Less than an hour south of Birmingham Is a park famous for its trail of trees with faces. For decades, artist Tim Tingle has been giving new life to the dead cedar trees in Orr Park by carving the trunks with big beardy faces, bat boy, gnomes, and various animals (real and mythical). The park is spacious and appealing on its own merits, but the Tinglewood carvings add a magical dimension.
Location
277 Park Dr, Montevallo, AL 35115
Montevallo, Alabama is in central Alabama, about 40 minutes south of Birmingham. It’s roughly a 4-hour drive from Athens, Georgia, and about 2.4 hours from Atlanta
Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Tinglewood’s History
When a storm destroyed some of the older trees in Orr Park, coal miner and self-taught artist Tim Tingle saw potential. He began chainsawing and whittling the trees into art. Now the dead wood looks back at admiring visitors. Scary faces with evil eyes, silly faces grinning with big wooden chiclets, and wizards. There are alligators, snakes, and squirrels, as well as a storybook dragon, a lion, and a unicorn. Tingle began creating the tree faces in 1993 and continues to carve new designs each year, using only damaged trees, never the living. Today, over 50 wooden creatures make up Tinglewood and they are so beloved, the city has made a point to preserve his fallen sculptures!
Visiting Orr Park
You can spot the carvings along an easy 0.8-mile loop trail by Shoal Creek. On a hot day, cool off in the shallow waters, stroll the scenic path, and enjoy a shaded picnic afterward. Orr Park Orr spans approximately 40 acres, and also offers playgrounds and ball fields for more outdoor family fun.
The Tinglewood Festival
The Tinglewood Festival is held annually on the Saturday after Labor Day. It is a free one-day event with a chainsaw carving exhibition, whittling contest, car show, tractor show, live music, art vendors and food trucks
Where to Next?
Montevallo is in between Birmingham (north) and Montgomery (south). It’s the perfect stop on your Alabama road trip.
- Birmingham – I love the Magic City. Start at Joe Minter’s African Village, then hit the town to drive through the rainbow tunnels, stand under Vulcan’s big butt, visit the “Satanic” Storyteller Fountain, walk around the Sloss Furnaces, buy some books at Reed’s, and treat yourself to an out-of-this-world pastry at Chez Lulu.
- Montgomery – Do not sleep on Montgomery! Here’s my guide to the Gump.
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