An Alabama Adventure 3/26/2023

By: Jennifer Richardson Holt

I enjoy seeing things I haven’t seen before. And if it is something that I particularly enjoyed then I don’t mind seeing something that I have seen before. And yes, after re-reading it I realize how terribly obvious and uninteresting both of those first two statements are.  I shared those first two sentiments because just recently I went on a bit of a road trip. It wasn’t somewhere particularly far away but I am fortunate enough to live in a place that has the full gamut of landscapes to see.  Just a few hour journey within my home state gives me opportunity to see a little bit of everything. This trip took me northeast, so I got to see my absolute favorite type of landscape. Join me now as I tell you the tale of my travels.

The beginning leg of my trip meandered by my usual rural areas and even by a historic military park. I remember visiting this park on many occasions, several of which included field trips from elementary school.  This park is the site of a battle between the Creek Indians that once inhabited my area and American forces that were at the time led by the soon to be President Andrew Jackson. I have my opinions of most of the goings on of this portion of history (and the aforementioned past president) and the other events surrounding American interactions with our Native peoples, but I will spare you that rant.  The fact that I just called it a rant probably should tell you my sentiments but, as I said, I shan’t subject you to that now, likely not ever because that just wouldn’t be a fun blog to read in the least, but I digress. We passed by this parcel of both local and American history and it wasn’t long before we reached some of the most picturesque portions of this state that I always find endearing to travel through.

Now no, I have not seen every square inch of this state and I have no doubt whatsoever that there are numberless treasures here. I have seen many and am forever finding more but as far as familiar and much loved area this portion we drove though is some of my favorite. Rolling green hills are a constant dotted with massive trees. Old home places are around every corner and beautiful farms cover the landscape. And these aren’t just generic farms. These farms are pristine with lush pastures and glistening ponds. The cattle are fat and look like they should be models in posters on the walls of a feed and seed store. The horses have coats that glisten in the springtime sun. Babbling brooks cascade through the meadows. The livestock doesn’t drink from troughs but from crystal waters fed from hillside springs.  To call it picturesque in my humble opinion is an understatement. Even the towns are dotted with lovely homes with immaculate landscaping.  I just really love this area. It isn’t full of anything remarkable other than simple beauty and areas that inexplicably feel like home.

Then I passed something that I am about to describe to you and then you’ll just have to come to your own conclusions about it, as did I. In perusing though the country landscape I saw some old cars. This isn’t inherently odd as it does happen that some people like to use their property to gather old, no longer in use vehicles. So, at first I thought very little of this gathering of old cars. It was upon further examination that I noticed that all these cars were varying ages (none recent) of hearses.  Also, one had to notice that these aged hearses were stacked on top of each other and they were each painted with an advertisement for an attraction that sat far off the road behind them. I am going to tell you what this attraction is but I need you to truly mentally prepare yourself. Because unless you are familiar with this area of Alabama, [I don’t know that you can in fact be ready for it. I apparently am not familiar enough with the area so that I could be mentally prepared.  The attraction is a haunted chicken house. And no, I likely cannot answer any of the questions that you likely have.  One very significant question that I feel is very pertinent to the situation is; is this place haunted with the ghost of people or poultry? I feel like this is a very legitimate question.  But in just driving down the road seeing stacked rusting hearses in front of what are apparently supernaturally infested chicken houses I was left with more intrigue than answers.

The apex of my journey took me into the Appalachian foothills. If you read anything of mine you know any venture into anything Appalachian be it foothill or the highest of peaks is some of my favorite places that I could possibly be. Yes, we were at the very beginnings of these highlands, but it was enough to warm my heart.  Not to mention that I got to see the joy in my mother’s eyes as she neared the areas where she grew up and knows as home.  I never knew them as home but somehow that same familiar feeling has translated to me.

So the journey ended back at home but I had seen many things. I cannot possibly tell you everything I saw in all the places we went but I have shared some of the more intriguing.  It is endearing to know that I could in a few hours drive, experience most any landscape all in my home state.  We have it all from mountains to beaches. The only thing we might not have here is desert, but if I am being honest, I am not too distraught by that. I have seen deserts and they are not my cup of tea at all.  We have plenty of copious amounts of red dirt though so somehow that seems close enough as I don’t care for it either, but I have digressed yet again.  As I like to think of you my reader as my friend, I just thought I’d tell you a bit about my adventures.  I hope you found my story of interest but if not, I can at least rest in the fact that you now know of a haunted chicken house that you likely didn’t before.  And that my friend, is something.