BY JAMES TROGLEN
SPECIAL TO THE ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
“They found us!” These are the words from Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis confirming that the “City of Natural Beauty” had been included in Southern Living’s “South’s Best Small Towns in 2022.”
“We’re excited,” stated Willis, “It’s great to see all our hard work recognized by such an influential magazine as Southern Living.”
This was especially sweet considering Wetumpka did not enter any competition for the inclusion and did not even know they were even being considered. The mayor’s office only found out in the past few days and was both honored and surprised.
“We have worked hard to make Wetumpka a great place to visit and live and this was just confirmation we have done it right,” said Mayor Wills. “This lists us right up there with towns like Fairhope, Alabama.”
Wetumpka ranked fourteen out of the top twenty listed in Southern Living and got some well-earned recognition. It has been a good year for Wetumpka starting with the HGTV’s showcasing of Wetumpka this past year in an episode of Home Town Takeover with Erin and Ben Napier.
“That kicked off a lot of visits from people who had never been here before and took us all by surprise” added Willis. “We had to learn, all of us in Wetumpka, how to act and deal with considerable numbers of people visiting our little town.”
The criteria used for choosing the “Top Twenty,” was not listed in the article but when asked what he thought Mayor Willis said, “Curb Appeal and our natural resources such as the river and Kayaking, hiking trails like Swayback, even Corn Creek was mentioned.
“Of course, the many community events we offer such as the Wetumpka River and Blues Festival, the Community Market, Dickens’ Christmas, the Art Walk downtown, the Kelly Gallery as well as Christmas on the Coosa all add up to a good place to visit and live,” Willis said.
Five ladies visiting Wetumpka for the first time remarked that the history of the area and old homes drew them as well as the slow atmosphere and unhurried attitude of the citizens. They were surprised at the various eating establishments and variety of sights to take in beyond Fort Toulouse and the Crater.
Not only does Southern Living address visiting these “top” small towns but suggests living there can be a good option as well. Wetumpka City Hall shared some good reasons for choosing Wetumpka as more than a place to visit; a professional public safety force and increased fire protection as well as their newest additions to citizen’s public health – One Oak Medical.
There is also downtown loft living and an expanding educational system with the new technical facility just dedicated that show Wetumpka is a place people should consider long term.
