Spotlight: Troy
Savor small-town Americana in this quaint community
Classic small-town ambiance and charm are on full display in Troy, Alabama. From its walkable downtown core—full of historic buildings and fantastic antique shops clustered around a timeless town square—to its buffet of picturesque “Heart of Dixie” landscapes that stretch for hundreds of miles in every direction, Troy is a spot that’s easy to overlook but difficult to forget.
Located in the southeastern corner of the state and at the confluence of U.S. Routes 231 and 29, Troy sits a relatively short distance away from a pair of major cities, making spontaneous day trips easy and painless. Montgomery, 50 miles to the north, is less than an hour’s drive away, while Columbus, 88 miles to the northeast in neighboring Georgia, is less than a two-hour drive away.
If you were passing through Troy in its early days, you would have found its location just as central as it is today. However, there’s a good chance you would have been stuck scratching your head, trying to figure out where, exactly, you were. Known first as Deer Stand Hill in the 1830s, the settlement was then later called Zebulon. Later still it was known as Centreville. To further confound things, at one point the county seat (then Monticello) was shifted to the community we now know as Troy.
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Walk Through Troy’s Past
Today, finding and visiting this idyllic Alabama township is, of course, far easier. And when you first arrive, you’ll no doubt find yourself drawn to its historic downtown core. With a traditional old town square serving as the hub, the downtown area is dotted with a mix of eclectic museums, art galleries and family-owned restaurants.
For a dash of history, swing by the Pioneer Museum of Alabama. Housed on a massive 35-acre complex, it’s home to 20 heritage buildings, more than 18,000 artifacts and a “living history” farmstead. The site features vivid displays and immersive walk-through exhibits that tell the history of Troy and Alabama from pioneer times through the Civil War to the turn of the century. Live folk demonstrations occur daily.
Sweet Southern Air
When it’s time to catch some fresh air and stretch your legs, you can follow the locals to Pike County Lake, a popular nearby spot for a picnic, hike or an afternoon of fishing. Closed for renovations and restocking the last two years, the lake is scheduled to reopen summer 2016. Troy University’s Arboretum botanical garden is another popular draw, and an entire day can easily be spent exploring its blooming displays and 2.5-mile natural swamp trail. But if you’re visiting Troy for the first time, do yourself a favor and hop on the Heart of Dixie Trail to see southern Alabama’s gorgeous landscapes by horseback.