Blount Springs, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blount Springs, Alabama
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 Blount Springs, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Blount Springs, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Blount |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area codes | 205, 659 |
| GNIS feature ID | 114507 |
Blount Springs is a small, unincorporated community in Blount County, Alabama, United States. It was once a very popular summer resort known for its special mineral springs and beautiful countryside.
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Where is Blount Springs?
Blount Springs is located in Alabama. It's about three miles east of Interstate 65. This is roughly 28 miles (45 km) north of a big city called Birmingham. It's also 28 miles (45 km) south of Cullman.
Blount Springs: A Popular Resort Town
From the 1820s to the 1930s, Blount Springs was a famous summer getaway. Thousands of wealthy people came here from states like Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana. They loved the mineral springs and the peaceful country setting.
The Healing Springs
The sulfur springs in Blount Springs were believed to have special healing powers. People thought the water could help them feel better. But more than just health benefits, Blount Springs became known for its fun social scene. Rich families from the "Black Belt" region of Alabama and later from Birmingham came to enjoy the cooler weather. This was especially nice during the hot summer months when diseases like malaria (spread by mosquitoes) were common.
Famous Hotels and Fun Activities
Two well-known hotels before the American Civil War were the Goff House and the Duffee House. Later, in 1872, a man named J. F. B. Jackson built a new resort hotel called the Jackson House near the sulfur springs.
In 1887, Jackson sold the land and hotel to brothers James and Mack Sloss. They renamed it the Blount Springs Hotel. It quickly became one of the best hotels in the Southeast. It was famous for its great hospitality, delicious food, and lively parties.
Besides the hotels, guests could rent small cottages. There were also many fun things to do, like horseback riding and playing ten pins (an old bowling game). Many regular visitors owned their own cottages. They would spend every summer season, from July to October, at the springs. Sometimes, visitors would also take a four-mile trip to see the nearby Bangor Cave.
Celebrities and Important Visitors
Many famous and important people visited Blount Springs. Politicians, including governors and senators from different states, often came to speak or vacation there. Even President Teddy Roosevelt made an appearance once.
A very famous actress and singer of the time, Lillian Russell, stayed for a long visit. She caused quite a stir after a day of sunbathing. She got a skin irritation that needed a lot of soothing. Diamond Jim Brady, a well-known New York businessman and friend of Miss Russell, also joined her on the trip.
The End of an Era
Sadly, the resort burned down on June 3, 1915. A fire started in the kitchen of the main hotel and spread, burning much of the town. This fire marked the end of the resort. Also, the railroad changed its route and no longer went through the town. This made it harder for people to visit.
Even after the fire, some people who owned cottages still came for a few more years. There were ideas to build a Veteran's Hospital or a large new village, but these plans never happened. For many decades, Blount Springs remained a quiet and undeveloped place.
Blount Springs Today
In the late 1980s, a group called Blount Springs Recolonization Partners began a new project. They started building "The Village at Blount Springs." This is the first part of a large, planned community covering about 6,000 acres (24 km²). It's located where the old resort used to be.
Many different springs still flow at the site of the old resort. Each spring has different minerals, like white sulfur, red sulfur, and lithium. When the resort was open, water from these springs was sold in blue glass bottles. Today, you can still find pieces of these blue bottles near the old resort's foundations. People say these shards bring good luck!
A post office served Blount Springs from 1830 until 1957.
Population History
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 156 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Blount Springs appeared on the U.S. Census only once, in 1880. At that time, it was listed as an incorporated town with 156 residents.
