Lake of a Thousand Coves
Logan Martin Lake, a 17,000-acre reservoir along the Coosa River, is a dazzling jewel of East Central Alabama. The “Lake of a Thousand Coves” — with its snaking tributaries, inlets, and creeks — is a popular recreational destination for all walks of life, from Atlanta visitors to Birmingham locals.
Essentials
Nearby Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is a short distance from Logan Martin Lake, within 45 minutes. Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Clair hospital offers emergency medical services nearby, 20 minutes from the lake.
A Tale of Steam on the Coosa
Early colonials in the southern United States considered the Coosa River integral to maintaining and controlling the region. The river offers enhanced navigation, which was particularly important given the limited infrastructure. The increased traffic here and its importance for the transport and trade of goods stimulated the emergence of several river towns.
Steamboats were common on the Coosa River and would travel so far as Rome, Georgia. Politicians in Alabama wanted to make the most of the Coosa’s lucrative trade and see steamboats travel as far south as Mobile, an influential American port. Unfortunately, the rapids and shoals on the Coosa that led to Mobile were too rough for steamboats to make the journey. In response, a series of locks were proposed to be built on the river, permitting smoother travel. These locks would never be completed, as the advent of railroads and automobiles forced steamboats into obsolescence.
With the plan for the locks now scrapped, the potential for a reservoir became ever more likely. The Logan Martin Dam, named for Alabama Attorney General William Logan Martin Jr., would be built on the proposed site for Lock 7. State legislature selected this area primarily to provide flood control and generate hydropower.
Essentials
Logan Martin Lake is only an hour from Birmingham — a cultural and shopping hub for Central Alabama. Locals and visitors enjoy historical sites, numerous museums, malls, and nature excursions. While many go to Logan Martin for recreational opportunities, the nearby Talladega Superspeedway draws racing fans nationwide, among other activities.
Logan Martin Lake has a rich fishing culture and has hosted the Bassmaster Classic three times: 1992, 1993, and 1997. Logan Martin contains an abundance of largemouth and spotted bass. The lake has few competitors in biodiversity. Other fish that thrive here are hybrid bass, striped bass, white bass, catfish, crappie, bream, drum, carp, and gar.
Living Lake Logan
A lake house on Logan Martin is an idyllic escape from the monotony of everyday life, and the joys of living here spill forth to fill those gaps.