Childersburg, AL*

Childersburg Alabama Attractions

Childersburg, Alabama is a sportsman's paradise. Nestled in a quiet, rural area near the geographic center of the state between Montgomery and Birmingham, it boasts 570 miles of shoreline along two lakes. The Coosa River adjoins the city limits and the Talladega National Forest is just a short drive away. The great boating, fishing, rafting, hunting and camping beckons outdoor recreationalists from far and wide.

The history of the area is fascinating. Childersburg is the oldest European settlement in the United States, predating St. Augustine, Florida by 25 years. It's rich history dates back to 1540 when the Spanish conquistador and governor of Cuba, Hernando DeSoto, and his 600 man army explored the area. The city itself was the site of Coosa, an Indian village and was named for a settler, Thomas Childress.

Also nearby is DeSoto Caverns, a nationally known attraction and the first recorded cave in the country. Its 30-foot long onyx draperies are among the largest know free-hanging formations anywhere.

Whether you're coming for the history, the caverns or the countryside, you're certain to enjoy Childersburg and all it has to offer.

Lay Lake Public Boat Launch  •   2.0 miles

Lake Lay was impounded in 1914 and named after Captain William Patrick Lay, the first Alabama Power President. . Lake Lay is an Alabama Power lake with 177,000 kilowatt generating capacity. It is an excellent recreational lake with fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and other sunfish, crappie, catfish, striped bass, hybrid and white bass.

Desoto Caverns  •   7.0 miles

This beautiful historic park is home to the nationally recognized onyx caverns which became the first officially recorded cave in the United States in 1796. It is located five miles east of Childersburg on Highway 76. The park has many types of tours for visitors including the Explorer Overnight, Candlelight Tours and a 1/3 mile walking tour which features the Sound and Light Show in the Great Onyx Cathedral. That room is larger than a football field and higher than a 12 story building. The mammoth onyx formations are millions of years old and many are still growing.

Kymulga Gristmill  •   7.0 miles

The Kymulga bridge was built just before the Civil War(1861) and a gristmill was constructed there during the war. Both the bridge and the mill have been restored in recent years and are open to the public. Visitors can see corn ground with the original millstones that were imported from France. Turbines turned by water power the mill. People visit both of these attractions because of their historical value.

International Motor Sports Hall of Fame  •   20.0 miles

The average Hall of Fame & Museum tour can take between 1 and 3 hours depending on the amount of time you wish to spend with each attraction.  You may also want to spend some significant time in the McCaig-Wellborn Motorsports Research Library, a 1,700 square foot space with over 14,000 volumes of books, magazines and other research materials, of which several thousand publications are already in place.  It's the the most comprehensive collection of motorsports information on Earth.

Talladega Raceway  •   20.0 miles

Talladega Superspeedway is the biggest, fastest, most competitive motorsports facility in the world. Records for both speed and competition have been established at Talladega. The track offers van tours to visitors daily during working hours except on weeks around events.

Talladega National Forest  •   21.8 miles

Central Alabama's Talladega National Forest covers 375,000 acres and is located at the southern edge of the majestic Appalachians where one kind find many outdoor sporting opportunities such as fishing, boating and hiking plus so much more!