WEOGUFKA, Ala. – Gov. Kay Ivey and multiple representatives of the Alabama Forestry Commission were in Coosa County Wednesday afternoon, June 15, to celebrate the reopening of the Flagg Mountain fire tower to the public.
The lookout tower, which has been closed to the public for nearly 20 years, has gone through a number of renovation efforts over the last several months. Included in this renovation work was refurbishing the stairs that lead to the top of the tower and clearing trees for better viewpoints as well as adequate parking and a suitable trail leading to the tower.
Flagg Mountain sits at more than 1,100 feet above sea level and is the southern-most point of the Pinhoti Trail which concludes at Springer Mountain in north Georgia. The Pinhoti Trail runs for 335 miles.
The mountain is also part of the Weogufka State Forest, a 240-acre area that belongs to the state and is managed by the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC).
“This is only the beginning of what we’ve got planned for Flagg Mountain,” said state forester Rick Oates of the AFC. “We’re working with the Governor’s office and the legislature to secure funding to bring water up to the mountain.”
Oates detailed other future plans for Flagg Mountain which include a new bathhouse at the cabins and an office/welcome center at the base of the mountain.
After listing the improvements to come, Oates turned his attention to Gov. Ivey. He introduced the keynote speaker and thanked her for coming to the event.
“It is abundantly clear through her service to this state [that Gov. Ivey] takes pride in and loves Alabama,” Oates said. “Today, Gov. Ivey is a strong proponent of managing our forests in order that they will continue to provide the environmental and economic benefits which sustain this state. Clean air, clean water, and job growth all originate in our forests.”
Gov. Ivey took the podium after the warm welcome and addressed the crowd in attendance.
“This tower, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the ’30s, in a way serves even more the purpose as a fixture where our families and businesses can climb and lookout,” said Gov. Ivey. “It connects us with our past. The tower is a symbol of Alabama’s history of rich, natural resources.”
