Holleys Ferry is one of the oldest landmarks along the Alabama River in Wilcox County, Alabama

Lake Glen at Holleys Ferry in Wilcox County, Alabama.

Holleys Ferry is one of the oldest landmarks along the Alabama River in Wilcox County. Located southwest of Camden, between Possum Bend and Yellow Bluff, this point on the river was once a prominent cotton landing and later became an important ferry crossing. Today, travelers cross the river near this point by taking the Frank Dobson Bridge.

I found myself traveling west on State Highway 10 the other day and had a few minutes to spare, so I turned right onto the dirt road that takes you down to Holleys Ferry Park. This park is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and features a boat landing, areas to fish and hiking trails. It had been several years since I’d visited this spot, and I was interested to see if it had changed much.

I followed the dirt road to the parking lot just up from the boat landing, parked and walked down to the river on foot. Aside from the sound of distant vehicles passing along Highway 10, all was quiet as the river’s muddy waters slipped south towards the Gulf of Mexico. Not even the sound of a boat motor disturbed the quiet of this humid, late spring afternoon.

From my vantage point at the boat landing, I could see the underside of the Frank Dobson Bridge, which was built in the late 1960s. Standing there, I thought about how some historical maps show that the original Holleys Ferry (sometimes spelled Holly Ferry or Holly’s Ferry) was located just south of the 2,322-foot-long bridge that spans the river there today. A mockingbird flittered onto a limb nearby as I thought about the innumerable travelers over the years who crossed the river here by ferry boat, long before anyone could have imagined the steel and concrete bridge that carries travelers over the wide river today.

Just how Holleys Ferry gained its name is also somewhat of a mystery. In the old days, ferry operators were usually given licenses to operate ferries, and these licenses were often given as rewards for military service or some other type of important service to the government. In many cases, the ferry crossing was named after the person who was given the original license.

Those who have been to Holleys Ferry Park will also know that it includes a small lake that maps designate as “Lake Glen.” This lake takes its name from former owner Glen David Liddell, who opened it for public fishing in 1962. Prior to that, only members of a private fishing club were allowed to “drown a worm” in its waters.

Before leaving, I strolled over to the edge of Lake Glen for a closer look and sat down on one of the wooden benches that you’ll find along its banks. All was quiet, and I wondered if there were any old ghost stories or local legends associated with this area. No doubt ancient Indians lived all throughout this area in olden times, and one can only guess what they would have thought about the massive bridge that passes high over the Alabama River today.

In the end, let me hear from you if you know any more about the history of Holleys Ferry, especially where it was originally located and how it got its name. Chances are, someone in the reading audience will know more about this unique location and its history. If so, please let me know so that this information can be documented for the generations yet to come.