Photo TR: Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden, Alabama

[Brandy524]

Yes, we have tourist destination in Gadsden, Alabama. Well, not exactly. I wouldn't make a special trip for it or anything. But if you happen to be in the area it's a nice little family outing. I showed you pictures of the actual falls a while ago and promised I'd do a report on the other side of the park, the one where you actually have to pay to get in. The pay side has a train, pioneer village and small zoo. I have lots of pictures so it may take me a while to get them all up.

These rock chairs are part of some kind of Masonic display. The girls said they were princess chairs.

 

And while I was editing photos my lunch hour rolled around. So I'll post some more when I come back.

Okay, so these first few were taken on the free side of the park, where the falls is. The kids were scared of the Noccalula statue. And for good reason, she's ugly.

[Brandy524]

Okay, I'm back from lunch. I just feel the need to mention how crazy the weather is in Alabama right now. When these pictures were taken last weekend it was in the 70s. But just the weekend before that it snowed. Not kidding. Anyway, back to the pictures.

This sign welcoming you to the pioneer homestead is actually on the back side of the park from the entrance. This used to be the entrance before the city overhauled and remodeled the layout of the park.

 

And quick story: As we were walking through this area we passed a drink machine with three people standing at it. Two guys (one with a ponytail) and a girl. Ally starts asking me, "Mommy is that a girl?" Super loud. I tried to tell her to be quiet and just walk and she kept asking over and over. The girl that was with them finally said, "No, that's not a girl." Oh the things children say.

 

And this concludes the pioneer village section. Next up is the zoo.

Inside the post office.

And this one says Liars Bench. Which one do you belong on?

Can you read it? It says Whittlers Bench. This is outside the post office.

Post Office.

I thought this was kind of pretty.

Rusty old water wheel behind the grist mill.

This machine is inside the grist mill. I'm not sure what it is, and there was no sign.

Grist Mill, obviously.

I know there are some train enthusiasts on here.

And the bridge again.

Another self-explanatory shot.

Interior of the right side of the home.

Interior of the left side of the home. As a kid I always wanted to be able to go in and go up the stairs. Just because.

A pioneer home.

A pioneer meal in the Cook House.

Moving on to the Cook House.

And this outside.

But there was a some kind of machine inside. And a laundry tub, I think.

This building didn't have a sign on it.

When you just gotta go...

 

NOTE: This is not a real bathroom. But you probably figured that out on our own.

The Chicken House. The kids wanted to go in but there was a lot of dirty hay in there. Yuck. This was as close as I'd let them get.

Inside the blacksmith shop.

Pretty self-explanatory.

The barn. We didn't walk over to it, so there's no interior picture. Sorry.

Inside the loom house. All the buildings (except the schoolhouse) have bars on the doors so you can't actually go in. I guess vandalism might be a problem. Punk kids.

The Loom House. I guess the sign explains it.

The kids in pioneer school.

The first building you come to is the schoolhouse.

This is the pioneer village as seen from the train.

The first thing you encounter when you walk in is the first of three train stations.

Welcome to Noccalula Falls Park. This is the ticket booth and gift shop.

Obligatory cute kids picture.

[Brandy524]

Okay, now we move on to the zoo, and I use that term loosely. There are not many animals.

And here she is again.

 

So that's all I have. I hope you've enjoyed this little look at the only attraction in Gadsden. If you're ever through this area, stop by the park.

This deer just wanders around the park. The employee said she was born and raised at the park so she's accustomed to people. She'll just walk right up and let you pet her.

Fat, lazy bunny. I don't know why this bunny was behind glass, but the other bunnies were in the petting area. Maybe he was a dangerous bunny. Is there such a thing? You don't usually hear "danger" and "bunnies" in the same sentence.

I think this is a cayman. It's scary regardless of what it's called.

A big ball of sleeping ferrets. I have no idea how many there are in there.

A big ugly iguana. Glad you can't pet him.

Thank goodness for the hand sanitizer station!

The bunny petting area.

One of the employees got a baby guinea pig out for the girls to pet. They loved it.

The guinea pig petting area.

This bunny was just hopping around outside the animal habitat. One of the employees said if you could catch it you could keep it. No thanks.

A sleepy little fox. He opened his eyes and looked at me but didn't move.

This guy was scary. It's a Canadian lynx. He was growling and stalking up and down the fence. And I swear his growl sounded so fake. If you weren't seeing the cat right in front of you, you would swear it was a fake growl.

I think this is a mule. I'm not sure.

This deer to be exact.

Trying to see the deer.

"Bad llama." He'll probably be getting a shearing soon since the weather is getting warmer.

Goat kisses anyone?

A goat. He wouldn't look up to get a picture. Darn him.

The first thing in this area is this little girl. Her name is Sheila, I think. The sign was gone from her fence.

[mcjaco]

The bunny behind the glass probably had great big pointy teeth.

[mrhambone]

The bunny is behind the glass because it's the infamous Rabbit of Caerbannog!

[TheRapidsNerd]

Hey, never even knew this place existed! You may have just found a new photo-shoot locale, Brandy.

 

Glad you put this up and the "sea pigs" were cute. Thanks!

[thrillerman1]

I was born in Alabama. It rocks. Thanks for sharing this.

[printersdevil78]

This place looks pretty cool. Hooray for pioneer villages!

[Brandy524]

Hey, never even knew this place existed! You may have just found a new photo-shoot locale, Brandy.

 

Glad you put this up and the "sea pigs" were cute. Thanks!

 

It is a good place for pictures. They have a garden area that's really pretty, as well as the pioneer village. And on the other side of the park by the falls there's a campground with some pretty wooded areas.

 

If you ever make it down here, let me know. We'd love to meet up with you.

[TheRapidsNerd]

^ I'd be delighted! Let me see if I can work that in one weekend for a small road trip. Granted, you might need therapy afterward, considering my subtle and low key personality...