Mentone, Alabama - The Town on Lookout Mountain

One of the most picturesque communities in the South can be found just off Interstate 85 near Fort Payne, Alabama.

Named for a French community famed for its musical spring, Mentone is located on the Lookout Mountain Parkway. The beautiful scenic drive winds its way along the top of the mountain through some of the most spectacular country in the South.

The area is rich in folklore and history. Some believe that the Welsh explorer Prince Madoc came as far inland as Mentone in 1170 A.D. and built a fort at nearby DeSoto Falls. While the legend is questioned by most historians and archaeologists, it has persisted in this area of Alabama for many years.

In later years the Mentone site overlooked the Cherokee village of Wills Town, home of the famed Native American linguist Sequoyah. It was here that he invented the Cherokee Alphabet.

In 1863, the Union XX Corps crossed Lookout Mountain here during the Chickamauga Campaign. Cavalry forces also camped in the edge of town near DeSoto Falls.

The modern community came into existence during the 1880s. Noted in those days for its clear mineral springs, the site was selected as the location of a health resort. The beautiful old Mentone Springs Hotel began its existence as a health spa high on the mountain.

The town today is a quaint and colorful community, extremely popular with tourists during the spring, summer and fall and generally quiet during the winter. It offers dining, inns, unique shops and access to some of the most intriguing natural and historic sites in the region.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/mentone.

Little River Canyon - Fort Payne, Alabama

Some of the most spectacular views in the South can be found a few miles outside Fort Payne, Alabama, at Little River Canyon National Preserve.

Often called the "Grand Canyon of the East," Little River Canyon is a remarkable 12-mile long canyon that has been carved across the top of Lookout Mountain by the Little River. One of the most impressive whitewater streams in the Southeast, especially during the winter months, the Little River is one of the most pristine rivers in the nation.

The canyon averages between 400 and 500 feet in depth, but in some spots is nearly 700 feet deep. It begins at Little River Falls, a dramatic waterfall just below the Alabama Highway 35 bridge. Once the site of a mill and significant pioneer community, the falls now feed the whitewater of the canyon.

A number of other waterfalls can be found in the national park, including Grace's High Falls. This beautiful waterfall is one of the tallest in Alabama, but usually only flows during the winter months.

To learn more about Little River Canyon, please visit our new pages on this spectacular national park at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/littleriver1.