Returning, and awakening, to the beauty of rural Alabama
Apple’s Tim Cook promotes donations to Montgomery’s EJI
Florence and Muscle Shoals highlighted as part of Natchez Trace Parkway
Wetumpka’s Jasmine Hill Gardens closes after more than 90 years in River Region
From Dauphin Island with love’: How this beach town made one family’s vacation unforgettable
Herb Malone is longtime champion of Alabama’s beaches
The highest point in Alabama will give you magical mountain views up in the clouds
Shoals attractions, museums reopening
Alabama Tourism Partner Pointer
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Returning, and awakening, to the beauty of rural Alabama
From the article by Scott Baker on NYTimes.com
In March, decades after I’d moved away, I returned to my hometown in Alabama to wait out the coronavirus pandemic.
Growing up here, I couldn’t wait to leave. In those days, Alexander City — in east central Alabama — was a mill town dominated by Russell Corporation, the maker of athletic apparel. Everyone I knew worked at the mill or was tied to it in one way or another.
Things moved slowly then; there was little to do. I spent much of my childhood wandering the county — hiking in the woods and canoeing down rivers and creeks. On weekends, Dad and I roamed aimlessly in his old pickup truck, seeing where the old dirt roads might lead us. When I’d ask if he knew where we were going, he’d say: “We’ll end up somewhere.”
Life in Alabama didn’t feel especially rewarding to me then. Instead I preferred dreaming of escape. Determined to see and experience the world, I spent hours dragging my fingertips over a globe that sat in my family’s den. I never imagined I’d return for any length of time.
And yet here I am, home again unexpectedly, just like so many others.
Far-flung destinations and photo assignments are off the calendar for now, but my urge to explore hasn’t abated. So instead of trekking through Patagonia or photographing the ruins at Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia, I am once again riding the back roads of my childhood, photographing familiar farms and taking boat rides on Lake Martin.
For many years, I was hesitant to tell people where I was from. I was worried it might conjure preconceptions of racial prejudice or ultraconservatism. I was worried they might think of my hometown as provincial.
During these last few months, though, that pre-emptive defensiveness has washed away — and I can’t help but see the beauty of this place. Unlike in the ’70s, most of the roads are now paved, and many of the barns that stood straight during my childhood are now leaning with age. But the farms are as bucolic as ever, and the lake is still teeming with boats. I’ve even grown to appreciate the area’s slow, peaceful pace.
Tallapoosa County, which encompasses my hometown and much of Lake Martin, is sparsely populated; I can explore for hours without the risk of social interaction. Many of the farms in the area — featuring fertile land with rolling hills and wildflowers — are old homesteads, owned by single families for several generations.
My work as a photographer has taken me all over the world — to more than 25 countries and most of the American states. Traveling has given me many things: an appreciation for disparate people and cultures, a greater capacity for tolerance and love. But perhaps its greatest gift is the way it’s encouraged me to seek new perspectives, even when glancing at my own backyard.
All over America, people are re-evaluating big-city life. Things that seemed inconceivable three months ago — like returning to live in one’s quiet hometown — are now distinct possibilities. Present circumstances have given rise to a new set of internal negotiations and assessments.
In a way, my newfound fulfillment here is hard to account for. Maybe I have less to prove. Maybe the looming threat of Covid-19 has made me more appreciative. Maybe these images are an atonement for the many years I’ve spent not fully acknowledging my birthplace. Or maybe I’m finally aware that my early years in Alabama are not — and never were — a liability.
For the complete article and photographs please see https://www.nytimes.com/ 2020/05/28/travel/coronavirus-alabama-overlooked-beauty.html?searchResultPosition=1
Apple’s Tim Cook promotes donations to Montgomery’s EJI
From the article by Annie Palmer and Josh Lipton on CNBC.com
Apple CEO Tim Cook sent a memo to employees Sunday addressing the killing of George Floyd.
Protests have erupted in cities across the country after the killing of Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police. On Friday, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who was filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck before he died, was taken into custody and charged with murder and manslaughter.
Widespread anger over Floyd’s killing sparked protests, clashes with police and looting in several cities.
In the memo, Cook condemned the killing and called for the creation of a “better, more just world for everyone.”
“We can have no society worth celebrating unless we can guarantee freedom from fear for every person who gives this country their love, labor and life,” Cook said.
Cook also acknowledged that racial injustice exists in the U.S., including in “our criminal justice system” and “in the disproportionate toll of disease on Black and Brown communities,” as well as from economic inequality and disparities in educational opportunities.
The memo comes after Apple closed some of its U.S. stores as protests turned violent over the weekend.
Here’s the full memo:
Team,
Right now, there is a pain deeply etched in the soul of our nation and in the hearts of millions. To stand together, we must stand up for one another, and recognize the fear, hurt, and outrage rightly provoked by the senseless killing of George Floyd and a much longer history of racism.
That painful past is still present today — not only in the form of violence, but in the everyday experience of deeply rooted discrimination. We see it in our criminal justice system, in the disproportionate toll of disease on Black and Brown communities, in the inequalities in neighborhood services and the educations our children receive. While our laws have changed, the reality is that their protections are still not universally applied.
We’ve seen progress since the America I grew up in, but it is similarly true that communities of color continue to endure discrimination and trauma.
I have heard from so many of you that you feel afraid — afraid in your communities, afraid in your daily lives, and, most cruelly of all, afraid in your own skin. We can have no society worth celebrating unless we can guarantee freedom from fear for every person who gives this country their love, labor and life.
At Apple, our mission has and always will be to create technology that empowers people to change the world for the better. We’ve always drawn strength from our diversity, welcomed people from every walk of life to our stores around the world, and strived to build an Apple that is inclusive of everyone.
But together, we must do more. Today, Apple is making donations to a number of groups, including the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit committed to challenging racial injustice, ending mass incarceration, and protecting the human rights of the most vulnerable people in American society. For the month of June, and in honor of the Juneteenth holiday, we’ll also be matching two-for-one all employee donations via Benevity.
To create change, we have to reexamine our own views and actions in light of a pain that is deeply felt but too often ignored. Issues of human dignity will not abide standing on the sidelines. To our colleagues in the Black community — we see you. You matter, your lives matter, and you are valued here at Apple.
For all of our colleagues hurting right now, please know that you are not alone, and that we have resources to support you. It’s more important than ever to talk to one another, and to find healing in our common humanity. We also have free resources that can help, including our Employee Assistance Program and mental health resources you can learn about on the People site.
This is a moment when many people may want nothing more than a return to normalcy, or to a status quo that is only comfortable if we avert our gaze from injustice. As difficult as it may be to admit, that desire is itself a sign of privilege. George Floyd’s death is shocking and tragic proof that we must aim far higher than a “normal” future, and build one that lives up to the highest ideals of equality and justice.
In the words of Martin Luther King, “Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”
With every breath we take, we must commit to being that change, and to creating a better, more just world for everyone.
Tim
For the complete article please see https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/05/31/apple-ceo-tim-cook-email-to-employees-about-george-floyd.html
Florence and Muscle Shoals highlighted as part of Natchez Trace Parkway
From the article by Caroline Eubanks on LonelyPlanet.com
Editors note: Lonely Planet list both cities as stops along the Natchez Trace Parkway worth slowing down for. Here are the excerpts from that article.
Trail of Tears at Te-lah-nay’s Wall – Florence, Alabama
It’s impossible to talk about the Natchez Trace Parkway without mentioning the Native American history and the tragic Trail of Tears. As a child, Florence resident Tom Hendrix heard stories about his Yuchi tribe ancestors being forcibly removed from their homes and walking from Alabama to reservations in Oklahoma. Legend has it that his great-great-grandmother, Te-lah-nay, found her way back to the area by following the sounds of the “singing river,” known today as the Tennessee River.
To honor his ancestor, Hendrix spent more than 30 years building a wall out of the local limestone rocks. The stones vary in shape and size, and the wall takes on different heights to represent the ups and downs of Te-lah-nay’s journey. Over the years, visitors came to see Te-lah-nay’s Wall, often bringing their own rocks and messages. Hendrix passed away in 2017, but the wall remains as a tribute to the suffering of the Yuchi and other tribes who were removed from their ancestral homes.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio – Muscle Shoals, Alabama
The South has many ties to music history, but not everyone knows about North Alabama’s biggest claim to fame. The towns known as greater Muscle Shoals, including Sheffield, Florence and Tuscumbia, were home to recording studios that created records for the world’s most iconic musicians.
FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio – both located in Muscle Shoals today – worked with artists of all races in the segregated 1960s, backing their vocals with distinctive rhythm sections that developed the legendary “Muscle Shoals Sound”. Artists like The Rolling Stones, Cher, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin recorded hits here. There’s been renewed interest in these studios thanks to renovations by the Beats by Dr. Dre Foundation and the documentary Muscle Shoals, and both offer tours. The beat goes on with modern artists, like Alicia Keys and the Black Keys, who continue to flock to the area to record.
For the complete article please see https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-detours-natchez-trace-parkway
Wetumpka’s Jasmine Hill Gardens closes after more than 90 years in River Region
From the article by Safiya Charles on MontgomeryAdverstiser.com
More than 90 years after its founding, the picturesque gardens of Jasmine Hill is closing.
In a short Facebook post published May 23, Jasmine Hill Gardens and Outdoor Museum said the Wetumpka nonprofit would not resume operation after previously announcing it would temporarily shut amid the coronavirus pandemic on March 19.
“While it is hard to know what the future holds, we must share that Jasmine Hill will not reopen,” the statement read. “We give thanks to our visitors and supporters, and send our warmest wishes that you will continue to be nurtured by art and nature.”
By Tuesday morning, the post had been shared more than 430 times and received more than 175 comments from supporters who responded with a mix of sadness and nostalgia at news that the 22-acre property would be no more; recalling memories of weddings and weekends spent with the grandkids on the Hill.
“You will be missed more than you know,” one Facebook user wrote. “I speak for many when I say Jasmine Hill Gardens has been a cherished part of our lives. … At least a 50-year memory for me. Thank you for sharing … that bit of Heaven with us all.”
In October, the group launched a new year of programming and events aimed at reinvigorating interest in the public gardens, which offered entry fee and membership-based admission.
While Jasmine Hill replied in a comment attached to the announcement’s post that “there were many factors involved in making this difficult decision,” it’s unclear whether the burden of the public health crisis, or a combination of preceding factors, were too heavy to keep the nonprofit afloat.
Jasmine Hill Foundation President Elmore DeMott said she was unable to share further details at this time, “we honestly do not have answers about the future,” but that “thoughtful” care would continue to be given to their impressive array of flowers, plants and trees.
Located 20 minutes outside of Montgomery, Jasmine Hill offered an easy respite to many looking for a quick and quiet place to duck out of the city. Built in the early 1930s, Benjamin and Mary Fitzpatrick made their home on the hill, erecting a settler’s cottage hemmed in each direction by flowers and trees, filled with replicas of Greek and Roman sculptures they commissioned — a hobby for the couple, who had a deep love of Greek history and culture.
In 1971, the property was acquired by Jim and Elmore Inscoe, parents of the foundation’s president. Demott’s father wished for the grounds to be shared with the public, and eventually opened it as a community garden.
For those who hold fond memories of time spent on the Hill, and others who enjoyed the peace and inspiration its nature provided, the garden’s demise is a grudging loss.
For the complete article please see https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/ news /2020/05/26/wetumpka-jasmine-hill-gardens-close-after-more-than-90-years-river-region/5259424002/
From Dauphin Island with love’: How this beach town made one family’s vacation unforgettable
From the article by Michelle Matthews on AL.com
On the day the Griffin family checked into Rainbows End, the house they’d rented for a week-long vacation on Dauphin Island, Kelly Griffin saw a rainbow over the Gulf of Mexico. It turned out to be a fortuitous sign.
Their trip had been planned for months. They had started dreaming of sunshine and warm sand around Christmastime, when there was six inches of snow on the ground at their home just south of the Kansas City, Missouri, metro area. The Griffins were familiar with the Alabama Gulf Coast from previous vacations in Orange Beach, but they’d never been to Dauphin Island.
When Kelly discovered Rainbows End, a four-bedroom, two-bath house that sits right at the water’s edge, she knew it would be perfect for her family. As opposed to their usual condo, where it’s “a trek to get to the shoreline,” she says, here the beach would be at their doorstep. “It seemed like heaven.”
Earlier this year, they made the reservation for mid-May. Then the coronavirus pandemic happened, but they didn’t cancel, deciding to “wait and see.” This trip was too important to them, so they continued to hold out hope.
You see, the Griffins weren’t anxiously awaiting the reopening of the beach because they were bored from weeks of sitting around in their house. Kelly’s husband, Rob, has terminal brain cancer, and this could be his last vacation with his family. They are making the most of the time he has left.
Fortunately for them, Gov. Kay Ivey re-opened the beaches just in time, the week before their vacation was scheduled to begin.
And, as the good-luck rainbow foretold, their trip to Dauphin Island was the best vacation they ever had. The day after they returned to Missouri, Kelly posted a moving thank-you on the “Dauphin Island, Alabama” public group on Facebook, eliciting responses from 3,000 people.
‘We were floored’
Rob and Kelly, along with their daughters, 16-year-old Paisley and 20-year-old Hayley, and Hayley’s friend Gracie, spent about 15 hours driving down from Missouri in their minivan.
The first nice thing that happened to them was meeting Linda Eyermann, who responded to Kelly’s post on the Dauphin Island Facebook page asking where she could rent a three-wheeled bicycle for Paisley, who has special needs. Linda immediately offered her own personal trike.
“She was so nonchalant,” says Kelly. “It was like she was just loaning a cup of sugar.”
Kelly was worried about how to get the bike, how to lock it up – but Linda reassured her that she and her husband, who own Anytime Island Repair, could deliver it, and assured her that there was no need to lock it.
“We were floored,” Kelly says. “She didn’t even know our story, but she was so loving and kind. It was definitely a gift.”
Kelly and Linda would soon become fast friends. When Linda brought the bike over, she and Kelly sat on the deck and talked. It turns out that the two moms have a lot in common. Four years ago, Linda had a brain tumor removed. Her husband had bought her a three-wheeled bike when she could no longer ride a two-wheeled one because of vertigo.
Also, Linda, who is originally from Picayune, Mississippi, lived in Missouri for 25 years before she and her family relocated to Dauphin Island eight years ago.
“We found it by accident, fell in love and knew we’d never leave,” Linda says.
When she found out about Rob’s terminal illness, Linda “was just crushed,” she says. “It took my breath away.”
The next night, there was a knock at the door of Rainbows End. Kelly opened the door to find a delivery of banana pudding from Dinner’s Ready, a local catering and takeout kitchen, with a note reading, “From Dauphin Island with love.”
Kelly knew it had to be from Linda, the only person she had met on the island. Though she’d hoped to remain anonymous, Linda had to admit she’d sent the dessert. The next night, there were cupcakes outside their door.
“We were so touched,” says Kelly. “This was such a vacation for us. We were cherishing every minute. To be loved on like that made the trip even better.”
‘Nobody was ready to leave’
When Paisley was born with a rare genetic syndrome, doctors “didn’t know if she would make it,” says Kelly. “We brought her home and said we’d take what God gave us. As long as she didn’t give up, we wouldn’t give up.”
Paisley has low muscle tone and needs a feeding tube (although she’s able to eat some foods without it). She’s also nonverbal, but her parents started teaching her sign language before her first birthday and she now has her own interpreter at school. She had to have skull reconstruction surgery at age 6 to relieve intracranial pressure.
None of that has stopped her from flourishing, her mom says. She’s active in Special Olympics, winning gold medals in all five of her events, including dance (her favorite), track, basketball, bowling and bocce ball.
While on vacation, Paisley rode the loaned trike in the bike lane on Bienville Avenue, the island’s main thoroughfare, with her dad walking alongside to steady her, just like they do at home. She especially enjoyed honking Linda’s parrot-shaped horn.
She also got to collect seashells that washed up under their rental house every morning. “That was another thing that was magical,” her mom says. “There were so many in one piece. She was so excited because she didn’t have to go very far. She was like a kid in a candy store.”
Another magical thing about Rainbows End was that it enabled Rob to be outside with everyone else, while staying protected from sun exposure in the shade beneath the house.
In December of 2018, Rob, who until then had been “completely healthy,” Kelly says, and worked out five days a week, was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma after his doctor discovered a large mass in his brain and another in his lung.
For 14 months, he underwent immunotherapy treatment until, just a couple of months ago, he and Kelly were devastated to learn it wasn’t working, and he switched to “last-resort treatment.”
“I really didn’t think we’d be able to take this vacation, but we were determined to spend a week together,” he says. “Fortunately, it all turned out the way it did. It was perfect timing.”
They rented kayaks and took them out through the waves to calmer waters. One day, they rode the Mobile Bay Ferry to Fort Morgan and drove down to Orange Beach, where they’ve had several fun vacations in the past. But they missed the laid-back slice of heaven they’d discovered on the island.
“It has such a different feel,” Rob says. “I don’t know how many times we mentioned the difference. There are so many little places we fell in love with. Nobody was ready to leave.”
For Hayley, a full-time student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the trip was a chance to unwind and “jump the waves like a little kid,” her mom says. “A lot of responsibility has fallen on her this past year.”
Hayley had been hospitalized for five days the week before their trip due to a mono-like virus – and that might have been the scariest thing Kelly has endured yet, she says, because she had to leave her daughter there alone due to the Covid-19 guidelines. She was still weak and taking medication when they left for vacation.
Dauphin Island offered “something for all of us,” says Kelly. “The whole trip was such a gift. We kept saying, ‘We’re going to take it day by day,’ because that’s how we’ve been living, one day at a time. It was so good for all of us.”
‘The icing on the cake’
On their way out of town, they stopped by Lighthouse Bakery. While they were standing in line, a woman came out from behind the counter and handed them a bag. “Someone gifted you a cinnamon roll,” she said.
“Do we look that pitiful?” Kelly remembers thinking. “It was just so sweet, the icing on the cake. It solidified that Dauphin Island is just the perfect little beach town.”
Such kindnesses, from Linda’s loaning them the trike to the sweet treats they enjoyed, are “great little reminders of things you can do that affect somebody else,” says Rob.
But Linda insists she’s the one who has benefited the most by meeting the Griffins. “Kelly kept telling me I was such a blessing,” she says. “But she was definitely the blessing to me. I’m hoping and praying they all get to come back.”
And while the family was conscientious of social distancing on their vacation, they made one exception. “I’m not gonna lie,” Linda says. “We all hugged.”
For the complete article please see https://www.al.com/life/2020/05/from-dauphin-island-with-love-how-this-beach-town-made-one-familys-vacation-unforgettable.html
Herb Malone is longtime champion of Alabama’s beaches
From the article by Lenore Vickrey on AlabamaNewsCenter.com
For more than 20 years, Herb Malone has been arguably the state’s most enthusiastic cheerleader for Alabama’s Gulf Coast. With good reason, as he’s been promoting the coastal area for much of his life.
A college football player who was a member of the Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) 1971 NAIA national championship team, Malone was president/CEO of the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce from 1988 to 1993, working to recruit both businesses and guests to the area. He played a key role in the establishment of the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), now known as Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. He has led this organization as president/CEO since 1993, presiding over a nearly $5 billion local tourism industry.
His work was honored in 2000 when he was inducted into the Alabama Hospitality Hall of Fame. In 2001 he was named Alabama’s Tourism Promoter of the Year, and in 2005 he was honored as Alabama’s Tourism Executive of the Year. Malone led the coastal tourism industry through two major disasters – the recovery from Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest marine oil spill in history that battered the economy of the Gulf Coast. Ten years later, Alabama Living talked to Malone about his life and career on the coast.
For the complete article please see https://www.alabamanewscenter.com/2020/05/31 /herb-malone-is-longtime-champion-of-alabamas-beaches/
The highest point in Alabama will give you magical mountain views up in the clouds
From the article by Kirsten Poletis on Narcity.com
Seasoned adventurers may tell you that the journey can be more rewarding than the destination you’re headed for. In the case of Cheaha State Park, that point is debatable. Lush forest trails will lead you to Alabama’s highest point, where you’ll witness mesmerizing mountain views. It’s a gorgeous journey from start to finish, and one you’ll definitely want to add to your summer bucket list.
This sights from up in the clouds atop Cheaha Mountain takes you 2,407 feet above sea level, where you can gaze across the park below. Stunning during any time of day, you’ll witness exceptional sunset and sunrise views here.
This mountaintop getaway covers a lot of land that’s just waiting for you to explore it. The surrounding Talladega National Forest is full of natural wonders too.
With verdant hiking trails like Chinnabee Silent Trail that takes you past several stunning waterfalls, there’s no end to the natural Alabama beauty here.
Besides having several great hiking spots for all skill levels, you can also camp in the Talladega National Forest, either pitching a tent at the primitive camping sites or unlocking your inner mountain man in the cabins.
If you need a bit of modern comfort to rest your tired soles after all that trekking, you can stop by the Cliffside Vista Restaurant for some eats, mountain views, and even a swim in their cliffside pool.
Cheaha State Park gets its name from the word “Chaha”, meaning “high place” in the Creek Nation language of Muskogee. Simple, sweet, and to the point!
Remember to practice good wilderness ethics by cleaning up your trash, respecting wildlife and other hikers, and planning ahead with water and a camera in hand to make the most of your adventure!
For the complete article please see https://www.narcity.com/travel/us/al/ birmingham/cheaha-state-park-alabama-hiking-leads-to-states-highest-point
Shoals attractions, museums reopening
From the article by Russ Corey on TimesDaily.com
Museums and attractions in the Shoals are set to reopen, but with new guidelines that in some cases will require masks and temperature scans before entering.
Directors said they plan to follow suggestions provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Gov. Kay Ivey.
Groups no larger than eight people will be allowed to tour the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia after it reopens. Sanitizing stations have been placed in the museum so visitors can sanitize after touching exhibits, Director Sandra Burroughs said.
“When the governor had her press conference last Thursday, we were very surprised we were on the list of the openings,” Burroughs said. “We’re in a whole new pattern here and we’re learning as we go.”
The other major Tuscumbia attraction, Ivy Green, opened Saturday. Director Sue Pilkilton was thrilled to have 75 visitors and another 56 on Monday.
In Florence, Museums Superintendent Libby Jordan said the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum Home, the Indian Mound and Museum, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts and Pope’s Tavern Museum will all open today.
“We, of course, will be following all Alabama Department of Public Health Guidelines,” Jordan said.
She said groups will be limited in size to eight people, and face masks will be encouraged, but not required.
Larger crowds may enter the Kennedy-Douglass Center because it is housed in two buildings, she said.
At the Rosenbaum Home, Jordan said all tours will be self-guided with the aid of a tri-fold brochure. There will be one or two guides available to answer questions. Employees will be required to wear masks.
Groups of eight may rotate through the Indian Mound and Museum. Jordan said eight people can watch a video in the meeting room area while eight visit the museum.
Museum visitors are asked to observe social distancing protocols.
The Kennedy-Douglas Kids summer camp is still on, but has been moved to July. There will be five children per room, a teacher and no shared materials, Jordan said.
The Kennedy-Douglass Center is also adding a ceramics studio in the carriage house later this year.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield and FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals will both reopen Tuesday.
Rodney Hall, co-owner of FAME Studios, said they will also limit the number of visitors to the studio, and visitors will be asked to wear masks.
“If someone doesn’t have one, we’ll have one for them,” Hall said. “We’ll do multiple tours if we need to.”
Tours were halted in March, Hall said.
Musicians cancelled studio sessions after the pandemic struck, but recording restarted about two weeks ago, he said.
“It’s starting to pick back up a little bit,” Hall said.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio will require visitors to wear masks with no exceptions, according to Executive Director Debbie Wilson. Only nine people will be able to tour the attraction at one time.
Reservations are required for tours.
“We’ve never been through anything like this,” Wilson said. “We’re looking at models other attractions are using to come back.”
While there haven’t been guests, Wilson said employees have been fulfilling online merchandise orders maybe three times a week.
For the complete article please see https://www.timesdaily.com/news/shoals-attractions-museums-reopening-tuesday/article_3af0c68b-4eea-52bc-91c3-27e53307e71c.html
Alabama Tourism Partner Pointer
Be sure your location listings are as up to date as possible as our team will be exporting a list on Wednesday, June 10 to be included in the 2021 Alabama Vacation Guide.
Update your listings today. http://partners.alabama.travel/users/signin
Tourism Tuesdays is a free electronic newsletter produced by the Alabama Tourism Department. It contains news about the state tourism department and the Alabama tourism industry.
For more information contact Dwayne O’Riley at: dwayne.oriley@tourism.alabama.gov