Officials Dedicate Alabama's New Showpiece, The Lodge at Cheaha State Park

Replacing the original 1970s era lodge at Cheaha State Park was not just visionary; it took support from all Alabamians to make it happen.

In 2022, Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment authorizing an $85 million bond issue to invest in Alabama State Parks. The funding enabled the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) to pursue major, system-wide infrastructure improvements, including a revitalized campground at Oak Mountain State Park, a complete renovation at Lake Lurleen State Park, and the transformation of Gulf State Park’s former golf course into an upscale campground. Among these ambitious investments, one project emerged as a top priority — a new lodge at Cheaha State Park.

Perched atop Alabama’s highest mountain, Cheaha offers some of the state’s most breathtaking views. ADCNR officials envisioned a destination that would complement this remarkable setting while elevating the visitor experience.

Last week, that vision became a reality as state officials and guests gathered at Cheaha State Park for the dedication of The Lodge at Cheaha State Park—a stunning mountainside retreat that marks a significant milestone in the continued investment in Alabama’s state parks.

ADCNR Commissioner Ben Stimpson, Jr., opened the dedication and welcomed the crowd to Alabama's highest peak.

"It is an honor to step into this role at such an exciting moment for our state," Commissioner Stimpson said. "The Lodge at Cheaha State Park is a remarkable achievement that showcases the best of Alabama’s natural beauty, and I’m proud to join this dedicated team as we open a venue that will serve our citizens and visitors for generations to come."

“The project that all of us agreed needed to be done was to renovate the hotel at Cheaha,” said former ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship during the dedication of the $28 million facility.

The ADCNR team with then Deputy Commissioner Ed Poolos and former State Parks Director Greg Lein made a trip to Cheaha to talk about the possibilities.

They considered gutting the old structure and renovating the facilities. Leadership ultimately chose a complete rebuilding and moving the hotel footprint across the road directly onto the bluff while salvaging the historic restaurant. Positioned at the highest elevation in Alabama, the new design ensures each of the 32 rooms in the four-story lodge offers unobstructed panoramic views of the forest, much of it within the Talladega National Forest, from an elevation of 2,407 feet.

Blankenship credited State Senator Randy Price, whose district encompasses Cheaha State Park, as instrumental in bringing the vision to life. Following an overnight stay at the park during the planning phase, Senator Price urged the Department to aim big.

“I told him it’s either your bulldozer or mine,” Sen. Price said. “It was a combined effort with a lot of talented folks. I had a chance to visit a couple of times when the construction was going on and see the marvelous job they have done. You could tell the passion they had for being here on the highest point in the state of Alabama.

“We’re looking forward to many, many years of people being able to come here and enjoy another great park.”

Inspiration for the lodge’s design came during a meeting in Huntsville, where Blankenship saw mass timber construction firsthand. The sustainable material uses compressed layers of wood to achieve a strength-to-weight ratio comparable to concrete. To execute the vision, ADCNR partnered with architecture firm Chambliss King and general contractor Murray Construction, both experienced in complex mass timber builds in challenging mountain environments.

“In order to build something like this, we had to have a contractor that could not only do big projects in harsh environments like the top of a mountain with rocks and all the other things that go into it but also had the ability to do the mass timber construction,” Blankenship said. “Murray Construction did a fantastic job.”

State Representative Chad Robertson said he grew up within a few miles of Cheaha and his grandfather was a Cheaha Park Ranger.

“This is such a blessing for this area,” Rep. Robertson said. “It’s so beautiful up here with waterfalls and caves. This project will share this with the world and greatly increase our tourism. We hope people will come, stay, and make their own memories.”

State Senator David Sessions, chair of the Legislature’s State Parks Joint Oversight Committee, traveled from Dauphin Island with an elevation of 3 feet to Cheaha at 2,407 feet.

“There are legislators on our committee that know the work done by Conservation at our State Parks, and the investments made will generate returns we will be getting for years to come," Sen. Sessions said. "This project was a no-brainer.”

One feature of The Lodge at Cheaha State Park is the rooftop bar, the highest in the state. Poolos, who previously served as ADCNR Deputy Commissioner and now serves as Director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, envisioned the rooftop bar, knowing how impressive it would be to have such a feature.

“As Director of Environmental Management I believe there is no better place to show off the environment than here,” Poolos said. “The Lord has blessed Alabama with some wonderful resources in wonderful locations, and none better than right here.

“I want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to go to the rooftop and see the amazing view from the bar. It is one of the most breathtaking sights at sunset. I look forward to seeing guests enjoying this one-of-a-kind feature only found at the Lodge at Cheaha.”

Now that the Cheaha project is complete, State Parks Director Matthew Capps is excited to open the Lodge to guests so they can experience it for themselves.

“It’s really surreal right now,” Capps said. “In a couple of weeks, it will hit me. Right now, I’m just super proud of our team and what we’ve been able to accomplish. We’re leaving a legacy here at the park.

“I look at this as a signature achievement to have come out of the bonds that were issued in 2022. The Lodge, and its mass timber construction, is the showpiece everyone in Alabama will be proud of. We look forward to hosting our guests and providing them with a first-class experience right here at Cheaha State Park.”

The Lodge at Cheaha State Park will soon be taking reservations. Visit www.thelodgeatcheaha.com to get on the waiting list. Go to www.alapark.com for all the opportunities to enjoy Alabama’s great outdoors.

A full gallery of images can be found on the Outdoor Alabama Flickr page.

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