AP Photo/Dave MartinPrattville, Ala., just outside Montgomery, was once known as “The Fountain City” for its artesian wells flowing around town. The New-England-style city also boasts being the “birthplace of industry in Alabama.”
But there’s more than just history in Prattville. The town is also noted for outdoor adventures like canoeing, hiking, fishing and golf, countered by quaint antique and specialty stores in a historic setting.
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What to do> Daniel Pratt Historic District Downtown Prattville has driving tours of the areas Pratt designed for manufacturing, retail businesses, churches, schools and homes. Maps are available at the Prattaugan Museum or the Chamber of Commerce.> Buena Vista Mansion is on County Road 4, said to be the model for Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville, is near downtown Prattville. The circa 1830 Buena Vista Mansion is open to tours from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., or by appointment. Historic tours are $5 per person. The facility is also available for weddings and other events.> The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill in Prattville features three 18-hole courses that have drawn praises from all over. Golf Magazine called Capitol Hill’s Judge course one of the 10 public courses in America worthy of hosting the U.S. Open, and the Zagat Survey of America’s Top Golf Courses ranked it among the top 50 courses in the nation. The Senator course was named among the Top 10 New Courses in the nation by Golf Magazine and is the host course for the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. Capitol Hill’s three 18-hole championship courses make up more than 1,500 acres of golf and nature. Go to rtjgolf.com to find out more.Source: Autauga County Heritage Association, Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce and Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
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Where to eat> Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Que Ranch, at 154 First St., tempts the hungry with hickory-smoked, Southern-style pork, chicken and beef. The restaurant itself has a down-home look with a red metal roof, roomy front porch surrounded by a rail-fenced, gravel parking lot along the banks of Autauga Creek. It’s open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.Source: fatboysbarbqueranch.com
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FAST FACTS> Population: 35,229> Biggest employer: International Paper, an international producer of paper and packaging products> Landmark: Downtown Prattville is home to the Daniel Pratt Historic District, a collection of homes, schools and businesses in an early “planned community.” The historic area was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Some sites predate the Civil War.> Date founded: 1839> History: Founder Daniel Pratt was first enticed by the sparkling waters of Autauga Creek when it was home mostly to Native Americans and a few settlers. Pratt bought 1,000 acres to build the manufactories for his cotton gin operations and a community for the budding town’s citizens. Pratt began building the town in the late-1830s, erecting striking brick and stone homes and industrial buildings, some of them still used today in the cotton industry.> Most famous resident: The 1960s superstar singer Wilson Pickett, known for a number of hits including “In the Midnight Hour” and “Mustang Sally,” was born in Prattville in 1941. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.> Unique fact: Prattville is known for the numerous artesian wells scattered across the town with some still flowing in the city’s parks. People line up for a drink of the sweet, free-flowing waters at some of the public wells in town. One well on Doster Road is under a tin-roofed shed behind the Prattaugan Museum/Heritage Center where visitors can enjoy a sip from a dipper. Thirsty travelers can find other locations for a cool drink.Source: City of Prattville, Autauga County Heritage Association, Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame