’s website at www.alapark. com/wind-creek-state-park.

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EVENTS 

Li’l Calypso Art Show

The annual Li’l Calypso Art Show grew out of Greg and Jane Garrett’s love of art and collecting. The owners of Chuck’s Marina started the event 19 years ago, and it’s now a prime show on the June calendar for artists and shoppers alike. Some 60 vendors set up on the shoreline, and more than 4,000 art lovers flock to the popular Lake Martin restaurant, tiki bar and marina to shop and view the art. While most of the participating artists are local, several drive from Atlanta, Florida or the Carolinas to this not-tobe-missed show. “I would say about 60 percent of vendors are from central Alabama, but we always get a few from out of state,” said Garrett. Garrett said Chuck’s has been featured on HGTV, and the marina has more than 10,000 followers on Facebook, which she thinks has helped to draw the attention of Lake Martin’s second home market. She also takes a multi-media approach to spreading the word about this event and others that take place in season at Chuck’s. “That all factors in to making Lake Martin nationally known,” she said. The one-day show started as a juried event but now

focuses on fun and bringing in as much art as possible that appeals to the lake crowd, said Garrett. “We didn’t know what we were doing when we started in 2001. I did some research, so we did a juried show, but it made it more complicated,” said Garrett. While July 4th weekend is a close rival, the Li’l Calypso show in early June remains one of the largest, most successful days for Chuck’s Marina. Garrett begins planning the event in winter and usually has everything set by April for the June show. The show features great music as well, an additional element that attracts visitors to the popular summer hotspot. “We’ve had musicians come from Augusta, Columbia, Savannah – it’s just another avenue for getting the word out about Lake Martin,” Garrett said. The art-loving couple is proud of Li’l Calypso’s growing success and also proud of their resulting growing art collection. Check the Chuck’s Marina Facebook page for the date of this year’s Li’l Calpyso, which is usually held on a Saturday in June.

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EVENTS 

Sun Festival & Jazz Fest

Within days of local schools dismissing in May, Alexander City Chamber of Commerce kicks off a weeklong celebration of summer for children and adults. More than 50 events are scheduled for the week prior to the annual Jazz Fest concert series, from a Slip-n-Slide 5K Run at Strand Park to glow-in-the-dark golf, daily kids’ activities, a cornhole tournament, baking contest, concerts and a scavenger hunt that pays out $200 to the daily winners with a $1,000 grand prize at week’s end. Most Sun Festival events are free or available at a discount, as each event is sponsored by a local business, organization or individual. A schedule of Sun Festival activi-

ties is published in The Outlook and is available online at the chamber website in advance of the celebration. One of the area’s most popular and well-attended events, Sun Festival hosts dances in the park, a dog parade and a tribute to veterans, as well as arts events, sundae building, bingo, car and motorcycle shows, movies and more. The event started six years ago when then-chamber president Ann Rye brought the concept to the area after having success with it in an out-of-state community. Alexander City immediately embraced the festivities, and Sun Festival has rocked the town every summer since. Last year, Sun Festival partnered with Jazz Fest, a two-day concert

series that started in downtown Alexander City 30 years ago. Now, the six Jazz Fest bands play on the heels of the energy-filled weeklong celebration with one concert at Strand Park in downtown Alexander City and another concert at Lake Martin Amphitheater with the backdrop of the lake. Jazz Fest is held the second weekend of June every year, with Sun Festival planned for the week just prior. Art contests launch in early spring for the T-shirt designs that will promote these annual events. Look for the Sun Festival calendar of events and Jazz Fest musician announcements in May.

A crowd fills Strand Park for the Jazz Fest concert

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The event is fun for musicians as well as audiences

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

W EVENTS 

While many are familiar with boating on Lake Martin, a hidden gem is the area’s Dixie Sailing Club, open to club racing, regattas, social events and the opportunity to expose others to the sport. Sheltered just north of New Hope Slough, the club has quick and easy access to wide-open wind on the Tallapoosa River side of the lake. Members keep their boats at the club dock and are eligible for club contests and events. In addition, they promote the sport by leading an Introduction to Sailing course on the first Saturday in June each year, along with hosting other races and camps throughout the season. “We consider sails on Lake Martin an absolute amenity that increases the experience for residents and visitors alike,” said Jim Simons, DSC youth program president. The youth program schedule is flexible to accommodate the kids and volunteers, he added, and the club strives to have children on the water from spring break to fall break. To increase exposure to the club, located at 767 New Hope Church Rd. in Alexander City, the Introduction to Sailing class is free and available to anyone who wants to learn more about sailing, the club or its members. With a full day of lessons and hands-on interactive practice, ITS attendees walk away with the basic knowledge of sailing; know how to right a capsized boat; have developed a working knowledge of the parts of the vessel; and experience the joy of sailing that DSC members love to share. The morning consists of chalk talk and classroomstyle education, with a break for a free hot dog lunch. Then, students take to the water to experience the wind in the sails of one of the 18 Sunfish or Lasers available for use. “ITS is open to families, so parents and kids can experience sailing on all types of boats,” said Simons. In addition to personal practice with the smaller vessels that day, DSC members offer the opportunity for rides on their larger sailboats, including Catalina-22s, Flying Scots, MC Scows and more. The introductory class is limited to about 60 participants, so when the date is released, those interested are encouraged to register early to reserve spots. Simons recommends bringing a swimsuit, towel, change of dry clothes, sunscreen and life vests. The club does provide life vests for those that don’t have them. Along with Introduction to Sailing, DSC plans a dynamic season. “Our June will be quite active with sailing activities,” said Simons. “We will be part of Alexander City Sun Fest and hold two sailing camps. We also give the kids at The Ridge Summer Camp sailing orientations.” Some DSC members will travel to Fort Walton Beach in June to either race in the Catalina-22 National Championship or be a part of the racing committee. “Some will be volunteering there to gain an appreciation for the process of national regattas as we hope to eventually host the C22 Nationals at DSC,” Simons said. For more information about DSC and its events or programs, visit dixiesailingclub.com.

TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

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EVENTS 

Boats gather below Lake Martin Amphitheater for Russell Lands’ spectacular annual fireworks extravaganza 94 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

Fourth of July Blast

For one spectacular experience after another, plan to be at the lake for July 4th. From the annual boat parade to the fireworks and concert at Lake Martin Amphitheater, Independence Day at Lake Martin is a blast. It starts at Kowaliga Marina, where contestants gather to enter the boat parade competition. Registered entrants vie for top honors for the largest flag, tallest flag, most patriotic decorations, most creative and best overall boat and crew. For some, it’s a tradition to enter, and for others, it’s a tradition to watch from a boat on the lake or a chair on the bank to cheer for their favorite entries. The boat parade, hosted by Russell Marine, is in its 44th year at Lake Martin. There is no cost to enter, but boats must register at Kowaliga Marina prior to the start of the parade. Look for details in upcoming issues of Lake magazine or at russelllandsonlakemartin.com/blog/events/. After spending the afternoon cooling off at the lake, pull up a chair at The Amp for the Southeast’s larg-

est fireworks show over Lake Martin. Now in its 19th year at The Amp, this spectacular production is one that visitors will remember for years to come. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the night starts with a concert. At dark, the stage – which is built on railcar trucks – rolls away for the light show. The music returns after the fireworks. While much of the show is visible from a boat on the water or a bank across the lake, the place to be is inside The Amp’s gates because the ground show is just as eye-popping and breathtaking as the one that lights up the sky. And if that’s not enough, on July 3rd and 4th, visit Russell Crossroads for the 9th annual Arti Gras. A juried event that features original, handmade works by artisans from across the Southeast, this arts and crafts show is a great place to pick up lake home décor or the perfect memento of the best time ever at Lake Martin. Visit theamponlakemartin.com or call 256-397-1019 for details.

The annual boat parade is one of the most popular Independence Day celebrations at the lake Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

EVENTS 

Theatre workshop

Alexander Theatre II will hold a weeklong summer theatre workshop for children July 13-17 at the fine arts building on Tallapoosa Street, across the street from Strand Park in Alexander City. Children will learn the basics of set building, costuming, makeup, acting and more as they prepare a production of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid and The Prince, as adapted by Sheila Smolensky. Tuition for the workshop is $125 per child, but scholarship funds have been made available for some participants who cannot afford the fee. The workshop will be directed by two retired teachers, Jan Jung and Ella MacFiggen, both of whom have extensive experience with theatrical productions featuring children. Performances will be made available for area preschools and summer daycare facilities at the end of the workshop week, and one public performance will be held. The workshop will be limited to 25 children who are rising first graders and older. Applications will be due June 15. Visit actheatre2.com and the ACT II Facebook page for details and applications as they become available.

Duck Norris Derby

August ushers in the start of the school year but with one last hurrah at the lake – the annual Duck Norris Derby hosted by Chuck’s Marina. This rubber duck race pays $2,500 to the winner while precedes benefit the local Girl’s Ranch and other charities. Tickets are reasonably priced with discounts for purchasing in bulk for a Quack Pack or a Duck Float Pack. Check the Chuck’s Marina Facebook page for this year’s date and details.

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EVENTS 

Labor Day Concert

Just because Labor Day signifies the official end of summer doesn’t mean it has to go quietly, and at Lake Martin, Labor Day is anything but quiet. In these last days at full pool – unless a fall extension is declared on Sept. 1 – the lake is busy with swimming, boating,

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flinking (floating and drinking) and rafting up. Check out Chimney Rock or Big Beach for an impromptu party on the water. Stop in at The Landing at Park Creek for the big cornhole tournament and slip by Peanut Point for one more bag of boiled peanuts and

discounts on the summer T-shirt inventory. If it’s a smaller celebration you’re looking for, pull into a cove or pull up by a rope swing and watch the kids make the most of the last day on the lake before college football gets serious about taking over the weekends.

Corey Smith headlined last year’s Labor Day concert at the Amp

On Labor Day Sunday, as the sun slides close to the horizon, head on over to Lake Martin Amphitheater for the annual Labor Day Weekend Concert at The Amp. This blowout event is family friendly, and lawn chairs, blankets, coolers and kids are welcome, but please leave

four-legged family members at home. For details about tickets for this traditional event and others hosted at this lakeside venue throughout the summer, visit theamponlakemartin.com. There’s always a big name on The Amp stage, and this year is no exception as Mother’s Finest

comes to Lake Martin. This memorable concert is a sendoff for many until the following spring brings the water up with the promise of more great times at Lake Martin.

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

EVENTS î &#x201C;

Muster on the Tallapoosa

Take a walk through U.S. history as Horseshoe Bend National Military Park hosts the annual Muster on the Tallapoosa, a living history camp event that revisits 19th century frontier America. Re-enactors will host live presentations and demonstrate frontier skills and lifestyles in this day-long, come-and-go event. Hundreds of people turn out every year for this glimpse of history, as the Friends of Horseshoe Bend

100 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

and staff at the park fire cannon and muskets, demonstrate weaving and weapon-making techniques that were employed by the local Creek tribes, trappers, settlers and militia some 200 years ago. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit nps.gov/hobe/muster-onthe-tallapoosa.

Re-enactors demonstrate the use of antique firearms at the annual Muster on the Tallapoosa

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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An abstract artist paints on the porch at Children’s Harbor

EVENTS 

Alabama Art Colony

Now in its 28th year, the Alabama Art Colony hosts a five-day artists’ workshop at the serene and inspiring setting of Lake Martin’s Children’s Harbor. These workshops are led by three professionally recognized artists that help participants learn new techniques, tackle difficult subject matter and gain skills in their chosen artistic fields.

Held in October each year, the event offers a life-changing experience for both budding and experienced artists under the guidance of renowned instructors. In addition, Alabama Art Colony maintains a permanent collection of art that is on display at the Alexander City Board of Education. The 2020 AAC will be held Oct.

2 through 7 with Stan Kurth, Muir Steward and Perry Austin as the featured instructors. Workshops will focus on watermedia and collage, watercolor and oils. Early registration is encouraged, as the roster often fills well in advance. For fees and other information regarding Alabama Art Colony, visit alabamaartcolony.org.

Fall Family Fest at Russell Crossroads

T The festival includes games for the children

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The fun at Lake Martin doesn’t end just because the page has turned on the calendar and school is in session. Activities and events are scheduled all through the fall and winter, including the Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads on the last Saturday in October. This delightful day of games, treats and activities is a favorite, especially with grandparents and grandchildren. Kids get to putt into the open mouths of jacko-lanterns; pick out their own pumpkins; ride in horse-drawn wagons; get their faces painted; see a real grist mill in action and more. Naturalist Marianne Hudson shows off her critters and keepsakes, too. This festival is the perfect getaway at a great time of year. The weather is still beautiful, and the kids are ready for a break after three months of school. Find details about the Fall Family Festival at RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com.

EVENTS 

Wind Creek State Park hosts the area’s biggest Halloween event for kids

“

It fills up the park, and that’s really the point. We just want people to come out and enjoy the park.”

~ Bruce Adams

Wind Creek Fall Festival

The best of Halloween fun happens at Wind Creek State Park on the third weekend of October and includes a carnival, a monster parade, hayrides, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating and a decoration competition. Open to the public, as well as weekend campers at the park, this event began 14 years ago and typically draws some 8,000 visitors every year, said Park Superintendent Bruce Adams. “It didn’t start out that big,” Adams explained. “When it started, it was just a few activities in the campground playground, but as it got bigger, we needed more room. We had to suspend horse camping over that weekend in that area and move the carnival to the field at the equine area. “Three years ago, we added a kiddie hayride, and the volunteers come up with cartoon decorations and add props every year.”

Weather permitting, the event fills the park to capacity every year, he said. “We have had to stop traffic from coming in because we run out of parking spaces.” Every campsite is booked for the festival, and campers have become very competitive about the coveted title for the best decorated site. Decorating begins early in the week for serious competitors, so the parade route becomes lined with 10-foot Grimm Reapers, makeshift graveyards and half buried skeletons, all in good fun. Pumpkin carvers turn in their already-carved masterpieces at the campground playground on Friday evening for judging, and on Saturday, the park fills with non-campers who pay a minimal day-use fee to join the fun. With costumed children in tow, this family-friendly festival offers inflatables,

food vendors and carnival activities. And events continue until after dark. It takes about 30 staff and 20 volunteers to prepare for and run the event, which is a year in the planning, Adams said. The set-up begins in September, with personnel continuing to maintain the park operations throughout the festival preparations. “It fills up the park, and that’s really the point. We just want people to come out and enjoy the park,” Adams said. This year’s festival will be Oct. 16 and 17. Wind Creek State Park is located on state Route 128 between U.S Highway 280 and state Route 63. Look for details at alapark.com/ parks/wind-creek-state-park.

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EVENTS 

Cleanup volunteers have fun, spend family time together (top right) and even dive for trash (bottom right)

Renew Our Rivers

On the first weekend of November, hundreds of volunteers celebrate the Treasured status of Lake Martin with a major cleanup of the shorelines, islands and lake access roadways all around the lake. This Alabama Power Renew Our Rivers event, which is coordinated by Lake Martin Resource Association, has collected more than 105 tons of trash over the last 15 years – much of that being debris that had accumulated in sloughs and feeder creeks since the lake was created almost 100 years ago. Coupled with an environmental education program in local schools and the Adopt a Treasured Island/Mile program, this ROR effort helps to keep Lake Martin clean and litter-free year round. “Each year since 2010, LMRA/ROR has sponsored a T-shirt art contest for third and fourth grade students in Alexander City. The winning art is placed on T-shirts that are distributed to students and faculty at Stephens Elementary School, as well as to all cleanup volunteers. Many of our volunteers pride themselves on having all of the shirts in the entire collection,” said LMRA President John Thompson. Alabama Power supplies volunteers with oversized trash bags for their collection efforts, and in addition to hosting cleanup volunteers at the park, Wind Creek State Park personnel tour the area to collect bags

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and trash that is too large for volunteers to transport. Advanced Disposal places dumpsters in selected locations around the lake where volunteers can deliver their bags. Volunteers also take photos with their collected trash on clean beaches and boats loaded with bags and email them to editor@lakemagazine.life for the annual Lake magazine ROR Cleanup Honor Roll. The two-day effort begins on Friday, but Thompson starts organizing the event months in advance so that volunteers will find bags, pickers and water waiting for them when they check in to do their time. Volunteers also are encouraged to strike out on their own to clean lake areas and deliver their collected trash to the designated dumpsters. A few dedicated volunteers begin their cleanup efforts even sooner. As soon as the water level approaches the winter drawdown level, these volunteers begin to scour island beaches and shorelines, collecting trash and piling it high for transportation on the big cleanup weekend. Their efforts – and those of more than 2,000 volunteers who have taken part in the ROR cleanup here – keep the lake clean for summer recreation that has won Lake Martin a reputation as a Treasured destination.

EVENTS 

Christmas at Crossroads

Christmas at Crossroads has become a Lake Martin tradition that is all about the entire family spending time together away from the frenzy of Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving Day – and the day before the big Iron Bowl game – children, parents and grandparents gather at Russell Crossroads for some laid-back fun on

The family presses in for a photo with Santa

the Town Green. The day includes playing kiddie games for novelty prizes and helping them make keepsake crafts; shopping for unique, one-of-a-kind handmade gifts at the Holiday Bazaar; drinking hot chocolate; taking carriage rides; and having those all-important conversations with Santa Claus. Naturalist

Marianne Hudson is there with a presentation about the wild nature of Russell Forest, too. It’s a great way to start the season with a focus on what really matters – being happy together. Visit russellcrossroads.com for details.

The cast of ACT II’s 2019 production of A Christmas Carol

Christmas takes the stage

Usher in the Christmas season with a theatrical production of a beloved, classic holiday tale, presented by Alexander City Theatre II, the area’s nonprofit, all-volunteer community theater company. These professional-quality presentations feature local actors and children, often elaborate sets and period costuming. Past productions have included the John Jake’s version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Rented Christmas, the heartwarming story of Christmas-found by a lonely businessman who falls in

love with the orphans he hires to create a holiday in his home. Auditions are held each fall for the year’s annual production. To join the fun on-stage or off for this presentation or any of the other plays produced by ACT II throughout the year, visit achteatre2.com or the organizations’ Facebook page.

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EVENTS  Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive with the annual parade in early December

Christmas Parades Community makes a show of holiday spirit

Alexander City merchants open the Christmas season in mid-November with the annual holiday open house, and the momentum continues to build through December’s Hometown Christmas Parade and Main Street’s Downtown Christmas event. The City of Alexander City goes all out with decorations in the arts and entertainment district with a huge tree at Broad Street Plaza, garland on the Robinson Iron lampposts and vignettes of lighted reindeer in the roundabout. Garden clubs decorate the fountains all through downtown, and merchants dress up their windows with holiday themed displays. During the holiday open house, there are special treats and hot cocoa, along with great sales at the stylish boutiques and downtown restaurants. In early December, the Christmas parade rolls through town on Cherokee Road and up Church Street

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to the roundabout with Santa and Mrs. Claus leading the way. The whole community takes part with businesses, churches, schools and clubs vying for the float awards, and marching bands putting on a show with Christmas music from instruments that are strung with lights. The whole town lines the route to wonder at the spirit of Christmas on parade. And then, there’s more. At the Downtown Christmas celebration, Main Street and Alexander City Parks and Recreation team up with local sponsors to host reindeer races, cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa, sleigh rides, caroling and more. Look for details of these and more holiday events in The Outlook and in Lake Martin Living magazine.

children’s harbor

*Pictured: families served by Children’s Harbor

WHO WE ARE Children’s Harbor serves seriously ill children and their families through unique, no-cost services at both the Family Center at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham and the Lake Martin campus.

FAMILY CENTER

1 Our Children’s Highway Alexander City, AL 35010 (334) 857-2133

1600 6th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 638-6123

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THINGS TO DO 

Miles of Hiking Trails STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

ake Martin boasts more than 175 miles of free public trails through picturesque landscapes with interesting rock formations, wildlife sighting opportunities and terrain to fit every skill level. Hiking is a healthy outdoor activity that can be continued throughout the quarantine period if hikers take precautions, including keeping a safe distance from others. The lake’s west, east, south and central shorelines all offer opportunities for unique outdoor experiences on well-maintained routes. The following trails are open all year long, but cool weather hiking is preferred, as it is more comfortable than hiking in the summer heat. The largest section of trails winds through Russell Forest from Willow Point to Russell Crossroads off state Route 63. Here, more than 125 miles of pathways take hikers over rolling hills, into protected valleys and across meandering streams. Pack a lunch or pick up a picnic lunch at Catherine’s at Russell Crossroads and enjoy your meal on 112 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

the picnic table at Butterfly Crossing or spread a blanket and enjoy the view from Heaven Hill. Download the Russell Lands free app to access maps and GPS location on the trails or visit the guardhouse at Willow Point Golf and Country Club to pick up a map. As a safety precaution, hikers are asked to call Russell Lands Security at 256-329-1511 prior to going in and upon leaving the woods. On the east and south shorelines, Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association has built and maintains more than 26 miles of footpath-only trails in three locations, including an outdoor education center at the restored Smith Mountain Fire Tower. CRATA’s Smith Mountain trail system consists of four trails of varying lengths and terrain, from easy to rugged. The entire Island Hop Trail can be accessed only at low water. The Little Smith Mountain Loop Trail, at 2.6 miles, treats hikers to spectacular views and unique rock formations, but this trail also hugs sheer cliffs and difficult terrain.

Winter, spring and fall are the best times to hit the trails around the lake

It is not a trail for small children. The view from the 90-foot fire tower at Smith Mountain rivals any other view of the lake, as the tower tops the highest point along Lake Martin’s 800-plus miles of shoreline. Restored in 2010 with additional safety features, the tower attracts an estimated 50,000 visitors annually. At the foot of the tower, CRATA recently installed a series of educational panels that provide information about the area’s geology, animal and plant life, history, culture and unique biodiversity. Overhead panels in the cab at the top of the tower identify landmarks on the horizon, including Talladega National Forest located an hour’s drive north of the lake. At Overlook Park on the east shoreline just north of Martin Dam, three CRATA trails intertwine, so hikers could choose a variety of routes from 1 to 7 miles. Provided and maintained by Alabama Power, the park at the trailhead includes picnic tables and an observation platform that shows off another spectacular view of Lake

Martin. Situated just north of the Overlook trail system, the James M. Scott Deadening Alpine Trail is a challenging 4.2-mile loop along a ridge that parallels Lake Martin’s famed Chimney Rock formation on Acapulco Rock Island. The Needle’s Eye and Jasmine Bluff are popular formations along the trail, which offers numerous vistas at which hikers could rest, enjoy a snack or catch their breath. The trail often treats hikers to up-close views of wildlife, as eagles are known to roost along the bluff. The Deadening Trail is a rewarding trek for experienced hikers but is not recommended for the novice or anyone under the age of 12. Pets must be on leash at all times, and hikers are urged to use care on the rough terrain. CRATA’s most recent trail system continues to expand on the west shoreline south of Martin Dam. Two historic trails here wind through old growth forest on a 6,000-acre wildlife management area owned by Alabama Forever Wild. The John B. Scott Trail, named for a local conservationist who was instrumental in the formation of the Forever Wild Land Trust, is 4.7 miles long and weaves along the Tallapoosa River through old growth hardwoods. This easy-to-moderate trail treats hikers to the beauty of nature at its best with woods, water and wildlife at every turn. The Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail follows the old railroad bed that was used in the construction of Martin Dam some 100 years ago. Follow the highline or lowline paths and visit Saddle Rock Mountain, the highest point in Elmore County. The lowline trail ends at Channahatchee Creek for now. CRATA volunteers are in the planning and design phase for a bridge that will span the creek and continue the trail to Kent, where a point-topoint trail shuttle service will be available. For details and maps of the CRATA trails and information about funding, donations and volunteer opportunities, visit crata.org. Wind Creek State Park features 5.6 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of horse trails. The Alabama Reunion Trail takes hikers past an old home site, over picturesque hardwood bottoms and through stands of pine. There is an abundance of bird and animal life along the trail, which offers moderate to difficult terrain. The Campfire Trail features a series of rock outcroppings and a stream that bisects the path. A nominal day-use fee applies for admittance to the park. Learn more about WCSP’s trails and attractions at alapark.com/parks/wind-creek-state-park. In addition, WCSP hosts the Vulcan Orienteering Club twice each year. This competitive sport times orienteers who navigate a map to locate set control areas in the park. Though some orienteers speed through the course to push for the shortest time, others are content to stroll through the course, enjoying the outdoors and pausing to watch the deer. The course is suitable for all ages and skill levels. Visit vulcanorienteering.org to learn more about Vulcan Orienteering Club. So pull on a pair of sturdy shoes, pick up a walking stick and go take a hike!

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THINGS TO DO 

Left: The strawberry market features delicious produce every spring; This photo: Summer offerings include tomatoes, peaches, squash and more

Alexander City Farmers Market STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI

ith agritourism on the rise, it’s no wonder that the Alexander City Farmers Market attracts an average of 200 shoppers every Saturday during the summer growing season. The vibrant market at Broad Street Plaza includes entertainment and more than 20 vendors. “We are the only farmers market in Tallapoosa County, so we draw in people from surrounding areas, as both customers and vendors,” said Carly Herrmann, Alexander City Farmers Market manager. With the aid of social media and word of mouth, Herrmann said, interest in the farmers market has exploded over the last year. The market draws an audience that may not otherwise come through Alexander City. During the peak lake season, Herrmann said, she sees a lot of Lake Martin residents and visitors at the market to find fresh produce, bakery products, canned goods and even lake décor. “We’re bringing in farmers from 114 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

other farmers markets as well, and their customer base is then following them and coming here,” said Herrmann. “I see a lot of the same people who come by weekly to get their goods.” The Alexander City Farmers Market is one of only a select few in the state that doesn’t charge vendors a fee to set up. The market features produce, farm-grown meat, crafts and other handmade items. The season runs every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. June through September. In October, Broad Street Plaza hosts a harvest market and in December, there’s a holiday market. These additional events draw crowds, especially those in town for other annual happenings. “We see more tourists at these special markets since more people are

typically in town, visiting family or attending events,” said Herrmann. Since Herrmann took on the farmers market managerial position two years, she has grown the number of participating farmers exponentially and increased sponsorships, which fund market maintenance. Herrmann also added complementary events, including live music, kids’ activities and a July 4th patriotic parade that appeal to a broader demographic. For more information about Alexander City Farmers Market, visit the Facebook page.

THINGS TO DO 

Lake Martin Living Art & Photography Contest

rtists in the Lake Martin area look forward to the annual Lake Martin Living Art & Photography Contest, which features the winning entry on the cover of the October magazine. This edition of the magazine also spotlights the work of every entering artist inside. The contest began more than 25 years ago when the magazine’s publishers featured an original work of art on the cover of each monthly edition. Over the years, the contest has grown and changed. Last year, entries were exhibited downtown, and exhibit visitors voted for the People’s Choice category winner. Main Street Alexander City sponsored $1,000 in prizes for the contest. The rules for the contest typically are published in July and August with entries accepted during the month

Martin e k a L t a e c la P ’s er f at Nif STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI

ut all that worthless knowledge to good use and form a team for Trivia Night at Niffer’s Place at Lake Martin every Thursday at 7 p.m. Each week for the last decade, teams of any number come out to compete for the chance to win first, second or third place standings, which include bragging rights among the most competitive and repeaters, along with Niffer’s gift cards. First place wins $40; second place gets $25; and third place walks away with $15. “We’ve been doing Trivia Night for about 10 years,” said Niffer’s manager Charlie Pack. “It’s been really good for us, especially when more people are in town. More people coming in, means more teams.” While the summer sees the most action as the Lake

Beautiful art and photos are on display at the annual exhibit

of September. Look for this year’s contest information at lakemagazine.life/lakemartinliving/, on the magazine’s Facebook page and in issues of Lake Martin Living magazine.

Martin area swells with visitors and second-home owners, Trivia Night holds strong year round. “It’s brought in about twice the business for us during slower months,” said Niffer’s manager Charlie Pack. “It’s something fun to come out for.” The questions are created and hosted by Barbara Pierce and Konky Clark. There are six rounds of five questions each, along with bonus music questions. The hosts will play a song, and if the team guesses the correct artist and song name, they receive additional points. It’s free to play, and each round is a different theme of questions. Gather up an eccentric mix of friends, as everyone has his or her own strengths and passions. Just remember, no phones allowed. If a team is caught looking up answers on Google, they are disqualified from that round. A bonus question is posted on the Niffer’s Place at Lake Martin Facebook page by 2 p.m. each Thursday. Here, cheating is allowed, so make sure to look it up ahead of time. Come early and enjoy happy hour drink and appetizer specials from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Along with Trivia Night, Niffer’s Place at Lake Martin offers Charity Bingo, Kids Night and Burger Night, as well as live entertainment through the summer months. This restaurant is a hot spot around Lake Martin that also offers catering for casual events. Niffer’s at the lake opened in 2002 and has an extensive patio and deck area; outdoor games; a fire pit; and more. For more information, visit niffersplace/lake-martin.html. Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20

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THINGS TO DO 

Friday on the Green STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

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ake Martin weekends start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evenings when Russell Lands On Lake Martin hosts free music and lawn games on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads. Jilla Webb will kick off the Friday on the Green series on May 15, and the concerts will continue every Friday through Labor Day and beyond, except the Friday of Jazz Fest weekend. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and even folding tables to set up on the lush grassy lawn. If you don’t have

time to pack a picnic, you could pick up your supper and a bottle of wine at Catherine’s Market at Russell Crossroads. The Town Green is a great place to meet friends and family who are joining you for a weekend at the lake. It’s the perfect opportunity to get together and plan weekend activities, like the taking a hike or trail ride at Russell Forest and Sunday afternoons at Kowaliga

Restaurant for Music on the Deck. Pets on the leash are welcome, too. Russell Lands sets the Town Green stage with some of the region’s most popular entertainment, and the lawn is planted with cornhole boards, hulahoops and other games for children and children at heart. Visit russelllandsonlakemartin.com for the summer line-up.

Local residents and visitors alike start the weekend on the Green

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THINGS TO DO 

Music on the Deck W

hen Sunday afternoon rolls around, and it’s time to ease yourself away from the Lake Martin weekend, stop at Kowaliga Restaurant for Music On The Deck between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Every Sunday all season long, there’s live music on the wide covered deck with a spectacular Big Water view. This is a great way to make your departure from Lake Martin less abrupt. The kids love to feed the turtles off the deck and put their feet in the lake one more time at the Kowaliga beach right next to the restaurant’s porch. And if you have arranged to steal another day or two from the work week to spend at the lake, bring the boat over for this casual concert. There’s plenty of boat parking at the dock. Check out the summer music line-up online at kowaligarestaurant.com.

Jonathan Bloom performs during a Music on the Deck event

Lake Area Poker Runs T

he first of two boating poker runs at Lake Martin this summer will launch June 13 when the 21st Annual Sheriff’s Girls Ranch Charity event sets out to raise $10,000 for the ranch. Teams will collect cards at each of five stops on the lake as they vie for the overall best hand to win a $5,000-purse. The event includes great giveaways at every stop, as well as live entertainment at the postrun awards party. Tickets are $450 per team. Call

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Brooke at 334-887-9999 to enter. The Sheriff’s Girls Ranch provides a stable home for neglected and abused girls. Then in July, the Alexander City Lions Club and Russell Marine will host the Lions Lake Martin Poker Run to raise money for local charities. Starting at The Ridge Marina, participants will travel to River North, Harbor Pointe, Real Island and Kowaliga marinas in pursuit of the winning hand. Costumes are encouraged, as costume prizes – as well as best and worst hands Participants play for fun, charity and hands – are awarded. This event that pay off includes a treasure chest of prizes – if your key works, that is. The post-run party at Kowaliga Restaurant includes live music, great food and the chance to buy extra cards to improve standings before the hand is called. Entry fee is $160 per team. Register at The Ridge Marina on the day of the run or at russellmarine.net.

THINGS TO DO 

Live performances and art shows (right) thrive in the Lake Martin community

The Arts

he burgeoning arts community of Alexander City and the Lake Martin area today finds expression in its tucked-away downtown galleries, fledgling rehearsal halls, picturesque studios and stages, great and small. As the community-wide tourism initiative takes hold, plans are in the making to bring the arts scene to center stage with a downtown performing arts center. A steering committee has formed to explore the possibility of establishing a civic center/performing arts building – perhaps with a public art gallery – in downtown Alexander City. Fact finding and preliminary planning are under way. In addition, a handful of visual arts shows have established a firm footing in the area, including Children’s Harbor’s Art on the Lake; Russell Lands’ Arti Gras; and Chuck’s Marina’s Lil Calypso. The area’s hidden talent comes to light at these events as local artisans display their works, often for charitable concerns around the lake. Artists also gather to share ideas and techniques at meetings of the Artists Association of Central Alabama; the annual Alabama Art Colony; and Dorothy Littleton’s Tallapoosa School of Art, which focuses on plein air opportunities at the lake that are launched from the Blue Heron family

cabin retreat. Every year, Lake Martin Living magazine invites local artists to enter a juried show that features the winning artwork on the publication’s cover and inside the themed edition. The performing arts share a rich history in the area as well. The outdoor Lake Martin Amphitheater hosts a summer concert series that draws audiences to the grassy hillside. Boats also moor just off the shoreline to watch and listen from the water side. Fifty years ago, Alex City Arts was founded as a presenter organization. From symphonies to rock n roll greats, four events are planned each year to invite touring musical, theatrical and reader acts to Alexander City. And local talents are showcased when Alexander City Theatre II stages professional quality productions that feature townspeople in the starring roles. This year, the ACT II season will include a summer theatre workshop where children will learn costuming, set design and acting skills that will carry them into future ACT II performances and beyond. Look for details about these and more arts events in Lake and Lake Martin Living magazines and in The Outlook newspaper calendar.

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THINGS TO DO 

Wind Creek State Park offers one of the state’s largest public campgrounds

Go Camping STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

rom rustic to luxury, camping is yet another way to spend time at Alabama’s Treasured Lake. While Lake Martin is home to one of the largest State-owned RV campgrounds in Alabama, tent and hammock campers also will find endless opportunities on natural and undeveloped lands around the reservoir, including island camping. Wind Creek State Park boasts 586 campsites, all of which include water and electrical hookups. There are 157 waterfront options and 268 sites with sewer hook ups. Bathhouses are conveniently located throughout the campground, and 124 TOURISM 20/20 | Mar. 2020

the park offers two laundry facilities for campers. In addition, the park recently renovated 39 sites with 16-footwide and 60-foot-long concrete pads to accommodate today’s larger and more luxurious RV units. These sites include water, sewer, 50-amp or 30-amp electrical, waterfront access and TV service. Cabin rentals and a designated camping area for equestrians also are available. Weekly and monthly rates are available for long-term campers, as are discounted rates for seniors and the disabled. Amenities at the park include canopy zip line tours, a putt-putt golf course, fishing pier, boat rentals, a marina store, a swimming

beach, forest trails, playgrounds, an ice cream concession and more. Campers who tote their beds on their backs or unload them from the trunk of the car will find that camping on Alabama Power’s natural and undeveloped shoreline is free. These project lands are offered under the terms of the power company’s license to operate Martin Dam, and the public is welcome to stake a tent or hang a hammock on Alabama Power islands and banks year-round. No reservations are required, but camping in these areas is first come, first served. There are no services provided in these areas, and campers are urged to pack out all trash and be sure campfires are

Amenities at WCSP include the canopy zip line

extinguished upon departure. Four island campsites have been designated in conjunction with the Alabama Scenic River Trail, and these are marked with blue signs. Several other Alabama Power sites have been marked with Treasured Mile program signs and can be located on a map at www.lmra.info. Among the most popular of these available sites is Cheeseburger Island, located on the north side

of Goat Island just above the dam. Previous campers at this site have cleared tent pads and built a countertop that is especially convenient for sunset watching, eating meals and playing board games. Alabama Power owns only a portion of the islands on Lake Martin, so please respect private property and do not camp on islands that are not designated as project lands.

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THINGS TO DO î &#x201C;

Horizonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Unlimited E

xplore new subjects and gain insights from experts in their fields at Horizons Unlimited presentations hosted at the First United Methodist Church Trinity Campus on U.S. Highway 280. This community speaker service has featured War College professors from the Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, as well as authors, syndicated columnists, musicians, artists and professors from Auburn University, among others. Now in its 30th year, Horizons Unlimited started as a means to provide opportunities for intellectual discussion. Programs are offered in seasonal six-week semesters each fall and winter. A membership is $20 per person and provides admittance for all six programs in a single semester. A couple membership is $30, and memberships are available throughout the series. Some refreshments are provided during the events, which take place on Monday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Storyteller Delores Hydock spins a tale at Horizons Unlimited

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AD INDEX  #1 Nails, LLC................................103

Deep Water Dock............................. 103

Lake Martin Signature Construction.. 89

Russell Do it Center..................... 125

A&M Plumbing.............................. 46

Distinct Home Inspection................. 29

Lake Martin Tourism Association........

Russell Lands on Lake Martin..... 2-3

AAA General Contractors........... 128

Dock’s Unlimited.....................................73

70Lakeshore Pharmacy.....................24

Russell Marine................................35

Ahluring Angler..............................93

Eddie & B’s Carwash & Produce............128

Lakeside Mercantile...........................82

Russell Medical............................... 41

Air Tight Windows...........................9

Exterior Surface Cleaners..................... 116

Langley Funeral Home..........122-123

S&S Tire.............................................8

Alabama Mobile Blasting...............62

Farmer’s & Merchants Bank..........76

Leigh Ann Tyler, State Farm....... 116

Sakura Bistro................................. 128

Alabama Power.............................. 50

First Baptist Church, Dadeville.....24

Luck of the Draw.......................... 119

Sandra Booker, Fuller Realty........ 40

Alexander City Board of Education.... 96

Flint Hill Church........................... 46

Lynch’s Lawn Care.........................24

Scooters Grill..................................24

Alexander City Chamber of Commerce......70

Four Seasons Irrigation................ 128

Lynn’s Qwik Stop........................... 81

Scotty Gordon, Cornerstone Insurance....58

Alexander City Fire Department...53

Gary Ingram Grading & Paving.... 40

Madix...............................................97

Security Pest Control............................126

Alexander City Methodist..............85

George Hardy, DMD......................58

Main Avenue Appartments...........45

Sherry Willis, RE/MAX Around the Lake... 106

Alexander City Police Department..45

Heritage South Credit Union......130

Main Street Downtown..................53

Singleton Marine.............................. 76

Alex City Guide Service..................58

Hillabee Towers............................. 128

Mark King’s Furniture...................25

SL Alabama..................................... 61

Alex City Vet...................................93

Hodges Vineyard & Winery............57

Millstone Nursery........................... 19

Speak’s Offroad & Trailer............... 17

Allen’s Brew Market.......................85

Holiday Cove Vacation Rentals.... 116

Movie Rack...................................... 81

StillWaters R.A...............................82

Bice Motors.................................... 40

Holman Floor Company............... 128

National Village.............................102

Tallapoosa County Board of Education.... 34

Big B BBQ.....................................103

Homelogy........................................29

Noel Boone.................................... 128

Tallapoosa County Tourism......................5

Bill Nichols Veteran’s Home..........53

Huddle House................................. 81

Off the Beaten Path.......................93

Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative...119

Bill’s Electric.....................................8

J&M Tank Lines............................107

Onin Staffing....................................8

Temple Medical Center..................62

Buck’s Dairy Quick......................... 81

Jim Bob’s....................................... 128

Oskar’s.............................................35

The Bottling Plant......................... 40

C&G Mulching and Bushhogging.....29

Jim’s Pharmacy............................103

Papa John’s Pizza............................ 81

Thomas Auto Parts........................88

C&T Electric....................................82

Karen Channell, State Farm...........35

Patterson Air...................................62

TowBoatU.S......................................9

Central Alabama Community College.... 131

Kelly Heating & Air........................76

Philips Agency, Inc....................... 128

Town of New Site..............................8

CertaPro Painters..................................35

Kent Norris D.M.D...................... 128

Playhouse Cinemas......................... 81

Valley Bank......................................65

City of Alexander City.................... 11

Kerley Motor Company................ 128

Poor House Boat Outlet.................62

Walls Tire........................................45

Cherokee Qwik Stop....................... 81

Kona Ice........................................... 81

Queen’s Attic..................................93

Wedowee Marine.......................... 127

Children’s Harbor..........................111

Lake Martin Dock.........................106

R&R Refrigeration..........................35

Wetumpka Depot.......................... 126

Chuck’s Marina...............................58

Lake Martin EDA...........................88

Radney Funeral Home...........122-123

Who’s Diner.................................... 81

Clayton Homes...............................76

Lake Martin HOBO’s....................58

Radney, Radney, Jackson................82

Wind Creek State Park.................106

Cloud Nine..................................... 128

Lake Martin Inspections............... 40

Red Ridge United Methodist Church.103

Wind Creek Zipline......................... 51

Coosa Valley MRI......................... 128

Lake Martin Mini Mall..................73

Rhodes Brothers/Key Builders.....117

Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce... 46

Lake Martin Realty....................... 132

Rhonda Jaye, Lake Martin Realty....87

DAV.................................................... 85

Lake Martin Resource Association.....19

Russell Building Supply..................85

Mar. 2020 | TOURISM 20/20 129

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Central To You, Central To Your Success.

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Jaylen McGriff 256.300.0372

Jan Hall 256.329.6313

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Becky Haynie 334.312.0928

Jim Cleveland 256.596.2220

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Michelle Brooks 256.749.1031

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Ashley Chancellor 334.202.9017

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Mimi Rush 334.399.7874

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Dadeville

256.825.9092

Willow Point 256.212.1498

L a k e M a r t i n R e a l t y. c o m

Ourtown

256.212.1498