Alabaster

Like many towns in Alabama, Alabaster has industrious beginnings. It gets its name from the quality of the lime rock cultivated here, after George L. Scott Sr. established the Alabaster lime rock plant in 1929. By the 1950s, this small village had become a sprawling suburban city. Now, Alabaster continues to expand, with a growth rate of over 60% in the past decade.

"Alabaster is one of the strongest markets in the greater Birmingham area," says Jeff Dorough, a Keller Williams Metro South Realtor. "It's constantly developing and growing. There's a wide variety of housing from the mid $100,000s to over $500,000."

Large craftsman cottages and prairie-style homes make up this neighborhood, some with attached garages, front porches and wide paved driveways. Roomy front yards give residents ample landscaping opportunities and homes with front porches provide the perfect setting for catching up with neighbors over a glass of ice-cold sweet tea.

"Alabaster is a very family-oriented place. The people here are great," says Dorough. He would know -- he doesn't just sell homes in the area – he lives here himself.

Children in the area may go to either Meadow View Elementary School, part of the Shelby County Public School System, or Creek View Elementary School, part of the Alabaster City Public School System, depending on where in the neighborhood they live. Thompson Middle School offers a Girls Rock STEM program, encouraging young girls to build science, technology, engineering and math skills. There's also a popular boys' choir aptly named Man Choir. Thompson Middle School's Majorettes have won state-wide baton-twirling competitions. Another great school in the area is Thompson High School. The Warriors football team is the reigning state champs, bringing a lot of pride to the area.

The local Alabaster YMCA offers many extracurricular activities to enrich the lives of the community. There are exercise rooms, walking trails, basketball courts, a swimming pool and educational programs for kids, including an engaging STEAM program. Additional learning is found at Albert L. Scott Library, where locals can explore book aisles, attend fun workshops on everything from laser-cutting to etiquette courses and enjoy story times for kids.

Buck Creek Park offers athletic fields for football, softball, and general use. There are picnic areas and a gazebo for gatherings, a playground and a pavilion available for rent. The jewel of this park, however, is Buck Creek Trail. Visitors can hike or bike along the babbling creek for over 3 miles. Hikers can wander along the path to a cascading waterfall, taking in the old Buck Creek Cotton Mill and nature. Residents can picnic right by the stream, the sound of the water and local birds chirping providing a serene soundtrack. The community has held Fall Fest and the Trick-or-Treat Trail along this path.

Buck Creek Trail connects Buck Creek Park to Warrior Park, popular with resident baseball players. The park offers batting cages and four softball or baseball fields for casual games or practices. There are also picnic areas and a playground for children.

In 1972, beloved resident Abby Wooley donated a stretch of land to the community to be made into a park. Today, Abby Wooley Park remains a popular place for children to play and for neighbors to get together. Here, residents shoot hoops at the basketball court, kids play on the playground, neighbors celebrate special occasions at the pavilion and picnic tables, and locals can exercise along the quarter-mile walking trail.

Alabaster Municipal Park is where local athletes practice their sports. It features 4 lighted tennis courts, 3 lighted basketball courts, 12 lighted soccer fields and a multi-purpose field. Meanwhile, Veteran's Park is suited to nature lovers. Its 90 acres contain 2 miles of lit walking trails, a bluebird trail perfect for birding and an educational nature walk. Should someone want to practice their swing, the park offers 5 baseball fields. Plus, there's a skate park and a dog park for canine companions.

Every year Alabaster hosts CityFest, one of the most popular events in the area. Drawing thousands, this event features live music, vendors, arts and crafts, rides and other fun activities. Alabaster Arts Council organizes CityFest and the Alabaster Jubilee annually, bringing the community together.

When it comes to dining, Alabaster is chock full of some great local spots. Chubbfathers offers way more than delicious burgers. Owner Will Cholewinski takes his job of feeding the community seriously. So seriously, he has "FEED THE PEOPLE" tattooed on his arm. For every two non-perishable food items someone brings into his restaurant, they get a free drink. After fifteen donations, they get a free meal. Cholewinski matches every donation he receives at the end of the week and gives it to a local food bank. He writes the food bank a check on weeks he's low on donations. Not only does Chubbfathers feed the community, but it feeds it with really fantastic food.

In the Old Alabaster Post Office on 1st Avenue West, Siluria Brewing Company combines classic brews with new craft creations. Its warm, dog-friendly environment and food trucks make it a popular place to hang out in town. Mead more your speed? Matthew Pollard has been perfecting his mead recipes for over ten years. He's the proud owner of Ivy League Brew, Alabaster's first mead brewery. Popular flavors are Morning Dew, which has a light honeyed lemon flavor or their iconic Immortal mead. Immortal was their first-ever brew, with a very honey-forward flavor with bourbon notes from the dark-charred oak barrel it's brewed in. Beyond mead, patrons can play games of pool or throw axes with friends.

Another great local spot is the CreACTive Wellness Center and Café. The center is made up of three sections: the coffee shop, the wellness center and the arts center. The coffee shop serves coffee from local roaster Adventurer Coffee Co. and sandwiches. Open mics and other community events are often held here. The wellness center offers yoga classes, reiki, massage therapy, trapeze classes, meditation workshops and one-on-one talk therapy. The arts center offers painting classes, including one aimed at painting your beloved pets. It also serves as an open studio space for local artists.

Other standouts include Joe's Italian, realtor Jeff Dorough's personal favorite, which serves huge entrees and incredible desserts and Champy's Fried Chicken which is known for its crunchy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside fried chicken.

Galaga! Pac-Man! Dance Dance Revolution! Those are just a few of the over 90 arcade games available at Hooligans Arcade. Their lineup includes the largest collection of fighting games in the state. The best part – all the games are on free play. Visitors pay once for a $12 day pass and can play all the games they want, over and over again. And when the latest blockbuster comes out, locals can head to the AmStar movie theater.

Just 20 miles from Birmingham, Alabaster is an incredibly convenient place to live for work or school commutes. But beyond that, it's got plenty to offer within its town limits. "It's a great, safe and diverse area. It's a very welcoming area in Alabama," adds Dorough. "We are a people-loving town and I think anyone who comes here can see that."

Written By

Tina Davis

Photography Contributed By

Tommy Daspit