APT Explores Alabama State Parks

Download Word Document

When word began to spread about documentary filmmaker Ken Burns’ newest epic about America’s National Parks, which debuts on public television stations nationwide on Sept. 27, producers at Alabama Public Television decided it was the right time to explore the parks that Alabama has to offer.

There are no national parks in Alabama, but twenty-two state parks stretch from north to south and east to west, providing state residents and visitors with abundant opportunities to enjoy nature and take part in a variety of activities ranging from bird watching to water sports. The APT production, ALABAMA THE BEAUTIFUL: STATE PARKS, examines the scenery, wildlife, activities and amenities available at six parks that demonstrate Alabama’s natural diversity: Guntersville, Mt. Cheaha, Wind Creek, Gulf, Oak Mountain and Cathedral Caverns. The program premieres Sunday, Sept. 13 at 8:00pm.

The journey begins at Lake Guntersville Resort State Park in north Alabama. This park ranges over some six thousand acres along the banks of the Tennessee River and up to Taylor Mountain. The lake is rated in the top ten nationwide for trophy bass by the Bass Anglers Association. The bald eagle, which now is found many places in Alabama, began its resurgence in the state around Guntersville State Park.

“With the mountains and the lake you get a wide variety of all sorts of different habitat,” says Mark Jackson, assistant supervisor for the park. “Lots of wildlife here. Visitors just like to come and look at all of our deer. We have a very healthy deer population that is readily accessible…usually right on the roadside for people to look at.”

Alabama Public Television cameras capture scenes from around Guntersville State Park, from the lake to the resort lodge and everything in between.

The next stop on the map for producer Dave Finger and videographer Julian Elmore was Mt. Cheaha, Alabama’s first state park. Set in the Talladega National Forest, Cheaha came into being in 1933 when Alabama bought approximately 2800 acres from the National Park Service. Three companies of the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, constructed many of the park’s buildings, built roads, and even dug a lake. According to park supervisor Hartley Frederick, Cheaha’s status as the highest point in the state brings many groups – motorcyclists, bicyclists, runners, and hikers among others – to the park every year. Natural wildlife is abundant, and the views from the top of the mountain are tremendous. Mt. Cheaha also offers Depression-era stone cabins, A-frame chalets, campsites for RVs or tenters and much more.

Wind Creek State Park along the shores of Lake Martin is the largest state-owned campground in the United States with 626 camp sites. ALABAMA THE BEAUTIFUL: STATE PARKS captures the variety of water sports available at the park – fishing, swimming and boating. The park has also recently added some small cabins close to the water for those without a tent or RV.

In spite of the damage caused by hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, Alabama Public Television found Gulf State Park open and ready for business. See the new fishing pier that opened in late July and extends 500 feet further into the Gulf than the old one. APT’s cameras also show the park’s new beach pavilion, picnic tables, a bath house and board walks. The park was also the first to host a farmers market this summer, a feature that benefited park visitors as well as local growers.

Alabama’s largest state park is right next door to Alabama’s largest city. Oak Mountain State Park provides quick relief to citizens weary of the noise and bright lights of Birmingham. Situated on almost 10,000 acres, the park features several lakes, hiking trails, picnic areas and more. Visitors can fish, swim, walk, bike, canoe, ride horses… or maybe just sit and relax. In addition to wild animals – turkey, deer, snakes, salamanders, and turtles to name just a few – the park has a petting “farm” that children enjoy. The State Parks documentary also explores Oak Mountain’s 18-hole golf course and the wildlife center that rehabilitates thousands of injured and orphaned wildlife each year.

To cap off the hour-long special, Alabama Public Television’s cameras go underground to explore Cathedral Caverns in the rolling hills of Marshall County. This cave holds a number of records including the size of its entrance (25 feet tall and 128 feet wide). The caverns are also home to the largest stalagmite forest of any cave in the world, including the largest single “improbable” stalagmite which stands 35 feet tall and is only three inches wide.

“I was stunned to see how much this state has in its parks,” said producer Dave Finger after shooting was complete. “The opportunities for visitors are amazing. I hope people will watch this program and then go and explore these parks for themselves.”

You can find links to all of Alabama’s state parks – and other information about exploring Alabama outdoors, on APT’s Web site at www.aptv.org/outdoors.