One Tank Getaways: Noccalula Falls

Noccalula Falls is one of Alabama’s most beautiful natural attractions. The 90-foot falls spill over into Black Creek. In the ravine below, there are caves with Native American artifacts, Civil War carvings and an abandoned dam.

Noccalula Falls Park supervisor Janet Tarrance said, ”and you can actually still walk up under the falls, we have the gorge and it’s very pretty under there.”
On this day, the water flow is too heavy… making walking down to the ravine somewhat dangerous.  Learning the legend of the falls is one of the first things you’ll probably want to do.

“The park is named for Noccalula. Legend has it that she was the daughter of a great Cherokee Indian chief right in this area. She was in love with a man in her own tribe, but her father wanted her to marry the chief of the neighboring Creek tribe. So on her wedding day she was so upset she leapt off the falls.

“They had, you know, a big feast planned and she actually got in her wedding gown and slipped off away from the wedding and actually ended her life in Black Creek,” Tarrance said.

The bronze statue of Noccalula was made from pennies donated by schoolchildren in the 1960s. The tragic story of her death has intrigued visitors for decades. But there is plenty more to see and do at this 250-acre Gadsden City park. One of the most popular spots for the kids is the petting zoo, where there are plenty of furry things children can see and touch and even a few slimy things you might not want to.

Patricia McAdams, visiting with her 5-year-old grandson Christopher, said, “They enjoy feeding them and touching them and that sort of thing so its a lot about the animals.”

There’s even a lioness named Sheila… no touching her either. The botanical gardens feature 25,000 azaleas. You can also take a look at the Gilliland-Reese covered bridge built in 1899 and tour the pioneer village that will take you back a century. But by far one of the favorite attractions is the train.

“It’s beautiful,” Tarrance said. “It has a lot of things for the children and adults and its just very reasonably priced and its in a good location centrally located.”

From Birmingham, it’s only about an hour trip to the falls heading east on I-59 to Gadsden. Take exit number 188 and follow the signs only a few miles to the park. You can spend the day at the falls or even camp out there.

Primitives sites run $15 a night and full hookups for campers are $20. If you’re not into roughing it, cabin rentals will cost you between $110 and $130 dollars a night.

Park admission is $6 dollars for adults and $3 dollars for children 4-12 years old, younger kids are free. That admission price includes all the park attractions, even the train rides.  The only additional costs inside the park are food and miniature golf.  A family of four could spend the weekend here for as little as $100.

“They have lots of things to do here, they have animals, they have picnic grounds, it’s a beautiful park they have lions and all that. It’s just a lot of fun,” McAdams said.

See our other Alabama one-tank getaways:
Hidden Creek Ranch
U.S. Space & Rocket Center