Southern Charm
In Barbour County, tales of the past come alive even for those who've recently arrived. Whether it's the stories of founding fathers, war heroes, Southern belles, or daring heroines, their indelible marks are etched into the fabric of the region. Some may dismiss these narratives as exaggerated, blending facts with imagination. However, for others, the resonating echoes of heels clicking on hardwood floors during home tours transport them to a bygone era, evoking a nostalgic immersion akin to wading into a cool stream on a mid-July day. These visitors, in a temporal reverie, can relive a leisurely afternoon on a veranda, gazing at the meandering river. For those with a discerning perspective, Eufaula transcends being merely a beautiful house with enchanting allure; it becomes a legendary entity, rich with historical significance.
Shorter Cemetery
Alabama's Civil War Governor, John Gill Shorter, was laid to rest, along with the Governor's father, the famous Indian fighter General Reuben Clark Shorter, in Shorter Cemetery. The cemetery's graves date back to 1840.
Contact the Staff at Shorter Mansion for access to this gated attraction. Phone (334) 687-3793 for details.
MacMonnie’s Fountain
A cherub crowns the three-tiered wrought-iron fountain and fits in perfectly with the character of downtown. It was purchased from the city of Dayton, Ohio, in 1880.
Manny
In honor of Eufaula being the "Big Bass Capital of the World," it is only appropriate that we have a big bass named Manny in honor of renowned fisherman Tom Mann, who helped make Eufaula a fisherman's paradise.
“Tom Mann achieved fame as a fishing lure designer/manufacturer and helped put Lake Eufaula on the map with his popular television shows,” the inscription states. “with an investment of $5, he and his wife, Ann, started Mann's bait company in 1958. Later, he would launch Humminbird Industries and Southern Plastics…he made Eufaula the hub of the fishing lure industry.”
Mann was inducted into the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named by the Alabama Tourism Department as one of Alabama's “most unforgettable faces.”
Be sure to visit and take a picture with Manny, located across from the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, next to the Yoholo Micco Walking Trail.
Yoholo Micco Trail
In 2010, the 2nd Phase of the Rails to Trails Project was completed. The conversion of 3.2 miles of abandoned rail bed is now a beautiful walking trail with a gorgeous water view and many other hidden jewels.
The trail begins in the heart of historic downtown Eufaula, Alabama, in front of the Eufaula Barbour Chamber of Commerce. Winding along with the beautiful scenery, you will find squirrel & eagle crossings along with a completely restored railroad trestle that crosses over Lake Eufaula. The trail eventually ends at Old Creek Town, a beautiful waterfront recreational area that houses the Playground of Dreams, a public beach, and a boat launch.
Interesting facts and finds along the trail are:
• 3.2 miles of paved trail perfect for walking, running, and bicycling.
• Several nature trails along the way that are clearly marked.
• Old hardwood forest that leads to a breathtaking waterfall.
• "Treehugger Park" to enjoy an afternoon picnic.
• Bird Watcher's Alley
• Benches along the way, just in case you need to relax and soak up the scenery!
• "Passport to Fitness," one of Alabama's 60 top places to hike or walk.
Doughboy Statue
This statue of a World War I doughboy honors the men from Eufaula who perished in WWI. It was erected and dedicated in 1920.
Monument to the Confederacy Deceased
Presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1904 and standing at 35 feet tall, the Confederate monument towers over the intersection of Broad Street and Eufaula Avenue.
Wiregrass Birding Trail
Ten Wiregrass Counties came together in November 2012 to launch the Wiregrass Birding Trail. This trail of twenty sites is the last of eight organized trails and 250 sites covering Alabama. The ten counties that make up the Wiregrass Birding Trail are Barbour, Bullock, Pike, Crenshaw, Covington, Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, and Houston. Eufaula has four of the sites out of the total of twenty sites in the region. An ongoing project for over five years, trail development has coincided with birding becoming an increasingly important source of tourism revenue for Alabama.
The sites in Barbour County are the Eufaula Wildlife Refuge, Lakepoint State Park, Old Creektown Park, and Yoholo Micco Walking Trail.
In addition to the Eufaula sites, the Wehle Center in Midway provides excellent birding opportunities in nearby Bullock County.
Alabama has perhaps the most diverse habitat in the Southeast, with a tremendous range of birds that can be seen in the state and certainly on the Wiregrass Birding Trail.
Leroy Brown
Renowned outdoorsman and pioneering fishing lure creator Tom Mann, who caught a 1-pound bass at Lake Eufaula in 1973, helped make the unusual fish famous by sharing stories about how the aggressive largemouth with a personality guarded his territory in Mann’s 38,000-gallon aquarium for seven years. Named “Leroy Brown” from the popular Jim Croce song, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” the fish thrived in Mann’s now-defunct Fish World museum, growing to almost 6½ pounds.
“That fish would follow Tom as he walked around the aquarium,” Scott said. “When Leroy Brown died, Tom called me, and I could almost hear the tears in his eyes.
After the closure of the museum and then Mann’s death in 2005, Mann’s widow asked Scott to take possession of the famous fish and the elaborate tombstone/sculpture with the inscription, “Most bass are just fish, but Leroy Brown was something special.” Scott did it for his dear friend, and now Eufaula is ready to re-take possession of its aquatic superstar.
Leroy brown can be found at the beginning of east broad street beneath the canopy of trees.
Eufaula’s Splash Pad Park
The splash pad attraction opened in 2020 and is the product of a community effort spearheaded by the Barbour County Extension office that resulted in grant funding for the construction of this popular attraction. The splash pad is next door to the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce and across from the Yoholo Micco walking trail. The facility is open to the public during the spring and summer seasons and is free of charge.