High Falls Park — Attraction in Albertville

Pulled in to the park at 5:50. They close at 6 and the “county” employee told us to go ahead and walk down to the falls. He asked US to let anyone that was still down there know that they were closing and told us that as long as we were out by 6:20 we were good. We were leaving at 6:08 (only after closing time because we waited for a group of younger girls to walk up so we could tell them they closed). They had locked the gate with a chain and master lock and left the park. There is absolutely no other way out of the park and we had no cell phone service. We drove back to the building near the falls and knocked on the door. No one was there except our group and a group of younger girls. A note was left on our windshield stating that the park closed at 6pm, our car would be towed at our expense of $215 if left unattended, they had photos of our license plate, we would be responsible for any property damage and an after hours number. One of the girls had 1 bar on her phone and was able to call the after hours number. After her call was forwarded 2 times, a guy answered in a disgruntled way. She proceeded to tell him that we were locked in the park and his response was “well didn’t you see the signs, we close at 6.” She tried to explain that the employee told us we needed to be out by 6:20 but he was rudely denying our truth and hung up on her. Moments later an old beat up car pulled up to the gate from the road directly across the street as if they had been waiting for the call to let us out. The man who told us we had to leave by 6:20 stayed in the car. The other man got out and walked to the gate to approach the young girls. I got out of my car and approached the gate. The man told us that he would open the gate for $25 PER CAR. I told him I was not paying him and said that he needed to open the gate and let us out. He laughed and said he wouldn’t open the gate unless we paid him. When we refused again, he said well I guess you can call a tow truck and the got in the car and left. Again, we called the after hours number and the rude guy aggressively answered. He told us that we were lying to him about when we were told to be out by, that his employees are county paid and did not get paid after 6. That we “owed” them something. He said “for someone who NEEDS something from us, you sure do have a lot of attitude.” Kept preaching about us “reading the signs” yet there is nothing posted about having to deal with sketchy disgruntled creepy men and pay them $25 dollars because they are clocked out and need “something for their time”. They way he looked us and dangled his keys while laughing because we were trapped BY THEM was SICKENING. And the way the guy hiding behind his phone stood up for this man was too. These people had locked in 7 teen girls, a 9 year old child and 2 adult women and we’re playing games with us trying to get something in return to let us out. Lord only know what would have been requested from the young girls had 2 adults not been present because they did not have any money. I know my rights and I know that being held against your will and extortion is ILLEGAL. I would even go as far as saying that it was borderline kidnapping, holding us with a child hostage while demanding money. When we threatened to call the police, we were laughed at. After speaking the other man (Johnny I believe is his name) who told us we had to be out by 6:20, he opened the gate. He told me that he did not remember what he told us and not to worry about them having our tag number. Nothing would come out of it. They would not give me any names. I was able to identify Johnny from their FB

How many people have been a victim to this issue here? What happens when younger people or out of towners like ourselves are a few minutes late gathering their things and get locked in. The County and State should be ashamed of how these employees are treating people.

Be aware, just because they tell you one thing, doesn’t mean they will stand behind it. It’s all a disgusting game to these people and something needs to be...

Park is beautiful. However, the staff is extremely rude.

I am handicap and have very limited mobility with my foot and just recently had my 3rd surgery, (I took my walking cast off so I could soak my foot in the cold water to take down inflammation) as well as back issues and bad arthritis. My husband went into the office and asked about parking closer to the falls and was told it was fine so long as we were not there all day. After an hour of letting the kids splash around we packed up and walked back up to our truck where we were greeted by a VERY rude employee telling me my handicap was not bad and we should have not been parked down there. He continued to rant that there are others that are truly handicap and they have accommodations for them. My husband went into the office to talk to the woman he initially spoke with in regard to the situation, and she just shrugged her shoulders and said nothing.

My question is, who is he to judge who has a handicap that is worse than anothers? The rude, ignorant employee has no clue and judges by the looks of what he sees.

For it being a state park, there should be certain guidelines in place. There should be accommodations for handicapped and that employee should be fired. God forbid he ever become handicap in any way, and someone tells him he is not. Being handicap and aging is NOT the same. He has no right to judge others by their appearance, and there is a special place in hell for him.

We will NOT be going back, and we will be reporting...

I hate to have to write a bad review because the falls were beautiful. The staff however was absolutely horrendus. The large old lady working the office could not have been more unpleasant. Me and my friends made an hour and a half drive to come visit and were kicked out almost immediately.

We had plans to grill some hot dogs and have a couple of drinks. However, when we arrived we saw the signs saying no alcohol. No problem, we will leave it in the car and go about our day. The lady then stormed out of the office and started yelling at us to search our bags. We were going to leave the drinks in the car, but she would not allow us to do so. I asked if we could just cook our hot dogs and then leave. She responded that I would have to pay 30$ to use the grill, even though it says they are first come first serve on the website. I then asked if I could use the grill I brought from home and she told me no. It was obvious she just did not want us there.

I understand not wanting people there drinking too much and being unsafe around the falls or causing disturbances for other guests, but it was obvious that was not our intention.

Overall, I think the park needs to find a new role for the angry lady, preferably one where she is not having to interact with guests, and to be more transparent with their rules on the website. I hope this finds its way to the...