Citronelle Walking Trail
| Citronelle Walking Trail | |
|---|---|
 Mobile and Ohio Railroad depot, located along the trail, which can be seen in the background | |
| Length | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
| Location | Citronelle, Alabama |
| Designation | National Recreation Trail |
| Use | Skating, hiking |
| Highest point | 347 feet (106 m) |
| Lowest point | 323 feet (98 m) |
| Grade | 1% |
The Citronelle Walking Trail is a three-mile long, asphalt-covered rail trail in Citronelle, Alabama. It was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2011.
History
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The route was created by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in 1852. The 30-mile stretch from Citronelle to Mobile was the first section of the railroad to be open for service.[1] The railroad was a major contributor to the growth of the town, as the railroads promoted it as a health resort because of its mineral springs and altitude.[2] Though the route underwent many transfers of ownership, it was eventually abandoned. It was then converted into a paved trail. It received grants from the Recreational Trails Program to develop the trail and to install gas lights along the trail.[3] The trail was designated as a National Recreation Trail on June 2, 2011.[4]
Route description
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The trail begins in Newberry Crossing, in the center of Citronelle. It heads south from there and ends just before reaching a connection between U.S. Route 45 and Celeste Road. Along the way, the trail passes through the Citronelle Railroad Historic District. This includes a restored train depot, which was built in 1903 and currently serves as a museum.[5] Also within the district is the Hygeia Cottage, a part of the town's Hygeia Hotel. The cottage is the only remnant of the hotels built during the town's tourism boom due to its marketing as a health resort.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Lemly, James H. (1953). The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio. Richard D. Irwin, Inc. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "About Citronelle, Alabama". Citronelle Historical Preservation Society. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ a b "Citronelle Walking Trail". National Recreation Trail Database. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Busby, Guy (June 3, 2011). "Two Baldwin County sites declared National Recreation Trails". AL.com. No. Advance Publications. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ "Hours of Operation". Citronelle Historical Preservation Society. Retrieved August 2, 2020.