Recreation

The Chambers County Agricultural Arena is located in LaFayette, AL. This outdoor arena offers great space for rodeos and other agri-tourism events. There are stables available for livestock and concessions during events. Whether you are riding or just coming to watch, you are sure to have a great time. For additional information, call (334) 750-1006.

Chambers County Lake is a 183-acre lake that is located five miles southeast of LaFayette, AL, on Chambers County Road 83. The lake is stocked with bass, brim, crappie, catfish and carp. This location includes daily rental equipment. Contact (334) 864-8145 for additional information.

The Chattahoochee River runs right through the Greater Valley Area, north to south, offering unlimited scenic and recreational activities. Whether you experience the Chattahoochee River by kayak, canoe or simply birding along the banks, you are sure to have an incredible adventure!

The Christmas Merry-Go-Round was given to Valley area children as a Christmas gift from the West Point Pepperell Mill Company in 1956. It was initially located in the Fairfax Community of Valley, but now is located on the site of old Langdale Mill. A Christmas season often sees over 60,000 carousel riders and each season a new group of young riders and many older fans that are still filled with childhood memories enjoy the wonder and magic of the Christmas Merry-Go-Round. For additional information call the City of Valley at (334) 756-3131.

Famer’s Market at Langdale Mill opens each year on the first Friday in June and continues through the last Friday in August. It is located in the parking lot of historic Langdale Mill at 6000 20th Avenue, Valley. From 3-6p.m. Eastern Time on each Friday, farmers offer a wide variety of locally grown produce and specialty items. The popular market is highlighted each year by several special “free” days – a free tomato sandwich day, free watermelon day and free black-eye peas and cornbread day. For information on when these special days occur, call (334) 756-5228 or (334) 756-5273.

Lake Harding covers 5,850 acres and has a shoreline of 156 miles, spreading along a 13 mile section of the Chattahoochee River. Lake Harding offers large open water views with many private coves and borders both Alabama and Georgia. The lake was created by the Bartlett’s Ferry Dam. The dam stands 120 feet high and is 1,900 feet wide. Bartlett’s Ferry Dam was originally owned by the Columbus Electric and Power Company and began producing electricity in 1926 with two 15,000 kilowatt generating units. This lake provides ample opportunities for public recreation activities including boating, skiing, fishing, swimming, sailing, camping and picnicking.

Established in 1986 as the Painted Rock Players, the group now known as New Horizon Community Theatre has presented more than 300 performances of 92 productions to over 45,000 patrons. Broadway, musicals, dramas, children’s shows, slapstick comedy, “The Players” perform in venues around the Greater Valley Area. The season runs from July through June and consists of four productions. The New Horizon Community Theatre is located in downtown West Point, GA.

Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail, is a beautiful nature-based tourist attraction in east-central Alabama. The secret to a successful birding trail is having the proper habitat for the specific birds that call Alabama home. Alabama is fortunate in that we have the most diverse habitat in the Southeast. A total of 445 bird species have been seen in Alabama. Of these, 104 are permanent residents, while the rest are known to regularly breed in or pass through the state heading to or from their breeding grounds. Chambers County has three approved birding sites along the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail: Alligator Creek Nature Trail and West Point Dam and its surrounding parks, all located on the Alabama side of West Point Lake and Chambers County Lake in LaFayette. Along with the actual birding sites, there are dozens of additional destination sites in Chambers County to create a perfect birding adventure! For more information on the Chambers County portion of the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail, contact or visit the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.

Point University Golf Club is a pleasure to play for golfers of any skill level – challenging you while providing a relaxing, picturesque backdrop. Test your accuracy as you navigate our Bermuda greens. Point University Golf Club has everything needed to challenge you and improve your game. Whether you are hosting a foursome for golf, an enjoyable game of doubles tennis, a business dinner for 25 or a garden club for 80, the Point University Golf Club and its amenities have you covered.

Old Shawmut Airport, on the Chattahoochee River in the Shawmut community of Valley, was once a busy local airport for small private aircraft. Today, it is a wide expance of open ground that plays host to everything from city festivals to concerts to an area radio-controlled airplane club. There is a boat ramp, paved surface for walking and magnificent view of the river, birds, and wildlife along the banks. It is open to the public and those wishing to stage events can contact the City of Valley for information at (334) 756-5668. The site is located off US Highway 29 in the Shawmut community.

Experience for yourself why Southern Harbor is a vacation paradise! Southern Harbor is known for great fishing, beautiful scenery, and skiing, sailing and other water sports or relax on the sandy beaches to catch a few rays! Southern Harbor offers spacious waterfront cabins, pontoon rentals and a delicious waterfront restaurant, Blue Goat Kitchen & Refreshments. No matter what you’re looking for, there is something for everyone. Contact (334) 644-3881 for more information.

The textile industry has always played an important role in the history of the Chattahoochee Valley area. West Point Manufacturing Company opened several cotton mills along the banks of the Chattahoochee in the late 1800s. To facilitate getting materials to these mills they established the C.V.R. in 1897. The railway remained in operation until it was slowly shut down beginning in 1974 and finally ending its run in 1992. Not long ago, several communities in the area decided to use the old railroad bed as a rails-to-trails project and the C.V.R. Trail was born. The path travels through 4 communities (Fairfax, Langdale, Riverview, Shawmut) in city of Valley. Much of the trail is paved in asphalt and is wheelchair accessible. As with all rails-to-trails projects, the trail is strictly for non-motorized use. You may walk small sections through the towns or take longer treks past historic old buildings, through forests of hardwoods and pine, and along the shady banks of the Chattahoochee River itself.

Valley Bowl creates an entertaining environment for both locals and visitors offering 24 AMF lanes and a snack bar. Valley Bowl is known for their moonlight bowling with black lights and DJ music as well as bowling for groups including leagues, churches, schools, birthday parties, etc. Grab your friends and enjoy a round of bowling and the snack bar’s famous cheeseburger at Valley Bowl. It is fun for the whole family! For more information call 334-768-2008.

The Community Center in Valley, AL, is a 54,000 sq. ft. facility featuring a 25-yard, 8 lane competition pool for swim meets and swimmers with a zero-depth entry for wheel chairs and non-swimmers. This facility has two racquetball courts, fitness rooms, two basketball courts, upper and lower level walking/running track and multi-purpose rooms for meetings and events. For more information on Valley Community Center, please call (334) 756-5290.

Surrounded by deep forests and rolling fields, West Point Lake extends 35 miles along the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama Georgia state line. The lake’s 525 miles of shoreline provides excellent opportunities for fishing, camping, boating and other recreational activities. The construction of West Point Dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1962. Congress authorized the project for flood control, hydroelectric power, navigation, fish and wildlife development and general recreation. West Point Dam controls flooding of the river by managing seasonal variations in water flow. The project provides water storage for navigation on the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint Waterway, running 260 river miles from Apalachicola, Florida to Columbus, Georgia. The powerhouse’s three generators produce enough power yearly to serve 24,000 homes.

The scenic West Point River Park is open from 8am to 7pm and 8am to 5pm during the winter months. To get there, take US Highway 29 in West Point, GA toward LaGrange. Once crossing the railroad tracks, it is the second entrance on the left. The heritage trail is designed to follow the lay of the land. This trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. This trail is made possible in part by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration through the Georgia Recreational Trails Program.

The West Point Scenic Bike Trail is just under 8 miles, around 1300’ elevation gain and beautiful views of West Point Lake. The machine cut and classic single track trails offer a great variety sure to please most riders. Non-directional trails are open to hikers as well so please stay alert. Future plans include 2-3 additional loops focusing on upper intermediate to advance level features.