Just 30 minutes north of Montgomery, Wetumpka is one of the more quirky, artsy towns in Alabama.
Whether it’s hundreds of years of history, Hollywood filming locations, the remains of a cataclysmic meteor strike, a season on HGTV, the extensive arts scene or the beautiful views of the Coosa River — there’s more than enough to fill a weekend.
Oh, and yes, of course there’s plenty of food.
After many visits and meetups with the locals, here’s our insider’s guide to things to do in Wetumpka.
Skip Ahead
Things to Do
Where to Eat
Quirky Sights
Stuff for Kids
1. The Bibb Graves Bridge
Arguably the most scenic bridge in Alabama, the walkable Bibb Graves crosses the Coosa River at perhaps its most beautiful point: along the fall line, surrounded by rock islands.
The architecture, five smoothly symmetrical arches, leads directly into Wetumpka’s quaint downtown. There’s even a white-steepled church at one end of the bridge. *chef’s kiss*
2. The Meteor Crater
Some 80 million years ago, a cruise-ship sized meteor smacked directly into what is now Wetumpka. While you could easily miss it when driving through town, evidence of the meteor is everywhere.
Here are a few things to do and key places to spot it:
a. the rocks in the Coosa, viewed from the bridge: look closely and you’ll notice that they are angled from the impact
b. the hill east of town: on the East side of the bridge, the ground gradually rises as it crosses Hwy 231. That’s the meteor crater; without the meteor impact, this land would be entirely flat.
c. view from the rim: take Bald Knob Rd. to this viewpoint; fair warning: the road is thin, one way and occasionally scary — but the views, in both directions, are unbeatable
d. take the driving tour (this includes Bald Knob Rd.)e. join the annual tour
3. Shop Downtown Wetumpka
If you’re after some retail therapy, then you can’t go wrong in downtown Wetumpka.
Company Street was famously renovated on HGTV’s “Hometown Takeover” and features spots like The Lil’ Farmhouse Market and Company St. Mercantile. There are plenty more spots as well, such as the Shoppes Downtown on Hill St. and Sweet Home Books.
The area forms one big triangle, so it’s easy to find your way around.
4. The Big Fish House
Tim Burton filmed much of his hit movie “Big Fish” (2003) in downtown Wetumpka. Most prominently, the main character’s family lived in what has become known as “The Big Fish House”.
The house is impossible to miss. It rises, stately and Victorian, above the east end of downtown. Visitors are welcome to walk to the fence and take photos.
5. Elmore County Black History Museum, Built in Historic Rosenwald School
Formerly a Rosenwald School, a crucial educational lifeline to Black children in the South during the Jim Crow era, the Elmore County Black History Museum building itself is a historically significant structure in its own right.
Billie Rawls, the woman who runs the museum, grew up attending this school until desegregation. She will happily walk the halls with you, share what life was like back then and show you her collection of local Black history artifacts, painstakingly collected over several decades.
6. Get on the Coosa River
Want to kayak or paddleboard the river? Of course you do! Coosa River Adventures, just north of downtown, are the folks to call.
7. Take the HGTV Tour
While there is no official “HGTV Tour”, the locations from “Hometown Take Over” are close together and easy to see, once you know where to look.
Here’s our guide: The Big Fish House, the “Together” mural, the barber shop (now Sweet Home Books), Tapp 18 (now The Shoppes Downtown), the Farmers Market, the “Blooming on the Coosa” mural (viewable from the Farmers Market), Coaches Corner, Company Street, Jeanette Barrett Civic Room and the shipping container.
8. The Arts
It’s for good reason that Wetumpka has been recognized for having one of the best small town art scenes in the South.
And really, between all the murals and outdoor sculptures, the artsy vibes are all but impossible to miss. If you’d like to dive in, then there are a few key spots to know.
Marcia Weber Art Objects has one of the largest folk art collections in the South. Make sure to call ahead for an appointment. The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts is the hub for local art, and the gallery has perhaps the best view of the Bibb Graves bridge in town. And swing by Don Sawyer’s studio as well. His art, often featuring fish, is displayed in businesses across town.
9. Gold Star Park
Tucked up against the Coosa River — and easily missed on a drive through town — Wetumpka’s Gold Star Park offers a scenic walk along the Coosa River. Along with excellent views of the water and Bibb Graves Bridge, the park has lots of things to do and see: several pedestrian bridges, a playground, the relocated Ma Brown dogtrot home (1881), a miniature church, fishing and birdwatching.
Park here for easiest access.
10. Native American, French and U.S. History at Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson
Just a few minutes from downtown, Fort Toulouse-Jackson is a historical mashup because…well, so many things happened here.
A stroll across the property will bring you to a 1400s Native American mound, model Creek dwellings from the 1600s, a 1700s French fort, and an early 1800s U.S. fort. Of note, that last fort is where the Creeks ceded to Andrew Jackson a great bulk of the land that makes up Alabama, which became a state 5 years later.
Bonus: if you visit in the winter, then you’re bound to get nice views from the river bluffs.
11. Elmore County Museum
If you’re curious about Elmore County — and a lot of curious things have happened here — then make a stop at the museum.
The museum houses many artifacts — including two that you can see but no one is allowed to photograph. And the museum docent, Sharon, has a wealth of local knowledge.
Tip: Interested in ghost stories? Sharon has you more than covered.
12. Where to Eat
Wetumpka has ample food options.
After some caffeine to start your day? Step into Restoration Coffee, a renovated 1905 bank with windows galore. Want some HGTV vibes and river views? Check out Coaches Corner. Sandwich with friendly service? Stop by Copper House Deli. Wine, charcuterie, and chocolate? Taste at the Fain. Looking for hot dogs served in a 1930s gas station (I mean, who isn’t?)? Grumpy Dog is your place.
There’s more too. Take a walk around town and see what strikes your fancy.
13. Quirky Sights: Riverside Sculpture Trail
On the east side of the river, head over to Wetumpka’s first jail, The Old Calaboose. If you walk up the river from there, you’ll come across a variety of eclectic sculptures — such as a giant Coke bottle, the ten foot sentry keeping watch on the jail, this motorcycle — all with top notch views of the river and Bibb Graves bridge.
14. Also Quirky: More Sculptures!
What? More sculptures? I told you Wetumpka was an art town. Here’s where to find them:
– The Big Fish, in dedication to the Tim Burton movie filmed here
– Sasquatch and horses, located in front of Marcia Weber Art Objects, by local artist Ray Bellew
15. Still Quirky: The Snail that Saved the Town
Located in front of the history museum, the snail sculpture is a tribute to the indigenous Tulatoma Snail. To protect the snail from extinction, the nearby dam increased its water flow. Lo and behold, the higher water levels brought tourists, looking to kayak and canoe.
Much like Enterprise’s Boll Weevil Monument, Wetumpka’s snail sculpture pays tribute to a tiny creature that helped reinvent the local economy. Find it here.
16. Final Quirky Spot: Bookstore with 1800s Bullet Hole
Notice anything funny about the door to Sweet Home Books?
That little off-colored circle below the window is a bullet hole from a late 1800s shootout. When the folks from HGTV renovated the building, they decided that they couldn’t give up this historical detail, so they cut out the bullet hole and placed it inside the new door.
And it just so happens that it’s a nice bookstore as well.
17. Kids: playground at Gold Star
One of the wonderful things about visiting Wetumpka is the proximity to the playground at Gold Star Park. It’s fun, generally shaded and, for us adults, offers a walking trail with river and bridge views.
Park here. You’ll see it.
Photos: Wesley Miller and Harrison Neville (The Sunrise News)
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