6 Most Unconventional Towns In Alabama
Alabama is full of oddities. From eccentric landmarks to bizarre monuments and fascinating historical sights to perfectly preserved artifacts of yesteryear. This entrancing southern state is full of surprises. These unconventional small towns promise visitors a memorable vacation packed with one-of-a-kind experiences. So, if you’re looking for a new adventure, exploring quirky communities, and enjoying the best of Alabama’s unique character and culture, book a vacation in the heart of Dixie, where life is anything but ordinary.
Scottsboro
Near the Appalachian Mountains in northern Alabama is the scenic small town of Scottsboro. Known for its beautiful scenery and homespun charm, there are a few other things that make Scottsboro stand out. This is where you’ll find the state’s oldest soda shop, Payne’s Soda Fountain. In operation since 1869, a visit to Payne’s is like stepping back in time with its retro diner decor and selection of milkshakes, floats, and sodas.
Scottsboro’s other unique attraction is the Unclaimed Baggage Store and Museum. As the name suggests, this unusual outlet is where you can treasure hunt through the lost luggage that’s been surrendered by airlines. The attached Museum, which opened in 2023, displays more than 70 of the strangest finds from lost bags over the years, including Egyptian artifacts and a Jim Henson puppet.
Anniston
Anniston, in northeast Alabama, is the home of the Freedom Rider Monument, a series of murals commemorating the 1960s attacks on the legendary Civil Rights activists as they rode the buses to fight for equality. You can view the murals in the alleyways of the old Greyhound and Trailways Bus stations.
Anniston is also notable for a very unconventional landmark — the world’s largest office chair. This 33-foot-tall statue was originally built to promote an office supply company in town but has become an attraction in its own right. For more weird and wonderful exhibits, head to the Anniston Museum of Natural History, where you can meet life-size dinosaur replicas, wander through an Alabama cave, and see an 11ft alligator.
Elberta
If you’ve ever wanted to see Stonehenge but can’t hop a plane to England, head for Elberta. In this secluded town, you’ll find Bamahenge — a fiberglass replica of the original monument that’s ideal for photoshoots and star gazing.
Bamahenge is at the Barber Marina, which offers beautiful views and walks alongside Bay La Launch. Back in town, check out the Baldwin County Heritage Museum, which includes a 1908 church, display barns, a blacksmith shop, vintage tractors, wagons, and other memorabilia. Wandering through town, be sure to stop by the Elberta Veteran’s Memorial by the Town Hall, a granite statue honoring the local military.
Enterprise
The small community of Enterprise has a very unconventional town mascot in the form of the boil weevil. This unassuming pest became a hero in Enterprise in 1915 when it destroyed much of the region’s coffee crop, forcing farmers to diversify and eventually become a thriving agricultural and economic hub. You can see a monument to the beetle on Main Street and, if you visit in the fall, attend the annual Boll Weevil Festival. For more on Enterprise’s interesting history, visit the Pea River Historical Society Depot Museum, housed in an old railroad depot that was built in 1903.
Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals is a vibrant arts town with a cherished musical history thanks to the many legends who’ve recorded in the town. Head for FAME Recording Studio, established in 1959, to take a tour and see where hundreds of hits were made, including those from Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Etta James, and Gregg Allman.
Head downtown to see the Singing River Sculpture, an 18 ft figure of a bass player sitting on a tall stool. The sculpture is made from recycled aluminium and is especially striking at night when it’s lit up by spotlights. Muscle Shoals City Hall is just a short walk from the sculpture and contains a small, speciality museum packed with information about the town’s unique musical heritage along with its history since its founding in 1923.
Monroeville
Fans of Harper Lee’s epic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, have to make the trip to Monroeville, Lee’s hometown, which served as the inspiration for the fictional town of Maycomb.
In the beautiful Courthouse Square, you’ll see the Atticus Finch monument, a nod to Monroeville’s most famous character. The monument is one of the stops on the Monroeville Self-Guided Walking Tour, which takes visitors past iconic buildings such as the Old Monroe County Courthouse, home of the Monroe County Heritage Museum, the Truman Capote Historical Marker, and Mel’s Dairy Dream, a diner built on the former site of the Lee home.
In Alabama’s inviting small towns, you’ll find plenty of character and personality. This is a state that’s hard to define, influenced by its unique musical heritage, a history of civil rights activism, literary legends, and good, old-fashioned southern grit. Have a picnic at Bamahenge, go treasure hunting through lost luggage, journey back in time to 1930s Maycomb, and see where Aretha Franklin made musical history — wherever your Alabama vacation takes you, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience.
