Why Locals Love Living in Prattville, AL
Prattville (and Autauga County overall) is the ideal place to live. It doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of big cities, yet it is packed with plenty of entertainment options and things to do.
“Prattville offers a number of things that any big city would have, and you’re never too far from anything,” says Wesley Andrews, a Realtor with Thomas & Land Real Estate who has lived in the area for most of his life. “There’s a lot of history here. It’s beautiful, it’s quaint and it’s the quintessential American town. It’s like a postcard. My whole family lives here, and we love it.”
Ahead, Andrews highlights many things to do and see for newcomers, residents and visitors alike.
In This Article
Daniel Pratt Historic District
Prattville’s historic downtown district, dominated by the city’s former cotton gin that was turned into upscale apartments, is home to cafes, restaurants, breweries, retail outlets and entertainment options.
“Prattville’s downtown is like a Hallmark movie,” Andrews says. “During the holidays, we love to walk there with the dog and look at the lights. It’s one of the reasons we bought a home close to downtown.”
Doster Road Artesian Well
Prattville was once called The Fountain City because of its hundreds of artesian wells, some of which helped supply Prattville’s water system many years ago. Only a few remain today, such as Doster Road Artesian Well, which is surrounded by a park and natural area. It’s a popular place for locals to fill up jugs with drinking water to take home.
“It’s probably my favorite part of living here,” Andrews says. “It’s the cleanest water I’ve ever had. We invested in large water jugs that we fill, and that’s all we drink at home.”
High Point Town Center or Premiere Place Shopping Center
The Prattville area is home to two modern shopping complexes, High Point Town Center and Premiere Place Shopping Center. High Point Town Center features Publix, JCPenney and Belk as well as several eateries. Premiere Place Shopping Center features businesses like Michaels, GameStop and Chick-fil-A.
Prattville Farmers Market
Every Saturday from June until August, the Prattville Farmers Market is the local source for fresh produce, honey, baked goods and other homemade items.
“We love the local farmers market, and we go with my mother-in-law every Saturday,” Andrews says. “We get fresh vegetables and eat them that night. My mother-in-law gets eggs for the week or honey from the local beekeeper.”
Local Events
Prattville hosts several local events throughout the year that residents enjoy. Twice monthly in June and July, the city hosts the free Creekwalk Concerts in the historic downtown district. For almost 40 years, the city has been hosting Prattville CityFest, a two-day celebration featuring homemade goods and crafts, with family-friendly entertainment. Great Grits Cookoff & Festival is an annual fundraiser that benefits the YMCA, where local businesses, restaurants and residents compete to cook the best grits.
Capitol Hill
Spread over 1,500 acres and featuring three 18-hole championship golf courses named Judge, Legislator and Senator, Capitol Hill is renowned as one of the top public golf courses in the U.S., earning praise from Golf World, Golf Magazine and Zagat Survey of America’s Top Golf Courses.
Cooters Pond Park
Near the Alabama River, Cooters Pond Park features a riverside walking trail, boat ramps, docks, picnic tables, grills, green space for relaxing and playing, and the See, Pick and Eat Nut Grove, where visitors can sample nuts from nut-producing trees. It also features a popular dog park.
“Cooters Pond Park is probably the most underrated part of Prattville,” Andrews says. “It’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve got. You can see downtown Montgomery.”
Wilderness Park
This unique wilderness park, dedicated in 1982, was the first of its kind in the U.S. to be developed inside city limits. The park boasts hundreds of varieties of plants, including one of the state’s largest beech trees and massive sections of 60-foot-tall bamboo stalks, some of which are 6 inches in diameter.
Old Prattvillage & Gardens
Comprising a collection of remodeled 19th-century buildings, Old Prattvillage & Gardens houses businesses like the historic Mims Hotel and Slaton House. It is also home to the Little Chapel, which is a popular destination for photography. It is maintained by local gardeners.
Get to Know Prattville
Want to learn more about living and working in Prattville, AL? Check out the latest edition of Livability Prattville-Autauga County, Alabama.
