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April Killian
Will Rogers' Great-Grandfather Founded This Hidden Gem in North Alabama
2 hours ago
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This mountain lake community, one of the most picturesque towns in north Alabama, was founded by the great-grandfather of American humorist Will Rogers. Keep reading to find out more about this interesting and beautifully quaint Alabama town. It's definitely a must-see!
John Gunter was the first modern settler in what is now the town of Guntersville, Alabama. Less than ten years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Gunter traveled from the Carolinas to Alabama in 1785, married the daughter of the local Cherokee Chief, and amassed a small fortune as a frontier trader. His son, Edward established a ferry crossing there on the Tennessee River. It was originally called Gunter's Ferry and later Gunter's Landing. As a small town grew around the landing, the name was changed to Guntersville. One of John Gunter's direct descendants, born in Oklahoma, was Will Rogers - one of the most influential humorists and social commentators in American culture.
Guntersville lies on a peninsula at the southernmost tip of the Tennessee River. It's surrounded on three sides by Lake Guntersville, the largest lake in Alabama. The lake was formed when TVA completed nearby Guntersville Dam in 1939. This unique geographic location provides some of the most breathtaking views in Alabama. It also makes Guntersville one of the most popular water recreation areas in the south. There's camping, cabin and chalet rentals, boating and kayaking, golfing, and some of the best fishing in the south. Don't forget your fishing gear!
Guntersville is close to three Alabama State Parks and unlike many lake communities where most of the land is private, a large portion of the shoreline is open for public access. This provides endless miles of nature trails and hiking. Walk by gorgeous waterfront vistas, or explore trails that lead to beautiful hidden waterfalls, bluffs, and caves. Lake Guntersville is also home to a large population of bald eagles each winter with Eagle Awareness weekends hosted at Lake Guntersville State Park in January and February.
No visit to Guntersville is complete without a visit to the historic downtown area. Talk about a cute, quaint town! Although the town was almost burned to the ground during the civil war, it was built back quickly, and what we have today makes for a lovely stroll through boutiques and eclectic shops filled with unique clothing, handmade items, and much more.
Guntersville has an amazing museum that is well worth a visit. It's also free to the public! It's housed in a refurbished military armory that was built with local rough limestone in 1939 by the WPA (Works Progress Act). The museum has some amazing local collections including an outstanding native American artifact collection, lots of local historic and veteran related items, original artwork, plus the muesum hosts several traveling exhibits throughout the year. Take a sneak peek before you visit at their website here.
I have a new slogan for Guntersville: "Visit for the view, stay for the FOOD!" Y'all know we love our good food in the south, and Guntersville will not dissapoint! For a small town, it's truly jam packed with great places to eat - especially fish and seafood. From the "Catfish Exceptionale" at the Top O' the River Restaurant to the Rock House Eatery, Wintzells Oyster House, Fire By the Lake, to the eclectic Crawmama's Restraunt, there are some amazing eateries in Guntersville. I wish I could list them all! Trip Advisor is a great resource for checking out all the local restaurants with reviews here.
Have you been to Guntersville? Do you have a favorite place to visit or a great experience to share? Leave a note in the comments!
Click "follow" for more articles by this author! April Killian is a native and resident of the Shoals area of northwest Alabama and shares stories about the unique places, people, and history of the southern U.S.. Have a story to tell? Email: april.newsbreak@gmail.com
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