(TV and Radio program links below) Walking the rocky grounds of Noccalula Falls Park takes me to a very special place in time. I grew up just a few blocks from the park, attended R. A. Mitchell elementary school across the street. (Mitchell donated the land for the park) Over the years its been a treat to watch this gem of North Alabama develop and grow for the enjoyment of all. Now with over 400 ac. of land on both sides of Black Creek, the park includes the one of the highest single drop (90’) water falls in Alabama, a large 130 site RV Park with full hookups, a group camp ground, a Children’s Zoo, Grist Mill, historic Gilliland covered Bridge, a pioneer village, botanical garden, a world class miniature golf facility, Rental Cabins, a Wedding Chapel, large meeting facilities – open and indoor, and memorials to all of Etowah Counties veterans. And, there’s a narrow gauge train, replica 1863 C. P. Huntington, for getting around the park to see it all! Best of all, while there is a modest fee to enter the gardens and pioneer village, the Falls itself is open to public, no charge. The RV park is a steal at less than $30 a night for full hookups – including WIFI.
All this at a City funded and maintained park – only minutes from downtown.
The park has come a long way since I explored the canyon below the Falls. For us, swimming in the creek and exploring the ravines and caves that line the 2 mile long gorge kept us busy most every summer. The legend of Noccalula, a native American Cherokee princess, betrothed by her father to a stranger, who threw herself over the falls rather than marry for convenience, haunted us at days end as the shadows grew long in the canyon below the falls. With a little imagination you could hear her fathers tears in the thundering roar of the falls after a spring rain. He named the Falls – Noccalula (black water)! continued
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