Red Bay lives on the edge of West Alabama
Red Bay is the gateway between Alabama and Mississippi. Named after the red clay soil and the bay tree canopy that covers the city, Red Bay is a small town of around 3,000 people who live right on the Alabama-Mississippi state line. While it’s well known for its many churches and manufacturing plants around the area, it also sees over 10,000 visitors annually who come to swim and play at the Red Bay City Water Park. “It’s a great place to live,” says Jody Farris, a 50-year resident and real estate agent with Brick Driven Realty. “It’s a very small, family-oriented community where everybody is friendly and looks out for one another.”
Red brick homes with spacious lots
Older houses built between the ‘50s and ‘70s make up most of the real estate north of the main highway. Most fixer-uppers are less than 2,000 square feet with quarter-acre to 1-acre lots, and cost between $70,000 and $100,000. Single-story red brick homes that range between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet with 1-to-15-acre lots are more common on the outskirts. They can cost from $100,000 to $350,000. The historic Hotel Red Bay has been accommodating out-of-town visitors for over a century.
Diving into local lakes along with the Red Bay Water Park
The Red Bay Fun Park is open from May to August and has been one of the area’s biggest attractions for over five decades. In addition to its two water slides and swimming pools, there is also a playground, a skate park and a splash pad. The Bay Tree Council of Performing Arts hosts dinner theater productions throughout the year, and the Red Bay Recreation Center’s basketball, volleyball and pickleball courts are directly behind the Community Center Church. Little League games take place at the Dixie Youth Baseball Fields 2 miles east, which also has the nine-hole Freedom Hills Disc Golf Course. Residents will also drive 10 miles east for even more outdoor recreation at Little Bear Creek or the Cedar Creek Reservoir. “We spend quite a bit of time out there,” Farris says. “People like to go out to those two lakes for boating, fishing and camping.”
Red Bay Elementary and High School
Red Bay Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth-grade students and earns a B-minus on Niche. B-rated Red Bay High School teaches grades seventh through 12th and has a 90% graduation rate.
A state highway to Mississippi
Alabama state Route 24 runs along Red Bay’s south side and leads about 2 miles west to Mississippi. Red Bay Shuttle Services books rides to some airports in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia for $145 to $475. Both the Tupelo Regional Airport in Mississippi and the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals are about 50 miles from Red Bay. The Red Bay Hospital offers 24/7 emergency room services.
Downtown eats and several shopping options
Many shops and restaurants dot Red Bay’s downtown area. Cardinal Drive-In is a local fast-food restaurant with cheeseburger and chili dog combos, and The Tiger Shack is a small dessert shop that serves snow cones and soft-serve ice cream. Fourth Street Grill & Steakhouse is popular for its pasta, po’boys and prime pork cuts, and the Lost Pines Coffee Company is a cozy cafe with sweet treats such as muffins, Danishes and cinnamon rolls. There are several boutiques, gift shops and hardware stores around town, as well as three grocery options, Piggly Wiggly, Dollar General and the Big Starr Market.
Founders Fest and seasonal celebrations
In addition to Red Bay's annual Easter egg hunt and Christmas parade, residents look forward to Founders Fest every September, a grand festival in the Bay Tree Park that celebrates the city’s history and heritage. “There will be several vendors offering food and merchandise,” Farris says. “They have rides for the kids and a car show.”
