Grub Stake Restaurant / Dry Gulch Ghost Town
A well-known spot along US 31 north of Gardendale was The Grub Stake Restaurant.  Behind the restaurant was something known as Dry Gulch Ghost Town.  This is Birmingham's "lost theme park."

Whatever grandiose plans the Grub 'n' Gulch had were snuffed out in 1970 when the entire place went up in flames.  In its place is now the Gardendale Antique Mall.
 

1960s
2005

Here's a picture of the Grub Stake's dining room ...
Bright as those lights were, small wonder the place caught fire!

Exterior postcard above courtesy of Tim Hollis
Interior postcard above courtesy of J. D. Weeks
2005 photo by Russell Wells


RETURN TO "BIRMINGHAM THEN AND NOW"

10/01/2005 -- 717 PM EDT