Noccalula Falls Park re-opens animal barn three years after devastating fire

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Gadsden Animal Farm E1731348193276
The Noccalula Falls Park Animal Barn gives an interactive experience for visitors. (City of Gadsden)

More than three years after a devastating and deadly fire at Noccalula Falls Park, a new animal habitat has officially opened to the public.

The new facility includes a wide variety of animals but also adds updated safety features for the animals and any visitors.

Keep reading to learn more about the updated Animal Barn + how you can visit and see what else is happening around Noccalula Falls Park.

$1.1M animal habitat

Gadsden Animal Farm 2
Mayor Craig Ford was there for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Noccalula Falls Park Animal Barn. (City of Gadsden)

In May 2021, a fire broke out at the Noccalula Falls Park petting zoo, killing around 75 animals including birds, reptiles and guinea pigs.

The city quickly got working on a plan to build a new habitat for the surviving animals. A $1.196 million bid from Bob Smith Construction was accepted in 2023.

On Nov. 7, the city and the campground held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new barn to the public.

“Congratulations to the Falls crew on their grand opening! A lot of hard work went into seeing this project through to completion. Happy to have the Animal Barn at Noccalula Falls Park and Campground open once again!”

~ Craig Ford, Gadsden mayor

The new facility also has upgraded to a fire suppression system and direct communications with the fire department that includes live cameras of inside and outside the barn.

Animals in the park include:

  • Alpacas
  • Goats
  • Mini horses
  • Pigs
  • Guinea pigs
  • Gators
  • Sloths
  • Spider monkeys
  • Clown fish

You can visit the new animal habitat every day between 9AM and 5PM.

New campground

Noccalula Falls Park and Campground is undergoing a huge renovation — running more than $11 million total.

The Gadsden City Council in January approved Lambert Contracting LLC’s $11,376,500 bid for a major renovation at Noccalula Falls. This project includes:

  • Realignment + expansion of the internal roadway network (including decorative lighting)
  • New utility services
  • Reconstruction + realignment of RV parking spots
  • Bathhouse renovations
  • New zero-entry swimming pool + large pavilion
  • New administrative office
  • Reconstruction + resurfacing of lower parking lot
  • New gateway signage
  • Landscaping upgrades

The project is supposed to be completed by January of 2025.

Noccalula Falls
Noccalula Falls” by alwright1 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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Caleb Turrentine
Caleb Turrentine
Articles: 373