Container cabin conversion creates unique space for visitors in Elba

This story is part of a partnership between the Montgomery Advertiser and the Living Democracy program at Auburn University. Now in its 13th year, the program disperses students across rural Alabama to spend 10 weeks learning more about the inner workings of the community and writing about what they observe.

ELBA − Elba resident Courtney Maddox learned from Covid-19 to never take a day for granted. So, in 2022, she began construction on Green Haven , her Airbnb container house in downtown Elba.

About 11 million shipping containers are sitting empty across the nation, according to Integrated Equipment Sales .

Maddox was shocked by the number of containers left unused and wanted to find a way to use them. She found her answer with Green Haven, derived from “green building,” when she transformed empty shipping containers into Elba’s first Airbnb. She said “taking a structure that’s no longer used and utilizing that in a new building” was the best kind of recycling.

Maddox found inspiration for Green Haven from personal stays in Airbnbs that provided a unique vacation. She wanted to bring this same experience to Elba.

“Everything in this house is completely custom. There is nothing that is normal,” Maddox said. This is what she believes will bring visitors to the modern cozy cabin with two bedrooms, two bathrooms as well as an office, full kitchen, living room and laundry.

“It took a lot of creative thinking and people who were willing to roll their sleeves up and do things in a place that maybe didn’t make the most sense,” Maddox said as she described the building process.

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She said she wanted to incorporate the metal from the containers with hand-stained wood. “It’s a really good contrast between the metal and the warmness of the wood.”

Maddox noted that she had some help from friends and family during the transformation process. “There were so many days where we finished our day job, put on our ratty clothes and worked at the containers until midnight,” Maddox said. “It made me appreciate it more.”

Now that construction is complete and the home is available for travelers, “it will bring people to our fantastic sleepy little town that would’ve never come here otherwise," Maddox said. "That was my goal with this. I wanted to have people experience what we experience every day.”

Maddox lived in Washington, D.C., for 15 years before returning to Elba. While living in D.C., she said she felt herself and many of her peers often looking for an escape from the city.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m happy I made the decision to move back down here because it is a slower way of life and its fantastic,” Maddox said about her return to Elba.

She said she believes those who discover Green Haven, which features a large front porch, will find it a perfect escape.

Location was also very important to Maddox. “I knew I wanted to put the containers somewhere downtown.”

After the historic Stinson House and former Elba Chamber of Commerce headquarters burned down, an ideal downtown lot was left empty. Maddox, like everyone else, was devastated by the “tragic situation.” However, she knew this lot was where she wanted to build the container house.

“It was such a bittersweet moment to have something cool, fun, and unique come out of this horrible situation,” she said.

“I have a special heart for that piece of property,” said Sandy Bynum Williams, director of the Elba Chamber of Commerce. “... It makes me feel good that the property is being utilized.”

Williams, like Maddox, said she believes Green Haven will attract tourists. “I think a lot of people have never stayed in a container home," Williams said. "I think it’s a unique experience.”

Williams oversaw the grand opening of Green Haven July 8. She described the container home as modern and comfortable, adding that she “loved all the colors.” Many, like Williams, were eager to see the finished container house and attended the open house held after the ribbon cutting.

Donna Stokes, Elba resident and mother of Maddox, said she was amazed at the finished result. Stokes highlighted the convenience of location being walking distance from shops, restaurants, coffee, a gas station and the historic Coffee County Courthouse.

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Maddox joins a larger movement in Elba to bring more visitors to their community and expects she will be involved in future efforts.

“I do have several other projects that I would like to do,” she said. “There is definitely more to come,” including the possibility of more container conversions.

Maddox said she is looking forward to introducing guests to her “fantastic sleepy little town,” as well as knocking the empty shipping container numbers down one at a time.

Elisha Oyola , a Living Democracy student at Auburn University, is living and learning this summer in Elba, Alabama, as a Jean O'Connor Snyder Intern with the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. The nonprofit program, coordinated by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts, prepares undergraduate college students for civic life through living-learning experiences in the summer .

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Container cabin conversion creates unique space for visitors in Elba