Lodging Specials in the Parks

Desoto Park Cozy Cabin Special, Sundays through Thursdays in March.

Easter Dining in the Parks April 4, 2010

Joe Wheeler Easter Brunch: Daniella’s in the Park Restaurant 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Lake Guntersville Lodge-Pinecrest Dining Room Easter Brunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Prime rib and ham on the carving station, chicken and dressing, citrus glazed chicken breasts, candied yams, vegetables, casseroles, salads, and desserts; $17.95 plus tax per person. The Easter Bunny will be making a special visit to the park during brunch.

Desoto Sunday Buffet: Let us do the cooking for you this Easter! Enjoy a lunch buffet at the Mountain Inn Restaurant in DeSoto’s historic CCC-built lodge.11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Scale Back with Alabama State Parks!

Alabama State Parks has partnered with Scale Back Alabama to offer free weekends to Scale Back participants during the 10-week contest. Entrance and parking fees at all 22 Alabama State Parks will be waived for Scale Back Alabama participants on March 20-21 and April 3-4. To qualify for free admission and parking, participants must show either a printed confirmation email or yellow weigh-in card at the park gate.

Scale Back Packages

Cheaha Offers Mountain Wedding Setting

This is the second in a series highlighting wedding locations in Alabama State Parks.

Cheaha Resort State Park offers one of the most beautiful vistas in Alabama, and there are several options for wedding ceremonies and accompanying events.

The number one requested wedding site in the park is the restaurant deck, which overlooks the Talladega National Forest. Because of its popularity as a fall color viewing location, no ceremonies are allowed here between Oct. 10-Nov. 30 of each year.

The Bald Rock Lodge is the perfect one-stop location for wedding, reception and lodging. It can accommodate the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception, and lodging for family and guests. The lodge can accommodate up to 200 people in the dining area for hors d’oeuvres.

The Activities Building, better known as the Wedding Chapel, is available for up to 75 guests. The chapel offers pews for seating, a closet for storage or dressing, piano and organ, a gas operated fireplace, air conditioning and heating and restrooms.

The Cleburne Room, which is adjacent to the restaurant, features a stunning floor-to-ceiling window view of the Talladega National Forest.

Any one of four pavilions can be used for a more casual ceremony or reception. Two pavilions are located near the highest point in the state, and two are located at Cheaha Lake.

Cheaha Mountain State Park must provide all food and beverages consumed in banquet rooms and public spaces located in or near Cheaha Restaurant. Contact Tammy Power at tammy.power@dcnr.alabama.gov for additional information on holding your wedding at Cheaha. Also, visit the Web site for photos and more information.

Upcoming Events at Your Alabama State Parks

Ongoing

Oak Mountain - Audubon Teaches Nature 2009 – 2010 Series at the Alabama Wildlife Center

March 2010

3/20 – Trillium Count Hike at Lake Guntersville – Meet at the Country Store near the Main Campground at 2 p.m. and help the park naturalist count and record these unique plants.

3/20 – Desoto – Quarry Clean-up Day – Volunteers are needed to help park staff clean out the quarry. The quarry becomes overgrown with small trees and scrub during the year, and needs to be opened up again so that visitors can learn the heritage of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

3/27 – Desoto – Hisss and Sssslither – Learn why snakes are an important part of our natural world.

3/28 – Lake Lurleen – Tour de Tuscaloosa – The Druid City Road Race

April 2010

4/3 – Cheaha – April 3 brings Easter on the Mountain. The day starts with an Easter party, making Bunny ears and dancing, singing, cake and punch with the Easter Bunny! Join us for children's Easter egg hunt (bring your basket) and our Adult Egg Race!

4/3 – Oak Mountain – Easter Egg Hunt – 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt, 10a.m.-2p.m.

4/3 – Lake Guntersville – Easter Egg Hunt – Noon at the main campground.

4/9 – Desoto – Fairy Tales and Fun Movie Night 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the improved campground. Bring your own camp chairs or quilts. Snacks provided; free.

4/10 – Tom Sawyer Day at Cathedral Caverns – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

4/10 – Desoto – Spring Fairy Houses and Hobbit Hike (Nature Observation Skills) 10 a.m.- noon $10 per person; pre-registration required.

4/10 – Oak Mountain – Spring Wildflowers Look for early blooming wildflowers with Park Naturalist Emily Cohen. Meet at the park office on Terrace Drive at 10 a.m. This is a walk over uneven ground. It will not be suitable for young children or older adults with walking disabilities. Free program; park admission required.

4/17 – Oak Mountain – Native Trees of Alabama & Their Uses –Learn how to identify trees and what they are used for. Join Park Naturalist Emily Cohen at 10 a.m. at the Treetop Nature Trail. Free program; park admission required.

Did you know that feeding deer in Alabama State Parks is against park regulations? Deer have plenty of natural food available and should not learn to associate food with people. There are also disease concerns associated with supplemental feeding. So please enjoy watching the deer, but don’t feed them! Click here to read all park regulations.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Southwestern Corn Chowder
From Lake Guntersville’s Pinecrest Restaurant
(Serves 4 to 6)

Cook bacon in soup pan until done. Remove from pan, leaving bacon grease. Add celery, diced onion and chopped garlic, sautéing on medium heat until tender. Add chicken stock, corn and potatoes. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmering until potatoes are tender. Combine flour and oil and stir into broth mix, blending until smooth. Add heavy cream, chili powder, cumin, and thyme. Cook soup for about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Garnish with crumbled bacon pieces.

March 2010 Alabama State Parks eNewsletter

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