The Best Peaches in Alabama

Chilton County's Best

• Best market for fresh peaches: Durbin Farms Market, (205) 755-1672.
• Best fried peach pie: Peach Park, (205) 755-2065.
• Best peach ice cream: Durbin Farms Market.
• Best pick-your-own peach farm: Culp Fruits U-Pick, (205) 688-4553.
• Best paint job by some guys from New Jersey: Clanton's water tower, Exit 212.

A Peachy Beacon
So you've seen Clanton's peach water tower from the interstate, but you may not realize that it was designed and built by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, and the shading and finishing touches were done by a couple of guys from up north. "I don't call myself a painter," says Peter Freudenberg of Harvey Cedars, New Jersey. "I call myself a contract artist. I paint things for money." Peter's retired now, but the tower is one of several large-scale projects he painted in his career. Using commercial spraying and airbrushing equipment and a hydraulic crane, Peter and his partner, Hugh Luck, painted the reds, oranges, and greens on the city's familiar beacon. "What's interesting," says Peter, "is that we painted it like you would a fine painting, with lots of attention on the details."

For More Information

• Durbin Farms Market: 2130 Seventh Street South, (205) 755-1672 or www.durbinfarms.com.
• Peach Park: U.S. 31 South off I-65 at Exit 205, (205) 755-2065.
• Culp Fruits U-Pick: 11602 County 51, Exit 219 off I-65 in Jemison, (205) 688-4553.
• Chilton County Peach Festival Parade and Auction: June 28, downtown Clanton.
• Chilton County Chamber of Commerce: 500 Fifth Avenue North, (205) 755-2400 or www.chiltoncountychamber.com.
• Lodging: Because lodging is limited in Chilton County, we suggest staying overnight in either Birmingham or Montgomery. Both are less than an hour away.