PELHAM, Ala. — Miles out from your destination you notice something different. The buildings are fading, the road feels less industrial and the scenery reminds of a fantastical forest. Then you arrive at the park.
Oak Mountain State Park is a mere 20 miles south of Birmingham, one of Alabama’s largest cities, but it feels as if it were hundreds of miles away from all civilization.
As you drive into the park you are met with the staff, guiding you through the opening booth and into the rest of your retreat.
Further down the road you begin to turn down roads that follow the course of nature, winding side to side, arounds trees, rocks and ponds.
Then you find one of the many main events of the park, the golf course. Oak Mountain boast its own 18 hole course, the Oaks Golf Course. This course has five different tee boxes for players of all skill levels and is open for reservations from 7 a.m. to 5p.m.
As you drive further down you see an odd site, a beach in the middle of a forest. The park has two beaches open for the public year round. Feel free to take a family trip, a day with friends or just an extended lunch break whenever you need it.
As you go deeper into the park you can find the interpretive center and fairy garden. While you might have a hard time finding fairies you will have a easy time finding events hosted every weekend by staff like Falconer Anna Ruth Davis.
Davis believes the goal of the park is more than just sharing the space. She believes the park is for all to enjoy, “There is something for everybody to do at Oak Mountain State Park. We have tons of trails for hiking and laying on the beach and mountain biking. And we just encourage everyone to take advantage of it.”
There is something for everybody to do at Oak Mountain State Park
Anna Ruth Davis
Oak Mountain State Park has so much more to offer. To see all events and services they offer visit their website. To learn more watch Shelby County Spotlight on YouTube.
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