Ancient Indian village of Uxapita was located near Gulletts Bluff

According to the 1977 book “Dead Towns of Alabama” by W. Stuart Harris, the ancient Indian village of Uxapita was located in present-day Wilcox County at the mouth of Pursley Creek, at its junction with the Alabama River, about eight miles southwest of Camden. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his expedition visited Uxapita on Oct. 8, 1540 and described it as a “new town.” Other sources say that this village was inhabited by Maubillian Indians.

This past Saturday around noon, as my 12-year-old son, James, and I enjoyed our lunch beneath the shade of the large pecan tree on the northeast corner of the old courthouse square in Camden, our conversation turned to the old Indian village of Uxapita. As he finished off the last of the French fries we’d gotten from Jackson’s Fried Chicken, I reached for my trusty National Geographic map of Wilcox County and began to trace out the point where Pursley Creek flows into the Alabama River. According to the map, the old village was located near Gulletts Bluff, not far from the Dry Forks community.

A few minutes later, we found ourselves headed south on State Highway 41, and we eventually turned right onto County Road 12 at the Gulletts Bluff Baptist Church. A little farther down the road, we pulled into the entrance of the old Gulletts Bluff Park. Those of you familiar with this area will know that two yellow, metal gates keep vehicles from proceeding any farther towards the closed boat landing there.

As we sat there in the truck, I remembered being told that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed this park at some point in the 1980s. I’d also been told that the road leading to the boat landing at the park had washed out, rendering it unsafe for motorists, especially those pulling boats. Others say that a landslide and erosion destroyed the boat ramp, which was the park’s main feature.

Billy Black, one of Alabama’s foremost anglers, also told me that the ramp there is currently unusable. He said it’s partially undermined and covered in years of silt left behind during periods of high water. He noted that he does occasionally see people fishing near Gulletts Landing when he is in that part of the river.

I’ve also heard folks tell about how they once climbed the tall bluff near the landing during their youth. From there, it’s said that you could see Camden and the paper mill. Others say that in years past they enjoyed walking the park’s trails and described the old growth forests of this area as breathtaking.

Gulletts Landing is historic in and of itself. It shows up on maps dating back to at least 1891, and it’s probably much older than that. Also, in addition to Uxapita, historical sources say that a Choctaw village called Bachcha Illi was also located near Gulletts Bluff and Pursley Creek. The name of this village meant “Dead Ridge,” and the village appears on maps that date back to at least 1733.

In the end, please let me hear from you if you have any more information about Uxapita, Gulletts Bluff or Bachcha Illi. No doubt many readers will have fond memories from this part of Wilcox County, including information about the area’s history. While we have the chance, let’s make a special effort to document this history for the generations yet to come.