Tag Archives: Autauga County

The Quirky Roadside Hive of Prattville, Alabama

Heading south out of Prattville, Alabama, towards Montgomery is a dome-shaped building in the center of a parking lot. It’s the final vestige of Stuart’s Red Devil Lake, a recreation area built in the 1930s. It was billed as “Montgomery’s Finest and Most Unusual Recreation Center.” One unusual feature is the dome, which served as a fountain in the lake. Patrons could get free admission if they purchased Red Devil Gas, a series of gas stations owned by the lake owner. Unfortunately, a dam broke at Red Devil Lake in 1939, permanently closing the recreation area.

Advertisement in the June 16, 2024 Montgomery Advertiser
Photo from the June 24, 1936 Montgomery Advertiser. You can see the dome on the left side of the photo.
After the lake closed, a restaurant called the Water Wheel opened. Despite being abandoned, it still stands.
A frequent advertisement in The Mongomery Advertiser

Mt. Sinai School, Alabama

Autauga County

In 1919, Anthony Townsend donated 3 acres of land to start this Rosenwald School in the county. The architect was W.A. Hazel. It remained open until 1967 once integration happened. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It is the last known Rosenwald still standing in the county.