Small Town Adventures: Mooresville, Alabama
05-03-2016
Author: in RV Tips & Education
If you’d like to add some historical fun to your RV adventures, Mooresville, Alabama is a great place to start. If you saw Disney’s 1995 movie, Tom and Huck, then you got a very good look at the little town. It is like taking a step back in time, or as one publication put is, like walking through a real live, living museum.
A Step back in Time
Mooresville, Alabama is located at the intersection of Interstate 65 and Interstate 565, about 20 minutes west of Huntsville. To say it is small is an understatement. The entire town covers just .1 mile with six streets and a population of 58. Don’t let the diminutive size fool you though, the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the first town that the Alabama Territorial Legislature incorporated (November 16, 1818). Every building is historical and tells a story. One of their most notable attractions is the Mooresville Church of Christ. President James A. Garfield once preached at the little white clapboard church that still stands on Market Street today.
Often referred to as “Alabama’s Williamsburg,” the residents of Mooresville are proud of their little town and have made great efforts to preserve the history it holds. From the Stagecoach Inn and Tavern, to the Post Office (the oldest post office in Alabama that is still operational), each building is exquisitely preserved. The tree lined streets with white picket fences and beautiful gardens lends a certain charm to the town and the friendly residents will certainly make you feel welcome. There are plenty of stories to be heard, including how a young Andrew Johnson apprenticed as a tailor in Mooresville – before he went on to become our 17th president.
RV Parks near Mooresville
There are several RV campgrounds that are situated near Mooresville. The Decatur/Wheeler Lake KOA is about a half hour drive away. It sits on Wheeler Lake and has lots of amenities including a pavilion, bike rentals, and fishing. If you are looking for quiet relaxation but still want to be close enough to the action, this is a good campground option.
If you are looking for a little more excitement, Point Mallard may work for you. It is about a 15-minute drive to Mooresville and has a waterpark, indoor ice skating rink, a beautiful golf course, tennis courts, hiking/biking/jogging trails, and a whole lot more. They host several festivals and other events each year including the Spirit of America Festival on July 4th and the Alabama Jubilee Memorial Day Weekend. If you are looking for lots of activity and family fun, you’ve found it.
Jay Landings RV Park in Decatur is also about 15 minutes from Mooresville. It is more along the lines of a traditional RV campground with fire pits, chairs, and picnic tables as well as an outdoor lounge area that has a large fire pit and games, as well as an on-site laundry facility. There is a boat launch and lots of water activities. It also has some very good reviews on Google; more than half give it a full 5 stars.
Northgate RV Travel Park is located near Athens, Alabama and is also about a 15-minute drive to Mooresville. It is open all year round and is close to the Tennessee state line. It too has some very good Google reviews. The one potential drawback is that it does not offer monthly rates. However, if you are just passing through or are only staying a week or so, this is a pretty nice spot. It is in a farm setting, so you’ll get to meet Dottie the “greeter” (and “best dog on the planet” according to the website). There’s also Chloe the milk cow, and her half-sister, Buttercup, as well as Chloe’s calf. Several goats also call Northgate home. There’s Bunny, Catnip, and Wendy and several of their offspring. Animal lovers will have a field day.
Whether you are just passing through or you plan to visit northern Alabama, you don’t want to miss Mooresville. Take a day to take in the history for a day of family fun. Oh, and make sure you get lots of photos; we’re making memories here, folks!
A Step back in Time
Mooresville, Alabama is located at the intersection of Interstate 65 and Interstate 565, about 20 minutes west of Huntsville. To say it is small is an understatement. The entire town covers just .1 mile with six streets and a population of 58. Don’t let the diminutive size fool you though, the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the first town that the Alabama Territorial Legislature incorporated (November 16, 1818). Every building is historical and tells a story. One of their most notable attractions is the Mooresville Church of Christ. President James A. Garfield once preached at the little white clapboard church that still stands on Market Street today.
Often referred to as “Alabama’s Williamsburg,” the residents of Mooresville are proud of their little town and have made great efforts to preserve the history it holds. From the Stagecoach Inn and Tavern, to the Post Office (the oldest post office in Alabama that is still operational), each building is exquisitely preserved. The tree lined streets with white picket fences and beautiful gardens lends a certain charm to the town and the friendly residents will certainly make you feel welcome. There are plenty of stories to be heard, including how a young Andrew Johnson apprenticed as a tailor in Mooresville – before he went on to become our 17th president.
RV Parks near Mooresville
There are several RV campgrounds that are situated near Mooresville. The Decatur/Wheeler Lake KOA is about a half hour drive away. It sits on Wheeler Lake and has lots of amenities including a pavilion, bike rentals, and fishing. If you are looking for quiet relaxation but still want to be close enough to the action, this is a good campground option.
If you are looking for a little more excitement, Point Mallard may work for you. It is about a 15-minute drive to Mooresville and has a waterpark, indoor ice skating rink, a beautiful golf course, tennis courts, hiking/biking/jogging trails, and a whole lot more. They host several festivals and other events each year including the Spirit of America Festival on July 4th and the Alabama Jubilee Memorial Day Weekend. If you are looking for lots of activity and family fun, you’ve found it.
Jay Landings RV Park in Decatur is also about 15 minutes from Mooresville. It is more along the lines of a traditional RV campground with fire pits, chairs, and picnic tables as well as an outdoor lounge area that has a large fire pit and games, as well as an on-site laundry facility. There is a boat launch and lots of water activities. It also has some very good reviews on Google; more than half give it a full 5 stars.
Northgate RV Travel Park is located near Athens, Alabama and is also about a 15-minute drive to Mooresville. It is open all year round and is close to the Tennessee state line. It too has some very good Google reviews. The one potential drawback is that it does not offer monthly rates. However, if you are just passing through or are only staying a week or so, this is a pretty nice spot. It is in a farm setting, so you’ll get to meet Dottie the “greeter” (and “best dog on the planet” according to the website). There’s also Chloe the milk cow, and her half-sister, Buttercup, as well as Chloe’s calf. Several goats also call Northgate home. There’s Bunny, Catnip, and Wendy and several of their offspring. Animal lovers will have a field day.
Whether you are just passing through or you plan to visit northern Alabama, you don’t want to miss Mooresville. Take a day to take in the history for a day of family fun. Oh, and make sure you get lots of photos; we’re making memories here, folks!
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Author: Stephanie A. Mayberry
