10 Things Wetumpka Offers...

10 Things to Cure Summertime Boredom.... Locally!

1. It's Home to a Rare Marine Impact Crater: Wetumpka boasts one of only a handful of confirmed marine impact craters in the world, formed 85 million years ago by a meteorite. Much of the city sits within its five-mile diameter!  You can visit the Impact Center to learn more.

2. Hollywood Came to Town: The critically acclaimed Tim Burton film "Big Fish" (2003) was extensively filmed in Wetumpka, with many recognizable downtown locations and the iconic "Big Fish House" still standing. Even after 20+ years its amazing to see the things in the movie around town.

3. HGTV's "Hometown Takeover" Starred Wetumpka: The entire city underwent a major revitalization in 2021 as part of the popular HGTV show, bringing new life and charm to its historic downtown. Fun Fact, I watched them enclose the bar AND install the longest bar in Alabama. IT was a great addition to Coaches Corner that still offers an amazing view today.

4. It Sits on Alabama's "Fall Line": Wetumpka is uniquely positioned where the Appalachian Mountains meet the Coastal Plain, creating the "fall line" on the Coosa River with rapids and shoals that were historically important for trade and power.

5. A Hub for Paddle Sports: Thanks to the Coosa River's rapids, Wetumpka is a significant destination for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding, even hosting parts of the Great Alabama 650, one of the world's longest paddle races. Coosa River Adventure offers amazing tours and foes a great job of giving back to the community.

6. It Once Competed to Be the State Capital: In the mid-19th century, Wetumpka was a strong contender for Alabama's state capital, ultimately losing out to nearby Montgomery by just one vote. Imagine how different our hometown would be with a capital.

7. Home to a Historic Rosenwald School: The Elmore County Black History Museum is housed in a former Rosenwald School, part of a crucial initiative that built schools for African American children in the rural South during the early 20th century. 

8. The Coosa River is a "Rumbling Water": The name "Wetumpka" itself is derived from a Creek Indian word meaning "rumbling waters," referring to the rapids and shoals of the Coosa River.  Gold Star Park offers a great Venue to enjoy the Coosa River.

9. A Strong Native American History: The area around Wetumpka, particularly at Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park, has a rich history of Native American habitation dating back thousands of years, including a 1,000-year-old Indian mound. If you're lucky, you can attend reenactments and enjoy some great tours. 

10. It Has a "Calaboose": Underneath the historic Bibb Graves Bridge, you can find "The Old Calaboose," the city's first jail built in the early 1800s, a quirky piece of local history. Check it out on your next hike.  

This is just a short list of things that Wetumpka has to offer.  Proper Marketing would increase our tourism and reflect in an increase in tax revenue.