When autumn leaves begin to fall, drop the rake, pack your suitcase and head for the hills — of north Alabama, that is. Along Alabama’s piece of Lookout Mountain you will find the town of Mentone, population 451.
Mentone, along with DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon, is a prime destination for “leaf peepers” to witness nature showing off in color.
The area is also perfect for outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of the ample camping, fishing, hiking and biking opportunities. With a rich Baptist heritage that began 73 years ago in Mentone, Christians are once again following the twists and turns of the mountain road for vacation and spiritual retreats.
The Mentone Springs Hotel will celebrate its 120th birthday Sept. 3. Hailed as the oldest hotel in Alabama, the structure has been endangered several times but is once again a thriving establishment that serves as a retreat for Baptists and others.
Written records left at the hotel and passed down to the present owners indicate that a group of eight Baptist leaders bought the hotel in 1920 for summer assemblies.
The first Baptist assembly held at Mentone was the Baptist Young People’s Union in August 1921 with approximately 100 attending. As the years passed, the groups grew to 1,000, and Mobile Baptists often chartered a special train to bring their members. But because of insufficient water and sewer problems, the last Baptist assembly was held in 1932. The assembly then shifted to Judson College in Marion and later to Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega.
The tranquil setting of the area still inspires residents and visitors. Iva Jewel Tucker, a member of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, owned a cabin on the brow of the mountain in Mentone for 20 years.
“Meditation comes easily in the understated grandeur of Mentone,” she said. “I experienced spiritual renewal every time I walked on a path or sat by a fast-running creek.”
“Mentone’s mystique began in the late 1800s when the town was a popular vacation retreat for wealthy northern travelers who believed the mineral springs had healing powers,” said Patty Tucker, executive director of the DeKalb County Tourist Association. Today, visitors come for relaxation, mountain crafts and antique shopping.
The Mentone Inn was built in the Roaring ’20s, but now the word roaring has been replaced with tranquil. Owner Glenda Hollis said the inn sponsors musical events from gospel to classical guitar and hosts at least one religious retreat a month. Be sure and try the cheese grits at breakfast.
The Mentone Springs Hotel also hosts an array of retreats and is widely known for its Sunday dinner. The Food Television Network took notice and filmed a segment with Naomi Judd hosting the show.
“We provide lodging and food for spiritual retreats and a meeting room for praying and working on church projects,” said Mark Elacqua, the hotel’s innkeeper.
Elacqua and proprietor Andy Talton are planning a variety of events in September to celebrate the hotel’s 120th birthday. There will be weavers, candlelight dinners and a concert of local church choirs performing in the gazebo.
The narrow streets of downtown Mentone spread out to cozy cottages resting on the western brow of the mountain. The quaint town provides a sweeping view of the valley below where the “sock capital of the world,” Fort Payne, is home to numerous sock outlets and specialty shops.
The scenic drives in the area around Northeast Alabama are becoming nationally recognized. DeSoto State Park and nearby areas are included in a 93-mile drive of The Lookout Mountain Parkway, named by Reader’s Digest as one of America’s Scenic Drives.
Visitors can venture from their vehicles to enjoy the thunderous roar of the gushing waterfalls while some prefer the contrasting solitude of paths leading to orange maples, golden hickories and yellow poplar trees.
One popular scenic drive begins on Hwy. 35 through downtown Fort Payne to the top of the mountain. Stay straight when you top the mountain and follow Hwy. 35 to the Little River Canyon National Preserve.
Crossing the bridge at the canyon will lead you to a parking lot on the right from which you can walk down to view the Little River Waterfalls.
The Little River Canyon is a natural wonder and is known as one of the deepest canyons east of the Mississippi. It is also the only river in the world that forms and flows its length on top of a mountain.
Take a left out of the parking lot, cross the bridge and turn left onto Alabama Hwy. 176. Drive along the rim of the canyon and be sure and stop at the Canyon View Overlook before turning around.
For information and maps of these locations, call DeKalb County Tourist Association 1-888-805-4740 or visit info@tourdekalb.com.
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