A Review of The Secret Bed and Breakfast in Leesburg, Alabama

The Secret Bed and Breakfast is located on the southern end of Lookout Mountain in Sand Rock, Alabama (Map It). It offers an impressive view of Weiss Lake and the town of Leesburg. There are an abundance of lounge chairs where you can enjoy your morning coffee and dozens of song birds. I've lived in Alabama for 25 years and during my stay at The Secret Bed and Breakfast was the first time I'd spied the State bird, the Yellowhammer. There are brilliant wild flowers and Carl is constantly adding more beautiful plantings. The Secret's 12 acre, mountaintop, 180-degree vista is beautiful, but the real secret of The Secret Bed and Breakfast are its hosts and the themed cottages that dot the property.

Synopsis
Setting 5/5
Uniqueness 5/5
Hosts/Staff 5/5
Local Area 4/5
Decor 5/5
Handicap Accessibility 2/5
Amenities 4/5
Food 5/5

Uniqueness
The main house was built in 1965 by local utility magnate, M.G. Weaver. One secret I learned about The Secret Bed and Breakfast while visiting was Weaver originally built the house expecting guests. He even measured the bathroom at a Holiday Inn so he could build private baths in each of the four upstairs guest rooms. How perfect is that for a bed and breakfast? Each of the fourin-lodge rooms is laid out like a beautiful up-scale hotel room with all the amenities including independent heating/cooling. The steel and concrete construction ensures every room is practically sound-proof.

Rooms 1 & 3 (Remembrance and Enchantment) face the front of the house and have two doubles beds. They also share a large balcony. Rooms 2 & 4 (Tranquility and Serenity) have king-size beds and share the beautiful backyard view of the valley below. In addition to the main hall, the rear balcony provides access to the roof-top pool. Pool towels are provided in the hallway so grab one and don't be shy.

The current owners added four cottages to the property, each with a different theme. The Nautical Cottage is basically a small house complete with kitchen. It's your best value for an extended stay. The Sugar Shack is their most popular cabin. It is normally booked weeks in advance so call early if this is your preference. The 1850s Style Jail includes a shower, which the more popular Sugar Shack lacks. I originally booked The Tree House, but a recently injured knee prevented my wife from negotiating the stairs. When checking in, we were offered the Serenity room with no questions and big smiles.

Hosts/Staff
Diann & Carl Cruickshank are the owners and hosts. Diann's energy and stories will keep you entertained at breakfast or while lounging on the patio. Carl's laid-back personality will put you at ease from the moment you check in. They seem to know everyone in the county so don't hesitate to ask for their recommendations about the local area. Diann has gone to great lengths to create books that outline local attractions and restaurants. You'll also enjoy a few hours reading Diann's history of the building, how they came to own the property, and even some entertaining stories about former guests. Be warned, you may end up in a future edition if your visit is memorable.

On our checkout day, my wife needed a little extra time to get ready. True to her Southern upbringing, Diann had no problems accommodating my wife's needs, insisting we take our time. Not having a looming 11AM deadline made for a much better trip.

Local Area
The Weiss Lake area offers an abundance of activities. The 30,000-acre lake is touted as the "Crappie Capital of the World" (crappie is a type of fish for those who may misread that). The Little River Canyon offers rafting and Desoto State Park is just 20 minutes away. The towns of Leesburg and Centre have plenty of local eateries. The filet at Tony's Steak Barn in Centre, Alabama is a must-have dinner experiences (but that's another review).

We chose two activities in the opposite direction for Saturday though. Saturday afternoon was spent at Untamed Mountain, a sanctuary for tigers, lions, cougars and more. We had to drive slowly through the town of Collinsville due to the Trade Day traffic. Trade Day is a giant yard sale and it was all I could do to convince my wife not to stop.

After a nap back at The Secret, we headed to Duck Springs, Alabama for wine tasting, dinner on the lawn, and jazz at Wills Creek Vineyards. Here, local muscadine is bottled into some tasty treats. I left with three bottles, not including the one with dinner. The one my wife liked, Roar, coincidentally helps support the efforts of Untamed Mountain with $3 of every purchase.

Decor
The Secret's decor reflects the Cruickshank's tastes and family. There are plenty of pretties to gawk at and photos of famous guest hang on every wall. Be sure to ask why they have a platinum record award for the band Mercy Me next to the fireplace. Have your photo taken in The Big Chair and steal a kiss by the Kissing Tree. There are plenty of comfortable sofas and chairs throughout the spacious main lodge area and the dining room has to be seen to be believed.

Breakfast is served every morning at nine on a huge circular table, the center of which is a giant lazy-susan. Need more eggs? Just give it a spin. You'll never hear, "Please pass the salt," at this table. What you will hear are great tales from your hosts.

Handicap Accessibility
This is the only category where The Secret Bed and Breakfast gets low marks. Obviously, homes are not expected to be handicapped accessible, but it's something to consider when booking. Only the Nautical Cottage and the main lodge/dining are handicapped accessible. However, if you have special needs, the Cruickshanks will go the extra mile to ensure your stay is comfortable and memorable.

Amenities
In addition to private baths in every room, you'll find a TV/VCR, balconies, ample closet and dresser space, and toiletries. Not all the TVs are jacked into the satellite dish, but there is a collection of movies near the reception office free for the viewing. Just help yourself to a few or any of the games. FYI: I lost badly at Scrabble after my wife scored 36 points with "caving." The VCR in our room, Serenity, didn't cooperate, but a movie was my wife's idea. I was happy to enjoy the view and the pool.

Food
Just simply amazing. You'll delight in a big country breakfast. Fill up on eggs, sausage and possibly pecan pancakes. The coffee is on by eight and breakfast is served at nine. You won't start your day hungry and you'll be so full, you may have to skip lunch.

Overall
The Secret Bed and Breakfast is the best bed and breakfast experience I've ever had. The Cruickshanks turned our long-over-due weekend away into a memorable, relaxing event. They definitely have created repeat customers where my wife and I are concerned. If you want to know more secrets about The Secret, you'll have to book your own time. There are plenty more secrets waiting to be told. One secret that must be told is, because of it's cliff-side setting, The Secret Bed and Breakfast has a strict "no children" policy, which in my opinion, is a great thing.