Natural beauty, like a 104-foot waterfall and mountaintop views, bring people from across the country to Mentone.
The quaint DeKalb County town is home to fewer than 400 people, but its beauty has made it a tourist destination.
The headquarters of DeSoto State Park is nearby. And Mentone, named after Menton in France, is a noted art colony. It also hosts a number of summer camps and includes Cloudmont Resort, the only ski resort in the state. The resort offers golfing and horseback riding in warmer months.
"Mentone is the most unique town in the state of Alabama," says Town Clerk Wilma Fletcher. "We have no industry. No big stores. It's just a quiet place."
She names Kamama art gallery, which includes a cafe, live music and art classes, as a must-see for tourists. "Kamama" means butterfly in the Cherokee language.
The town has a river that begins and ends on the mountain.
"People come here to relax," Fletcher says.
People also come for the town's festivals, like the World's Longest Yard Sale that starts on the first Thursday in August and operates from Alabama to Michigan; Mentone Colorfest, Oct. 15-16 this year; and the Rhododendron Festival scheduled for May 2017.
The original buildings at DeSoto State Park were constructed between 1933 and late 1941. In one of them, visitors will find the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum.More Info
*MAIN ATTRACTIONSMentone Brow Park shows visitors a good view from the brow of Lookout Mountain. It’s located on Lake Street at East River Road. Mentone Fall Colorfest is scheduled in the park on Oct. 15, 2016.At Camp Comer Scout Reservation, the Greater Alabama Council Boy Scouts of America offers youth camp experiences with a mountain atmosphere and outstanding programming. Call 256-634-4389 to learn more.Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort is the only ski resort in Alabama and the southernmost ski resort in the South. It opens as soon as winter overnight temperatures drop to 28 degrees or colder. During the summer, the resort focuses on golf. (721 County Road 614; 256-634-4344; cloudmont.com/shadygrove.html)Shady Grove Dude Ranch, located at Cloudmont, offers hourly guided trail rides and lodging. (721 County Road 614; 256-634-4344; cloudmont.com/shadygrove.html)
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*BEST PLACES TO EATMoonlight Bistro is known in the area for its fresh fried green tomatoes served with homemade remoulade sauce. The bistro, located in the heart of downtown Mentone, offers seafood, pastas and hand-cut beef fillets Wednesday-Sunday. (6080 Highway 117; 256-634-4560; mymentone.com/Moonlight.html)Wildflower Cafe and County Store is housed in a renovated 1887 home with rooms that have been converted into dining areas. Live acoustic music is featured on weekends. The lunch and dinner menu includes vegan, organic and gluten-free options. (6007 Highway 117; 256-634-0066)Several locals say the small eatery Helena’s Gas & Deli serves the best burgers in the state, but it also offers a full menu of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. most days of the week. The deli closes at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 4 p.m. on Sundays. (6010 Highway 117; 256-634-0065; helenasgasanddeli.com)
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*FAST FACTS*The town is located along the Lookout Mountain Parkway.Population: 360Namesake: The community was named after Menton in France.Etymology: “Mentone” literally means musical mountain spring.Median household income: $35,610*Source: suburbanstats.org; alabama.hometownlocator.com