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April Half-Day Field Trip: Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
April 2, 2016, 7:00 am–12:00 pm
Tannehill State Park sits in a beautiful tree-lined valley, with more than 1,500 acres in three counties and is rich in history. The hillsides rich in ore and swiftly flowing Roupes Creek made this a perfect site for a successful iron-making operation from 1830 to 1865. The park contains a working gristmill, and the remains of the old furnace and the Iron and Steel Museum are among other attractions.
The park is also an official site on the Appalachian Highlands Birding Trail. Birding begins as you turn into the entrance road along a steadily flowing stream. We are likely to see residents such as Woodpeckers, Pine Warblers, and Brown-headed Nuthatches. Spring migrants such as warblers and vireos should also be arriving. Along the stream banks look for Herons and possible Belted Kingfishers. Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and Cooper’s Hawks are permanent residents. Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls both nest here. The trails are usually along old road beds so hiking or walking will be easy.
The fee for park entrance is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors and $1.00 for children. There is also a fee for the museum if you choose to visit it.
TRAVEL PLANS: Meet at the Hoover McDonald’s across from the Galleria at 1731 Montgomery Hwy, Hoover, Al 35244. Arrive early enough to carpool and be ready to leave at 7:00 a.m. Leaving McDonald’s, we will enter I-459S, take exit 1 toward McCalla and turn left onto Eastern Valley Rd. Follow for approximately 7 miles and turn left onto Tannehill Park. Turn left at Confederate Parkway and turn right onto Tannehill Road: 8001 Tannehill Road, McCalla, AL 35111.
This is a half-day trip, but feel free to bring lunch, snacks and drinks as there are picnic tables. Please feel free to stay in the park as long as you like.
Binoculars will be available for those in need. Visit the web site for more information: Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park www.tannehill.org
Trip Leader: Susan Barrow (H) 205 942 8667 or (C) 205 253 8667.