The iconic red and white barn at Hallmark Farms, as seen from I-65. (Jordyn Davis / Bham Now)

One of Alabama’s iconic roadside attractions is receiving a multi-million-dollar upgrade in 2026! On December 30, the Alabama Department of Workforce’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program announced an $11 million grant to support the cleanup of hazardous abandoned mines on the historic Hallmark Farms property in Warrior.

The cleanup will facilitate the economic redevelopment of the property into the Alabama Farm Center at Hallmark Farms.

Hallmark Farms redevelopment awarded $11M for hazardous abandoned mine land features

Located about 30 minutes north of Birmingham on a roughly 500-acre tract in Warrior, Hallmark Farms was developed by coal mining entrepreneur Ted Hallmark in 1976. The farm’s red-roofed barn—visible from I-65—became an Alabama roadside icon, enhanced by lush rolling hills and a shimmering pond.

After Mr. Hallmark’s death in 2013, the property exchanged hands several times until early 2025, when the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation (AECC) purchased Hallmark Farms for $13.5 million. The new owner plans to redevelop the property as the Alabama Farm Center, a new state-of-the-art facility for agricultural and community-based events that will:

Provide a central venue for all communities to access in Alabama
Bring a positive economic impact to the local area, as well as Alabama
Help advance agriculture education in Alabama
Create up to 850 jobs
Host facilities for livestock shows, rodeos, educational programs and an annual state fair

A rendering of the grounds at the Alabama Farm Center at Hallmark Farms. (Alabama Farm Center)

However, developers have to address legacy mine features on the property before breaking ground on the new facility. Due to previous coal mining operations in the area, a portion of the property contains abandoned coke ovens, mine portals, subsidence areas, polluted waterways and other features that pose environmental and safety risks.

To help with the cleanup, the Alabama Department of Workforce’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program awarded the project an $11 million grant through the federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program. Alabama was one of six Appalachian states to receive funding from the program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).

“This AMLER grant represents a significant investment in Alabama’s future, turning blighted lands from our mining past into vibrant hubs of opportunity. By partnering with the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation and local stakeholders, we’re not only addressing environmental hazards but also fostering agricultural innovation and community development at the Alabama Farm Center.”
Greg Reed, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Workforce

Reclamation work is expected to begin in late 2025, with full development of the Farm Center phased over the coming years.

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