Brocks Gap Training Center

A range of the highest caliber

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free
Drone photos by Eric Love
Additional photos by Michael Goodman
Photos by Ed Tyler
Contributed photos

Like so many, they were looking for a new home. The group had a place they’d outgrown and needed more space, open concept, for sure, with room to breathe. Their dreams were realized when they found 877 acres for sale in St. Clair County.

The search committee for Brock’s Gap Training Center had been peppering the area with inquiries, targeting any large tracts within 30 minutes of their Hoover location. They zeroed in on the perfect location on Camp Creek Road in Pell City. They sold their 90 acres in Hoover and were able to purchase almost 10 times the acreage in St. Clair County for their shooting range and training facility.

Covered wood shooting benches

Recently opened, the facility boasts one of the longest ranges in the southeast. “We’ll have a 1,400-yard range as one of our offerings,” says Michael Goodman, president of Brock’s Gap Training Center, a membership-based shooting club. “It’s uncommon to have a range of that length. People usually have to travel to Tennessee to practice shooting that distance.”

“There’s a community that really values those longer ranges,” adds Goodman. “We’re hoping to attract those shooters from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee to come to our range.” Additionally, the new center will have 100-yard, 50-yard and 30-yard ranges with covered shelters, along with pistol bays and two “plinking” ranges. (A plinking range is a shorter distance range with metal targets.) Ranges also offer either bench rest or positional shooting.

As you look out over the acreage, you see rows of uniformly sculpted berms, well-drained and seeded. In between those berms, the shooters are protected from ammunition from other ranges.

Range safety officers hold each group to strict code of hard and fast rules, including gun expert Jeff Cooper’s “Coopers 4” rules: 1) Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, 2) Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire, 3) Never point your firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot, and 4) Be sure of your target and what is in front of and behind it.

Brock’s Gap Training Center offers courses in gun safety, concealed carry, women’s personal safety, competitive shooting and training for security teams. They currently assist local law enforcement by providing facilities for their officers to practice for certifications. They also have had high school students preparing to enter the military come to their facility for training.

“Safety is number one,” emphasizes Goodman. “We hope to encourage and empower people to be responsible gun owners. We prioritize safety, gun maintenance and understanding of the responsibilities of gun ownership.”

Having the facilities to practice with their firearm keeps the gun owner familiar with it and establishes safe and responsible use and care habits. “It’s especially important, if you’re using your gun for self-defense,” explains Goodman. “You need to be introduced safely to your firearm and learn to establish safe handling practices.”

While Brock’s Gap is a private facility, membership is open to the public. The membership application process is overseen by an elected board. You do not have to be a member to participate in classes or to come to the matches. Those are all open to the public.

History of growth

In the 62-year history of Brock’s Gap Training Center, they’ve grown to 900 members and host shooting matches and competitive shooting events nearly every weekend.

They’ve already begun hosting their first matches at the new facility. Those matches are a boost for the local economy, with state-level matches drawing more than 100 people from out of the area into St. Clair County for food and lodging revenue. Brock’s Gap has hosted matches for the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) and the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA).

With the move, Brock’s Gap has been able to expand the number of shooting bays and stage areas for matches. Most matches are held in “berm-defined” bays, using 6-12 of these bays set as “stages.”

Covered area overlooks the range

They play in a squad of 8-10 shooters. As in a golf match, those in the squad have handicaps and compete against those with similar handicaps. When each shooter has completed the targets in each stage, the group moves to the next stage in the next bay.

Some of the larger matches can use up to 20 stages. With more bays, they will be able to host larger matches and even have matches that overlap dates. The additional bays will give them the latitude to set up stages for incoming matches while current matches are concluding.

Facilities at Brock’s Gap Training Center include the Range Headquarters building, with restrooms, ice and water availability, and a training room. Future plans include the addition of a small RV park to accommodate out-of-town match participants and an EMS helipad. Current plans use just 250 acres of land, leaving plenty for future development and growth.

“There’s a large recreational shooting community in Alabama,” says Goodman. “We need facilities like this one to be able to participate safely in this sport.” There are those like Goodman who shoot every weekend and some who have specific seasonal needs. “We have people who use our facility to zero their rifles to get ready for hunting season,” he says.

The training facility also supports Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), a national program that provides an environment for student athletes that supports learning through shooting sports activities. They have also been a resource for scouting groups through the years.

 “A friend introduced me to competitive shooting,” says Goodman, “so I’d been shooting off and on my whole life. Once I joined Brock’s Gap, it became an every week kind of thing.”

If you’ve set your sights on shooting as a hobby or sport, you now have a neighbor in St. Clair County with a high caliber facility ready and waiting for you to take aim.

Editor’s Note: Visit brocksgap.com for more information about Brock’s Gap Training Center.

Goodgame Company

Celebrating 70th anniversary with
host of new projects on the horizon

Pell City-based Goodgame Company, Inc. apparently knows how to celebrate a 70-year success story – with the announcement of seven new project awards in 2025.

This significant achievement marks seven decades of growth, innovation and unwavering commitment to delivering quality construction solutions. As the company enters this new chapter, it  remains dedicated to excellence and shaping the future of the industry.

Among the new awards are:

  • First Baptist Church (Pell City, AL) This project is set to create a centralized welcome/information center plus the addition of five classrooms and a centralized elevator. It will be built out of typical conventional construction methods that would include structural steel, slab on deck, light gauge metal trusses with shingle roof.
  • Riverside Baptist Church (Riverside, AL) This project includes a complete new 10,000 square foot church after their entire church was razed by fire in June. The new Church will include a 150-person sanctuary, fellowship hall, seven classrooms, safe room and full-size kitchen.
  • Talladega Superspeedway (TSS) New Grandstand Elevator (Talladega, AL) This project involves the installation of a grandstand elevator to improve accessibility and enhance the experience for racing fans.
  • Conecuh Corporate Headquarters (Andalusia, AL) Design-Build by Goodgame Company, this new 11,000 square foot facility will house corporate operations, administrative employees, sales and executive officers. It will represent Conecuh’s new look and be adjacent to the new product facility in Andalusia.
  • Avient (Birmingham, AL) There are currently three projects at Avient: a warehouse addition and two resin mixing rooms. The warehouse addition is a 70-foot x 140-foot pre-engineered metal building with insulation, heating and cooling. It includes two loading docks for handling shipments. Building 3 resin room is a 20-foot-by-54-foot, explosion-proof, steel-reinforced mixing area with specialized HVAC to safely handle volatile materials. Building 5 resin room is a 20-foot x 30-foot version of the Building 3 room, featuring an adjacent tank farm with two 15,000-gallon insulated tanks and heat-traced piping. This area is covered by a 43-foot-by-50-foot open-sided structure to facilitate resin offloading. 
  • Pell City Police Department (Pell City, AL). This 17,000 square foot facility will replace the current 3,000 SF space, it will feature evidence management, ample storage, break areas, a gym, training and conference rooms, office space, an operations center, and a 3-bay garage. It is located on 19th Street South
  • City of Pell City Fire Station No. 2 (Cropwell, AL). A new 16,665 square foot fire station with 4-bays and eight bunkrooms, hardened storm shelter area, and other residential operations for a daily facility with three shifts. It is located on U.S. 231 South.
Pell City Fire Department, Station 2, Cropwell

Goodgame had its beginnings in 1955 as Goodgame Welding. Ten years later, the late Adrick Goodgame bought the business and began managing it.

Adrick Goodgame was described as a visionary, seeing needs and changing market conditions and tailoring his company to meet those needs. The diversity of the company showed in its pre-engineered building sales and erection and general contracting in the 1980s.

By the 1990s, the general contracting business had grown so much they doubled the employee roster from 10 to 15 workers to 30.

In the 2000s, the auto industry grew in Alabama. So did Goodgame. The company became contractor for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln. The workforce grew to over 100 employees and is one of the leading construction companies in Alabama.

Goodgame passed away in 2022. His son, Jason, now leads the company as president.

Jason Goodgame had served as corporate vice president and senior project executive.

Pell City’s 3 Rs

Rooftops, retail and restaurants

Story by Carol Pappas
Staff and submitted photos

ecember took action residents around these parts have anticipated for years.

 The Council made it official – Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden – are coming to Pell City. Leases are signed, and infrastructure work is expected to begin in February. Owned by the same company, Darden, the restaurants will be located next to each other on Veterans Parkway near Walgreen’s.

“It’s supremely located,” said City Manager Brian Muenger, noting that the sites are the last remaining quadrant along that section of interstate, which is prime property for developments like these.

To ensure that work moves at a good pace, the city invested $2.5 million in site preparation funding. The property had some challenges, requiring utilities to be relocated and other work to get it ready for construction.

The Council reasoned that the investment will yield dividends in tax revenue generation as well as being able to fulfill residents’ ‘wish list.’ “We are aggressively pursuing things people tell us they want,” Muenger said.

Outback is expected to open in February

City leaders are confident that the growth trend will continue based on the successes of other projects locating in the city. “These brands are thriving, and they will do exactly the same here,” Muenger predicted. With names like Longhorn and Olive Garden, “more brands will look to locate here,” he said. “We’ve demonstrated success, which gives green lights for other developments.”

He has good reason to be confident. The announcement comes on the heels of the opening of Outback Steakhouse, just across the interstate near Pell City Square shopping center. Outback is expected to open in February.

The new shopping center saw over 1 million visitors over the past year. Wingstop just opened in the strip center anchored by The St. Clair, Tavern, Starbuck’s and Jersey Mike’s.

Just across the way, Whataburger opened on John Haynes Drive.

Kami Thai Sushi & Fusion has just announced that it, too, plans to make Pell City home, giving greater diversity to the restaurant scene. Its sights are set on the former Papa Murphy Pizza location near Publix.

“We’re a growing area with growing demand,” Muenger said. “It speaks to the area’s needs. I’m glad to see business succeeding here.”

Planet Fitness opened in January, and Mariott’s TownSuites hotel may be open by summer.

“There has been a lot of investment in the (interstate) corridor,” Meunger added, “and we’re happy to be able to meet the demand. We’re excited to see people enjoying it.”

Housing market continues upward trend

He cited rising population and strong community support as factors in swinging the latest deals. Pell City is seeing sizable increases in the housing market year over year.

The newest residential development on Florida Road, Oak Village, has completed the preliminary phase of roads and infrastructure and permits for construction should follow quickly. There are over 200 lots in the development.

Sumter Landing and Dickey Drive are in the final phase of building out. Meadowbrook on Hardwick Road is nearing full build out, as has Horizons on Logan Martin Lake. The fourth phase within Morningside should be “going vertical” soon, said Muenger.

Pell City has averaged adding over 100 new residences per year, sometimes much higher, over the past five years. In 2024, Pell City saw the same level of new construction as it saw the previous year – even in a higher interest rate environment. “We’ve seen steady growth since 2018. We don’t think it will stop in the near future.”

There also are housing developments just outside the city limits that should have an impact on the area’s growth.

He noted, “There is a lot of demand for people wanting to get into the area,” and multifamily rental property is a need, too. The planning commission has just approved plans for a new set of apartments on 19th Street South. It has not gone to the council yet, but 60 units are planned in what is the first multifamily property planned since 2012.

Martin Street Mercantile

Realtors expand horizons to retail

Just when you thought Realtors Nicole and Amanda Anderson-St. John’s schedule couldn’t get any fuller, they open a retail gift shop … at Christmas.

It follows their purchase in the Fall of The Realty Pros building at the corner of U.S. 231 South and John Haynes Drive on 12th Avenue North to operate the The Anderson Group of Lake Homes Realty. Then, they bought the property management asset of Realty Pros, and Lake Homes Property Management now manages 40 rental properties and two homeowners associations.

One would think that was plenty for one year, but these two entrepreneurs weren’t quite finished. The realty building has two floors. On the top floor is the Nicole Anderson Group, and they expanded to include South Bend Land Solutions contractor, property management and Real Source Title and Closings. It gives them the ability to offer a range of real estate and property services all under one roof.

On the bottom floor, you’ll now find their newest venture, Martin Street Mercantile, a gift shop featuring specialty gifts and apparel for the whole family.  It may seem like quite a leap from their real estate business, but the two had always wanted to open a retail store. They were out of town and saw a mercantile shop, and “we fell in love with it,” Nicole said. “Something hit us, and we said we should just do it.”

They already had the space, originally planned for office rentals, but the open floor plan lent itself well to the shop. They opened just as the Christmas shopping season began. “It has been so well received,” Nicole said. “It shows there was a need.”

The mercantile is filled with all sorts of products – from locally made to national brands, from cradle to special items for men and women. Men’s gifts were really popular this Christmas, she said.

Browse around the store, and you’ll find local vendors like Goodnight Moon Candle Co. and Yae’s Yae’s Soap Shop, coffee from Red Bike, a bamboo line of linens, pajamas and slippers from Face Plant Dreams.

Especially popular have been the Capt. Rodney’s soups, dips and glazes, Mud Pie, towels and pillows.

There’s plenty for babies, teens and tweens – a little something for everyone, Nicole said, and they continue to add more lines and products. It was one of those leaps of faith that might not have worked. But judging by the response so far, Nicole said, “we did right.”

TherapySouth opens clinic in Springville

TherapySouth has expanded its presence in St. Clair County, adding a clinic in Springville at 300 Springville Station Boulevard, Suite 600. Cade Mullins serves as clinic director, and Libby Watkins is office coordinator.

Mullins earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Samford University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a passion for impacting his patients physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“I am thankful for the opportunity that TherapySouth offered me coming out of school,” Mullins said. “When I was in school, we had to go to four different clinicals, and one of them was with TherapySouth, and I knew from the beginning that this was the company that I wanted to work for. They offer a unique model that is different from the rest of PT companies, that is where we are owned and managed by active PTs.”

The advantage, he added, is that “any discissions made by higher ups has been in my shoes of treating patients in that clinic. They also believe that that faith guides our service to patients, and as a Christian, I believe that we are called to serve wherever God takes us. It gives me confidence that I can openly talk about my faith with patients, and our company supports that.”

TherapySouth was founded in July 2006 by Steve Foster, PT, LAT, with a vision that it would be a therapist-owned practice, specializing in “hands-on care, close to a patient’s home or work”. Clinics are known for maintaining an informal atmosphere that helps patients feel comfortable in the surroundings and in their therapy.

 “I am excited to serve the community of Springville with a great company whose core values align with mine,” Mullins said. “We treat a wide variety of injuries and impairments here. If anyone is interested in knowing more about us, they can call, or even drop by and talk in person.”

What if …

What if, instead of making lofty New Year’s resolutions, we all agreed to simply try a little harder to be a little better than we were the year before?

To be kinder – not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard and inconvenient. To be more honest, even when it’s uncomfortable, and to forgive more readily, knowing we’ve all fallen short at some point.

What if we gave a little more – of our money, our time and our patience? What if we extended a little more grace to the people who need it most, including ourselves?

What if instead of looking too long at what’s behind us or constantly chasing what’s next, we took more time to appreciate what’s here now?

What if we loved a little better the people we often take for granted? The people who stand beside us and see us clearly – flaws and all – and choose to love and support us, not just for who we will be … but for who we already are today.

What if we try a little harder to find joy in the present moment – and keep our feet firmly planted in appreciation for the beautiful gift of life right now?

– Mackenzie Free –

Wife, mother, photographer & current resident of the unassumingly magical town of Steele, Alabama