Barbour County: Discover History, Water and Nature

Barbour County combines historic architecture, expansive natural areas and a variety of experiences on the water. Between grand houses, Lake Eufaula, hiking trails and regional events, you can shape your trip in many different ways.

Historic Places and Living Traditions

One prominent cultural attraction is Fendall Hall, one of the finest examples of Italianate architecture in Alabama. Shorter Mansion is also one of the region’s important historic buildings. It was built from 1901 to 1906 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. For planning your visit, there is also a specific opening schedule: Shorter Mansion is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Clayton stands the Octagon House, also known as the Petty-Roberts House. Benjamin Franklin Petty built it between 1859 and 1861. The building is considered the only surviving purely octagonal residence from the pre–Civil War era in the southeastern United States to have used the so-called gravel-wall construction method. Spring Hill Methodist Church in Spring Hill dates from 1841 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1996. Woodlane Plantation in Eufaula dates from 1852 to 1952 and was listed on March 29, 2006.

Those who want to take a closer look at historic townscapes can include the Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District. More than 700 buildings there are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Eufaula Pilgrimage is an annual fundraising event benefiting historic houses; its organization and promotion began in 1965. Jones Chapel also hosts Barbour County’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Celebration. The Chitlin' Jamboree in Clio represents the region’s food culture, hosting a cooking competition and a parade every May.

Lake Eufaula, Trails and Guided Tours

Lake Eufaula offers several opportunities for days on the water. There is boat access along the entire lake, while public fishing piers are located at Old Creek Town Park and Highland Park. Lakepoint State Park offers hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife and bird watching. Four trails belong to the park, most of them approximately one mile long. Lakepoint Resort State Park is also a stop on the Alabama Wiregrass Birding Trail.

A special trail experience is provided by the paved Yoholo Micco Trail. It is suitable for hiking, running and cycling, crosses Lake Eufaula on an old railroad trestle and ends at Old Creek Town, the site of a former Native American village. Away from the trail, a nature trail leads through an old hardwood forest to a waterfall. Those who want to explore the lake from the water can choose guided tours in single or tandem kayaks with Kayak Eufaula, covering distances of three or six miles.

Wildlife Observation and Active Excursions

The Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge encompasses remnant longleaf pine forests as well as a mosaic of wetlands, agricultural fields, woodlands, fallow land, grasslands and open water. These habitats provide suitable conditions for almost 300 bird species and 40 mammal species. This makes it possible to focus a stay on wildlife observation and exploring the landscape.

Blue Springs State Park complements the offerings with hiking trails. Its swimming pools are fed by a crystal-clear underground spring whose temperature is 68 degrees year-round. The Barbour County Wildlife Management Area near Clayton along County Road 49 offers excellent opportunities for hunting deer, turkeys and wild hogs. Depending on your interests, you can therefore focus your trip more strongly on water, historic buildings, bird watching, trails or selected outdoor activities.

Which Location Suits Your Trip

When looking for a vacation apartment or vacation home in Barbour County, it is worth deciding in advance what you want to focus on during your days there. For a trip with plenty of water and activity, accommodations around Lake Eufaula, Lakepoint State Park and the Yoholo Micco Trail fit well into your plans. Those interested in culture can make historic houses, churches and the Historic District the focus of their visit. If different interests come together within your travel group, you can combine wildlife observation, trails, regional events and historic discoveries.

As a destination in its own right, Eufaula is also useful for further orientation within the county. Your accommodation search should therefore not focus only on a single excursion, but on the travel style you choose for your days in Barbour County: active exploration, cultural sightseeing, time on the water or a combination of these.

Further Regional Orientation

For further orientation within the shared regional area, you can also find Autauga County, Russell, Cullman County, Marion County, Elmore, Clay County and Talladega.

For the broader travel overview: Alabama.