Welcoming Visitors to Our Town

For a town whose population is less than 400, Mentone has a tremendous number of visitors. The summer camps alone bring thousands of young people here to enjoy the natural beauty and to learn and grow. Many families end up coming back in the fall to see the colors.

To accommodate this growing number of tourists, we’ve seen a surge in rental cabins across the area, well beyond the town limits. The greater Lookout Mountain region invites people to enjoy the mountain air, the environmental treasures, a national preserve, and the best state park in Alabama.

Day trips to Mentone are popular as well, as folks come here from across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee to visit our shops, galleries, and restaurants.

They are also coming for our events. The upcoming Mentone Fall Festival is a major draw, with thousands coming to enjoy the artists and musicians. The Summer Music Series hosted by the Little River Arts Council keeps growing in popularity. The Mentone Americana Nights is our newest event, hosted by the Town. Despite some stormy weather, the series is off to a great start, bringing many people to the Moon Lake Campus for the first time.

It’s not just tourists visiting Mentone. In the past few months, we’ve welcomed the director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Kenneth Boswell. Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter has visited many times, as has State Sen. Steve Livingston. U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt has been here on several occasions, as has Ricky Harcrow, president of the DeKalb County Commission. We’ve even had members of the British parliament here (a special thanks to Moon at The Wildflower Cafe for making sure they were well fed).

These leaders and elected officials are interested in the good things going on in Mentone. When they look at our town, they see one that’s being frugal with its resources, faithful to its vision of community, and focused on doing all things — from the smallest tasks to the biggest projects — in a way that will enhance the quality of life for our citizens.

What do all these visitors have in common? Everyone I meet tells me how friendly the people here are. They are made to feel welcome. They sense the real spirit of community that permeates everything we do here. And they appreciate how we work together to preserve our history, celebrate our culture, and promote our area. And as your mayor and a citizen of this town, I appreciate all you do to foster that reputation and those efforts.

Congratulations to Ray Padgett on his victory in last month’s town council election. I look forward to working with Ray and the other council members to continue the good work we’re doing in Mentone.

Pictured, left to right, during a recent visit to Mentone are U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt; James Wild and Richard Holden, Members of Parliament; DeKalb County Commission President Ricky Harcrow and his wife, Susan; Mentone Mayor Rob Hammond; and Caroline Aderholt, the Congressman’s wife.