Falling for Athens: Tiffany Pack Shares Her Favorite Haunts

By Kimberly Ballard
Photos by Amy Kelley / Fly Leaf Photography

The essence of Fall officially arrives in Athens in late October every year, wafting in on a cool night breeze twittering with lightening bugs and endless stars. For people enjoying an outdoor dinner and drinks at the sundry downtown Athens sidewalk cafes and pubs — best bring a sweater!

Tiffany Pack was born and raised in Athens. The owner of Dream Key Real Estate, Tiffany now leads one of North Alabama’s most productive real estate teams alongside her son John Austin Harwell and his wife Hannah.

Tiffany shares the reasons why she and her clients “Fall for Athens” every autumn.

Halloween

It is easy to fall for Halloween in Athens when it is your favorite holiday, just happens to coincide with fall, and is your favorite season of the year.

Adults don't have many reasons to dress up, so a big annual Halloween Party is a way to celebrate the holiday and give everyone a legitimate reason to do so,” she said. For the Dream Key Halloween Party, Tiffany shuts down the corner of Jefferson and Hobbs streets and hires a band or deejay to spin up some music. Families and kids clamor to take photos with a 6’3” animated Michael Myers from the front lawn.

Athens Fall Farmer's Market

Pumpkins, squash, apples, local honey and canned jams are weekend fare at the Athens Farmer’s Market at Doug Gates Park. Newly renovated and expanded, the Market sits on a century-old “farm site” and long destroyed cotton gin located on the west end of Green Street, near the heart of downtown Athens.

Kids will find a safe and lucrative trick-or-treating experience among the vendors and the evening ends with tunes from the popular Houston Ridge Bluegrass Band from Elkmont from 9 until 11 p.m.

Summerfest

Organized by Todd Stovall, head of the City of Athens’ Public Works, Downtown Athens Square comes alive in October. The small amphitheater-type venue at the Athens Farmer’s Market provides musical entertainment to those who bring folding lawn chairs and seek relaxation under the autumn moon. Stovall donates all proceeds from Summerfest to a different charity every year.

Get Insanely Spooked at the Lester Haunted Hospital

One of Tiffany’s favorite haunted attractions is the Lester Haunted Hospital in western Limestone County. Located about 25 miles north of Athens and Elkmont, Lester Hospital dates to the 1940s, but its haunted reputation began right after it was permanently closed in the 1990s.

What went on there and what happened to the people behind its walls? “People say objects inside the hospital move by themselves and ghostly figures wander the corridors,” Tiffany explains.

Fall Attractions Within Walking Distance of Downtown Athens

• Quality of life! The convenience of walking down the street and grabbing a drink at a pub or snagging a bite to eat from a restaurant without a long wait are quality of life issues! No driving is needed. Everything is accessible from the historic Downtown Square.

• Atmosphere & Decorations — The City of Athens does an excellent job decorating the Historic District with scarecrows, pumpkins and haystacks for the Halloween season. A vendor provides horse and buggy rides through town, while a variety of local and regional bands mix it up in the downtown square.

• Athens Haunt Walk — If you are interested in a ghostly experience, Tiffany recommends the downtown Athens Haunt Walk, a guided walking tour highlighting the city’s most haunted places.

• Late Night Options — When it looks like everything else in town is closed, the Athens Ale House & Cellar where “everybody knows your name” is likely still open. They offer daily Happy Hour specials with DJ Manny on Wednesdays and Honky Tonk Night with Cecil Shields on Saturdays in October.

Situated on South Marion Street on the downtown square, Limestone Legends Billiards also stays open late. They feature live music and karaoke and in early October, pool champion Rodney “The Rocket” Morris will be there live.

“Fall is for sure my favorite season,” said Tiffany. “Grab a Hi-Plane coffee, hot chocolate or apple cider; pick up a gift for someone special or for yourself at local retailers. There is something for everyone!”

Southern Hospitality & Atmosphere

“Over the years, the influx of people into Athens has come mostly as overflow from Huntsville and nearby towns,” Tiffany recalls. “Today, more than ever, people are coming to Athens from northern states and faraway western states like Oregon. They are moving here voluntarily much more than they are coming through recruiting and relocation services.”

There is a reason. Alabama offers huge incentives for military personnel to move to North Alabama because Alabama doesn't tax military retirement.

“Personally, I think the biggest draw to Athens is its inherently close-knit community that represents a different lifestyle from what people had in large cities,” suggests Tiffany. “You cannot commute short distances quickly in New York, Chicago or Boston, while in Athens you think nothing about a jaunt to Huntsville, Decatur or even Florence and Muscle Shoals.

On second thought, Tiffany sells homes to people in Athens for more common-sense reasons: Friendly people, easy business environment and a generous smalltown/downtown attitude.