Ardmore Welcome Center — Attraction in Ardmore

Alabama really rolls out the welcome mat with this wonderful and historic rest stop. The facilities are clean and efficient, there is a wealth of information in the facility, and the Saturn class rocket is of course amazing and makes you feel so small to stand next to it. I could just imagine the power of the rocket engines firing. However, there is something I missed on my previous visits to this rest stop and I feel that I need to bring attention to it for the wayward traveler. There is both a Vietnam memorial and a Korean War Memorial here both to honor those who served from Alabama. The memorials are beautiful and I highly recommend you take them in on your next stop here to honor those who made all of our freedom to travel possible. Thank you and have a...

When we arrived they were closed so my rating is only based on the outside and the restroom area. We had our small dog with us on this trip. Unlike other rest areas we stopped at there was no pump for water, and the dog walking area while spacious was a long way from the restrooms and parking. Other rest areas had multiple locations to walk a dog usually a bit closer. The ladies room while clean was dark the way the ceiling was over the toilets there were no light fixtures over the stalls. Finally unlike other rest areas there weren't any paper towels in the restrooms only an air dryer, while this is a preference of mine I do think they are necessary at a rest area. Over all clean but could use some improvements I didn't exactly feel welcomed back...

I’m here stopping once a again to see the Vietnam Veterans Wall. It memorializes all Alabama veterans of the Vietnam war. Engraved are those who gave their lives. We can thank the support of those at the “Alabama Veterans Museum in local Athens, AL.” They made this memorial possible. I come here mostly to observe and run my fingers across the engraving for Monroe county US Marine Corps “Cpl. James C. Marshall”. He gave his life as a young Marine while defending the US Embassy in Saigon. This effects me, because my father was supposed to have duty. Let’s not forget all the brave young men and women who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice when their country needed them. Gone But Never...