It’s always been about the bluff. Towering 500 feet above Birmingham, Bluff Park — a community that sits on the summit of Shades Mountain — has attracted folks seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of the city for more than a century.

The view off Shades Crest Road in Bluff Park has attracted countless people for more than a century.Pin
The view off Shades Crest Road in Bluff Park has attracted countless people for more than a century.

Bluff Park History

Before it was Bluff Park, the area went by Hale Springs. Gardner Hale, who previously served as superintendent of the Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory in Prattville, purchased the property in 1863. After his death in 1880, Hale’s sons pioneered the property and helped turn it into a burgeoning resort destination.

With several springs dotting the mountain’s edge, the bluff allured people looking to get a fresh dip in the streams, which were believed to have medicinal benefits. Eventually, hotels and lodges began popping up along what is now Shades Crest Road, establishing the bluff as a flourishing resort community.

Heather Jones Skaggs, Bluff Park resident and author of Images of America: Bluff Park, says it’s hard to pinpoint when the area officially began going by Bluff Park, but she guesses it wasn’t long after the Bluff Park Hotel opened its doors.

One of the only surviving photos of the Bluff Park Hotel, which burned to the ground in the 1920s. The hotel was a popular destination for travelers seeking a dip in the bluff’s springs, which were believed to have medicinal benefits. Image: Heather Jones SkaggsPin
This is one of the only surviving photos of the Bluff Park Hotel, which burned to the ground in the 1920s. The hotel was a popular destination for travelers seeking a dip in the bluff’s springs, which were believed to have medicinal benefits. Image: Heather Jones Skaggs
Located along the crest of the mountain next to Tip Top Grill, Lover’s Leap is a legendary Bluff Park spot. An old Creek Indian legend marks the site as where an Indian brave leapt to his death after stabbing a tribal princess. Today, the site is marked with engravings by locals and visitors.Pin
Located along the crest of the mountain next to Tip Top Grill, Lover’s Leap is a legendary Bluff Park spot. An old Creek Indian legend marks the site as where an Indian brave leapt to his death after stabbing a tribal princess. Today, the site is marked with engravings by locals and visitors.
Lover’s Leap offers an unparalleled view of the bluff’s edge.Pin
Lover’s Leap offers an unparalleled view of the bluff’s edge.

“Bluff Park Hotel, Pinnacle House and Liberty Hall — those were the main destinations along Shades Crest Road,” Heather says. Established in 1907 by the Bluff Park Hotel Company, the hotel had 20 rooms that opened up to a porch where guests could enjoy a scenic view of the bluff. The hotel’s neighbors, Liberty Hall and Pinnacle House, also offered impressive mountain views and served as temporary sleeping quarters for visitors from throughout the state.

Only a few relics remain of the hotel, which caught fire and burned to the ground in 1925. The ledger and fireplace are some of the few remnants of the short-lived hotel. “Some people would write down notes in the ledger,” Heather says, going on to point out that one guest even documented the springs and their alleged healing powers.

RELATED: Mentone: A Mountain Getaway Where Time Stands Still

After Shades Crest Road was widened to meet the growing housing demand along the mountain, Bluff Park began blossoming into an established Birmingham suburb. “There’s still people who will say they’re from Bluff Park before they say they’re from Hoover,” Heather says. Bluff Park was officially annexed into the City of Hoover in 1989, making it the city’s oldest community.

The Bluff Today

Today, Bluff Park offers the appeal of a lush, quiet neighborhood — with whispers of its past in the gorgeous historic homes — intermingled with bustling pockets of business. Several restaurants and shops, specifically within the historic district of Shades Crest Road, have rooted themselves in the landscape, becoming family favorites for those who call Bluff Park home.

Before it was a burger joint, Tip Top Grill was a service station. Offering one of the best views of the bluff, the grill stays packed most weekends. Pin
Before it was a burger joint, Tip Top Grill was a service station. Offering one of the best views of the bluff, the grill stays packed most weekends.
With its old-school architecture and sign giving a nolstalgic nod to hardware shops of days gone by, Bluff Park Hardware is a permanent fixture in the community.Pin
With its old-school architecture and sign giving a nostalgic nod to hardware shops of days gone by, Bluff Park Hardware is a permanent fixture in the community.
Nestled between Bluff Park Hardware and Bluff Park Diner, Turquoise is a contemporary women’s clothier offering a wide variety of trends for style mavens along the bluff. Pin
Nestled between Bluff Park Hardware and Bluff Park Diner, Turquoise is a contemporary women’s clothier offering a wide variety of trends for style mavens along the bluff.
Before it was Bluff Park Diner, the restaurant was Bert’s on the Bluff. The diner’s menu, however, has hardly swayed from its meat-and-three tradition.Pin
Before it was Bluff Park Diner, the restaurant was Bert’s on the Bluff. The diner’s menu, however, has hardly swayed from its meat-and-three tradition.
Throughout multiple owners, the Bluff Park Diner has remained a meat-and-three, serving up some of the best soul food along the bluff.Pin
Throughout multiple owners, the Bluff Park Diner has remained a meat-and-three, serving up some of the best soul food along the bluff.

Just a stone’s throw from where the area’s iconic springs used to flow sits the Tip Top Grill, a revamped service station that now flips some of the best burgers in Birmingham. Several more shops line the road across the street from Tip Top, such as the popular Bluff Park Diner. “Before it was the diner it was ‘Bert’s on the Bluff’,” Heather remembers. “I used to go up there with my parents and brother. It’s just a good meat-and-three place.”

Neighboring the small shopping strip — which, along with the diner, houses Bluff Park Hardware, Moonlight on the Mountain, Kasey Davis Dentistry, Bluff Park Barber Shop and Turquoise women’s boutique — is On A Shoestring Antiques. The eclectic shop is otherwise known as “House of Scraps” to locals who know their history.

Dubbed Bluff Park’s local music venue, Moonlight on the Mountain is a BYOB listening room where locals can hear traveling musicians or the latest local artist to grace the music scene.Pin
Dubbed Bluff Park’s local music venue, Moonlight on the Mountain is a BYOB listening room where locals can hear traveling musicians or the latest local artist to grace the music scene.
Known by local history buffs as the “House of Scraps,” On a Shoestring is home to countless antiques and trinkets. On weekends, a seasonal market sets up shop on the lawn where local vendors sell food and crafts. Pin
Known by local history buffs as the “House of Scraps,” On A Shoestring Antiques is home to countless antiques and trinkets. On weekends, a seasonal market sets up shop on the lawn where local vendors sell food and crafts.
On a Shoestring is believed to be the former site of the Bluff Park Hotel tennis courts.Pin
On A Shoestring Antiques is believed to be the former site of the Bluff Park Hotel tennis courts.

“The reason why they call it the House of Scraps is because everything the original owner used, he collected from different areas,” Heather says, adding that it’s believed the Bluff Park Hotel tennis courts used to be located on the same plot of land. Today, the antiques shop overflows with odds and ends. On weekends, the shop’s lawn turns into a seasonal market — Park and Crest — where residents can buy local honey, fresh eggs, jewelry and other locally made goods.

Bluff Park’s destination for top-quality meats is only a short drive away from the Shades Crest Road and Park Avenue intersection. Mr. P’s Butcher Shop & Deli, which has been family-owned for decades, offers specialty meats, cheeses and other locally sourced goods. Not too long ago, Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe took up residence next to the deli, too.

Located along Shades Crest Road, Mr. P’s Butcher Shop & Deli has been serving up specialty meats stacked high on signature sandwiches for decades.Pin
Located along Shades Crest Road, Mr. P’s Butcher Shop & Deli has been serving up specialty meats stacked high on signature sandwiches for decades.

RELATED: 5 Nostalgic Birmingham Luncheonettes to Visit

Along with meats, Mr. P’s also sells a wide variety of sauces and spices as well as cheeses and wine.Pin
Along with meats, Mr. P’s also sells a wide variety of sauces and spices as well as cheeses and wine.
The original Mr. P, Charles Pilleteri, pioneered the deli decades ago. Pictured above, Pilleteri’s son, Chris, helps his father run the business today.Pin
The original Mr. P, Charles Pilleteri, pioneered the deli decades ago. Pictured above, Pilleteri’s son, Chris, helps his father run the business today.
The Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe opened in 2015 along Shades Crest Road next to Mr. P’s Butcher Shop & Deli. With a wide assortment of flavors, the shop has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.Pin
The Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe opened in 2015 along Shades Crest Road next to Mr. P’s Butcher Shop & Deli. With a wide assortment of flavors, the shop has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.

“We’ve seen a lot of new ventures come in, especially in the last five years,” Heather says of Bluff Park’s business growth. Because the area hasn’t slowed down much since its founding, she says she expects Bluff Park to continue flourishing and welcoming more residents and businesses in the process.

“A lot of people will say ‘People who live in Bluff Park never want to get off the mountain,’” Heather says with a smile. “I guess I’m one of them.”

Now, go explore this charming mountaintop enclave for a day of antiques, eateries, a boutique, a little ice cream, maybe some live music and, of course, the stunning view!

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Author: Sarah Cook
About the Author
Sarah Cook

When she's not writing, you'll find Sarah Cook McBride at a local concert, hiking a nearby trail or indulging in a scoop of Big Spoon Creamery ice cream.