Recreational enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy outdoor activities in and around Ozark. With a wide range of parks, freshwater streams, rivers and lakes, Ozark is the place for sportsmen, nature explorers and athletes. Tennis, golf, baseball, softball, soccer, archery, playgrounds, pavilions, walking trails, hunting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and much more are available to residents and visitors.

With access to deep woods, open fields, streams, rivers and lakes, Ozark is a fantastic place for hunters, fishing enthusiasts and outdoorsmen. Deer, turkey, duck, dove and wild hog are found in abundance throughout the woods and fields. For the avid fisherman bass, bream, crappie and catfish can be found in the lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. If you prefer your activities a little slower paced, try a walk in the woods or a stroll in our historic downtown area. Ozark has an abundance to natural beauty just waiting to be explored.

Fox Ridge Golf Course | 815 Country Club Dr.
This 18-hole championship golf course is open to members and non-members. The club’s spacious facilities and sparkling pool also offer a great location for your next corporate, family or special event. The golf course was designed by Ron Garl and built in 1972. It features 6,756 yards of golf for a par 72. The Course Rating is 71.7 with a Slope Rating of 13.2. Reserve your tee time today by calling (334) 774-3333.

Kidzone Pavilion and  Splash Pad at Steagall Park

Located on the north side of Peacock Parkway, Steagall Park has picnic pavilions; a playground and Splash Pad, four lighted athletic fields used for baseball, softball and special events; eight lighted tennis courts and one lighted basketball court. Kidzone, a lighted state-of-the-art community built playground is located on the Faust Avenue side of Steagall Park. The large wooden pavilion is available for birthday parties, family reunions or special events. The pavilion is rented in three hour blocks, and all reservations must be made at Perry Recreation Center.

Eagle Stadium and Buddy Williams Field
Built in 1946, this regulation-sized baseball stadium with covered grandstand has been home to professional, recreation and high school baseball. It is located on the corner of Martin Street and Carroll Avenue.

Oben Everett Park
The park features two lighted basketball courts, a playground and a covered pavilion with picnic area. Everett Park is located on the corner of Andrews Avenue and College Street. The park is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

Fuqua Park
Located on Faust Avenue., Fuqua Park is home to the city’s football field and Lisenby Field, a lighted Dixie Youth baseball field.

Police Memorial Park
The park features four baseball/softball fields, a lighted basketball court, two lighted tennis courts, an athletic field, picnic areas, playgrounds and a covered pavilion. It is located behind East Gate School, off Andrews Avenue, and is the home of the Soccer Complex. The park is open to the public until 10 p.m.

Ed Lisenby Lake
Ed Lisenby Lake is a 92-acre, award-winning state fishing lake located in a beautiful 390-acre park. The lake also has a fully stocked bait shop offering boat rentals, fishing permits, fishing and hunting licenses, snacks, drinks, a large assortment of lures and other fishing supplies and live bait.

Pedestrian and birding trail
There is a 3.1-mile walking trail at Ed Lisenby Lake. One mile of the trail is primitive, while the remaining 2.1 miles are paved. Approximate walking time is one hour. The trail is available year-round for walking and jogging. Pets are welcome to walk the trail with you, but they must be on a leash.

Sam Dale Park
Sam Dale Park, part of the lake complex, has a pavilion, picnic areas and a memorial to pioneer Sam Dale.

Ozark Community Archery Range
The range is now open to the public six days a week from sunrise to sunset; the park is closed on Wednesdays. For complete details on using the archery range, visit www.ozarkalabama.us.

Ozark, Dale County and the surrounding areas provide a rich selection of concerts, plays, art shows, lectures and other cultural events. Our art scene is as wonderful and diverse as our natural environment. Ozark, Dale County and the surrounding areas are home to nationally recognized artists, musicians, painters, writers and much more. Enjoy movie theaters, museums, art galleries, dinner theater and more. Celebrate life year-round while attending a long list of area events and festivals.

Take in Ozark’s art scene at the Dowling Museum/Ann Rudd Art Center. Through the efforts of the Dale County Council of Arts and Humanities, the Ann Rudd Art Center offers numerous art shows supporting local and regional artists. Enjoy lunch or dinner at one of our many restaurants before enjoying the current art show. Don’t forget to take a stroll through the downtown area and view our historic buildings.

April brings springtime and the Ozark Crawdad and Music Festival. Grab a chair and listen to the sounds of wonderful music while enjoying crawdads, shrimp and funnel cakes. This annual festival also includes craft and food vendors and children’s activities. For more information, call (334) 774-2618.

The Ozark Civic Center has a seating capacity of over 4,000 and hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. The circus, trade shows, “geek” and game events, concerts and roller derby are just a few of events you and your family can enjoy at this venue.

Flowers Center for the Performing Arts is a unique facility and the perfect setting for smaller events. Offering 501 seats with great views of the stage for events such as concerts, pageants, plays and seminars, this historic venue is home to many community theater and musical events.

Ozark-Dale County Public Library offers a variety of programs and events for all age groups. Throughout the year they offer “mommy and me” activities, technology classes, movie events, lectures, historic displays and more.

Dale County AgPlex Arena provides a covered arena with abundant bleacher seating for events such as horse shows, 4H events and is the home of the South Alabama Pro Rodeo Classic. This annual event provides bull riding, team roping, barrel racing, calf roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and breakaway roping, entertainment, vendors and more. Mark your calendar and join us on the third Friday and Saturday of August. For tickets or to participate in the South Alabama Pro Rodeo Classic, call (334) 774-9448.

Fall brings the Claybank Jamboree Arts and Crafts Festival. This poplar event will soon be celebrating 50 years. Our historic downtown area is the backdrop for artists, craft vendors, food vendors, car show, and children’s activities, offering something for everyone. Live music performances by local and up-and-coming artists is the highlight of the event. Bring your lawn chair and spend the day with us. If you are interested in being a vendor for this event, please call the Chamber at (334) 774-9321 or email us at info@ozarkalchamber.com.

The holiday season ushers in our annual Christmas Parade as well as many holiday musical events. With our mild climate, you can enjoy outdoor activities and events year round.

Fort Rucker, the home of Army Aviation is also home to the U.S. Army Aviation Museum. Featuring one-of-a-kind aircraft and unique rotary wing and fixed wing experimental aircraft, the museum is also home to one of the largest collections of helicopters in the world. Ozark is proud to be the home of Fort Rucker.

For a full calendar of events, visit our website at www.ozarkalchamber.com.

Whatever your shopping need, you will find it through the wonderful variety of shops, retail stores, markets and restaurants located in Ozark. Shoppers can spend the day on our historic downtown square and explore our history while shopping unique retail stores and the vendor markets that display the craftsmanship of talented local residents. Among the items you will find downtown are men’s clothing and accessories, ladies’ clothing and accessories, unique floral and gift items, locally crafted items, salons and spas. Services include banking, pharmacy, printing and office supplies.

Hungry? Stop for lunch at one of the local restaurants or just take a short break and try some homemade ice cream or candies. Next, venture to one of the many shopping centers located on Andrews Avenue or Highway 231 Shoppers will discover familiar retail and restaurant names and unique stores that provide a wide selection of goods and services, from antiques to wedding dresses.

Is DIY your hobby? Ozark offers several stores that can assist you with all of your projects, whether inside or outside of the home. These stores will offer the tools you need and everything from carpeting to windows to complete the project.

Eating establishments offer everything from a leisurely breakfast, lunch or dinner to a quick bite on the run. Some of the cuisine you will find in Ozark includes home-style cooking, ethnic cuisine, steak, seafood, Italian and good old “southern barbecue.” If you prefer your own cooking, one of our grocery stores will have everything you need to whip up your favorite meal. Don’t forget to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables from our farmers market, which runs May through August.

Interested in finding a specific item, store or restaurant? Contact the Chamber of Commerce for a recommendation!

Living in Ozark offers an opportunity to enjoy a positive community spirit and an excellent location to raise a family or spend one’s retirement years. You will find schools, health care, shopping and worship centers in close proximity to almost all available housing options.

In 2017, Ozark was rated in the top 200 American cities for first-time home buyers in a study conducted by LendEDU. Using data collected on 300,000 U.S. cities, Ozark was highly rated in measures, such as median household value, mortgage success rate, low property tax rate, and cost-of-living index.

Housing prices in Ozark, as in any other city, vary according to location, size, features and age. The 2016 median price for a home in the Ozark and Dale County area was $85,600, well below the U.S. median price of $185,800. Furthermore, the 2016 home appreciation rates in Ozark have increased by 7.3 percent. Home ownership in Ozark offers the advantage of building financial equity with a valuable asset.

Local real estate companies conducting business in Ozark are staffed with licensed professionals well familiar with housing options in the area. Agents are knowledgeable regarding a wide range of financing choices to fulfill your home purchase. They can assist first-time home buyers, as well as new construction, investment property or land upon which buyers can build their dream home. The charm of Ozark, combined with the availability and affordability of new and existing homes, make it a great place to live.

The library provides free access to quality materials and information to all residents of the area. It features 62,000 items, including multimedia, periodicals and reference materials. The facility is equipped with high-speed internet service, genealogy assistance, a young adult section and a virtual library complete with various databases.

The library also organizes a number of programs for its patrons, including children’s reading workshops, education classes and a range of educational entertainment. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

OZARK CITY SCHOOLS

Led by an administrative cadre including the superintendent and building principals with oversight from a five-member locally appointed board, the Ozark City School system is a great place in which to educate your children.

Rigorous academics, relevant instructions and meaningful relationships are the hallmarks of this school system, which provides a learning environment that not only meets but exceeds the state standards. Students learn and grow in ways that help prepare them to enter the 21st century world equipped with powerful skills that ensure success.

The 21st-century adult will need to work in an environment that promotes collaboration and problem solving in multicultural, multilingual and multinational groups. The 21st-century adult will need strong negotiating skills and will need to be able to access multiple types of information from multiple sources and use this information productively in a world where information will be the key to unlocking personal, organizational and national success.

Ozark City Schools have received multiple recognitions and honors, including STEM accreditation and a CLAS Banner School designation.

LISENBY PRIMARY SCHOOL
860 Faust Ave.
(334) 774-4919
www.les.ozarkcityschools.net

Lisenby Primary school, a preK-2 site, boasts a 53 years of quality instruction and exceptional program. The school is one of the few primary schools in the state of Alabama. It focuses on the needs of the whole child and it takes pride in offering student leadership roles in organizations such as The Lisenby Leaders and The Lisenby Singers.

Its weekly W ellness Wednesday lessons, prepared and delivered by the school’s PE program each Wednesday, teaches students about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise. Highly qualified staff use research-based strategies to develop and enhance student learning, while focusing on developing character and life skills.

MIXON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
349 Sherrill Ln.
(334) 774-4912
www.mes.ozarkcityschools.net

Serving grades 3-5, Mixon Intermediate School offers a relevant, challenging and integrative curriculum with multiple strategies to ensure the needs specific to the pre-adolescent child are addressed through curriculum content and delivery, activities, and opportunities to interact with peers and adults. Mixon is a place where each child’s individuality is celebrated and each child is equipped with the skills to meet the growing demands of our ever-changing society.

D.A. SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL
994 Andrews Ave.
(334) 774-4913
www.das.ozarkcityschools.net

Smith Middle School is committed to helping students navigate the complex middle-school years. The middle school philosophy focuses on the specific characteristics of the adolescent learner. As students learn about themselves, they begin to develop interests and become aware of their talents. D.A. Smith teachers and staff who work with students in this age group are keenly aware of the needs of their students and offer learning opportunities that encourage them to participate in classroom activities, athletics, clubs and other organizations.

DALE COUNTY SCHOOLS
(334) 774-2355
www.dalecountyboe.org

The Dale County School system currently has seven schools located across rural Dale County. Dale County Schools have a rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence. The schools have a tremendous community support and pride themselves in providing a quality education to the young people of the communities.

The faculty and staff of each school is very dedicated to providing a safe, disciplined, learning environment that focuses on academic and athletic excellence. Students grow and learn because of the support of parents, businesses, partnerships and community leaders that help mold them into productive members of society.

Dale County Schools continue to meet established state and national standards. Dale County School system stakeholders raise the bar each year to push our students and teachers to increase their level of achievement. Teachers are dedicated in making sure every class meets its proficiency rate in math and reading as required by state and federal legislation.

VIVIAN B. ADAMS SCHOOL
2047 Stuart Tarter Rd.
(334) 774-5132
www.vivianbadams.net

Vivian B. Adams School has a premier reputation for serving the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities since 1971. The school’s namesake, Vivian B. Adams, was visionary in the school’s creation because of her desire to see services offered locally for her great-grandson. The city of Ozark and several residents made significant efforts in opening the doors for programs. The school continues to enjoy remarkable support as second and third generations of families serve on its board.

The school currently serves 125 individuals from Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Houston, Henry and Pike Counties in Southeast Alabama.

Its mission is to provide support and assist individuals with developmental disabilities to develop and to select and or maintain natural supports and to assist these persons in becoming as successful and independent as possible.

Adams School offers early intervention and case management services for children birth to age 3 diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Individuals ages 3 to 21 are provided educational services contracted by local school systems. These programs are provided year-round. Four ability-based programs are available to adults over age 21 with developmental disabilities. The adult programs comprise 75 percent of the Adams School population and focus on personal care, independent living skills and work preparation training. Individuals also receive speech, occupational, and physical therapies.

Vivian B. Adams School employs a full-time staff of 48.

HIgher education

ALABAMA AVIATION CENTER
3405 US Highway 231
(334) 774-5113
www.escc.edu/alabama-aviation-center

The Alabama Aviation College, Unit of Enterprise State Community College, is Ozark’s premier college. Since the 1960s, AAC has been located on Highway 231 and has given students the knowledge, skills and ability it takes to work in the aviation industry. As the only aviation maintenance program in the state of Alabama, AAC also offers avionics technology classes and an Associate of Applied Science degree.

In 2018, AAC received a $2.5 million grant that will help to improve the campus by adding new buildings and giving future students what they need to be successful after graduating.

The Alabama Aviation College is a gem in the Wiregrass community and is the place to learn the skills needed to land a good, well paying job in just two years. For more information about the college, financial aid or campus tours, contact recruiter Jenna Judah at (334) 347-2623, ext. 3630 or via email at jjudah@escc.edu.

WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1141 Wallace Dr., Dothan
(334) 983-3521
www.wallace.edu

George C. Wallace Community College is a leading community college, nationally recognized for excellence and innovation in education and student success. The college is the primary choice of residents preparing for the job market, seeking an associate or advanced degree, and/or pursuing career advancement or personal development. College partnerships with area schools, business and industry, and governmental agencies contribute to an educational system that enhances economic development and quality of life in the region.

The college fulfills its mission through a clearly defined set of programs and services that include college-level credit programs, continuing education programs, economic development programs, student development programs and services and support programs and services.

TROY UNIVERSITY
500 University Dr., Dothan
(334) 983-6556
www.troy.edu/dothan

Troy University is a public institution composed of a network of campuses throughout Alabama and worldwide. International in scope, Troy University provides a variety of educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels for a diverse student body in traditional, nontraditional and emerging electronic formats. Academic programs are supported by a variety of student services which promote the welfare of the individual student. Troy University’s dedicated faculty and staff promote discovery and exploration of knowledge and its application to life-long success through effective teaching, service, creative partnerships, scholarship and research.

Troy University has been recognized by Princeton Review, U.S. News and World Report, Military Times and more as having some of the best undergraduate programs in the Southeast and nation. Whether you are graduating from high school, transferring from a two-year school, or completing your degree as a working adult, Troy offers a wide variety of associate and baccalaureate degrees that will open doors to career opportunities.

Dale Medical Center, Ozark

Dale Medical Center is an 89-bed acute care community hospital providing 24-hour emergency room service. Since its inception in 1952, DMC has grown to include an ambulatory surgery center, STATMED urgent care clinic, Therapy Plus-outpatient rehab, Community Hospice, Home Health Agency, New Vision medical stabilization unit, 10 rehabilitation beds, a 25-bed geriatric and adult behavioral health unit and multiple physician practices.

Dale Medical Center has been awarded several quality-related national designations. Dale Medical Center is recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a Tier I hospital for delivering high-quality, cost effective health care. The Studer Group recognized DMC as hospital of the month in March of 2014 for outstanding results in clinical, operational and service excellence and the 2017 Excellence in Patient Care Award. And for the past two years, the emergency department has earned the Women’s Choice Award for Best Emergency Room Care placing Dale Medical Center in the top 10 percent of emergency rooms nationally for their quality outcomes and service.

For the past 65 years, Dale Medical Center has served the citizens of Dale County and the surrounding area. Each day the staff strives to provide the very best care for their patients. “Being awarded the various quality designations is a reflection of the commitment and efforts of our physicians and staff to move our hospital to a higher level of service and care,” said Vernon Johnson, CEO.

Providence Assisted Living Community

Providence Assisted Living Community is designed for the senior in need of assistance with their activities of daily living. By eliminating the stress and expense of maintaining a home and meal preparation, assisted living offers the senior an opportunity to spend quality time enjoying family, friends and activities.

Providence staff are always available to assist with any daily living activities the senior may need to include bathing, dressing and medication management.

Residents may choose from a spacious private room or a two room suite that includes flexible service plans to provide the right amount of support, while encouraging maximum independence.

Providence Assisted Living Community is located at 171 Grimes Rd. in Ozark. For more information or to schedule a tour, call (334) 774-0364.

Oakview Manor Health Care and Rehab Center
929 Mixon School Rd.
Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-2631
www.oakviewmanor.com

Ozark Health and Rehabilitation
312 Bryan Dr.
Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-2561
ozarkhealthandrehab.com

Providence Assisted Living Community
171 Grimes Rd.
Ozark, AL 36360
(334) 774-0364
www.extendicarehealth.com/facilities/providence/