Overview
Noccalula Falls is located in Gadsden, Alabama. The waterfalls and the legend of the Native American (Creek) princess Noccalula are the central theme of this quaint little park. Actually, it's not just one little park, it's several smaller parks that, when combined, make for one awesome destination. While the legend is tragic (click the link for more about the legend), and the falls can be spectacular, the city has made this place much more. I believe the falls could dry-up, and the park would still draw visitors. It is a historic and beautiful place that we'd recommend to anyone. Here's a summary of the facilities:

Campground:
The campground has many top-notch features such as full hookups including sewer, 20, 30, and 50 amp electric service, and cable. Many of the sites are very nice, but some are in need of a little work. We loved camping there and thoroughly enjoyed the pool. Some sites have grills and most have a rock fire ring. Firewood and a wheelbarrow is available at the office Ice can also be purchased there.

Noccalula Falls Public Area (no fee)
The falls themselves are very pretty, but the volume of water can vary considerably. They appear very similar to Desoto Falls (Desoto State Park, Fort Payne, AL) and Fall Creek Falls State Park (Pikeville, TN). There are pavilions, a wedding chapel, walking path with a very pretty bridge, and a stellar playground, All this is accessible for no charge. There isn't even a parking fee. As a bonus, there's a Jack's restaurant on the premises. Great fast food!

Noccalula Falls Park (fee area)
Crossing the old arched bridge that connects the campground and chapel area to Noccalula Falls park, you will see the small gage train that circles the various attractions. Proceed on to the main entrance, but keep that train in mind. The fee to enter the park is very reasonable, and the "season pass" upgrade deal is just that, a "deal." For just a few bucks more, you can come back any time. And you will want to come back.

Once in the park, ride the scale train to the petting zoo. They have a wide variety of animals, but the coolest is a completely tame deer buck, antlers and all. He licked the kids hands, which gave them quite the thrill. There are also alpaca, goats, chickens, bunnies, sheep, and a lion (no petting).

From there, take a walk through all the historic buildings, a collection of structures from the 19th and early 20th century. Additionally, there are some rock formations to explore, and there is a strenuous hike to the base of the gorge where you can see the waterfalls from a unique behind-the-scenes perspective.

Miniature Golf (fee area)
While visiting Noccalula Falls Park, we highly recommend patronizing the miniature golf course. It's awesome! We played all 18 holes, and took full advantage of the "ball retrieval" nets that allowed us to snatch our stray balls from the numerous water hazards throughout the course. If you enjoy miniature golf, you will absolutely love this place. On the negative, this is not included in the park entrance. In fact, it cost us as much to play golf as it did to experience the rest of the park. Still, very affordable.

Summary
Noccalula Falls is a great place to spend a few days. There is plenty for the family to do, and the campground is a great place to park your RV or tent. Next time we visit, we'll check out Gadsden a bit more, but it looks like a really neat town.

Adventure Journal
Entry Date: July 2012
I was recently presenting to a group of Alabama teachers when I asked for suggestions for family destinations in their fine state. Numerous educators suggested Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, so I began researching and making plans immediately. The legend of Noccalula Falls comes from the story of a young Creek princess that had been promised to the prince of a neighboring tribe. But she was in love with another, so out of desperation and heartbreak, she flung herself off the falls and to her death 90 feet below. We enjoy Native American history and legend, but frankly, it was the rest of the park that got my attention.

Gadsden is a relatively short drive for us, so it worked out to be a great weekend getaway. We left mid afternoon on a Friday and arrived at the Noccalula Falls campground in plenty of time for the kids to enjoy the pool and the walk to the park's playground and falls. The campsite I selected turned out to be perfectly level, so setup was a breeze. We got a little rain through the night, but no storms. Nothing is more relaxing than a light rain on a camper's roof.

The rain continued until mid-morning Saturday, so we had a slow lazy start for the day. When the skies cleared, we headed-out for Noccalula Falls Park. It's a quarter-mile walk, but easy and extremely scenic. From the campground, we walked along a pathway that winds through the public access area, past the wedding chapel, and over a little arched bridge which crosses the stream feeding the waterfalls. The flow of the water affects the beauty of the falls, and on this visit there was some water, but nothing spectacular. If you'd like to see it really roaring, watch this video. Past the falls we could see the scale train and some Teepees.

After paying our admission to the park (which was very reasonable), we boarded the train. It's a small scale train, and the kids loved it. Our first stop was the "petting zoo." We love animals, so this was the highlight of the park. They have a lion that seemed particularly interested in Heath. No, you can't pet the lion. The actual petting zoo area had alpaca, goats, a big ram, lambs, a variety of goats, rabbits, and many other cute fuzzies. Our favorite was a very friendly buck that loved attention and liked to lick the kids' hands.

We wandered through all the old building and tried to imagine what it was like to live in one of these old cabins 200 years ago, especially with no air-conditioning. This part of the park features a very old covered bridge that crosses a coy pond. The fish were massive, inducing ooohs and ahhhs from all of us. Just past the impressive collection of historic buildings is the access to the base of the falls. We decided on this hot humid day, that the view from the top of the falls would be just fine. We did explore the cracks and crevices in the limestone formations. It reminded us of Rock Town near Lafayette, Georgia.

After lunch at the resident Jack's restaurant, we walked to the Noccalula Falls miniature golf course. Most people suggested we drive, but we could see it from where we were. It was a whopping 1/8 mile. We were disappointed when we discovered that the cost of miniature golf wasn't included in the park's admission. Any disappointment quickly vanished when we saw the course. Very very nice! The course was designed and constructed by a company that specializes in miniature golf courses. We played all 18 holes, and had a blast in the meantime.

We concluded our day with a swim, some Frisbee,  and a roaring campfire. I can't recall a better time we've ever had. We decided we want to come back in the fall, and perhaps at Christmas when the lights are on. The campground is open year-round, but the park is not. Make sure to check their website or call for open/close dates and hours. In the meantime, go somewhere! Do something!

The Richardson Tribe

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