My husband knows there are two things I love more than anything in this world: Halloween and the great outdoors. I always joke that if you find me outside, just leave me there. My home is overflowing with camping gear – some necessary, some just for bougie comfort. But there is something about the adventure of hitting hiking trails or exploring in nature that refreshes my soul.
I’ve been looking forward to this outdoor issue all year, and am excited to share stories that will help you capture the best of fall at Lake Martin.
Lake Martin Resource Association hosted their first Tallapoosa River Cleanup event, inviting kayakers to paddle the river and help keep the shorelines and roadways clean. Dozens of volunteers participated in this year’s initiative, pulling everything from tires and fishing poles to an old boat from the popular Harold Banks Canoe Trail. Read about the event and their impact on page 24.
Fall also brings the chance to catch the brilliant colors of the changing leaves, and there’s no better way than exploring one of the area’s scenic trails. Explore Lake Martin has launched new additions to their hiking challenge, where participants can earn rewards for completing hikes and tracking their progress. Find out how to get started on page 38.
For those who prefer a slower pace, a horseback ride is a timeless way to enjoy the outdoors. Russell Lands offers guided trail rides through Russell Forest, where rolling hills, water crossings and scenic views help guests create unforgettable experiences. On page 33, you’ll meet the couple behind the scenes, who have been welcoming riders to The Stables for nearly two decades.
On page 28, we also introduce you to The Destination. Nestled into the woods just a few miles from Lake Martin, this one-of-akind retreat is built entirely of safari tents. From creative themes to scenic views, it’s a glamping destination where the wild beauty of nature meets the relaxing comforts of a hotel.
October is also home to my favorite holiday – Halloween. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a writer, and my favorite way to spend my time was curled up with works by Edgar Allan Poe and R.L. Stine. And while it turns out I would be writing heartwarming stories rather than horror fiction, this month I had a chance to get back to my roots and dive into a few local legends.
Over the years, I’ve heard countless tales of hauntings around Lake Martin. Blending history with folklore, on page 52, you’ll find three ghost stories that locals have been sharing for generations.
Our October issue is packed with ideas of how to enjoy the great outdoors. From foraging mushrooms with Fungi Farm to planning the perfect camping snacks, I hope this month’s issue inspires you to hit the trails, find an adventure and share a few ghost stories around the campfire. Letter from the Editor Shaylee Beck Moore, Editor-in-Chief
Guided trail rides at The Stables at Russell Crossroads take guests through Russell Forest on hourlong journeys past streams, wooded paths and lake views, offering a peaceful escape into nature.
Photo by Kenneth Boone.
All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of: Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 | lakemagazine.life
Subscriptions are $50 annually
20. FORAGING FORAYS AT FUNGI FARM
Step into the woods with Fungi Farm, where Allen Carroll is reviving ancient foraging traditions and bringing a taste of the wild to Lake Martin through mushrooms.
24. KAYAKING FOR A CAUSE
Dozens of volunteers hit the Tallapoosa River with a mission to clean the shorelines and preserve the beloved canoe trail.
28. GLAMPING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Just minutes from Lake Martin,The Destination pairs safari-style tents with luxury touches for a one-of-a-kind retreat.
33. SADDLE UP FOR ADVENTURE
From rolling hills to lakeside views, guided horseback rides at The Stables offer a timeless escape into nature.
38. TAKE THE HIKING CHALLENGE
Explore Lake Martin’s Hiking Challenge invites adventurers to tackle scenic trails, track progress and earn rewards along the way.
42. ANCHORED IN DESIGN
The Reynolds traded dockside nights for a custom home at The Ridge, blending sweeping lake views with an eye for design at every turn.
52. HAUNTED SHORES OF LAKE MARTIN
Discover the spooky side of Lake Martin through tales of haunted ruins, sunken towns and folklore that have been passed down for generations.
LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:
09. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE
10. LAKE SCENES
14. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
18. LAKE MARTIN NEWS
56. NATURE OF THE LAKE
60. LAKE PROPERTY
62. LAKE WATCH
65. FAB FINDS
66. HEALTHY LIVING
68. CHEF'S TABLE
70. BIG CATCHES
72. CHEERS!
75. THE SCRAMBLE
82. PARTING SHOT
Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake
Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators
Best Places to Catch Fall Colors at Lake Martin
Fall has arrived at Lake Martin, bringing with it a brilliant display of changing leaves. From the picturesque shoreline to winding hiking trails, the area transforms into one of the most scenic places to enjoy autumn in Alabama.
Wind Creek State Park
Set on 1,444 scenic acres of Lake Martin shoreline, Wind Creek State Park is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether camping along the shorelines or catching a hike on one of its three scenic trails, there are endless opportunities to catch the changing colors of fall.
Tip: Perhaps one of the most unique and iconic spots at the state park is the historic grain silo. Climb to the top platform for sweeping panoramic views of fall colors.
Smith Mountain and the Fire Tower
For those looking for a scenic hike, Smith Mountain has a set of trails for every level of adventurer. Whether you take a relaxing stroll along the Lake Martin shoreline or challenge yourself with a more difficult climb, the surrounding woods provide one of the most dramatic shows of color in the area.
Tip: Climb to the top of the Jerry W. Bynum Fire Lookout Tower to catch stunning panoramic views of Lake Martin and
the surrounding landscape.
Overlook Park Hiking Trails
Overlook Park is home to more than seven miles of CRATA trail routes, inviting hikers to come explore the outdoors. From stunning rock formations to views of Chimney Rock, the trails offer these additional perks alongside a showcase of brilliant displays of fall color.
Tip: Pack a snack and take advantage of the overlook’s scenic picnic area for a lunch with a view.
Scenic Boat Excursions
One of the most magical ways to leaf-peep at Lake Martin is from the water itself. As fall colors paint the shoreline, a leisurely cruise offers an ever-changing view of the season.
Tip: Book a guided outing with Lake Martin Tours so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride while taking in the fall views.
Best
Times and General Tips
Peak color at Lake Martin usually arrives in late October and lasts through early November. For best lighting, aim for midmorning or late afternoon when colors are most vibrant. Dress in layers for cool mornings, bring snacks and don’t forget to charge your phone to capture photos of your leafpeeping adventures.
Weather Outlook for October
October 2025 Forecast
Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the mid 70s with average lows in the lower 50s and about 2.86 inches of precipitation in the month of October. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be slightly higher than average and rainfall will be average this month.
Year-to-Date
Precipitation:
Our Normal October Precipitation: 2.86 inches
Avg. temp.: 63.7
Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 490.34 Lowest: 488.96
Lake depth is measured in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit lakes.alabamapower.com.
Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.
Lake Scenes n People & Places
Email your photos to
READER SUBMISSIONS
(1) Rebecca Evans, Mary Maci File and Campbell Moore pose with their pups on Independence Day. (2) Hayes is excited to show off his red, white and blue while celebrating the Fourth of July at Lake Martin. (3) Aria Peek cools off with fresh watermelon on a hot summer day at the lake. (4) Amanda Fieder goes all out in red, white and blue while floating in Lake Martin. (5) Cotton Candy colored skies above Lake Martin in late August. (6) Polly Pockets watches on at the annual Lake Martin boat parade. (7) Caroline Billingsley and Cole Maxwell started the Fourth of July on top of the world - Lake Martin style! (8) Boats gathered on Lake Martin to catch a stunning Fourth of July sunset near New Water Farms.
October 4
Dadeville
Fall Festival
Mark your calendars for the 12th annual Dadeville Fall Festival, hosted by the Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce. Fall festivities will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Dadeville Square. This family-friendly event is free and features live entertainment, a kid zone, food vendors, arts and crafts booths and much more. Visit dadevillechamber.com for more information.
October
4
Lake Martin Dulcimer Club Fall Festival
The Lake Martin Dulcimer Club will perform from 9a.m. to 11 a.m. on the porch of the Dadeville Performing Arts Center during the Dadeville Fall Festival. The public is invited to stop by and enjoy traditional dulcimer music.
October 4 & 5
Dixie Sailing
Club Po’ Ol’ Kowaliga
Open Regatta
should bring a sack lunch; dessert and tea will be provided. The free event is open to the public and will be held at 5020 state Route 280 in Alexander City. Call 256-2340347 or email vcca.al@gmail.com by noon October 2 to reserve your space.
October 10
Sean of the South LIVE with Three on a String
Alex City Arts presents writer and humorist Sean Dietrich, known as Sean of the South, along with legendary musical group Three on a String at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center. Dietrich is known for his Southern tales and wit, while Three on a String delivers humor and lively tunes for an unforgettable evening celebrating Southern culture. For more information, visit alexcityarts.org/event or email alexcityarts@gmail.com.
ACT II will present "Steel Magnolias" at CACC October 24-26
Sailboats will race the waters of Lake Martin Oct. 4-5 for the annual Po’ Ol’ Kowaliga Regatta, one of two open regattas hosted each year. Classes include Catalina 22 Gold and Silver, MC Scow, Flying Scot and open/handicap, with any sailboat welcome to race. Five races are planned for the weekend, with one race constituting a regatta. Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in each fleet. Registration is $75 before September 14 and $90 after. For details or to register, contact chrishodge@charter.net.
October
6
October 11
Alabama Cotton Festival
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN
The 32nd annual Alabama Cotton Festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the heart of downtown Eclectic at 145 Main Street. The beloved family-friendly celebration highlights Alabama’s cotton heritage with arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, children’s activities, cotton-themed exhibits, a classic car show and a parade. Admission is free. For vendor information, visit elmoreeda.com/events.
October 11
45th Annual Oktoberfest
Take Me Home – A Musical Road of Memories
The Lake Martin Dulcimer Club will present a singalong of popular 1960s and 1970s folk tunes. Lyrics will be posted, so the audience can join in. Wear period costumes. Tickets are $10 through LMDC members, at the door and at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.
October 6
Lunch and Learn
Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama will host a lunch and learn from noon to 1 p.m. David Booth and Dadix will share information on Windows 11 and how to upgrade your computer to the latest version. Participants
Alexander City Parks & Recreation will host the 45th annual Oktoberfest & Custom Car Show from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature vendors, food, live entertainment and children’s activities, including a petting zoo, inflatables and arts and crafts. For details, email Megan Blake at megan.blake@alexandercityal.gov or call her at 256-596-1846.
October
18
Tallassee Trade Day
Celebrate the fall season with a Tallassee tradition. Enjoy shopping local vendors, live entertainment, delicious food and family-friendly fun. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., activi-
ties include a pumpkin decorating contest, karaoke, a costume contest and more. For details, call 334-283-5151.
October 20
Lunch and Learn
Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama will host a lunch and learn from noon to 1 p.m. with Sandra Patten presenting “Lighten Up.” Participants should bring a sack lunch; dessert and tea will be provided. The free event is open to the public and will be held at 5020 state Route 280 in Alexander City. To reserve a space, call 256-234-0347 or email vcca.al@gmail.com by noon October 16.
October 21
Lake Martin Bama Club Golf Tournament
Four-player teams will compete at Wicker Point Golf Club to support scholarships to the University of Alabama for local students in Tallapoosa, Coosa and Clay counties. Call Nancy Hodges at 205-365-1269 for more information.
October 24-26
Steel Magnolias
Alexander City Theatre II will produce Robert Harling's classic favorite on the ballroom stage at Betty Carol Graham Technology Center on the Alexander City campus of Central Alabama Community College. Set in a small Southern town, this beloved play blends humor and emotion as the story explores the strength and resilience of eclectic friends through the illness of one of their own. Performances will be at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.
October 24
Campfire Talk: Scary Stories
Join the Wind Creek State Park naturalist for free s’mores and spooky campfire stories at 8 p.m. at the Clubhouse. The event is free for overnight guests; gate fees apply for day visitors. For more information, contact dylan.ogle@dcnr.alabama.gov.
October 25
Boating Safety Course
Alabama Marine Police will conduct a boating safety course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kowaliga Marina to help all boaters obtain an Alabama boating license or review up-to-date rules and regulations. Hosted by Russell Marine, this course is NASBLA and Alabama Boating Safety certified. To register, email Kendra Naile at KNaile@russelllands.com or call her at 256-397-1208.
October 25
Melvin Knoblett
Songwriter & One Man Band
Melvin Knoblett will perform at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The show is free. Donations welcomed. For more information email office@dadevilleperformingartcenter.com.
October 25
Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads
Celebrate the season at the annual Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can enjoy the pumpkin patch, petting zoo, horse rides, and demonstrations at the grist mill and Blacksmith Shop. Naturalist Marianne will be on hand with critters in the Naturalist Cabin, and food favorites like funnel cakes and hot dogs will be available. The Blue Ribbon Baking and Canning Contest returns with cash and prizes, and a children’s costume contest will also be held. Admission is $25 per family of four or $10 per individual. Additional pumpkins are $5 each. Visit russelllands.com/events for more information.
October 31 & November 1
Renew Our Rivers Annual Lake Cleanup
This annual effort to keep Lake Martin clean has removed more than 160 tons of trash, including more than 600 tires, over 20 years. The focus is on cleaning up littered shoreline and roadsides leading to public boat ramps all around the lake. Volunteers are encouraged to work independently and deliver collected trash to boat ramps in predetermined areas. See the article on page 24 of this magazine for details.
November
4
One Table Community Dinner
Alexander City Chamber of Commerce will host this upscale event at The Orchard on Washington. Cocktails and hors d᾽oeuvres at 5:30 p.m. with live music. The farmto-table catered dinner will be the star of the show at 6:30 p.m. Register at chamber.alexcitychamber.com/events. Tickets are $100 per person.
Season-long Events
Naturalist Presentations and Guided Tours
Come see naturalist Marianne and her lively nature presentations at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature. For subject matter, dates and times, visit russelllands.com/events.
Weekly Birdwatching Adventure
Join the Wind Creek State Park naturalist on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. to learn about feathered friends that call Lake Martin home. Park entrance fees apply for day visitors. For details, email dylan.ogle@dcnr.alabama.gov.
Grief Support
Red Ridge United Methodist Church in Dadeville hosts an on-going grief support program on Mondays at 10 a.m., led by Pastor Mike Butler. There is no charge for participation, and it does not matter if the loss was recent or long ago. Call Mike Butler at 256-412-6945 for more information.
Covered Dish Social
The Real Island Community hosts a monthly covered dish social on the third Friday of each month at the RIVFD Training and Community Center at 6:30 p.m. at 1495 Real Island Road in Equality. Whether you’re a longtime resident, visiting or new to the area, everyone is welcome to come fellowship. Call 334-857-3233 for more information, as some events are themed.
Stillwaters Dog Fight Golf
Join golfers of all ages and abilities at Stillwaters Golf Club at 10 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for an open golf event. In addition to regular golf fees, players pay a small entry fee of $7 or $15, depending on the day. For details, call the golf shop at 256-825-1353.
Artists Association of Central Alabama
AACA artists meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex grounds, with a general meeting followed by open studio. Club dues are $20 for the year.
Lake Martin Civitan Club
The Lake Martin Civitan Club meets at noon in the private room at JR’s Grill, 145 Alabama St., Alexander City, on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, call Audrey Moore at 256-786-0465.
Everything’s Art Classes
Through October 28, Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host this free program on Tuesdays from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Children in grades three through five will learn the elements of art as they complete projects in class with Everything’s Art teachers. Enroll and complete permission forms at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/classes. For more information, email delaine.hanson@gmail.com.
Clean Community Partnership Cleanups
Pick up trash in Alexander City to win money for your favorite charity. Volunteers meet at Strand Park at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City. Turn in your collected trash and earn points for each person on your cleanup team and each bag of trash you collect. The team with the most points gets a $500 check made out to the nonprofit charity of its choice. Second place receives $200, and third place also receives $200. For more information, contact Michelle West at 256-786-0584 or John Thompson at 334-399-3289.
In Dadeville, a monthly cleanup is held on the second Saturday of the month, and volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall. Contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.
Lake Martin News
Camp ASCCA to receive donation from
Tidal Wave
Alexander City’s Tidal Wave Auto Spa donated half of its proceeds collected on September 19 to Camp ASCCA.
For the past 17 years, Tidal Wave has designated one day a year to give all proceeds to local charities. As part of the company’s long-standing commitment to giving back, Tidal Wave will donate 100 percent of wash proceeds made during the one-day event to local charities and non-profit organizations.
The Alexander City location at 3751 U.S. Hwy. 280 E has partnered with Camp ASCCA for this year’s event.
Camp ASCCA is a nationally recognized therapeutic recreation camp serving children and adults with disabilities, providing accessible outdoor adventure and unforgettable experiences on Lake Martin.
Camp ASCCA will receive 50 percent of the proceeds and the remaining 50 percent will be donated to the company’s longtime partner, Annandale Village, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing progressive life assistance to adults with developmental disabilities. The village is located in Suwanee, Georgia, and is the only facility of its kind in the Southeast.
Over the event’s 16-year history, Tidal Wave has donated over $2 million to charitable organizations, with $686,353 raised at last year’s event. This year is set to be the company’s largest charity day event yet, with 295 participating locations across their 30-state footprint.
Tidal Wave Auto Spa is dedicated to making a positive difference in the communities it serves.
Beyond its annual charity day event, the company also gives back year-round through its fundraising program, which has helped raise over $5 million for local schools, organizations, churches and civic groups.
~ Staff
Roadwork still on schedule
It may not seem like it right now, but the construction on Alabama Highway 63 and state Route 280 are both still on schedule.
According to an Alabama Department of Transportation spokesperson, the timeline for Highway 63 is correct for a completion date of February 2026.
The spokesperson said the footings for the bridge should be arriving at the beginning of October, followed closely by the bridge arriving mid-month. Construction crews now have a second location to bring in dirt from, making that process quicker.
As far as the Highway 280 construction, the first layer should be completely down by the end of next week, around Sept. 19, the spokesperson said. ALDOT warned driving may be a bit more difficult at the state Route 280 and Alabama Highway 22 intersection when construction crews are working in that area.
Jazz Fest comes to an end
After 35 years, a staple local event is coming to an end.
Alexander City Chamber of Commerce president Steve Robinson said due to the substantial loss of revenue, the chamber has decided to not host another Alex City Jazz Fest.
“We lost $26,000 in revenue last year,” Robinson said. “We just can’t afford to do that.”
Robinson said after looking at the losses as well as the shrinking audience every year, he recommended to the chamber’s executive board and full board not to continue with Jazz Fest.
“Nobody held their hand up and disagreed,” Robinson said. Robinson was hopeful another event would emerge to be as successful as Jazz Fest has been in the past.
“Lake Martin Songwriters Festival is growing,” he said. “We had a great turnout at The Amp this year.”
Alex City Jazz Fest was started 35 years ago by Ralph and Allyn Frohsin to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Frohsin’s, a family-owned department store that was located downtown in the building Jes & Gray Living now occupy.
The music fest began as a one-night event held downtown. It grew to a two-night event with the second night being held outside next to the current Kowaliga Restaurant. The final home of the event was Strand Park and The Amp.
~ Gwen Bishop
~ Staff
Allen Carroll examines a mushroom on the John B. Scott trail
FForaging Forays at Fungi Farm
Foraging for food – the “gathering” part of our “hunter-gatherer” heritage – is a skill that has been mostly lost by modern Americans.
But Lake Martin residents have an easy way to regain some of those ancient skills.
Allen Carroll, owner of Fungi Farm in Dadeville, is an expert forager who leads regular forays through the woods to teach people how to identify and gather mushrooms.
In 2017, Carroll founded Fungi Farm, located on Highway 34 near Stillwaters, to grow fresh mushrooms for area restaurants. Over time Fungi Farm’s business evolved into providing supplies to regional farmers who grow mushrooms for grocers and restaurants and to individuals who want fresh mushrooms for their kitchens, primarily by selling plastic-encased blocks of sawdust that contain different species of mushroom spores.
“It’s like Bonnie’s Plants, but for mushrooms,” Carroll said. “We call them ready-to-fruit blocks. A mushroom is the fruiting body of a fungus.”
While Fungi Farm sells 22 different mushrooms, most of its business is centered around a handful of varieties: lion’s mane, chestnut, pioppino and several oyster mushrooms.
Carroll said the specialty mushrooms he sells have a shorter shelf life than common grocery store mushrooms like shiitake and white button/cremini/portobello (three sizes of the same mushroom). So the best way to acquire specialty mushrooms is to grow them yourself, or if you’re a restaurant or retailer, to buy them from a nearby mushroom farmer.
“Most of our (farming) customers are located in big cities in the Southeast, like Atlanta,” he said, adding that business has been increasing. “Mushrooms seem to be growing in popularity.”
Foraging for wild mushrooms is another part of Carroll’s business.
In the state of Alabama, it’s illegal for anyone who is not a state-certified expert to sell wild mushrooms.
“At the time we started Fungi Farm, there was no state-approved course available,” Carroll said. “So you couldn’t sell foraged mushrooms in Alabama legally.”
Carroll wrote the course of study that the state approved in 2021 and he now teaches classes on identifying wild mushrooms.
“Since then we’ve certified dozens of people and a few of those have really taken off. They do pretty well every year with their wild mushroom picking.”
Here in the Lake Martin area, chanterelles are the most common wild edible mushroom. This summer, with all the rain we had in June, was a very good year for chanterelles.
“I mean, we found 70 pounds in a day,” Carroll said.
Foraging involes a great deal of time walking in the woods
STORY & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
In all, there are about 30 different wild mushrooms found in Alabama that state-certified experts are allowed to sell, including morel, lion’s mane, chickenof-the-woods and oyster mushrooms.
Morels are relatively scarce around Lake Martin but they are plentiful in places north of Birmingham; however, even where they are scarce, if you work at it you can make a good harvest.
“I have a friend in LaGrange (Ga.) who picked 15 pounds this year,” Carroll said.
“There are more than the 30 species that you could pick and eat, but the list created for the state is considered very safe,” Carroll said. “There are no toxic look-alikes to any mushroom that is legal to sell.”
Some local wild mushrooms are not edible, but are foraged for medicinal uses and dyeing fabrics.
Carroll and partner Robert Griffith have also started a new company this year called MushroomTek to further study and teach about Alabama’s mushrooms. During forays in the forest, many mushrooms are picked and sent to a lab for DNA sequencing, which is turning
up a lot of new information.
“It’s broadening our view and deepening our knowledge of what’s actually out there,” Carroll said. “Mushrooms are a lot more varied than we realized.”
A typical mushrooming foray might be a two to three-mile walk through the forest. The group size could be just a few people or up to 30.
A guided foray costs $20, while earning the state’s wild mushroom certification costs $50. Fungi Farm also offers online and hands-on mushroom cultivation classes.
One favorite place for mushroom forays is the John B. Scott Trail located just below Martin Dam. The day we went out was hot and very dry and there were few mushrooms to be found. But after a good rain the forest floor can be peppered with lots of different mushrooms just there for the picking … if you know what to look for.
For more information, contact Fungi Farm at mushroomag.com or call 256-307-1852.
Turkey Tail mushrooms are harvested for medicinal purposes
Kayaking for a Cause
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
PPaddles hit the water with a purpose on September 20 as dozens of kayakers set out to do more than enjoy the Tallapoosa River – they came to clean it.
Renew Our Rivers launched its first official Tallapoosa River cleanup event, inviting paddlers to set out with a mission to clean up the riverbanks. Dropping in at the bridge near Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, participants made their way down the popular Harold Banks Canoe Trail to Jaybird Landing, collecting trash along the way.
The initiative was inspired by a similar cleanup effort several years ago when John Thompson,
Harold Banks and a group of kayak enthusiasts set out to remove trash along the Tallapoosa River banks. Since then, the Tallapoosa River Kayak Club has continued the work during regular outings. Still, more than a handful of people are needed to make a lasting impact – it takes a community to keep the Tallapoosa River clean.
As LMRA Environmental Chairman Steve Robinson and committee member Jerry Bynum planned for 2025 Renew Our Rivers events, they saw the Tallapoosa cleanup as a natural fit.
“There has been a smaller clean up like this before,” Bynum said. “This one was a lot bigger with more people involved. It’s not just the fact
“When people start picking up, they like what it looks like, and they just keep doing it. That’s what we hope to accomplish – the education, the encouragement and help change the thought process.”
~ Jerry Bynum
that we want to make a statement about cleaning up the river, but also encouraging people to pack out what they pack in.
“We also hope that we’re encouraging the Tallapoosa River Kayak Club by letting them know that there are other people out there who care about the river and care about how it looks.”
Lake Martin Resource Association partnered with Alabama Power and the Tallapoosa County Commission to bring the event to life. In addition, members of the kayak club volunteered as safety guides along the route.
Participants were provided safety vests, pickers and mesh bags for collecting trash. They also
received Renew Our Rivers T-shirts, donated by Alabama Power, as a thank-you for their efforts.
Recent dry weather has dropped the Tallapoosa River to lower than normal water levels, which made paddling more challenging. But the shallow conditions also offered an advantage. With more of the riverbed exposed, visibility improved, allowing volunteers to spot hidden trash and slip into coves and bends that are typically hard to reach.
“One big advantage of having low water is having clear water,” Bynum said. “The volunteers were able to see things that you wouldn’t normally see.”
While kayakers scoured the river, another group of volunteers worked by land, picking up trash along the dirt road to Jaybird Landing and around the landing itself.
Together, the efforts resulted in nearly a dumpster full of trash collected, including tires, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, Styrofoam, a long-forgotten boat and old trash bags – even one containing a snake.With the Tallapoosa River flowing into Lake Martin, removing debris not only improved the river but also benefitted the lake downstream.
After the four-hour trip, kayakers and roadside volunteers gathered at Jaybird Landing for pizza and post-event fellowship.
The Harold Banks Canoe Trail has long been a destination for kayakers and anglers throughout the year. In spring, it offers an additional draw as visitors come to see the stunning display of Tallapoosa lily blooms.
Bynum credits much of the trail’s popularity to improvements made by Alabama Power at the ramp and landing area, as well as the county commission’s roadwork. Much like Smith Mountain Fire Tower, Bynum said, the success of the trail reflects the right people coming together, such as LMRA, the kayak club and volunteers who care about the river, to preserve and enhance a community treasure.
“I came to Tallapoosa County in 1977 and my first float on the river was going down to Jaybird to fish,” Bynum said. “It was always kind of trashy. Since that time, the county commission has worked on the road and Alabama Power has made improvements to
the ramp and the landing area. Now, it’s completely different.”
For LMRA, the Tallapoosa cleanup was about more than one day on the water. It was about building momentum.
“That’s what Renew Our Rivers is all about,” Bynum said. “When people start picking up, they like what it looks like, and they just keep doing it. That’s what we hope to accomplish – the education, the encouragement and help change the thought process.”
With the success of this year’s event, LMRA plans to add the Tallapoosa cleanup to future calendars, alternating years or as needed.
The association will next host its annual Renew Our Rivers cleanup October 31 and November 1 around popular Lake Martin destinations, an effort that draws more than 350 volunteers each year. Visit LMRA.info for more details.
The kayak cleanup crew got an early start
Billy Barrett throws a tire in the dumpster
Glamping in the Great Outdoors
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
JJust a few miles from the shorelines of Lake Martin, African safari tents rise above the Alabama woods, hiding luxury accommodations within canvas walls. Behind the vision of this unique retreat are Skip and Rhonda Courtney, who blended their love of nature, music and hospitality into what would become the now nationally recognized glamping resort, The Destination.
Glamping, short for glamorous camping, emerged in 2005 and has steadily grown in popularity across Europe, Australia and the United States. Experiences range from luxurious domes and Airstream trailers to treehouses, offering visitors the chance to enjoy the outdoors with the comforts of home.
The Courtneys, originally from Nashville, decided in 2017 that it was time to escape the hustle and bustle of Music City and embrace a slower pace of life. They had long envisioned a hospitality venture once Skip retired, considering options such as a bed and breakfast, a vineyard or an old inn.
While the Courtneys had been visiting the Lake Martin area for nearly 25 years, Alabama wasn’t in the cards as part of their original plan. That changed when Rhonda’s brother-in-law in Auburn shared a video of a property for sale in Dadeville. Captivated by the rushing shoals and the scenic landscape, the couple decided to take a leap of faith and, within three months, purchased the land.
“When we first bought the property, there was absolutely nothing past the parking area,” said Skip. “It was a dirt road coming in. So, we would come out and do our dreaming and planning, and wanted to become fully immersed in this.”
The property was raw land, but the Courtneys saw its potential. They partnered with Alabama Power to install underground electricity so poles wouldn’t disturb the natural views. More than 4,600 feet of water line were added to provide clean water, and Rhonda began sourcing premium furnishings and décor for their glamp sites.
Construction came with its challenges. Work began in 2020, only to be stalled by the COVID-
The Destination uses safari-style tents for their glamps; The tents offer comfortable accommodations with the luxuries of home; The retreat is located on 78 acres of woodlands near Sandy Creek; Each glamp has its own unique theme.
Clockwise from Left:
19 pandemic. Supplies were limited, and building help was hard to find. Undeterred, Skip rolled up his sleeves. With guidance from the tent manufacturer and help from their maintenance manager, he built the first glamp, the Rhondaposa.
That persistence paid off.
Today, The Destination has earned national recognition, ranked among the Top 10 Best Glamping Destinations for four consecutive years by USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
Set across 78 acres along almost a mile of Sandy Creek shorline, the retreat features four luxury glamps, each with a distinct theme. The safari tents, crafted by South African company Canvas & Tent and distributed in the U.S. by Bushtec Safari, are described as “tents on the outside, a 4-star hotel on the inside.”
Each glamp includes locking French doors, wood floors, tiled showers, chandeliers, granite countertops, climate control and resort-style furnishings.
Adding a special touch, the Courtneys used timber cleared from the property to add local wood accents inside each glamp.
“All the wood came from the property,” said Skip. “When we were cutting the roads and clearing the field, we were taking a lot of trees down
and felt bad. So we bought the Frontier Mill and cut our own boards.”
The Rhondaposta, a one-bedroom glamp, was the first completed. Inspired by the couple’s time on their Tennessee horse ranch and named after the Ponderosa Ranch from Bonanza, it embodies a cozy log cabin. A sliding barn door, rustic beams, cowboy décor and a Western sleeper sofa give the space a frontier feel.
“We had a horse ranch in Tennessee when we first moved up there, and I called it the Rhondaposa, after my wife,” said Skip. “It is our Western themed glamp.”
The Moondance glamp, also one-bedroom, carries a nautical theme. Named for the couple’s 46-foot yacht, and after the Van Morrison classic, the retreat’s navy and gold accents, anchors and buoys evoke the feel of sleeping aboard a ship.
The Clearwater and The Music Loft expand to two bedrooms with large bathrooms featuring double vanities and walk-in showers. Clearwater takes its name and design inspiration from the Florida beach town where Skip and Rhonda first met. Its décor reflects bright, coastal style. The Music Loft pays tribute to the Courtneys’ music venue once located in downtown Nashville, decorated with guitars, Music City artwork and signed
Elevated decor and creative designs offer guests a luxury stay while escaping in nature
memorabilia.
Despite its seclusion, The Destination is only minutes from downtown Dadeville, local restaurants and Lake Martin. Each glamp is privately situated in the scenic landscape, allowing guests to unwind in the serenity of nature with spacious decks, fire pits and hot tubs perfect for a night of stargazing. Guests can also explore hiking trails, fish from the pier or kayak along the shoals. Massage packages, including couples’ treatments delivered right at the glamp, add another layer of relaxation.
The retreat also hosts live music on the Southwind Stage, an outdoor venue open to guests and the public. Drawing on their Nashville roots, the Courtneys see music as a natural part of their hospitality vision.
Future plans for The Destination may include additional amenities such as a spa, but for now, the couple is savoring the chance to share their retreat with others.
“People come back year after year,” said Skip. “We have had guests come from as far as Finland before. It’s just a really unique place and we enjoy sharing that.”
For travelers in search of a one-of-a-kind escape, The Destination offers an experience worth discovering. For reservations or more information, visit thedestinationglampingresort.com.
Wood paneling was sourced from the property
Spacious decks provide scenic views
Each glamp includes a hot tub for stargazing
The Southwind Stage offers live music for guests and the public
Elevated bathrooms offer guests modern comforts while staying close to nature
Saddle Up for Adventure
Explore nature, tranquility and trails throughout Russell Forest on horseback
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
HHorseback riding through Russell Forest is one of Lake Martin’s classic outdoor fall experiences. Guided by The Stables at Russell Crossroads, riders wind along forest trails layered with autumn leaves, cross gentle streams and trace along the shoreline where the lake reflects fall colors.
While the serenity and picturesque landscapes keep guests coming back to The Stables year after year, it’s the peaceful escape into nature that makes each ride feel timeless.
At the heart of those experiences are Stanley
and Linda Ingram, who have spent nearly two decades welcoming riders to explore Russell Forest. They’ve guided guests as young as 6 years old on their very first ride and helped a 90-year-old enjoy the trails with ease.
The Stables’ legacy began in 2008, when Russell Lands saw potential in the forest and brought in Stanley to cut the first trails.
At the time, there was no barn – only a few of the Ingrams’ horses and newly cleared trails where the earliest rides took place. From those simple beginnings, the program grew quickly,
and within two years the iconic stable at Russell Crossroads was built, giving horseback riding at Lake Martin a true home.
Today, nearly 100 miles of scenic trails wind through the property, where knowledgeable staff guide riders on relaxing outings and each trail offers a different journey. Each horseback tour lasts about an hour and delivers more than just a postcard view – it leaves guests with a treasured memory.
“It’s a very pretty ride,” said Linda. “We go up and down hills, and through streams. So, it’s
a real trail ride. We have a lot of lake views, and it’s just a beautiful ride year round.”
The most popular option is the Lakeside Loop Trail, which offers gentle rolling hills, two water crossings and sweeping views of Lake Martin. Other routes, like Turtle Back Loop and Big Way trail, offer variety for riders who return season after season.
“We have some people that come back year after year, and so we can take them on a different ride each time,” said Linda. “My personal favorite trail is Lake Loop. There are some
Left: The scenic routes through Russell Forest include rolling hills and water crossings; Above: Riders of all skill levels are welcome to join the experience.
hills and water crossings that are really neat. Kids always enjoy that. It is by far my favorite.”
Every outing is guided by a staff member of The Stables, with safety at the forefront for beginners. Young riders or adults who are new to horseback riding can be connected by lead to a guide for extra comfort. Each guest also learns the basics of stopping and turning a horse before the ride begins.
“We let guests get a little bit of comfort on the horses before we actually take them out on the trail,” said Linda.
Although The Stables is known for its stunning Clydesdales, trail rides feature Western quarter horses paired with Western saddles for comfort and ease. Helmets are provided, and guides snap photos at scenic spots along the way, capturing the heartwarming moments of each ride so guests
leave with keepsakes and highlights from the trail.
“My favorite thing to say when someone is making a reservation and they ask, ‘Do I need to bring anything?’ I always tell them, just bring a smile,” said Linda.
The Ingrams say the most rewarding part is seeing joy in the riders.
“People will come back and say, ‘That was the best ride ever,’” said Linda.
Alongside horseback tours, The Stables has also grown into an event venue, hosting birthday parties, rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions.
For reservations or event information, contact Linda Ingram at lingram@russelllands.com or 256-794-1333 or visit russellcrossroads.com.
Every trail ride is led by a personal guide
Stanley Ingram and his wife, Linda, helped build the legacy of The Stables
The Stables encourage riders to wear closed-toe shoes for the experience
S Take the Hiking Challenge
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE
Set off on an adventure this fall with Explore Lake Martin’s Hiking Challenge, offering participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature and take in the breathtaking beauty that Lake Martin has to offer.
The challenge, launched in 2021, not only offers hikers the opportunity to catch the stunning fall colors but also serves as a guide to discovering picturesque trails throughout the area.
“Our goal for this challenge is to encourage people to get out and venture the trails around Lake Martin,” said Payton Natali, lead of Explore Lake Martin Sports. “There are really good scenic trails around the area, and we want people to get out, explore and see the outdoors.”
Beyond the stunning views and opportunities for rewarding exercise, the challenge gives participants the chance to earn Lake Martin swag along the way.
Participants who complete all eight designated trails will be awarded a branded hiking patch, a certificate of completion and an exclusive swag bag.
And while exploring the trails is the heart of the challenge, the experience is now enhanced by a new digital guide on Explore Lake Martin’s phone app, where participants can find detailed descriptions of each trail, including photos, maps and loop information, and easily navigate routes while tracking their
progress.
The app also highlights additional hiking options near Lake Martin, such as Horseshoe Bend and the Alexander City Sportsplex, expanding the variety of hiking opportunities available.
One popular route, the James M. Scott Deadening Alpine Trail, is not included in the official challenge due to its difficult terrain.
Even so, Natali said the app includes details for those looking to tackle this tougher climb.
“On the app, people can navigate to the Lake Martin Hiking Challenge and see a tour of all nine hikes that we have,” said Natali. “The app also includes the Deadening Trail, which is not part of the challenge, but if you get a wild hair and want to do a harder trail, that’s a good one.”
Among the most popular trail routes included in the challenge are the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trails at Overlook Park, which offer some of the most scenic and panoramic views of Lake Martin. The three trails total 7.2 miles and connect so that hikers can combine routes for tackling anything from a 1-mile stroll to a 7-mile trek.
Wind Creek State Park also offers three stunning trails with a variety of scenery and terrain, with a moderate to moderately difficult rating. The trails span from 1.8 miles to 3.8 miles, and offer opportunities for
The hiking challenge is a great way to get out and explore the natural beatuy of Tallapoosa County and Lake Martin
hikers to not only catch glimpses of stunning fall foliage, lake views and wildlife but also several natural features, including streams, a series of rock outcroppings and an old home site.
On October 4, Wind Creek State Park will also offer a guided hike with the park naturalist. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a night stroll through the woods during a nearly full moon. For this experience or to access the trail system at Wind Creek State Park, entry fees apply to hikers who are not staying overnight at the campground.
For an adventurous challenge, hikers can head out to the trails at Smith Mountain Fire Tower. The hike combines steady climbs, forested paths that wind along the water’s edge and sweeping views of Lake Martin from atop the restored fire tower.
“My favorite trail is the one to Smith Mountain Fire Tower,” Natali said. “It’s just hard to beat those views.”
Smith Mountain also offers a unique, seasonal adventure. As lake levels drop in fall and winter, the Island Hop Trail emerges from beneath the water, connecting a chain of small islands that allows hikers the rare opportunity to walk along a route that exists only part of the year.
Also new this year, Explore Lake Martin’s hiking challenge aligns with the Alabama 100 Mile Hiking Challenge, which encourages participants to log 100 miles on trails across the state within a calendar year. The tourism
team partnered with the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association in May to kick off the 100 mile challenge and plans to host another hike in October at Overlook Park for interested participants.
Explore Lake Martin views the hiking challenges as not only a health and wellness initiative, but also as a way to boost the local economy.
“Our hope is that the hiking challenge will not only be great for local residents, but also will bring in people from outside the community to enjoy Lake Martin,” said Sandra Fuller, president and CEO of Explore Lake Martin. “Our data shows that visitors who travel to the Lake Martin area to hike our trails typically support our restaurants, retail shops and gas stations, which brings additional revenue to our local economy."
Whether seeking the tranquility of nature or the thrill of a challenging climb, hiking adventures await at every turn this fall at Lake Martin.
Take the Lake Martin Hiking Challenge
To get started on the Explore Lake Martin Hiking Challenge, participants can download a hiking log from explorelakemartin.com that lists each trail with length and difficulty ratings, along with space to track completion dates. Finished logs can be emailed to payton@explorelakemartin.com. Participants may also submit photos of their trail adventures or track progress through the Explore Lake Martin phone app. Scan the QR code to start your journey!
As first-time homebuilders, the Reynolds brought their dream home to life at The Ridge
inAnchored Design
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
TThe Reynolds’ Lake Martin life began on the water, long before there was a physical address. On weekends aboard their Sea Ray 320 at The Ridge, they spent long days cruising the shoreline and countless nights sleeping at the dock with their son, Jackson.
The Auburn/Opelika couple loved that freedom, but the urge to build a place of their own only grew. They decided to make the lake their full-time home with their Goldendoodle, Sadie, and to build their first dream house together at Lake Martin.
“John had never built a house before,” said Dawn. “He
kept saying he wanted to build. And Jackson loved Lake Martin, so we decided to come up here and look for a lot.”
Their criteria for their Lake Martin home was simple. Dawn wanted a long driveway, and John wanted a space with an open view. By a stroke of luck, a point lot became available at The Ridge during the pandemic, and they knew right away it would be a perfect fit for their new adventure.
Secluded on a point, the Reynolds’ property has sweeping open views of Lake Martin, along with a pri-
vate slough next to the home, perfect for casual swims and serving as a space for a putting green for John and Jackson.
As the stunning five bedroom, seven bathroom home began to take shape, the design was tailored to bring in waterfront views from every angle.
“This lot opened up the design of the house because every room has water views,” said John. “That was the main piece. We just looked at the lot and then decided what type of house we wanted to build.”
The Reynolds treated the original floor plan as a canvas for creativity. Known for specializing in custom homes, the couple partnered with Legacy New Homes to bring their visions to life, revising the home’s design to have higher ceilings, additional windows and an enclosed breeze way – an idea of John’s that has become one of the Reynolds’ favorite aspects of their home.
In addition, the main living room is anchored by a 24-foot stone fireplace – one of John’s dream elements he wanted to incorporate into the lake house.
“I always wanted a full stone fireplace,” said John. “I always thought it would be neat.”
In the kitchen, cabinets painted in Bejamin Moore’s Cloud White rise to a deep stacked crown, while tongue-and-groove pine ceilings, wide-plank oak floors and herringbone tile add warmth and character. A hidden pantry, disguised as a cabinet door, opens to reveal a third oven, a wine cooler and a coffee nook.
Perhaps the most stunning features of the home are
The hidden reading nook serves as a cozy retreat
Textured ceilings and tile patterns add to the kitchen's eye-catching design
The floor plan was tailored to include soaring 24-foot ceilings and additional windows in the living room
the creative tile designs that are showcased throughout the lake house. Whether it's a main living space or half bathroom, playful displays of textures were incorporated throughout, using elements such as grass paper and herringbone patterns to add unique dimension.
With assistance from L&M Design, Dawn was able to bring her inspirations and their creativity to life.
“My favorite things are tile and trim,” said Dawn. “I have a fascination with trim. But for the tiles, the decorators would make board after board of designs. After discussing and conveying my preferences, they would ensure all selections flowed well together from room-to-room.”
One example of the creative display of design and architecture is in the primary bedroom. Located on the ground floor, the pine ceilings are exemplified by a unique design of cedar beams.
“The ceiling in the master suite was our decorator’s idea,” said Dawn. “We sat down one day and just drew out different patterns, and I really liked this.”
In the primary bathroom suite, the floor combines wood-look and marble-look porcelain tiles in a Versaillesinspired strapwork pattern, creating a large-scale basketweave design. Greek tiling patterns, crown molding and white quartzite countertops complete the elevated space.
Downstairs, the space has become a favorite gathering area for both the Reynolds family and guests. While the original floor plans called for a wine cellar, John and
An enclosed breezeway is a favorite personal touch to the lake home
A firepit overlooks the Reynolds' private slough
Meaningful keepsakes add to the home’s decor
The originally planned wine cellar was transformed into a bar
The property's outdoor aesthetics was designed by Outdoor Landscaping
Dawn worked with designers to incorporate a unique ceiling pattern in the primary bedroom
The point lot offers sweeping waterfront views from all directions
Dawn transformed the design to include an open bar and another primary bedroom instead, where Jackson now houses his memorabilia from his pitching days for The University of Alabama, UAB and Auburn. Hanging over his bed is also an impressive sailfish he caught during a family trip to Mexico.
The lower level is also home to John’s office – a personal retreat that not only has Lake Martin views, but holds cherished keepsakes of his parent’s travels to Japan and adventures he and Dawn have shared.
That sense of story carries into every room.
While the architecture and finishes make the lake house unique, it is the personal decor that makes it a home. Memories are on display on the walls throughout the house, from John’s days of golfing and baseball to Jackson’s hunting trips and Dawn’s Mardi Gras masks.
One of the Reynolds favorite pastimes as a family is hitting the ski slopes. While John hadskied previously, it wasn’t until Dawn turned 40 years old that she tried it for the first time, and immediately bonded with the sport.
“John had skied a couple of times as a kid,” said Dawn.
“And his sister had a place in Vail, so we went for a vacation once. I fell in love with it.”
They shared that passion with their son and now take annual family trips to places such as Vail and Telluride, Colorado. The theme shows up around the house, especially in Dawn’s office, which nods to ski lodges with wood elements, layered decor and shutters on the windows. Tucked above the garage, the office retreat includes a desk workspace, a full kitchen and a king bed, serving as both a secluded work space and a quiet spot for overflow guests.
“We had all this space and thought if somebody comes to visit this would be great for them to be able to stay here,” said Dawn. “Or, if I am working a late night I can just crash here.”
From quaint, hidden reading nooks to grand displays of uniquely designed architecture, the Reynolds have designed their full-time home at Lake Martin which showcases their creativity, personal touches and passion for family adventure.
The downstairs has become a popular gathering spot for family and guests
The putting green has become a favorite pastime for John and Jackson
Haunted Shores: The Ghosts and Tall Tales of Lake Martin
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS & JOHN DENNEY
AAs Lake Martin approaches 100 years, its rich history has become an everlasting source of local myths and eerie legends. While rumors such as jellyfish in the lake have proven true, these tales mix history and folklore into spooky campfire stories that keep the lake alive after dark.
The Sturdivant Mansion
On a hill high above Lake Martin, between Sturdivant and Britt creeks, stand the graffiti-covered walls of what once was a grand Southern mansion. The ruin is easy to miss, but for those who know its story, the site carries an air of mystery that has inspired ghost tales for generations.
The mansion’s origins are unclear. Historians place its construction sometime between 1872, when the railroad reached the nearby town of Sturdivant, and 1886, the year of a record flood. While the Stow and Dennis families owned much of the surrounding property in the 1890s, it is unclear who actually built the iconic mansion, or when. What is certain is that the house was a showpiece in its day, with a slate roof, detached kitchen and a sweeping view over what is now Lake Martin.
As with many abandoned locations, stories have gathered like ivy on the stone walls. One tale claims the mansion doubled as a hotel during the days when
Sturdivant was the final stop of the Memphis and Savannah Railroad. It is said that guests could enjoy upscale accommodations before continuing their journeys by ferry. Some versions even suggest it offered more risqué entertainment for upscale travelers.
Other stories take a darker turn. Locals whisper of a night when a man stepped off a train and massacred everyone inside the house. Though investigators with the Alabama Paranormal Research Team found no proof of hauntings in 2008, people still report strange lights glowing in the upper windows – despite the floors and stairs having collapsed decades ago.
Not all tragedies tied to the site are folklore. On March 29, 1886, during the region’s record flood, a construction train plunged into the river after a signalman urged the engineer to cross a weakened trestle. According to court records, the engineer was killed as the locomotive sank into the rushing waters. Later, on Christmas Day in 1958, a group of four young friends tried to walk the same trestle. When a train appeared, one girl fainted. Two friends attempting to rescue her died alongside her, while a fourth escaped by leaping into the frigid waters. Only Warner Grimlsey Jr., 20, survived. Those killed were Sara Thomas, Patsy Huggins and Dewayne Hodges.
Today, the mansion is privately owned and inaccessible to the public. Its stone ruins sit hidden behind thick overgrowth, becoming a canvas for decades of
Local legends and folklore draw inspiration from Lake Martin’s history
visitors who left names spray-painted on its walls. Yet the truest stories remain locked in the ruins themselves, whispered only by the wind through the surrounding pines and echoing a past that refuses to be forgotten.
Cemeteries Below Lake Martin
When Martin Dam was completed in 1926, Alabama Power opened the floodgates to form what is now known as Lake Martin. While some iconic structures, such as the silo at Wind Creek State Park, were spared from the flooding, some entire communities did not. Small towns such as Benson, Irma and Susannah disappeared beneath the depths of the newly formed lake.
In preparation for the flooding of Lake Martin, crews in the early 1920s exhumed more than 900 graves from these communities and relocated them to new cemeteries before the townes were fully submerged.
Even so, the watery gravesites and ruins of the underwater towns have become the center of local ghost stories for decades.
Legend has it that on quiet evenings, boaters drifting near the old town sites sometimes hear the faint, ghostly chime of church bells rising from the depths where Irma once stood. Others tell of eerie
The ruins of the Sturdivant Mansion still stand as a reminder of the once grand estate
While speculation fuels many of the tall tales, the mysterious mansion is tied to eerie true events
howls of coonhounds echoing across the water, said to be the spirits of the hunting dogs whose graves were never moved before the waters and farmlands were flooded over.
The Legend of the Genie Martin Tree
Local folklore makes its way to Dadeville with the legendary “Genie Martin Tree.” Along the quiet stretch of Genie Martin Road, an old oak tree rises from the edge of the woods. Its broad, knotty branches twist overhead while ivy coils up the weathered trunk, and a faded “No Trespassing” sign warns off curious visitors. Not far from the tree, the crumbling remains of a stone chimney stand as a witness to the stories that linger there.
According to the legend, it was here that a woman by the name of Genie Martin met her fate at the branches of the tree when she was accused of witchcraft in the early 1800s. For generations, locals have said that her death cursed the tree and ground around it.
The truth is far less sinister. Historical records suggest a woman by that name did live in the area but lived well into her 90s. Still, the ghost story of the Genie and the tree have taken root more firmly than the facts. For decades, local children have passed down the tale, daring one another to visit the tree after dark or to decorate its limbs with toilet paper around Halloween.
Adding to the mystery is the old chimney in the woods. Folklore says that if someone removes a stone from its stack, the rock will vanish and reappear back at the site, drawn by the spirit said to linger there.
The remains of the old town of Sturdivant could be seen during the 2007 drought
National Village
NATURE OF THE LAKE
BY KENNETH BOONE
These treefrogs are the familiar chorus heard during summer nights in Alabama
Cope's Gray Treefrog
HHere’s a creature that you’ve undoubtedly heard during summer, but you may not have seen. Cope’s gray treefrog is a small, nocturnal treefrog that likes wet, boggy areas and sings a lot.
Its call is described as a musical trill – kind of like “weeeeeeeeee” – lasting one to two seconds, then a short silence, then the call again, repeated time after time on summer nights. Search online for Cope’s gray treefrog call and you will surely recognize it as soon as you hit play.
In the Lake Martin area, it could almost be considered the background music for nighttime summer grilling.
For treefrogs, Cope’s grow fairly large. They are commonly between 1.25 and 2.4 inches long.
As you might suspect from their common name, their skin is often gray, but it can vary from light to dark gray and can also be brownish or greenish gray. This treefrog has the ability to change its skin color based on temperature and its activity. The inside of this frog’s thighs are colored bright orangeyellow or gold with dark spots. Cope’s gray treefrog has bumpy skin with dark blotches which makes them very camouflaged in the wild, especially when they are perched on tree limbs. They usually have a light spot below each eye.
Although most people would think about frogs hopping, Cope’s gray treefrog is more comfortable climbing and walking than jumping. It has sticky discs on the end of each toe that help it hang onto steep surfaces.
These little treefrogs are probably not going to be found in the big water of Lake Martin or in the fast-moving rapids of the Tallapoosa River, but instead in slow, shallow, moist or swampy areas or around temporary water pools.
Cope’s gray treefrogs are most often heard from May to August, when the males are singing to attract mates. While they mostly sing at night, they are also known to call in the daytime as a response to loud sounds like thunder.
Cope’s gray treefrogs are more comfortable climbing than hopping
Cope’s treefrogs are native to the eastern United States, from the eastern seaboard to central Texas and north into Canada.
They live in a variety of woodlands, but most commonly around mature hardwoods. During the day these treefrogs typically hide in dark, protected areas like knotholes in trees and they come out at night to call for mates and hunt for food.
Menu items for Cope’s gray treefrog include insects and other invertebrates such as moths, spiders, harvestmen, snails and even smaller frogs. Like most frogs, Cope’s gray treefrog is an opportunistic feeder. If a creature that’s the right size gets too close, it’s fair game.
Females lay eggs in groups of 10 to 40 on the surface of small, temporary water bodies or shallow ponds. Although the temporary watersheds could dry up in a drought, they do not usually contain fish and other predators that could prey on the eggs or tadpoles. Eggs usually hatch in roughly five days and the tadpoles become tiny frogs in one and a half to two months.
Two more interesting facts about Cope’s gray treefrog:
They have a toxic substance on their skin that can cause severe irritation if it gets into a person’s eyes, lips or any mucous membrane or open wound. If you handle Cope’s gray treefrog, wash your hands immediately afterwards.
Cope’s gray treefrogs can survive temperatures way below freezing, down to 17 degrees, because their bodies contain protective chemicals including glycerol, urea and glucose that prevent it from freezing when many other amphibians would. It is one of the few frogs that uses glycerol as a natural antifreeze. Their bodies produce little glycerol when temperatures are warm, but when it gets cold, these frogs can ramp up production very quickly to protect themselves.
There is a very similar first-cousin to this frog called the Gray Treefrog, that looks almost exactly like Cope’s gray treefrog but has a different call and twice the number of chromosomes. However, the gray treefrog is not found in Alabama – so if you find a frog that looks like the photos here, it’s a Cope’s gray treefrog.
Some information for this article came from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory at the University of Georgia, OutdoorAlabama.com and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Homeowners
Designing a Lake Martin home from the outside in
EEvery time I walk into a house that wasn’t designed for Lake Martin, I can tell almost immediately. And no, it’s not always because the house looks bad or is built poorly. In fact, it might be a beautiful home with great craftsmanship. But it’s often clear that the builder took a great plan that worked in the city and then dropped it on a lake lot without thinking through what makes Lake Martin living, well, Lake Martin living.
And listen, I get it. Builders often have a favorite floor plan, one they’ve built dozens of times in neighborhoods around Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta or elsewhere. The plan works. Buyers love it. It photographs well. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to work here.
LAKE PROPERTY
BY JOHN COLEY
I’ve walked into homes where the first thing you see when you open the street side door is a wall. Or worse, a hallway. But five steps behind that wall is the lake! That’s the thing everyone wants to see. That’s the reason the buyer is standing in your house instead of a suburban subdivision McNeighborhood.
Designing for the lake means thinking about how your home interacts with its surroundings. Where are the best views? Where does the sun rise and set? Can you see water the second you walk in the front door? These details matter.
Lake Martin is a whole different ballgame.
One of the biggest mistakes I see home builders make is not designing around the view. On Lake Martin, the view is everything. It’s the showstopper, the headliner, the reason people buy here in the first place. So why on earth would you put your best living space like your den, kitchen or primary suite facing the road?
They’re not extras; they’re essential. Another common misstep is home siting, or where the home will be placed on that particular lot. Some builders see a steep lot and decide to push the house farther back, thinking they’ll save money on the foundation or by not having to build a crazy driveway. Maybe they don’t want to build retaining walls, or they’re hoping to avoid complex site work.
But here’s the problem: Buyers want to be close to the water. The closer, the better. All things being equal, they don’t want a long, sloped trek down to the dock. They don’t want to walk down 70 stairs to
get to their boat if they can help it. They want to pour a cup of coffee, step out onto their porch and feel the lake – not just see it in the distance. After thousands of home showings with hundreds of buyers over the years, I have never met one that said, “I would really rather be way up the hill so that I can walk more to the lake.”
Yes, it might cost a little more to bring the house closer to the water. It might mean a trickier driveway or a more complicated foundation slab. But in the long run, that investment pays off. Homes that are thoughtfully placed, that work with the shoreline, that take advantage of every inch of their view tend to sell faster and at a premium.
I can’t prove it with a mathematical formula, but I would bet that any money that a builder “saved” on the foundation or driveway was lost on the eventual sales price.
And let’s not forget about design
pedigree. More and more, I’m seeing homes designed by architects who understand Lake Martin. These design professionals – who know the terrain, who’ve built here before, who get the rhythm of lake life – are setting themselves apart.
You can drive through any number of neighborhoods here and spot the difference. One house looks fine, even nice, but just feels generic. The one next door, though? Designed by an architect. It fits the land. It frames the water. It belongs here. And that one is the house that usually commands the higher price.
Lake Martin is fortunate to have many great examples. If the topic interests you, as you’re riding in the boat, evaluate the homes and ask, “Was this home designed for the lot, or was it forced here?” That question often helps you spot a custom design right away. There’s a thoughtfulness to the way they orient windows, how they transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, how they create privacy without sacrificing the view.
Ultimately, that’s what it’s all about: building homes that feel like they were meant to be here.
So, if you’re a builder or a lot owner thinking about building a new home on Lake Martin, take the extra time to consider the view, the lot and the design. Don’t automatically bring your favorite city plan and try to make it fit. Start with the lake. Let the land tell you how to build.
That’s how you create something that doesn’t just sell, it sells for top dollar. And better yet, it becomes someone’s forever place at Lake Martin.
Because here, the view is more than just scenery. It’s part of the story. And if you build it right, it’ll be the first chapter every time someone walks through the door.
John Coley grew up in the area, and has sold real estate at the lake since 2005.
IThe Answer's Not Blowin' in the Wind
become stressed at levels lower than 5 ppm. My monitoring in open water on the lake typically shows a range between 6 and 8 ppm.
Scientists measure the amount of nutrient pollution in bodies of water by use of a scale called a trophic state index, which ranges from 0 to 100. This subject is addressed in greater detail in the publication jointly produced by Alabama Water Watch and Lake Watch of Lake Martin entitled “Citizen Volunteer Watershed Stewardship of Alabama’s Reservoirs – Lake Martin Watershed” and found on our website at lakewatch.org/ info-&-resources.
LAKE WATCH BY BILL BUTLER
This document explains, “At the low end of the scale, zero to 39, a lake is clean and clear with a very low concentration of nutrients, pollutants and algae, also called an oligotrophic lake. At the high end of the scale, 50 to 100, a lake is cloudy and green with a high concentration of nutrient pollutants and a dense algae concentration, called a eutrophic lake. Middle-of-the-road lakes with TSI values from 40 to 49 are in between the two extremes in water clarity, nutrients, pollutants and algae concentrations, and are known as mesotrophic lakes.”
Auburn University and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been measuring the TSI level in Lake Martin for many years. TSI is determined by measuring the amount of algae suspended in the water, but TSI is complex, with many factors such as the time of year, location, water temperature and amount of flow affecting the findings. Speaking generally, through the years since the late 1980s, the lower part of Lake Martin near the dam has tended to be in the oligotrophic to mid-mesotrophic range, while the upper part near the state Route 280 bridge has tended to be in the upper-mesotrophic to lower-eutrophic range.
However, the last two measurements of TSI in the lower lake, in 2020 and 2023, were the highest and second-highest levels recorded, bordering on eutrophic. The lower lake has been, until recently, the cleanest part of the lake. We are unsure why this trend of increasing nutrient enrichment is occurring, but it needs to be watched.
But back to the fallen leaves. Blowing them into the lake should not be a choice – there are many other
options. (Burning is not a good option either, but I’ll let the air pollution folks handle that.)
Probably the easiest option is mowing over the leaves with a mulching mower and leaving the clippings in place. They will gradually decompose and provide free fertilizer and organic material to your lawn.
My favorite method is composting them. There are lots of online guides for composting, but it is as simple as containing the leaves in a pile, adding green matter such as grass clippings and kitchen vegetable scraps when you can, keeping the pile moist, stirring it up once in a while and letting it decompose. You will get better and quicker results if you chop the leaves up first. You will eventually have compost that is better and much cheaper than what you would buy at the garden center, which certainly appeals to my thrifty nature.
other people were throwing away. She had beautiful flower beds.
Of course, if you use a lawn service you can just have it haul the leaves away or bag them and put them in your garbage can. Neither of these options are great, but they beat putting them on the lake bed.
One added benefit is the lake will be a lot quieter without all the blowers. Which brings us to noise pollution, but maybe that’s an article for another time.
With the time you will save not blowing leaves, please consider joining us in Lake Watch. Just scan the QR code below or go to lakewatch.org.
Visit lakewatchoflakemartin.wildapricot.org or aces.edu for lots of good information on composting and other yard topics.
Another idea: Treeless neighbors and friends might be glad to take the leaves off your hands. My mother used to patrol our neighborhood, looking for bags of oak leaves
Home
The Great Outdoors
AAutumn is upon us. The days are getting shorter and the feeling of crisp mornings and evenings refreshes us once again. The leaves will start changing color and falling from the trees, and temperatures will remain cool all day long. It is time to get back outside to enjoy the great outdoors. Heading out into nature and unplugging from technology can feel freeing.
Planning for your hiking or camping excursion is imperative. Considerations include length of the trip, what food and beverages you will take with you, how you will incorporate food and drinks, how many coolers and what gear you need.
HEALTHY LIVING
BY JULIE HUDSON
Hydration is essential. For a day trip, pre-hydrate by drinking at least 4 cups of water before you begin your hike. This way, you can carry less. A good rule of thumb while hiking is to plan for 2 cups of fluid for every hour of hiking. Always make sure you can bring or acquire clean drinking water during the hike. For a day trip, you can pack sandwiches as long as you have a cold source (cold packs) to keep perishable food properly chilled. It may be easier not to weigh your backpack down by choosing nonperishable foods that are lightweight. Consider trail mix, nuts, seeds, nut-based bars and fresh or whole fruit that do not require refrig-
eration, such as bananas, apples and oranges. Dried fruit or vegetables, energy bars, chews or gels are good choices. Granola or granola bars, ready-made tuna pouches, whole grain tortillas, bagels and shelf-stable dried jerky work well for day adventures.
Multiday camping and hiking trips take more planning. If you are taking a cooler, eat the most perishable food first. On subsequent days, you should have your meals all planned and organized so you will have what you need and enjoy.
Proper food safety cannot be overlooked when packing, preparing and serving. Perishable food cannot be safely kept in hot weather (90 degrees or more) for more than one hour or in milder weather for more than two hours. When in doubt, throw it out. Whether you are planning a day hike or camping for a week, you need to consider the following food safety essentials: disposable wipes, hand sanitizer or biodegradable soap, bowls and plates, kettle or cooking pot, eating and cooking utensils, can opener, ice packs, trash bags, portable water filters or water purification tablets and thermometers for the cooler and cooked meat.
The following are safety considerations:
n Wash hands before and after you eat. If you are not able to wash your hands, use a sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol to reduce germs and bacteria. n Keep raw meats separate from ready-to-eat food. Bring extra plates to keep these foods separate.
n Cook foods to proper temperatures. Use a food thermometer to be sure cooked food has reached a safe internal temperature.
n If possible, refrigerate below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do not have a refrigerator, pack perishable food, including meat or poultry, with plenty of ice or ice packs in a well-insulated cooler to keep the temperature below 40 degrees. Store leftovers in a small, clean covered container in the cooler only if it still has ice. Keep the cooler in the coolest place possible. Depending on your enthusiasm for cooking over the fire, this will dictate which food you bring on your camping trip. The following are some ideas:
Breakfast – Instant or made-from-scratch oatmeal and grits, cold cereal, eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes and hash brown potatoes.
Lunch – Sandwiches and wraps work well for hiking. Consider a lighter snack if you will return to the campsite for lunch. Soup heated over the fire makes a great lunch when the weather is cooler.
Dinner – Grilled fish, chicken, beef or pork or vegetables grilled in foil or a grill basket. Kabobs, grilled corn, sausage/pepper/potato foil packs, and marshmallows for campfire dessert.
Key takeaways for making your outdoor getaway a success:
n Consider fire bans and weather – do you need a propane camp stove?
n Keep it simple and build balanced meals to include grain or starch, fruit or vegetables and a protein source.
n Save time by prepping whole meals or components of a meal ahead of time and store them in the freezer. Place food in sealable plastic bags and flatten before freezing.
n Utilize a packing list; stackable bins for storage; and pack coolers to keep foods cool for days.
Recommended gear:
n Aluminum foil is great for making foil-pack meals to go on the fire –no pots needed.
n Skewers for roasting hot dogs, sausage or marshmallows. You can also use a stick to make a skewer.
n Cast-iron skillet and pot for grilled sandwiches, pancakes and soup.
n Fire gloves.
n Fire grate to place over the fire.
n Propane camp stove.
Cooking ahead of Time:
n Chili, soups, stews, spaghetti
sauce, meat for tacos and burritos and sandwiches.
n Portion liquids in smaller containers.
n Consider cracking eggs into a mason jar or small container to avoid breaking in the cooler.
n Chop vegetables or fruit and store in sealed containers.
n Shred cheese and store in a container or bag.
n Bring condiments and seasonings.
How to pack:
n Make a list of food, cleaning supplies, dishware, cookware and fire supplies.
n Keep food and gear in stackable bins and label bins.
n If possible, keep food in a cooler.
n Pack your cooler with frozen food at the bottom to act like ice packs. Layer heavier foods like sauces, corn on the cob, broccoli and food containers. Pack ice in between layers to help keep items cold.
n Separate raw meat from fresh produce.
Planning for your outdoor adventure is the most important key to making your hiking or camping trip a success. It is much more than grabbing a bottle of water and an energy bar. Developing a plan for hydration, nourishment and food safety, while taking all the necessary gear, will make your experience more enjoyable.
Julie Hudson is a dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.
Marinated Kimchee Cucumbers
Ingredients
1 quart sliced cucumbers
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Mix together well and let it sit for 1 hour; drain.
Kimchee Ingredients
4 thinly sliced green onions
1 teaspoon micro planed ginger
1 finely minced garlic clove
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon kimchee purée (blended kimchee to form a paste)
1/2 to 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Directions
Mix all ingredients together and pour over the drained cucumbers. Toss well and let sit for 1 to 2 hours. As they sit, they will pick up more flavor.
CHEF'S TABLE
BY PETE MCKENNY
Pete McKenny, General Manager and Executive Chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes four-star resorts in Ohio, Washington, Arizona and Vermont before returing to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, where he began his career as chef de cuisine at Willow Point Golf & Country Club.
Fish the Flats
IIn our little corner of the Southeast, there may not be a better month of the year to be in the outdoors. The water’s still warm enough to enjoy time on the lake, and there are outdoor festivals, football games, hunting, fishing and walks in the park. I enjoy being outside any time of year, but October is one of the best. We’ve endured a hot and humid late summer in Alabama, so the cooler nights and early mornings of early fall are a welcome relief! Choosing just what activities to do with our free time might be the bigger challenge. For the angling public, this is the second season of good fishing.
BIG CATCHES
BY GREG VINSON
With the change in weather comes a change in the crowd visiting Lake Martin. Hot summer draws the big boating, skiing and swimming contingency, but as lake temps begin to drop that traffic begins to subside. The falling water temperatures may become a bit of a deterrent to the summer crowd, but that marks the transition to the good fishing Lake Martin has to offer.
Lake Martin has a huge population of fish in it, and they begin to feed heavily in preparation for winter as the water temperatures begin to cool. Predator fish like bass begin to “hunt” more for food as their range in the water column expands. There will be some large schools of fish that go deep, and there will be many of them that exploit the shallows. Often these are the bigger dominant fish. Big bass aren’t always content just feeding on young-of-the-year shad this time of year. They know that other forage in the form of spottails, bream and crawfish exist around the shallows and have adapted to take full advantage of it.
Much of the time, bass anglers are conditioned to seek out areas with deep water close by, and this is always a trusted approach to find bass. But early fall can be an exception. Shallow water will cool quicker this time of year but also remains in a range that’s comfortable for both the prey and bass alike. Even in the clear water of Lake Martin, bass can be found roaming the shallow flats in search of an easy meal in October.
Knowing that deeper channels act as a highway for the fish, it’s a good idea to look for flat areas that are adjacent to these migration routes. Flat points near a channel can be a good option for the
open-water fish on the main lake. Another option is farther back in the creeks where it gets shallower. Any creek will usually have a defined channel that leads to the back. As the channel meanders along, there are going to be flatter zones where the depth doesn’t change as drastically. These can be highpercentage areas for big fish that have moved up as a result of the stable conditions we see in early fall. One challenge to fishing the more expansive flats is finding just where the fish will be positioned. There are two ways to target these fish. First and most important is to identify any piece of cover available in these areas. Even the smallest form of cover can be a magnet this time of year on the flats. So be aware of something as subtle as a large stick, a single stump or a large rock that’s positioned on the top of the flat. Big bass will post up on these targets in between their “hunts” and will readily jump a number of different offerings.
Isolated cover is always a first option on the flats, but it’s not always available. Or the fish may just be on the move this time of year. In that case, it can be important to use baits that cover more water. More casts equal more area of the flat covered. Some excellent choices for doing that are spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. The blades of these baits have a “flash” that can be noticed from a long distance by the bass. In the case of the buzzbait, there’s also sound. The tell-tale bubbling sound the buzzbait has on the retrieve makes it easy for bass to track from a long distance. They’re generally more aggressive this time of year, so it can be as much or more important for the fish to find the bait as having something that looks ultra-realistic.
One final variable to look for in the early fall is wind, especially in the clear waters of Lake Martin. The winds of fall help position concentrations of baitfish in certain areas. The wind also distorts the vision of the bass in a positive way for the angler. A light chop on the surface makes it just hard enough for the bass to get a good look at the bait, meaning they’re likely to bite first based on the overall signals (flash and sound) of the bait they can make out.
This October, take full advantage of the great weather by getting out on the lake. If you’re an angler like me, it’s one of the best times of year because of the comfortable temps and the good fishing. Focus on the flats to run into those hungry bass that are on the early fall hunt.
Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.
Look for shallow creeks with a defined channel
The Sweet and the Dry of It
A vintage for every palate
OOne of the more difficult hurdles in discovering and enjoying wine is our preference for sweet versus dry. It is, by far, one of the most asked questions and the characteristic that harbors the most resistance to unfamiliar wines. For many of us, it is either one or the other with no middle ground. The majority of wines in our shop, on the grocery shelf or on a restaurant wine list are vinified to the drier side. So, most of the wines that you see out there are dry, but there are plenty of sweet wines to be found when you know what to look for.
well be influenced by its color. Rosé wine, for example, is often assumed to be a sweet wine due to the association with other pink wines, like White Zinfandel, which are very sweet. Red wines in general are widely perceived to be dry and bitter tasting. Wines with intense fruit flavors, even reds, are often misconstrued as being sweet despite having low sugar content. The presence of high acidity or strong tannins can mask high levels of residual sugars. It’s all a matter of taste, perception and expectation.
Skip ahead if you just want to see the sweet suggestions, but here is what makes wine sweet or dry. Like any fruit, grapes are naturally loaded with sugar. To make wine, yeast is added to the grape juice, and fermentation begins; the yeast eats the sugar. When all of the sugar is consumed, the resulting wine will have little or no sugar and is considered “dry.”
FROM THE CELLAR
BY HENRY FOY
Halting the fermentation process prematurely would allow the sugars to live on in a wine with higher sugar content. Thus, sweet wine. To put it another way, the grapes are laden with sugars that, by fermentation, are converted to alcohol to produce wine. Leaving more sugar in the wine produces a sweeter product. Because alcohol is the byproduct of this sugar orgy, sweet wines also tend to have a lower alcohol content. When the yeast is allowed to consume more of the sugar, more alcohol is produced.
Depending on the type and style of the wine being made, the decision to stop the fermentation or let it continue is up to the winemaker. Two other factors are at work here: Some grape varieties have sugar levels that are beyond what the yeast can completely consume. You might hear the term “residual sugar” indicating the amount of sugar that has been retained. Most wines have at least a tad of sugar that goes largely unnoticed due to the balance of acidity and other characteristics that may be more prominent. Secondly, delayed harvesting yields a more mature and sweeter grape. These are often labeled as “late harvest” and are generally akin to dessert wines and ports.
The question of sweet or dry is primarily one of sugar content and is unrelated to the color of the wine or the grapes; however, our perception of how a wine will taste may
What we think of as sweet wine typically applies to those with a distinctly noticeable residual sugar content. Riesling is a classic old world grape often thought to produce sweet wines exclusively. But Riesling is also vinified from off-dry to dry. Regulations for German Rieslings require the natural sugar content of the grapes for sweet wines to range from 17 percent sugar (by weight) for a Kabinett to 35 percent for a Trockenbeerenauslese, the sixth and highest ranking of sweetness for quality German Rieslings. Gewürztraminer is also produced with varying degrees of sweetness while wine from the neighboring region of Alsace is typically dry.
For the sweetest wines, look for Moscato, which includes red, white, sparkling and more flavors than Baskin-Robbins. In the dessert category, a true French Sauternes made from the white grapes of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle is classic, but don’t overlook the fortified category, like Port, Madeira and Sherry. Lambrusco and Valpolicella are examples of sweet reds.
The trend these days in beverage consumption is toward lower alcohol and lower consumption. The lower alcohol content of sweet wines makes them a popular choice. Other advantages include:
Balance – Well-balanced wines that aren’t too sweet have a refreshing taste that pairs well with different foods.
Versatility – The wide range in sweetness makes it easy to match wines to the right dish.
The absence of tannins and the bitterness associated with dry wines is a major plus for many sweet wine drinkers. Served chilled to about 50 to 55 degrees, sweet wines pair well with spicy foods, cheese and desserts. And enjoy.
Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine, Spirits and Cigars, now celebrating over 21 years of writing about and selling wine in downtown Alexander City at 128 Calhoun Street. For current hours, events and information call 256-212-WINE (9463).
Fairways, Friends & Fresh Air
HHello, Lake Martin!
The kids are busy with school; football season is in full swing; and the lake level has begun to slowly drop. The heat of the summer will finally be replaced by cooler temperatures, and each of us will decide what activities we will devote our efforts to as we head into the fall season. Many of these activities still require heading into the great outdoors for their enjoyment.
One of my favorite aspects of golf is that it affords the participant the opportunity to commune directly with nature. The golf course is a wonderful place to spend rich time with friends and a great place to get to know new folks. Fellowship happens with each golf round experience.
The annual golf tournament outing season runs through October and into the beginning of November. These open invitational fundraising events can be great ways to enhance your regular playing schedule. There are many worthy fundraising events offered as organizations have realized the successful use of a golf outing to raise money for their charitable causes.
Many golfers have a regular group of players they meet to enjoy a round on a daily or weekly basis. These relationships become very special over time and enrich our lives immensely. My appeal is that you consider breaking out of your normal routine and sign your group up to participate in a golf fundraising outing. You will get a chance to play different golf courses, meet new people, possibly win prizes for your effort and get to feel good about helping others. Doing good for others is truly rewarding.
George Archer once said, “Golf is like fishing and hunting. What counts is the companionship and fellowship of friends, not what you catch or shoot.”
Tom Watson stated, “No other game combines the wonder of nature with the discipline of sport in such carefully planned ways. A great golf course both frees and challenges a golfer’s mind.”
Great golf course designers can take a beautiful piece of nature and transform it into a place that can challenge and
BY ROB WITHERINGTON
please a golfer during play. When I was younger, the score seemed to be my only focus. As I have matured, I have learned to enjoy my fellow participants way more than when I have a personally great golf score. I enjoy playing golf with people who are able to share in the joy of a well-struck golf shot. I also enjoy playing with people who know what to say (or not say) when a poor shot is made. Golf, as in life, is a series of highs and lows. Sometimes bad things happen even when a great shot is made. Encouraging my friends through these moments seems to have become my greatest focus during my play today.
There are pros and cons to all our life experiences. Even the great challenge of COVID-19 brought people outside and to the game of golf. I say to you that golf is a rewarding game, and you should come outside and give it a try sometime.
Rob "Gabby" Witherington is a 35-year PGA Professional – retired.
More than scores, golf at Lake Martin is about fellowship and time in nature
THE SCRAMBLE
Explore
Lake Martin
Kowaliga Marina 334-397-1210
The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300
River North Marina 256-397-1500
Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700
Real Island Marina 256-397-1200
Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888
Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550
Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600
Alex City Marine 256-215-FISH
Smith's Marina - Shipwreck Sam's 256-444-8793
SpringHouse 256-215-7080
Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070
Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035
Lake Martin Pizza 256-373-3337
The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill 256-307-1887
Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075
Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567
Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132
Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256
The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333
Kowaliga Veterinary Care 334-857-1816
Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847
Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717
Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-307-1499
Red Ridge UMC 256-825-9820
LakeScape 334-857-2443
First Baptist Church Dadeville 256-825-6232
Lakeshore Pharmacy 256-825-0063
Momentum Marine at Lake Martin 256-825-9286
Bolton Cove 256-392-7524
Singleton Marine 256-269-0088
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Robinson Iron
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➤
DADEVILLE
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Equality Food Mart
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Wetumpka Herald Office
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Red Hill Gallery
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Parting Shot
"Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star."
