From majestic mountains in the north to sugary white beaches on the Gulf Coast, natural beauty abounds in Alabama. Yet, it’s hard to find a view as breathtaking as that from the Smith Mountain Fire Tower at Lake Martin. It may be even harder to find a community as dedicated to a landmark’s natural beauty and restoration.

On a crisp autumn afternoon, hundreds of people have gathered at the peak of Smith Mountain in Lake Martin’s Sandy Creek area. Fish fries as neighbors and friends reminisce, sharing stories of their experiences at the fire tower.

It’s a day of rededication, celebrating the restoration of a historic landmark that will stand for years to come. But what pulls so many to the mountaintop, the highest elevation on the lake?

Whether the sweeping views, the celebration, the community or, more likely, a combination of all three, there is no denying that the Smith Mountain Fire Tower plays an integral part in the past, present and future of Lake Martin.

Standing atop Smith Mountain since 1939, the fire tower is rooted in Lake Martin history. The tower was built after an agreement between Alabama Power, the Tallapoosa County Forest Conservation Association and the Alabama Forestry Commission.

The 90-foot fire tower was the first built by the conservation association. A dedication ceremony on April 10, 1939, was followed by a fish fry hosted by the Dadeville Kiwanis Club.

In 1941, the forestry commission developed a ranger station at the fire tower’s base, and for the next four decades the tower served as a sentinel against forest fires. In 1980, the tower was decommissioned and not used or maintained for 30 years until local groups came together to restore the tower.

The Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA), created in 2004, has played a key role in restoring the Smith Mountain Fire Tower. The nonprofit group has built foot-path-only trails along Lake Martin.

The first set of trails, 11 miles north of Martin Dam, drew an overwhelmingly positive response, and the group looked for ways to expand to other parts of the lake.

“We saw where Smith Mountain offered a lot of opportunity for hiking trails and the fire tower was a big draw to the area,” says Jimmy K. Lanier, founder of CRATA.

In November 2010, Alabama Power deeded about 10 acres atop Smith Mountain to CRATA. Under the conditions that the land have no commercial enterprises and would have to be open to the public, CRATA received permission to restore the fire tower and build hiking trails.

For the next 18 months, CRATA and a multitude of community groups and volunteers cleared hiking trails and worked to restore the fire tower.

“It was amazing to see how many people jumped in to help,” Lanier says. Robert Hodnette, a retired engineer from Huntsville, chipped in by donating an engineering plan.

A fire in 2007 destroyed the first three landings of the fire tower. Repairs to all of the steps and landings, along with metal work and reinforcements, were needed to restore the tower.

Members of the trail association, the Dadeville Kiwanis Club and the Methodist Men’s Group from the First United Methodist Church of Dadeville rotated work two to three days a week.

Lanier, who retired from a career of handling large construction projects for the military, brought years of hiking experience to the project.

“I’m a backpacker. I have hiked more than 800 miles across the Appalachian Trail, hiked across Spain and along the Colorado Trail. But my favorite trails are the ones we have created and designed here,” Lanier says.

After months of hard work, volunteers and donors gathered for a rededication ceremony on Nov. 8. Just as they had in 1939, Dadeville Kiwanians hosted a fish fry to mark the occasion.

“This was about preserving a piece of history,” Lanier says. “Plus, preserving a landmark is important to a lot of people here in the Dadeville and Tallapoosa area.”

The restored Smith Mountain Fire Tower and the mountain’s hiking trails are open to the public. A trail begins at the base of the mountain and ascends to the fire tower at the peak. Plans for 10 more miles of trails are under way and expected to be completed in 2013. Visiting time is daybreak until 30 minutes after sunset daily.

By Allison Westlake