A century-old Army training post in the foothills of northeastern Alabama has quietly become one of the state's more surprising outdoor destinations. Fort McClellan, near the town of Anniston and the edge of Talladega National Forest, closed as a military installation in 1999 — but the land never went to waste. Since 2010, the McClellan Development Authority has redeveloped the site, and today hundreds of people live in the old military housing while visitors get horse trails, a lake, a golf course and miles of paths.
The military story here runs deep. Troops first camped on the land during the Spanish-American War in 1898, when roughly 10,000 soldiers were stationed at a temporary post called Camp Shipp. The federal government bought the property in 1917, just before America entered World War I, and Camp McClellan opened that July — within a year it held 27,000 personnel. Renamed Fort McClellan in 1929, the base grew through World War II with a hospital, housing and 47 miles of roads, and about half a million service members trained there during the war. In later decades the site was tied to chemical and biological weapons work, before the Army finally left in 1999.
What draws travellers now is the recreation. The biggest draw is the Camp McClellan Horse Trails and Campground, a 900-acre facility run by the Back Country Horsemen of America's McClellan chapter. It has more than 100 campsites — RV spots with electrical hookups plus eight primitive tent sites — a 31-stall barn, showers, room for horse trailers up to 60 feet, and access to 30 miles of riding trails. Camping runs $10 to $20 a night and a day of riding costs $5.
Not a rider? There's plenty else. Cane Creek Golf Course is an 18-holer with 22 bunkers and a creek winding through it, with green fees from $11 to $32. Lake Yahou Park centres on an 8-acre lake suited to paddling — no swimming, but fishing is allowed with a license — plus a half-mile walking loop and picnic spots. McClellan also offers 18 miles of shared trails for hiking, biking and running, and the Anniston Aquatic & Fitness Center charges $10 for its pool and gym. If you'd rather not camp, Hotel Finial, a Queen Anne-style mansion in Anniston, has rooms from about $120 a night.
Getting there is easy enough: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is about an hour's drive, and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson is roughly two hours away. Pair a visit with nearby Talladega National Forest, or add McClellan to a broader Alabama road trip.
This one's for campers, equestrians and anyone who likes their outdoors with a side of history — an affordable, low-key stop that costs less than a theme-park parking fee to explore. Original coverage via Explore.com.
