DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain in neighboring DeKalb County, Alabama is growing.  The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has purchased land adjacent to the existing park.

Mentone residents had been concerned about a 157 acre tract of land on the West Fork of Little River that went up for sale.  The Mayor of Mentone, Rob Hammond, told WAAY Television that many thought a developer might purchase the land.  Hammond said, “The property owners were trying to sell this piece of property and one of the considerations was making it a subdivision there which would have been a huge development, roads, a lot of infrastructure, plus the residents. It would put a lot of pressure on the river itself.”

Now the land, which includes over 1000 feet of river frontage, will become part of DeSoto State Park.

DeSoto State Park runs along Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama and is especially known for the 104-foot DeSoto Falls. The 3,502-acre park attracts visitors from around the country to its variety of accommodations and array of outdoor activities, including kayaking, fishing, hiking and zip-linin