Tourism expected to increase

Local officials look to heavy tourist traffic in Lake Martin area during Fourth

By Theadoris Morris (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Tourism in the Alexander City and Dadeville areas is expected to increase this Fourth of July weekend despite the recent economic downturn.

The Fourth of July, along with Memorial Day and Labor Day, is one of the biggest holidays for Lake Martin, and tourism in the area is expected to increase greatly.

Traffic in Alexander City and on U.S. Highway 280 and Alabama 63 has grown and is expected to increase more by the weekend, according to Alexander City Mayor Barbara Young.

Tourists can expect traffic jams not only on the road but on the water as well.

The 19th annual Russell Marine Fourth of July Boat Parade will be held at Kowaliga Marina beginning at 10 a.m. Registration is free at any Russell Marine location.

The 9th annual Russell Lands’ Fourth of July Blast fireworks display will be held at the Lake Martin Amphitheater, where the display is viewable by land or by boat.

The gates open at 4:30 p.m., music begins at 6:30 p.m., and the fireworks display begins at dark.

People are traveling less and staying closer to home for their vacations because of the economy, which will increase the benefits of the Lake Martin area, according to Young.

At this time, Alexander City is economically average, according to Young.

“We are at a flat sales tax; it is not going up or down, but hopefully sales tax will begin to increase,” Young said.

Families staying in local hotels, shopping, eating and buying gas provide revenues for the Lake Martin area.

“The visitors not only help tax, they get to see Alexander City, come to the ball games, come to Lake Martin and Wind Creek State Park, which is full this Fourth of July weekend,” Young said.

Wind Creek State Park was booked for the holiday weekend early this year and stopped taking reservations about two weeks ago, according to Superintendent Jimmy Shivers.

“Holidays are always full,” Shivers said. “We have maybe 12 or 14 sites available out of 626 total compared to Spring Break with 350 to 450 sites occupied and February with about 80 sites rented, if that.”

The Foodland grocery store in Dadeville is expecting to receive good business this holiday weekend because more people are staying close to home to save money. That abundance of people will probably be at the lake.

“This is an excellent weekend for business,” said Foodland owner Robert Renfroe.

“More people plan to stay in town instead of going to the beach because it is less expensive to spend the holiday at the lake then to spend it at the beach.”

The holidays provide opportunities for businesses to sell more products than any other week, according to Renfroe.

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