Does anyone know the history of the old hotel that was on Shades Crest Road in the early 1900's? My Grandmother told me of riding the carriage after church on Sundays to have lunch there. Also, there was a stone home on Shades Crest Road where the interstate crosses now that was torn down in the late 60's, It was either a speakeasy or a gambling house. There was a tunnel that went from the basement under Shades Crest Road and came out on the side of the mountain. I know this to be true because we used to party there after school  and on weekends. I would love to know the story about this place. It was beautiful and sat right in the middle of Shades Crest Road with a stone wall around it. I am sure Mrs.Ethel Hale who taught 4'th grade at Bluff Park would know but I am sure she has probably been dead for years. Her father was one of the original pioneers of BP. She was a very interesting lady that was very tough on her students. Is there anyone else besides me that would like to know all the history of Bluff Park?

Yes the History Project is an ongoing thing right now. I am working on collecting information on the Shades Crest Historical District right now, which will include the hotel.

Fred I think that old house was called the Linger Longer Lodge or something? I could be confused with another house on the mountain but that sounds right.  
 
I have always been interested in Bluff Park's history. Last year I read an interesting collection of Essays : Essays on the Bluff Park community : Shades Mountain, Hoover, Alabama (976.1 ESS). You can check it out at Hoover Library (or another Jefferson County library if you request it). It was put together by a class at Samford. If you ask the librarians at the Hoover library, they can show you a lot of different sources that aren't on the shelves.  
 
There is also A History of Hoover, Alabama and its People by Barefield - which pretty much references all prior available sources. I found a little here and there in some other general history books on Jefferson County, but those two pretty much cover it all.