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Black Belt |
Black
Belt Treasures is a non-profit economic development program
marketing high quality products from the Black Belt region. Their retail
gallery features artwork, sculpture, pottery, woodwork, baskets,
jewelry, books and much more. Their secure shopping site offers an
opportunity to purchase many one-of-a-kind, handmade Black Belt
products. The Black Belt Treasures gallery is located on Claiborne
Street in downtown Camden and is a must-see stop for anyone traveling
through the area. Visit them in person on on the web at www.blackbelttreasures.com |
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Gees Bend Ferry |
Ferry
service was restored between the county seat of Camden and the
historic Gees Bend community in 2006. Take a two mile ferry ride
to Gees Bend and take in the history of the area where the now world
famous Gees Bend Quilters reside. The ferry can accommodate groups outside of its normal operating schedule. River cruises are also offered. For more information on the ferry and its schedule, see www.geesbendferry.com |
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Click above link to download the complete brochure or stop by our office at 110 Court St. in Camden to pick up your copy. This brochure is 10 mb. |
The
Black Belt is named for the rich black soil that grew superior cotton
during the 19th century. The collapse of the plantation economy during
the Civil War left a legacy of "soul food" cooking, art
fashioned from found materials, vast stretches of pristine river bottom
land and, most recently, the Civil Rights Movement.
The people of this remarkable remnant of the Old South invite you to explore what you've heard about: Tuskegee Institute, the Edmund Pettus Bridge at Selma, Gee's Bend and the famous quilters, quaint shops in Marion, mansions in Demopolis and Greensboro, and candies made by hand at Priester's Pecans. The terrain formed by the meanderings of the Black Warrior, Tombigbee and Alabama rivers is home to numerous species of flora, birds and other wildlife. Explore the biologically diverse state parks and other natural habitats. Take your time. Spend several days here. Be transported back to an era that you thought had vanished. The Black Belt Nature and Heritage Trail includes numerous stops in Wilcox County. Download the brochure or stop by our office in Camden and pick up your own free copy.
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Gees Bend Quilts
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Generations
of women in the isolated African-American community of Gees Bend have
created quilts from whatever materials are available, using patterns of
their own design. Working alone at home, they stitch unique tops
of quilts on frames called "horses." They periodically
gather to piece together each one of a kind creation at the Quilter's
Collective. Colorful quilts that once kept families of sometimes 16 children warm inside drafty log cabins now hang in the world's great museums. With their innovative and often minimalist approach, the women of Gees Bend transformed a necessity into a work of art. Dozens of quilts have toured America's most important art museums including the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. In August of 2006, a series of postage stamps were dedicated to the Quilters. See also.... www.quiltsofgeesbend.com |
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Lake Dannelly, better known as Miller's Ferry Lake, is known as one of the best crappie fishing lakes in the state. The Wilcox Area Chamber now sponsors a Big Fish Crappie Tournament in the spring and a 30-day Jackpot Crappie Derby with tagged fish in the lake worth tens of thousands of dollars.
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Golf |
Roland
Cooper State Park has a beautiful nine hole golf course, 3300 yards,
par 36, with all the challenges and hazards of a championship
course. Includes driving range.
For Information or Reservations call
Roland Cooper State Park Office at (334) 682-4838 or 1800-ALA-PARK |
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Camping |
Excellent camping opportunities are present in Wilcox County. Primitive camping and RV camping is available at the Roland Cooper State Park on Lake Dannelly (see information on this page) and also at East Bank Park in Miller's Ferry. Both locations are adjacent to the lake. |
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Millers Ferry is a 17,200-acre reservoir on the Alabama River impounded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1969. The official name of this impoundment is William (Bill) Dannelly Reservoir; however, it is better known locally as "Millers Ferry." There are numerous public access areas located on the reservoir. Camping facilities are available at Corps of Engineers public use areas at East Bank, Six Mile, and Chilatchee Creek. Millers Ferry Reservoir is a regionally important reservoir in southwest Alabama that provides quality fishing opportunities. Both largemouth bass and crappie fishing are considered excellent in this reservoir. This reservoir consistently produces bass of three pounds or larger. Results from statewide bass club tournament data in 2005 indicated that Millers Ferry was seventh best in the bass per angler-day and ranked tenth best in overall bass fishing quality. This is due in part to high fertility and a relatively stable threadfin shad population. Crappie fishing is best in the late winter and early spring. At this time of year crappie are concentrated around cover in creeks such as: Fosters, Pine Barren, Chilatchee, and Bogue Chitto. Channel catfish and blue catfish are frequent targets of local anglers, and blue catfish over thirty pounds are not uncommon. Late winter is an excellent time to catch large blues in the tailwaters below the Millers Ferry dam. The tailwater also produces good fishing, in the spring for hybrid striped bass, striped bass, and bream.
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Roland |
Roland
Cooper State Park, located six miles northeast of Camden features
spacious vacation cottages; modern campground with bathhouse, laundry
and camp store; and a scenic picnic area with tables, grills, pavilions
and comfort station. With fishing so popular in the reservoir, the park
also provides boat launching facilities and bait & tackle amenities. For Information or Reservations call Roland Cooper State Park Office at (334) 682-4838 or 1-800-ALA-PARK |
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Walking Tours |
Numerous walking tours are currently being developed for the area. The following are currently available for download. |
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