Needham AlabamaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Needham, Alabama.
1. Broadhead Memorial Park
HISTORIC GRISTMILL AND NATURE
Broadhead Memorial Park is built around the old Walter Wilson Gristmill which was the center of life in Needham for decades during the early twentieth century. The park features a hard-surfaced and wheelchair accessible nature trail that winds through a mixed hardwood forest along a small creek that once powered the gristmill. Visitors can also explore an old dogtrot log cabin which has been carefully restored, complete with furnishings appropriate to the period and interpretive displays.
2. Wilson's Grist Mill
EARLY 1900S GRINDING HERITAGE
Wilson's Grist Mill was once the center of life in Needham for decades during the early 1900s for the people of Choctaw County. The mill is now preserved as part of the Broadhead Memorial Park with interpretive displays that tell its story. Visitors can appreciate this piece of local history that represents the agricultural heritage of the region.
3. Haguewood Park
RECREATION AND SPORTS COMPLEX
Haguewood Park, located at 282 Pinegrove Road in Pennington, offers recreational facilities for locals and visitors alike. The park features a baseball field, tennis court, kids' playground, and a paved walking trail. It serves as a community gathering place for outdoor activities and sports events.
4. Choctaw County Historical Museum
LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE
The Choctaw County Historical Museum preserves and displays artifacts and stories from the region's rich history. Visitors can explore exhibits showcasing the development of the county from its early settlement through modern times. The museum offers insights into local culture, industry, and community life throughout the years.
5. Bladon Springs State Park
HISTORIC MINERAL SPRINGS RETREAT
Bladon Springs State Park is centered around four mineral springs once famous for their healing properties in the 19th century. The park was once the site of a grand hotel and spa that attracted visitors seeking therapeutic mineral waters. Today, visitors can enjoy picnicking, camping, and exploring the historic spring pavilions in this peaceful natural setting.
6. Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge
WETLAND WILDLIFE HAVEN
Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 4,200 acres of wetlands, bottomland hardwood forests, and aquatic habitats along the Tombigbee River. The refuge provides critical habitat for migratory birds, white-tailed deer, and numerous other wildlife species. Visitors can enjoy wildlife observation, photography, fishing, and hunting during designated seasons.
7. Coffeeville Lake Service Park
WATERFRONT RECREATION AREA
Coffeeville Lake Service Park offers recreational opportunities along the Tombigbee River impoundment created by the Coffeeville Lock and Dam. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, picnicking, and camping in this scenic waterfront setting. The park provides access to excellent fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish among other species.
8. Zack Rogers Park
COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE
Zack Rogers Park serves as a central community space in the heart of Butler. The park offers playground equipment, picnic areas, and open space for community events and gatherings. Local families and visitors appreciate this well-maintained green space for recreation and relaxation.
9. Clarkco State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Clarkco State Park, just across the state line from Needham, features a 65-acre freshwater lake surrounded by pine and hardwood forests. The park offers camping, cabins, swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking trails for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors particularly enjoy the scenic nature trail that winds through the woods and along the lakeshore.
10. Bonita Lakes Park
URBAN LAKES AND TRAILS
Bonita Lakes Park encompasses three lakes and over 3,000 acres of natural beauty just outside Meridian. The park features extensive walking and biking trails that loop around the lakes and through the surrounding forests. Visitors can enjoy fishing, non-motorized boating, picnicking, and wildlife observation in this peaceful urban wilderness.
11. Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge
HISTORIC WOODEN ARCHITECTURE
The Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge is a historic wooden bridge originally built in 1861 that has been preserved and relocated to the University of West Alabama campus. The 88-foot-long bridge represents one of the few remaining covered bridges in Alabama and showcases 19th-century construction techniques. Visitors can walk through this piece of history and appreciate its architectural details and historical significance.
12. Gaineswood National Historic Landmark
ANTEBELLUM ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE
Gaineswood is considered one of America's finest examples of Greek Revival architecture, built between 1843 and 1861 by General Nathan Bryan Whitfield. The mansion features stunning domed ceilings, elaborate plasterwork, and original furnishings that showcase the elegance of the antebellum South. Visitors can tour the home and gardens to experience the grandeur of plantation life in the mid-19th century.
13. Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum
STORYTELLING AND SOUTHERN CULTURE
The Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum celebrates the life and work of Alabama's beloved storyteller, author, and photographer. The museum houses photographs, writings, and memorabilia from Windham's prolific career documenting Southern folklore and ghost stories. Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich storytelling traditions of Alabama through interactive exhibits and recordings of Windham's famous tales.
14. Bluff Hall
FEDERAL-STYLE HISTORIC HOME
Bluff Hall is a historic Federal-style mansion built in 1832 that overlooks the Tombigbee River in Demopolis. The home showcases period furnishings and decorative arts that reflect the lifestyle of wealthy settlers in Alabama's Black Belt region. Visitors can tour the house and learn about the French expatriates who founded the Vine and Olive Colony that eventually became Demopolis.
15. Aliceville Museum
WWII POW HISTORY
The Aliceville Museum preserves the history of Camp Aliceville, which housed over 6,000 German prisoners of war during World War II. The museum's extensive collection includes original artwork created by the prisoners, camp artifacts, and photographs documenting this little-known aspect of American war history. Visitors can explore exhibits that tell the story of daily life in the camp and the interactions between prisoners and local residents during this tumultuous period.