History, identity, and credibility

Rail corridor to recreational corridor

Rails-to-trails projects work best when they preserve access, visibility, and the “spine” of a town. In Piedmont, the corridor naturally threads through downtown—supporting both visitors and local community life.

This site provides the Trail Town overview; for deep trail details, maps, and corridor updates, see ChiefLadigaTrail.com.

History of Piedmont

Piedmont grew as a small but important crossroads community in Northeast Alabama, shaped by rail and roadway connections and a downtown built to serve the surrounding countryside. For generations, Main Street functioned as the commercial and civic heart of town—close-knit, locally owned, and built with the kind of durable brick architecture that still defines the corridor today.

Through much of the 20th century, Piedmont and the wider region were supported by manufacturing—especially textiles. Those jobs helped families put down roots, supported small businesses, and kept the downtown active. Like many Southern communities, Piedmont’s identity and stability were tied to the strength of that industrial base.

Over the past few decades, the area has faced real economic headwinds. As textile production moved and facilities downsized or closed, job losses rippled outward—reducing household income, slowing reinvestment, and leaving many communities searching for a new path forward. Downtowns across the region felt the effects, Piedmont included.

The region also experienced another major shift as military restructuring and base realignment reduced the footprint of Fort McClellan and the U.S. Army presence in the area. That change impacted employment, contracting, and the broader economic ecosystem that supported local businesses and services.

Today, Piedmont is reinventing itself with purpose—built around the majestic outdoor recreation that surrounds us. With the Chief Ladiga Trail integrated into the downtown grid, access to the Pinhoti Trail and local trailheads, and nearby destinations like Terrapin Creek, Dugger Mountain, Coleman Lake, Talladega National Forest, and Indian Mountain ATV Park, Piedmont is being reborn as a travel destination. Our advantage is simple: visitors don’t have to choose between “trail” and “town”—in Piedmont, they meet in the same place.