Bibb County Tourism

Welcome to Bibb County, Alabama

Fri, 15 May 2009 15:15:24 -0600

Welcome to the Bibb County Tourism website: A site for Bibb County, Alabama, complete with information on the Cahaba River National Wildlife Reserve, the Cahaba River, the Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee Ranger District, the many historical structures and a perfect place to start planning your next outdoor adventure!

Elliotts Creek Quail Area

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:20:25 -0600

The Elliotts Creek Quail Area is a 3,000-acre area located in the Talladega National Forest within the Oakmulgee Wildlife Management area. Quail hunting season runs from mid November to late February. The forest habitat is being restored and enhanced to attract quail.

Directions:
From the Oakmulgee Ranger District Office, travel Highway 5 south then take a right turn onto Highway 1. Travel until you reach County Road 16 and then turn to the left. Then take a right turn onto Forest Service Road 731. Travel till you reach the intersection of Forest Service Road 707 and Forest Service Road 731. The Bibb County portion of the Elliotts Creek Quail Area is bounded by Forest Service Road 707 on the north and east side. The southern boundary is FS Road 731.

Payne Lake Recreation Area

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:19:15 -0600

Payne Lake is a 110-acre manmade lake inside the Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee Ranger District. The Payne Lake Recreation Area provides opportunities to kayak, canoe, boat fish, bird watch, hike, and bicycle. The recreation area also contains two camping loops.

The Payne Lake area offers two hiking trails. One trail follows the east shoreline of the lake. Starting at the boat launch, this trail is 1.1 miles and winds through the forest with several access spurs to the lake's edge for fishing. The other trail is at the north end of Payne Lake and is approximately 1.5 miles long with interpretive signs along the way. The trail meanders along the ridges and the drainages of the north end of the lake.

Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee Ranger District

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:18:26 -0600

This area is home to the largest population of red-cockaded woodpeckers in the National Forests in Alabama. Two clusters of red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees are located close to Forest Service Roads 724 and 745. You can view these shy endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers from a distance at the break of dawn when they leave their cavity trees in the morning to go foraging and at dusk when they return to the trees for the night.

The red-cockaded woodpeckers are the only woodpeckers in North America that excavate cavities in living pine trees. Here in the Oakmulgee Ranger District they seem to prefer the longleaf pines, but they will use other living pine species. Nesting occurs in mid-April when the female red-cockaded woodpecker lays a clutch of three to five white eggs in the breeding males roost cavity. The eggs hatch after 10 to 12 days of incubation and nestlings fledge from the nest cavity 24 to 27 days after hatching.

Piper Interpretive Trail

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:16:13 -0600

The Piper Interpretive Trail is a 2.5-mile out-and-back hiking trail that runs through the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. The trail offers scenic views of the river and is an easy walk--in fact much of the trail is a six-foot-wide gravel path that is accessible to those with disabilities. It runs along an old railroad route that served Piper Mine No. 2 near West Blocton in Bibb County.

Bibb County Glades Preserve

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:04:19 -0600

More than 60 rare plants have been found in and around the Bibb County Glades Preserve since its discovery in 1992. The Bibb County Glades Preserve, which covers 480 acres, is located along the Little Cahaba River and runs through the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. The glades are home to eight plants that had never before been seen or named by scientists. This type of discovery might be expected in the Amazon Rain Forest, but it was unheard of in North America in modern times.

The Little Cahaba River

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:03:33 -0600

The Little Cahaba River is a critical habitat for four species of federally protected snails, mussels, and fish. It is also home to gray bats, and the riparian habitat for Georgia rockcress and Mohr's Barbara's Button, both of which are federally listed species. The Cahaba River contains more than 100 species of fish, including 12 fish and mussel species that are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The National Geographic Society and the World Wildlife Fund both recognized the Cahaba River watershed as an outstanding global resource for diverse freshwater life. The Little Cahaba River in Bibb County is classified as an Outstanding Alabama Waterway by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and is a major tributary to Alabama's longest free-flowing river, the Cahaba River.

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:01:35 -0600

The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is home to five federally listed threatened or endangered species including the Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail. This area has been recognized as the most biologically diverse section of land in Alabama and has been credited with supporting the most significantly diverse plant species in the southeastern United States. You won't see plants and animals like this anywhere else in the area.

The Cahaba River

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:59:49 -0600

The Cahaba is no ordinary river! It currently supports 64 rare and imperiled plant and animal species, 13 of which are found nowhere else in the world. It is also home to 131 fish species, a greater number per mile than any other river in North America. The river has another unique feature--its rock shoals. These shoals create small pools that provide habitats for many rare plant and animal species. The shoals (Cahaba) lilies, which bloom from mid-May to mid-June, create a truly breath-taking scene on the river.

Bibb County Lake

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:42:39 -0600

Bibb County Lake is located on AL Hwy 5 between the towns of West Blocton and Centreville, Alabama. It is open yearly from February 1st to November 30th. Bibb County Lake is a 100-acre state lake stocked with Florida black bass, bluegill bream, shellcracker, crappie and channel catfish. The lake has picnic tables and grills and a pavilion for events (please contact the lake to reserve the pavilion for your special occasion). A bait shop selling artificial and live bait is on site. Boat rentals and accessories are also available.

Historic Centreville Square

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:40:16 -0600

The Centreville Town Square, which overlooks the Cahaba River, became an historical district in 1977. Twenty-six historical buildings line the streets of this area. The square offers a variety of services including restaurants and shopping. Spend some time in a "days gone by" atmosphere. December is the month for "Christmas on the Square".

Bibb County Court House and Confederate Monument
The Confederate monument was unveiled on July 22, 1910. The Courthouse is still a functioning building and has been renovated to accommodate a modern work environment while still maintaining the authenticity of the building. The court house dates back to 1902. The land lay out back in 1828 was done in the traditional square of the time period.

Mason Building
This historical building is still in use. The masons meet here each month. The organization is a highly respected group whose history is passed down from generation to generation.

Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:06:11 -0600

Built in 1862, the crumbling red brick walls of the old furnace are all that remain of the stack that once towered sixty feet tall and billowed black smoke high into the sky. Now a historical state park, the site is living history with pioneer cabins and other restored buildings from Alabama's past. Where 130 years ago every tree was cut for charcoal, today large pines and hardwoods provide a rustic setting for picnics, camping, or special events such as the annual Brierfield Music Festival or the annual Civil War battle reenactment. Brierfield's attractions include hiking and nature trails, primitive and improved camping, cabin rentals, Henry Jones Country Store, and a seasonal swimming pool.

Cahaba River Historical Park

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:36:08 -0600

The land was farm land along the Cahaba River and purchased from Mr. Collie Wallace. All the houses and farm equi[pment were donated. The park is within view of uptown historical Centreveille. The park is available for family reunions, picnics and just a day of fun in the sun on the beautiful Cahaba River.

Available to the public is a boat ramp and R.V, hook-ups. The park is also a museum of old homes and farm equipment dating back to the 1800s.

Bibb County Court House and Confedrate Monument

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:17:56 -0600

The Confederate monument was unveiled on July 22, 1910. The Courthouse is still a functioning building and has been renovated. It is the 5th courthouse dating back to 1902. The land lay out back in 1828 was done in the traditional square of the time period.

In addition to being a spectacular architectural example of area courthouse construction for the period, there are also genealogical research opportunities located here.

It is located in the center of historic Centreville, AL.

Address: Historical Square, Centreville, Alabama
Phone: 205.926.3104, Bibb County Chamber of Commerce.

The Bibb County Courthouse is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and has public restrooms. You will also find brochures for the area.

Oakmulgee Ranger District - Talladega National Forest

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:35:39 -0600

Payne Lake Recreation Area:
Offers outdoor enthusiasts solitude, a scenic lake, and picturesque campsites. Payne Lake Recreation Area has two swimming beaches and bathhouses for users of the recreation area. Each bathhouse has restrooms and showers. Camping is permitted at 76 developed sites along the shoreline of the 110-acre Payne Lake. Each site has a picnic table, cooking or fire circle, and tent or trailer pad.

Payne Lake Recreation Area is open year round and offers boating, nature trails, fishing, picnicking and swimming opportunities for Forest users. A trailer dump station is located in the campground.