Conecuh County: Sepulga River, History and Festivals

The Sepulga River, local history, and recurring festivals give Conecuh County its many distinct facets. The Sepulga River Canoe Trail offers a particularly vivid example: quiet waters are part of the picture, as are deep-water areas, limestone walls, and a few rapids. The history of Evergreen also stretches back a long way and can be seen in its buildings, memorial sites, and local traditions.

Sepulga River: from paddling to fishing

In southeastern Conecuh County, the Bull Slough Bridge spans the Sepulga River; it is part of the Sepulga River Canoe Trail. The trail includes quiet waters and several sandbars suitable for camping, fishing, and picnicking. At the same time, it offers a wilderness experience for kayaking and canoeing, with deep water, limestone walls, and a few rapids. These different water settings can help you decide how you want to spend your time on the river: in quiet areas along the banks or on a paddling trip whose described features also include rapids.

There are five different boat landings in Conecuh County that provide access to the Sepulga River. Those interested in fishing can also find public fishing areas at the 20-acre County Lake. During hunting season, the county offers opportunities to hunt white-tailed deer. Hunting is therefore limited to a particular season; plan accordingly if this is a priority.

Nature and scenery

Sportsman Lake Park has hiking trails and a wildflower garden. Conditions at individual sites can change; check before your visit. Town Creek Marsh is a seasonal wildlife-watching spot where rails can be observed foraging on mudflats. Wildlife viewing depends on the season. At Murder Creek, the remote setting and wilderness character shape the experience. Together, these examples offer different nature-focused activities: trails and flowers, seasonal birdwatching, and an outing with a wilderness feel.

The landscape at Boggs & Boulders is also defined by its features: natural characteristics include red, sandy, rocky hills, steep rock cliffs, and black mudflats. The Cool Pool there is fed by a natural mineral spring in a rocky mountain. These landscape details give the site a different focus from the riverbanks and marsh areas.

Evergreen and local history

Evergreen grew from a village founded around 1819. The town’s railroad connection was completed in April 1861; Evergreen is also located along the former L-&-N Railroad and US Highways 31 and 84. The New Evergreen Commercial Historic District is significant in the area of commerce. These connections tell different chapters of local history without reducing it to a single era.

For many years, Booker’s Mill provided water power to the surrounding community. The mill was built in the late 1860s and burned down in 1982. Today, Booker’s Mill serves as an event venue and is home to numerous historic buildings. The former farm store is now a museum with collections of agricultural equipment and artifacts from Indigenous American cultures. The Old Paul Post Office served as the community’s post office until 1975 and was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2013.

The Old Airport Tower and Beacon west of Evergreen is also part of the region’s history: it was built in 1931 as part of the U.S. airmail service between New Orleans and Atlanta and served as a U.S. Navy training site during World War II. The Louisville and Nashville Depot at the southwestern end of Front Street in Evergreen is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These two sites represent different types of historic infrastructure.

Local traditions and events

Conecuh Sausage began as a family-run business in Evergreen in 1947. To this day, the company continues the tradition of smoking sausage over a pure hickory wood fire. The Conecuh Sausage gift shop in Evergreen offers branded products, specialty gifts, home accessories, and hunting gear. In this way, local food culture connects a company’s history with a smoking tradition that continues today.

Evergreen’s annual Sausage Festival takes place on the third Saturday in October at Middleton Field Airport, along with the South East Regional Fly-In. The annual Collard Green Festival is held there on the first Saturday in March. Evergreen’s annual calendar also includes a Fall Festival and a Christmas parade; dates may vary. Castleberry hosts its annual Strawberry Festival every April. If you are planning your trip around a festival, check the date for the year in question.

Seasonal wildlife viewing and festivals offer practical points of reference for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Evergreen, Pike, Clay County, Marshall County, Tallapoosa County, Etowah, Marengo County, Madison.

For the broader travel overview: Alabama.