In 1899, on land originally donated by Colonel Oglethorpe Dukes, the Chattahoochee Valley Social Club began providing this farming community with entertainment and a place to gather. From dance hall to swimming hole, picnic area to festival grounds, and most importantly perhaps, an early race track. Dollar for dollar and acre for acre, nothing has put Haleburg on the map like the original Chattahoochee Valley Park.
Mule Racing circa 1903
As a focal point of the surrounding area, the park hosted the only community swimming hole, called the “Blue Hole”. The pavilion on the grounds hosted band concerts, dances and weddings. But what brought Chattahoochee Valley Park the greatest notoriety was the race track. This South Alabama legend is known worldwide as the birthplace of mule racing. Over the years, Chattahoochee Valley Speedway has played host to events for just about every competitive contraption devised by man. In 1967, then owner Arthur L. “Smokey” Harris invited area stock car drivers and enthusiast to the track for the first time. Today, track owner Joe Hall has renamed the clay oval in honor of Smokey Harris and is keeping the rich tradition of entertainment and competition alive.
