 |
Looney's Tavern
Outdoor Theater and Park
Description
Deep in the heart of Dixie, Looney's
Amphitheater and Park is snuggled in the thick Bankhead National Forest and the Sipsey
Wilderness in reach of the waters of Smith Lake and the wild and scenic Sipsey River.
Looney's Amphitheater is the home of Looney's Tavern - the Aftermath and the Legacy, which
tells the true story of the Free State of Winston, a fiercely independent Alabama
community with a special place in Civil War history. These loyalists, descendents of
Andrew Jackson's troops who settled in the northern hills of Alabama, strove to preserve
their independence and their Union after Alabama seceded in 1861.
Three thousand Alabamians declared their independence from the Confederacy on July 4,
1861, at a stagecoach stop called Looney's Tavern. The tavernkeeper, Bill Looney, guided
as many as 2,500 of them through hill country to Union detachments in Decatur and
Huntsville. As a wanted man, Looney's frequent and dramatic escapes from Confederate
forces created legends about Alabama's "Ol' Bill," the "Ol' Black
Fox."
"The Incident at Looney's Tavern," an outdoor musical drama, is the unique story
of Christopher Sheats, a young Winston County school teacher, thrown into American
history's most turbulent era, the Civil War. It is the true saga of Alabama's hill people
and their struggle against the South's secession when all around them the battle cry was
secession and war.
It is the story of the young teacher, firm in his beliefs of country and union forever,
elected by his people, dispatched to Montgomery's secession convention, facing the
overwhelming odds promoted by the titans in southern politics. "The Incident at
Looney's Tavern" is the true story of the teacher's love for his adversary's
daughter, his ultimate defeat in the vote for secession, and his imprisonment for his
stand.
The "Free State Lady", a paddlewheel-style riverboat, cruises these scenic
waters each show date. Relax in the tranquility and peace of a fun-filled excursion cruise
or choose the experience of riverboat dining on a dinner cruise and watch brilliant skies
turn golden with the setting sun. Master storytellers spin yarns of yesteryear throughout
the two-hour cruises. Their stories don't come from books, they're part legend, part
history, part tall-tale and highly entertaining.
No visit to Looney's is complete without browsing through Caroline's Gifts. The unique
shop features mountain crafts, including handmade quilts, paintings by local artists,
traditional children's toys and games, handcrafted furniture, stained glass and baskets,
plus all types of souvenirs including local history books by Winston County natives.
Sister Sara's Kitchen serves "hill country cookin'" at its best. Lunch begins at
11:00 am and "hill country" buffet begins at 4:00 pm.
Looney Putt is a miniature golf course with 18 challenging holes of family fun for the
amateur and professional golfer alike.
The Old Houston Jail and Pine Torch Church, both made of log, are also located nearby. |
|
