Gadsden Cuts Ribbon on New Train Station

Mayor Craig Ford, City Council Members, Etowah County Commission Members, Architect Tom McElrath, representatives from Bob Smith Construction Company and many other dignitaries joined Noccalula Falls Park Manager Christina Richardson and park employees for the special occasion Monday afternoon.

Richardson opened the Ceremonies recognizing and thanking many for making this event a reality including the present and previous City Administration.

Architect Tom McElrath said this was one of the most fun projects he has had the pleasure to work on during his career. Mayor Craig Ford also thanked the City Council and the previous administration for having the vision for this project.

Park Manager Richardson said this station is large enough to protect the trains and to provide extra comfort for the Park patrons with heaters for the winter months and fans for the summer. Richardson told those in attendance, the attendance at the Park during the Christmas Season brings in a million dollars each season.

Mayor Ford announced the City Council was going to leverage the income from the seasonal attendance to issue a bond issue to create 16 to 17 million dollars to re-do the campground, build a new barn for the animals, and many other things to make the Park an even better tourist attraction. The Mayor closed out his remarks with an invitation to everyone there to go for a train ride through the Park.