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Welcome to Opelika, a city of 25,000. Opelika’s entry
signs proclaim, “Rich in Heritage with a Vision for
the Future.” This is the motto we live by here in this
East Alabama city, which is located between Montgomery, Alabama
and Columbus, Georgia.”
Opelika was ceded from the Creek Indians in the Treaty of
Cusseta. The Creeks are considered to be the source of the
city’s name, “Opilu” meaning “swamp”
and “Laka” meaning “large." Despite its name,
Opelika is no big swamp and actually sits at the highest level
of elevation between Atlanta and New Orleans.
Historic Railroad Avenue sits peacefully along the rails
which have moved well beyond the rancorous rail days. In quiet
contrast, the restored fashionable homes of North Opelika
stand today as a testament to more genteel days. Each year,
the neighbors celebrate their heritage with the Victorian
Front Porch Tour. The tour, a creation of local artist
Jan Jones, features more than 40 homes, decked with life-sized
Victorian figures, live costumed characters, singers, actors,
and musicians. One weekend in December the roads are closed
and thousands of visitors walk the streets in a scene right
out of a Currier and Ives card.
When Opelika’s rail lines were destroyed in the Civil
War as a part of Rousseaus’ Raid, the city struggled
to rebuild. The newly restored Depot, home to Opelika
Main Street and the Opelika
Arts Association, was part of the reconstruction of the 1920s,
a time when Opelika found its new catalyst for growth as a
textile mill town. The historic Pepperell Mill Village is
still alive today and is protected as a historic area.
Opelika has a 1200 seat performing arts center, which features
national caliber performances in the Opelika Arts Association
Performing Arts Series. In addition, during the summer months,
the Summer Swing concert series features diverse musical offerings
with free concerts in the city’s Municipal Park.
Opelika’s Grand
National Golf Course is the largest of Alabama’s
heralded Robert Trent Jones
Golf Trail and is consistently ranked in the top ten public
courses in the nation. Grand National has hosted the NIKE
Tour, now the Nationwide Tournament, the LPGA and the NCCA
Men’s national championships. There are four public
courses and two private clubs in the immediate area as well.
Opelika’s schools combine the state’s top technology
with a strong emphasis on art education. There are over 2400
computers for the system's children, and every third grader
takes 6 weeks of violin. (Just as the rail conductors warned
unwary passengers to duck while driving through town at the
turn of the century, School Superintendent Phil Raley warns
music aficionados to avoid those first few weeks of hearing
nine year olds play violin.) Opelika’s After School
Program provides an added benefit for the area’s working
families.
Opelika offers plenty to see and do. The
Spring Villa Park is reportedly one of the nation’s
oldest water parks. Plantation owner, William Penn Yonge,
imported various species of fish to fill his spring-fed lake
in the 1850’s and then had glass bottom boats so that
visitors from Europe could see the specimens. Spring Villa
is only one of five passive recreational parks operated by
the Rec Department. The parks and recreation program offers
cradle to the grave activities, starting with Stroller Fitness
for moms and babies and going to Senior Citizen field trips.
Pottery, ceramics, tennis, swimming, softball, baseball, football,
basketball, gymnastics, AFAA certified aerobics, children’s
activities, Friday Night Drop-In programs for youth, herb
gardening, scrapbooking, and stained glass are just a few
of the programs run at Parks and Rec. Participant fees are
nominal. Special trips include mountain biking in north Georgia,
spending the night at Zoo Atlanta and aboard the USS Alabama.
Sports enthusiasts will note that Opelika was named by ESPN
Magazine as “Pigskin Heaven” in 1998, noting that
there were 5 major NCAA Division I football schools within
easy driving distance, the closest being Auburn University
only ten minutes away. Auburn
University and local Southern
Union State Community College offer special programs and
reduced tuitions for lifelong learners. Such readily available
sources of entertainment and educational opportunities led
to Opelika being named by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
Magazine, as one of the top six places in which to retire.
If you prefer water sports, Lee County Lake is a great fishing
hole, and Lake Saugahatchee is a favorite for canoeing. Speedsters
can enjoy skiing at Lake Harding only 20 minutes away or at
Lake Martin just 30 minutes away.
So, for those looking for a great weekend getaway or a great
place to spend your golden years , you might want to consider
“The Big Swamp” - Opelika, Alabama.
Please visit the CIty of Opelika's Web site at http://www.opelika.org
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