Lincoln offers cars, history and access to Logan Martin Lake
Lincoln is all about car culture. Since 2001, the city has been home to Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, which produces some of the company’s pickup trucks and SUVs. The plant added a $16 million post-production facility in 2023 and now employs more than 4,500 workers. It was not the city’s first foray into cars, however. That honor belongs to Talladega Superspeedway. The track, legendary for its speed and crashes, has hosted NASCAR races since 1968. It’s also the home of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
When not driving cars, residents often hit the water. The city center is a few miles from Logan Martin Lake, part of the Coosa River, and lounging on boats is a popular summer pastime. Michelle Greene, an agent with Exit Coosa River Realty, says the area offers people on a budget a small-town feel with the amenities of larger communities. “You’ve got the convenience of Pell City, which has grown tremendously, but you can still get away from it,” Greene says. “You’re minutes from anything you could imagine.”
New Traditional homes near the city center and close to the waterfront
New Traditional homes built in 2015 or later are prominent throughout the region, as are older ranch-style houses. The area’s homes largely sit in two pockets: around the city center and close to Logan Martin Lake. Properties near the town can range from $135,000 to $540,000, while those closer to the water often run from $200,000 to $680,000, with select homes in both areas reaching close to $1 million. “What you can get for $250,000 in Lincoln would be $300,000 in Pell City,” Greene says. Dense woods often surround the area’s residential streets, which can be narrow and lack lane lines. Yards commonly have trees of various sizes, and bushes usually sit along the front of the house.
Cajun and barbecue restaurants, with big-box stores in Pell City
Several local restaurants sit along Alabama State Route 77 and Magnolia Street, including Rick’s Crossroads Grille, which uses Louisiana spices to flavor its steak and seafood. Mangos Cantina & Grill offers an authentic Mexican taste. In the southwest nook of the area is The Shack BBQ, which serves hickory-smoked meats inside a log cabin-style building. The community has Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General locations. Across the lake in Pell City are retail stores like Bealls and Walmart. Dry Valley Baptist Church collects canned goods for a community food bank.
Students can take AP and dual enrollment classes at Lincoln High
Students are served by Talladega County Schools. They can attend Lincoln Elementary School, which holds a B Niche grade. Charles R. Drew Middle School also receives a B. Lincoln High School offers Advanced Placement courses and dual-enrollment college classes. It earns a B score. Alabama’s CHOOSE Act allows the state to send eligible families up to $7,000 via an education savings account. The funds can be put toward tuition at participating private schools or other expenses. The Donoho School, a participating prekindergarten through 12th-grade academy, is around 25 miles away and gets an A from Niche.
Fishing, boating, baseball and Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway hosts races throughout the year and offers the NASCAR Racing Experience, a chance to drive an actual NASCAR vehicle around the track. Prices correspond to the time spent on the track. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame includes the McCaig-Wellborn Motorsports Research Library, which has more than 14,000 books and magazines and is open to the public on weekdays. The museum’s self-guided tour lasts between one and three hours.
Lincoln’s Landing is a city-owned park on Logan Martin Lake that hosts fishing tournaments and has a boat ramp and a picnic area. Anglers can often catch bass, crappie and catfish. Moseley Park offers tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a softball diamond and a playground. Baseball fields are the focus of Lincoln Park. Along Blue Eye Creek Trail, also known as England Park, residents can walk the path or stop to fish in the creek, where bream and pickerel swim.
Summer concerts and holiday parades bring the community together
The city’s Historic Downtown hosts the annual free Lincoln Summer Concert Series. “It’ll go from country music one night to Southern gospel to the ‘70s and ‘80s,” Greene says. “It’s a great thing to go to.” Boo at the Park is a Halloween celebration at Lincoln Park that combines a haunted trail with candy giveaways and other kids activities. In December, the Lincoln Christmas Parade travels up Magnolia Street.
Access to Interstate 20, plus a chance of tornadoes
The area has access to several highways, including Interstate 20 and U.S. Route 78. A railroad cuts across the lake and through Lincoln’s Historic Downtown. Birmingham is around 45 miles west. While the public-use Talladega Municipal Airport is in the area, the closest commercial flights are found at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, close to 40 miles away. Greene says tornadoes can impact the area, but not more or less than other parts of Alabama.
