Fort Payne: For lovers of history, art and the outdoors

The Fort Payne Opera House
The Fort Payne Opera House

Fort Payne, Ala., is a city rich in history dating back to before the Trail of Tears. The town became the DeKalb County seat in 1878.

Nestled between Lookout and Sand mountains, the town is just minutes away from four different state parks and offers a variety of activities within.

FAST FACTS

* Founded: 1837

* Population: 14,099 as of 2016 U.S. Census

* Time zone: Central

* Claim to fame: All members of the band Alabama - inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 - are from Fort Payne.

NOTABLE EVENTS

* Boom Days Heritage Celebration: Boom Days is an annual art and music festival that displays the area's heritage as passed down through arts and crafts. Several musicians from a variety of genres are scheduled to perform at this year's festival, Sept. 14-16 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The free event stretches across several venues in downtown Fort Payne. (100 Alabama Ave. NW; boomdays.com)

* Run for Rescue 5k: On Oct. 14, from 8-11 a.m., you can run to raise funds for homeless animals in DeKalb County. All proceeds will be divided among Friends of DeKalb County Animal Adoption Center, Daisy Spay and the Humane Society of DeKalb County. The money will help provide medical care, food and low-cost spay and neuter operations. (Fort Payne Rotary Pavilion; 256-605-9577; racesonline.com/events/run-for-rescue5k)

WHERE TO EAT

* Sally's Smokin Butt BBQ: Come with an appetite; you will have leftovers. And save room for the homemade banana pudding after your highly touted slab or brisket. (2904 Gault Ave. S; 256-996-5514; facebook.com/pg/sallydeanbbq)

* The Spot Coffee Shop: This coffee shop serves breakfast sandwiches, paninis, specialty pizzas and baked desserts. It also hosts and offers live music, free Wi-Fi and open mic night. (101 Gault Ave. N; 256-979-1287; facebook.com/TheSpotCoffeeShop)

* The Strand: Housed in a historic movie theater, this memorabilia-filled eatery offers a nostalgic diner experience. The Bananza Burger and onion rings get tasty reviews. Walk it off by visiting the attached antique shop. (215 Gault Ave. N; 256-997-0945)

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

* The Little River – The only river in the world to run most of its length across the top of a mountain. It reaches across Lookout Mountain, forming DeSoto Falls, a 104-foot waterfall responsible for the Little River Canyon National Preserve which reaches depths of 700 feet and offers breathtaking views. (4322 Little River Trail NE, Mentone, Ala.; 256-845-9605; nps.gov/liri/index.htm)

* DeSoto State Park – Amid waterfalls and wildflowers, visitors will find an Olympic-size swimming pool, a playground, volleyball court, ballfield, Civilian Conservation Corps museum and more. (7104 Desoto Parkway; 256-845-0051; alapark.com/desoto-state-park)

* Buck's Pocket State Park – Occupied by the Cherokee before the Trail of Tears, this publicly owned recreation area offers fishing, hiking and camping at the bottom of a canyon. An ATV trail system is in the works thanks to federal grant money. (393 Co Road 174, Grove Oak, Ala.; 800-252-7275; alapark.com/bucks-pocket-state-park)

HISTORY

* Fort Payne gets its name from U.S. Army Major John Payne who built a fort in the 1830s to hold Cherokee Indians until their relocation to Oklahoma. The forced exile became known as the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee Chief Sequoyah lived in what is now known as Fort Payne and created the Cherokee alphabet.

* The state's oldest standing theater, the Fort Payne Opera House, was built in the late 1880s.

Upcoming Events