An Off-Beat, In-Depth Guide to Springville

The Local’s Guide to Springville

Alabama has about 50 communities named after springs.

As with all things Alabama, they come in a colorful variety. Want to flex those Southern bonafides? Opt for Magnolia Springs. Going for that idyllic, pastoral vibe? Maybe Sylvan Springs. How about some good ole wishful thinking? I vote Coffee Springs (sweet mercy, if only…).

But in the midst of all this spring naming fervor, there’s a town that decided to keep things mellow. Nestled at the foot of Pine Mountain, about 30 minutes northeast of Birmingham, Springville is named…well, Springville.

Given the scenery here, the founders certainly had cause to toss some braggadocio in the name. But, after meeting folks in Springville, this doesn’t strike me as their style.

With abundant outdoors, a slow-paced yet vibrant downtown, one of the state’s better old-timey festivals, and a few quirky stories to boot — my sense is that Springville is just happy to be Springville, no descriptors needed.

Skip Ahead
Downtown
Elvis?
The Spring
The Rock School
Homestead Hollow
Big Canoe Creek
100 y/o Soda Fountain
The Mysterious Grave
WA Valley Scenic Drive

First Stop: Downtown

Man sitting in front of cafe with coffee.

But before we dive into this spring business, let’s start our adventures downtown. Had I been sitting in this same spot on January 16, 1969, then I would be cowering as the ground shook beneath me and the heavens opened a shower of flames.

Little known today, Springville is the site of one of our country’s worst train derailments. And, in a sizable stroke of poor luck, the train that jumped the nearby track happened to be transporting hundreds of propane tanks. There are no photos of the fireball, but it was likely monstrous because the fallout burned much of the downtown. Somehow, no one died.

If you stick around Springville for a while, you will eventually meet somebody who remembers the absurdity and terror of that winter morning 55 years ago.

But it is 2024, so let us not worry. These days, instead of raining fire and shrapnel, Springville now rains coffee, scones and ice cream…

Woman standing in front of historic building with big windows. Sign at the very top reads "1982" and the sign above the door reads "Nichols Nook".

So without further ado: To the coffee! And the scones! And the books! And, really, most everything that one could want on a fine morning such as this.

To Nichols Nook!

People socializing in Nichols Nook cafe and bookstore in Springville, AL.

Nichols Nook is the local coffee and book shop, but it’s also Springville’s gathering place. People come to visit, or work on a puzzle together, or connect for a school project, or any of the numerous things that meaningfully connect us to one another.

Feeling social? Say hello to the owners, Scott and Beth (see previous photo). They are friendly, and they will happily introduce you to the locals.

Hand holding a scone with butterscotch chips.

As for the scones, they are made in house, they are delicious, and every single time I have visited, the folks here have warmed them up for me without asking.

Interior of The Ole Post Office boutique in Springville, AL. Various goods, such as soaps, for sale.

Coffee? Scone? Listen, we’ve already worked hard. And surely such hard work calls for some light (or heavy?) shopping.

Fortunately, Springville’s historic downtown is lined with locally-owned boutiques, such as The Ole Post Office housed in…well, don’t make me spell that one out for you.

And maybe, following the boutiques, you’re in the mood for some…

Street view of antique store, sign reads "Antiques!!!"

Antiquing!

And the Springville Antique Mall is huge. Whatever you’re after, they probably have it. No…really. They have everything.

As evidence, allow me to present you with…

Motion-activated, animatronic, singing Elvis memorabilia on antique store shelf.

That’s right, an animatronic, motion-activated, singing Elvis. If you don’t need this, then what do you need?

Now, let’s answer one of Springville’s most pressing questions—

Wait, what? No, no… not whether or not animatronic Elvis sings “Suspicious Minds” — although one can only hope. No, our question is…

Watercress in a creek in Springville, AL.

Does “Springville” actually have a spring?

As you walk, keep an eye out for a stream passing under Main Street. If you stop for a moment, you’ll notice that the water is…well, beautiful. It’s crystalline and abundant with healthy, flowing plant life — like something primordial and untouched by, well, us.

See those plants in the foreground? That’s the giveaway: watercress, which grows in only the healthiest of water, generally from springs.

Just upstream from here, the mouth of the spring used to form a lake where the locals swam. While that’s now covered, the water continues to flow, as clean as ever.

The Rock School

Old school building in Springville, AL with rock wall exterior.

Before leaving downtown, let’s stop by the Old Rock School, once the pride of Springville. Over 100 years ago, the original school was lost to a fire. When rebuilding, the locals opted to construct a fire-proof one in its place. Understandable, methinks.

So in 1921, people carted thousands — yes thousands — of rocks via wagon uphill to this spot. We can only hope that they weren’t working in the summer. The resulting schoolhouse is a display of careful, skilled craftsmanship that features an unbroken exterior of rock with all mortar hidden.

Situated on a hill just north of Main Street, this spot was originally chosen so that highway and train travelers might see it rising above the town: a tribute to community effort, local ingenuity, and Springville’s future. The building no longer houses a school, and the surrounding trees have since grown, but the Old Rock House still stands.

Now, let us head out of town…

Homestead Hollow

Where we’ll meet up at Homestead Hollow.

Several decades back, this 50+ acre property was owned by a local urologist who kept cattle. Unfortunately, his cows kept escaping while he was in surgery. Hey, we’ve all been there, right?

Tired of juggling the operating table and headstrong bovine, he started relocating historic buildings to the property and turned it into a venue. He held the first festival in 1982, a tradition the town has upheld until today.

Child looking up at the wheel of a grist mill at Homestead Hollow.

If you’re looking to peruse the world of yesteryear, then you couldn’t ask for a better place. Root cellar, two-story cabin, smokehouse — this place has it all. Here’s the grist mill.

Moonshine still with a wooden cutout of a man drinking some from a bottle.

Shoot, they’ve even got a moonshine still.

But without a doubt, the most storied spot is by the creek in the back…

A man standing in front of a cabin from the 1800s with smoke coming out of the chimney. In the foreground are two items of clothing hanging on a line. Fall colors on the leaves.

The Granny Nolin cabin.

Originally located a mile or so away, this home has been in Springville for about 200 years. Granny Nolin’s stepson even hid in the cellar to avoid fighting in the Civil War. Various locals who have worked here swear that the cabin is haunted. Want to try your luck? Weird things tend to happen, they say, around dusk.

*Of note: Homestead Hollow is privately owned. While the owners use it for community events, visitation is only open to the public during the festivals. Find the details here.

Now, let’s head across the street…

Big Canoe Creek Preserve, the “Crown Jewel”

Two men standing in front of the entry sign at Big Canoe Creek in Springville, AL.

…to the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve or, as the mayor refers to it, “the crown jewel of Springville”. 15 years in the making, the preserve opened to the public in February of this year.

When you visit, look for that guy on the right, Doug. If not for him, this preserve might never have happened. He is now one of two caretakers and will happily welcome you. That’s Jaresiah on the left, one of the countless volunteers.

A creek, about 20-feet-wide, with big rocks and late fall colors in the overhanging trees.

Bring your hiking shoes, your horse, your dog, your mountain bike. Big Canoe Creek is a 422-acre piece of heaven with miles of trails.

And if you’re feeling inclined, bring your sense of wonder too: the creek sits smack in the middle of a freshwater biodiversity hotspot. Beneath the water’s surface, innumerable creatures from federally endangered mussels to a fish that hadn’t been seen in 30 years are quietly living out their lives in newly protected waters.

And here we are, all creatures great and small, enjoying the day together.

The (Almost) 100-Year-Old Soda Fountain

Sidewalk view of Lasters Soda Fountain in downtown Springville, AL.

So, let’s see…what have we had to eat today? Coffee? Scone? Perhaps some of that white lightning? Before we head home, let’s return to town and balance out our intake with…ice cream!

Hey now, we went hiking! We deserve this! Plus, this isn’t just any ice cream shop…

Restored soda fountain bar inside Lasters in downtown Springville, AL.

Originally a pharmacy and soda fountain, Lasters has been in downtown Springville since 1927.

Happily over ten years into her career as an occupational therapist, something stirred inside Kristi, a Springville local, when she saw the space come up for rent. Her husband told her to pray about it, so she did.

Actually, no she didn’t. She told herself she would, but then…well, life happens. But as she was sitting in church one Sunday, it caught up with her.

So she quit her job. Then she and her husband spent the next 18 months renovating the store and reopened it as a spot for ice cream, to-go meals, and gifts. But they also kept everything that they could from the original 1927 business. That counter, for instance, is 97 years old.

Man holding up an ice cream cone and an ice cream cup.

Remember when I mentioned that Springville now rains ice cream?

Well, we’re not talking about just any old ice cream. Most of the ice cream that you and I eat is 7-8% milkfat, but all the ice cream in Lasters is 14% milkfat. In layman’s terms, it’s delicious.

That’s Mint Avalanche on the left and my favorite, Fat Elvis (salted peanut butter, chocolate chips, banana) on the right.

Unopened, vintage medicine bottle labeled "Spohn's Compound".

Feeling under the weather? How about your sheep?

Following your ice cream fix, take a walk around the store; Lasters is packed with 1920s, small-town pharmacy ephemera.

The Grave…

Before we leave, let’s head north of town where we’ll make two final stops. First: let’s get a little weird.

Just past the Big Oak Girls’ Ranch on Hwy 11, you should spot the grave of William G. Gibson. It’s easy to find because, well, it’s sticking right out of the embankment.

As the story goes, 200 years ago Gibson, a traveling hat salesman from North Carolina, descended nearby Pine Mountain only to meet his untimely demise here. Almost all details, including his cause of death, are disputed.

However, what’s not disputed is that the highway was built around his coffin. Whenever the road was laid, it’s clear that the workers had no appetite for moving Gibson’s grave. And really, would you?

So these days, the foot of ole Gibson’s final resting place just leans out of the dirt, watching the modern world go by.

“The Cades Cove of St. Clair County”: Washington Valley Road

The Washington Valley Road in Springville, AL during the fall colors.

Just south of the grave, let’s conclude with a backroad jaunt that’s as little known as it is scenic.

Washington Valley Road, which a local described to me as “the Cades Cove of St. Clair County”, is a six-mile byway that quietly offers all the scenery one could ask for: mountain views, bucolic countryside, rolling hills, and a stop on the Big Canoe Creek.

Man holding a young child in front of a fence, mist in the distance on Pine Mountain in Alabama. Late Fall colors.

A friendly welcome from the locals, more food than we can eat, some quirky history, and several detours through the beautiful scenery — Springville came through. Surely, it would be gluttonous to ask for more?

And yet…let’s do just that! Many adventures await. I’ll see you on the road.