Back Country Trails of Rosemary Dunes and Rattlesnake Ridge

Trail

Trail

Rosemary Dunes, Rattlesnake Ridge, Butterfly Garden and Bolder Park, and the Indian and Sea Museum – interesting names and a great bike ride. On our last trip of back country biking, we decided to make it a day. After packing a picnic along with our usual water and snacks we headed out to enjoy another beautiful fall day on the Alabama gulf coast.

Our plan for the day was to park at the Rosemary Dunes trailhead on the beach road and ride to the Butterfly Garden and Boulder Park, then on the Rattlesnake Ridge Trail. Lunch was in the gazebo in the green space in the Orange Beach City complex and then a visit to the Indian and Sea Museum.

On the bulletin board near the Butterfly Garden, there was a notice about baby alligators on Rosemary Dunes Trail. We were lucky enough to see one and he had definitely grown. No longer a baby, yet not an adult either, must have been a teenager.

Hiding Alligator

Hiding Alligator

Other than the alligator, we did not see any wildlife, but the butterflies were in full flight. They were fliting from one flower to another almost faster than we could snap photos. On to Rattlesnake Ridge and no we did not see any rattlesnakes, thank goodness at least for Laurie.

Butterfly Full of Colors

Butterfly Full of Colors

The Indian and Sea Museum is located in the first school house on the island and was built in 1910. It was originally located on the Fort Morgan Highway. The structure has been a museum since 1995 and was moved to its present location in 1999. The structure has the original bell tower, but no bell. A 1920s hurricane destroyed the bell and it was never replaced.

Schoolhouse Museum

Schoolhouse Museum

The museum itself is an interesting combination of artifacts relating to the two distinct cultures who settled the island. The first were Indians and dates back about 10,000 years.  Among the artifacts are arrowheads, spearheads, stone knives, Indian beads, feathers, and pottery. There are also portraits of Creek Indian chiefs. Since the Creeks were not nomads, they built thatched huts and raised livestock as well as did farming.

The other group to settle the area were fisherman. Many items from this group have been donated by ancestors of the early families. It is said there were two main families, one was shrimpers and the other fishermen and they were responsible for the development of the fishing industry on the island.

Welcome to the Museum

Welcome to the Museum

It was a great ending to our Backcountry Trail riding. We look forward to returning and enjoying more of the various eco-systems of the Alabama coast.

Let's Go Fishing

Let’s Go Fishing

From the Deep

From the Deep

Original School Desks

Original School Desks

Boulder Rock Park

Boulder Rock Park

Butterfly Pavilion

Butterfly Pavilion

 

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