Attractions and Recreation
You'll find a gentler climate and culture in Ozark; a community where "neighbor" means much more than someone living next door. Ozark is a family sort of place, safe and secure, and where residents care and share with other families. Ozark is out of the rush, yet in pace with the times.
The moment you arrive, you'll notice that life is different here. Beautiful turn of the century homes still grace the streets lined with majestic oaks draped with Spanish Moss.
You'll experience the quaint atmosphere of "small town" Main Street when Ozark ushers in the Claybank Jamboree, named for the log-hewed Claybank Church.
There's recreation fun for everyone in Ozark. A well staffed recreational department maintains numerous parks, ball fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, and tennis courts. An 18-hole champion golf course provides challenges to golfers.
For the sports person, great fishing in Ozark knows no off-season! The Ed Lisenby Lake, and many other lakes, rivers, and creeks which dot the area are abundant with bass, bluegill, and monster catfish. For the hunter, deer, wild turkey, quail, and dove abound in the underbrush, woods, and fields surrounding Ozark.
Ozark is also the home of Fort Novosel, the largest helicopter training center in the world. A tribute to combat aircraft and to the pilots who flew them can be found at Fort Novosel U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
History, recreation, festivities, entertainment, beauty, climate, security, and fun, can all be found in Ozark, Alabama. We warmly invite you to visit, or better yet, become part of our community. We think you'll agree that Ozark is that family sort of place. Out of the rush, yet in place with the times.
Claybank Jamboree
The Jamboree offers you a chance to browse for bargains among exquisite antiques, vintage furniture, homemade quilts, and other special keepsakes from days gone by. There will also be an Art Show and Sale and a Quilt Show. The Jamboree is held the first Saturday in October. Call 774-9321 for additional information
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Corner of Andrews Avenue and Novosel Street at Fort Novosel . The U.S. Army Aviation Museum collection contains many one-of-a-kind aircraft and research and development experiments in both fixed and rotor wing flight to include one of the largest helicopter collections in the world. The aircraft display traced the history of Army aviation from its beginning. Significant aircraft on display are the R-4, the Army's first helicopter; the AH-56 Cheyenne; the UH-60 Blackhawk; and a prototype of the current AH-64 Apache helicopter.
The museum is open from 9 AM to 4 PM, seven days a week. It is closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year's Eve and Day. Admission is free.
Lake Tholocco
Lake Tholocco is located on Fort Rucker. It is approximately 650 acres in size and is one of the prime spring, summer, and fall outdoor recreation spots. Lake Tholocco provides activities for those who enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing, jet skiing, and wind surfing. During the summer season, jet skis, paddle boats, wind surf boats, and bumper boats can be rented at West Beach. The West and East Beach areas have fishing piers, picnic areas, playground equipment, and restrooms. The West Beach (Engineer Beach) has camping areas and campsites complete with water, showers, and electric hookups. West Beach also has a roofed Pavilion areas with tables and grills for family picnics or outdoor parties.
Claybank Church and Cemetery
is a famous landmark in Dale County and highly prized by those living in Ozark. It is a small building made of logs with fat lightwood stumps serving as a foundation. A crude pulpit stands in one end, and benches, made in 1852, remain in place today. This church is on the National Register of Historic Places, as of 1976. Located on East Andrews Ave, just west of Hwy 231. Open only during daylight hours.
Confederate Monument
Located on the southeast corner of the Dale County Courthouse in downtown Ozark. It was erected in 1903 by the Stonewall Jackson Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in memory of Confederate soldiers who fought in the War Between the States 1861 - 1865.
Dowling Museum / Ann Rudd Art Center
Located on East Court Square in downtown Ozark. The Center is housed in an historic two-story building built in the 1870's. Art exhibits year round. (334) 445-6526
Bass and Brim fishing. Ed Lisenby Lake is a 92 acre award winning state fishing Lake located in a beautiful 390-acre park one mile north of Roy Parker Road (Dale Co. 36) in Ozark, Alabama. The lake is open from sunrise to sunset. Open on Saturdays until 10:00 p.m., April through October, for bank fishing only. Catfish, large mouth and hybrid striped bass, bluegill, shellcrackers and crappie are the catch of the day. The lake has been rated as the No. 1 Bass lake in Alabama. Fishing permits are required for all fishermen over the age of 12. Licenses are required for state residents ages 16 - 64 and for non-residents ages 16 and older. Seniors (those 60 and up) fish free on Thursdays (state license requirements do apply). For more information on the license prices and requirements, please click on the following link: http://www.outdooralabama.com/licenses/freshwater-fishing.cfm Boat rental, baits and snacks are also available at the concession building. Picnic areas are around lake and at Sam Dale Park for larger groups. A paved 3 1/2 mile walking trail surrounds the lake. For more information call (334) 774-0588 707 Myrtle Dr. Ozark, AL 36360 Bill Brooks--Manager, Keith Stinson--Assistant Manager
Mabson Community Education Forest
Off County Road 36. An outdoor education facility with a pavilion, 2 walking trails, a driving trail, and many educational stations throughout the 40-acre forest management and soil conversation site. Tours by appointment. (334) 774-5393
Ozark Civic Center
Concerts, pageants, events. Click here to visit the Ozark Civic Center's website. (334) 774-2618
Ozark - Dale County Public Library
is located at 416 James Street. The library offers over 65,000 library items that include books for all ages, large print audio cassettes, videos, CD's, DVD's, paperbacks, newspapers and magazines. Services include reference, interlibrary loan, free high speed internet access, children's story hour, Alabama Virtual Library, learning express library, and much more. The library is open Tuesday - Thursday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (334) 774-5480
Sam Dale Park and Monument
Sam Dale Park, part of the lake complex, has a pavilion, picnic areas, and a memorial to pioneer Sam Dale. The cost to rent the pavilion is $20.00 for a 1/2 day and $40.00 for all day. Reservations may be made by calling 774-0588.
Take A Walk on Broad Street
The historic, majestic homes on Broad Street, shaded by huge oaks laden with Spanish moss take you back in time when life was at a slower pace. These homes, constructed in the early 1900's, are privately owned and have been renovated and kept in fine condition. A Walking Tour of downtown and the Broad Street homes is offered by the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce on Saturdays from Memorial Week through July 4th. For information call 334-774-9321.
Veterans Memorial Bridge
This reinforced concrete river bridge, thought to be the first in Alabama, was erected over the Pea River in 1920-21. It was dedicated on August 3, 1921, as a memorial to the 57 men from Dale County who lost their lives in World War I. The bridge is located nine miles north of Ozark on U.S. Highway 231, in Dale County over the Pea River.
Carillon Bell Tower and Park
Located on Painter Avenue in downtown Ozark above the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce. the 37 Bell Carillon and 50-ft. Tower were built in 1975 to honor all military and civilian personnel who served at Fort Rucker since 1942. (334) 774-9321
KidZone - Steagall Park
Play area with slides, swings and more. Six tennis courts, walking trail, softball complex, batting cages. (334) 774-2523
Pedestrian Trail
There is a 3.1-mile walking trail at Ed Lisenby Lake. 1 mile of the trail is primitive, while the remaining 2.1 miles are paved. Approximate walking time is one hour. The trail is available year round for your walking/jogging pleasure. Your pets are welcome to walk the trail with you, but they must be on a leash.
Police Memorial Park
Softball and soccer complex (additional facilities under construction) (334) 774-2523
Perry Recreation Center
Main Office Recreation Department. It has one large banquet room capable of handling 300 people. Kitchen, 2 meeting rooms, large lobby with concession bar, large patio, outdoor barbecue facilities. (334) 774-2523
Autrey Center
Large banquet room, meeting rooms (one also used for games) lobby with concession bar, and large swimming pool with dressing facilities. (334) 774-2523
North Park
Dixie Youth baseball field used for 11-12 year olds. Six teams use this field all summer. (334) 774-2523
Carroll Field and Comer Field
"T" Ball (5-6), and Dixie Pre-Minors (7-8).
Barkett Field
Women's Softball, and Little Girls Softball.
Eagle Stadium / B.F. Williams Field
Located on Martin Street in Ozark. All age groups have enjoyed this field since 1929; baseball, football, and even professional baseball. (334) 774-2523
Mamie Thompkins Field
Used as a daylight practice field.
Oben J. F. Everett Park
Two lighted outdoor basketball courts, picnic pavilion with restroom facilities, playground area. (334) 774-2523
Howell House
Built in 1907 by Dr. Samuel Matthew Crawford Howell, sits on its own city block. It is owned by the town of Midland City and houses municipal offices and a museum. (334) 983-3511
John Hutto Park
Located in Newton on the bank of the Choctahatchee River. Open sunrise to sunset year round. Public boat ramp and covered picnic pavilion. (334) 299-3361
Newton Civil War Monument
A stone marker in downtown Newton is a reminder of the only Civil War action in the Wiregrass, which occurred in Skipperville in 1864 and in Newton one month before the war ended on April 1865.
Newton Public Library and Agriculture Museum (Oates - Reynolds Memorial)
Located in Newton in the Oakes-Reynolds Memorial Building. This building was part of the Baptist Collegiate Institute (estab. 1895). The Oates-Reynolds building was the girls' dormitory (built 1922). Tours daily. Groups welcome. (334) 299-3316