Recreation
Recreation for Every Interest
From the Woods to the Ballfields—Adventure Starts Here
Whether you’re teeing off, casting a line, or gearing up for game day, Athens–Limestone offers something for every kind of explorer. Enjoy wide-open spaces for hunting and fishing, pristine courses for golf and disc golf, and top-tier facilities for athletes and families alike. However you like to play, you’ll find your place here.
Top Spots for Sports & Family Fun
- Quarterbaxe Arcade & Axe Throwing
- 25525 Levie Davis Dr Suite B Elkmont, AL
- Step into nostalgia with classic arcade games from the ’70s–’90s and fight off stress with axe‑throwing lanes (coming soon!). A fun and unique venue for gamers, thrill-seekers, and group outings alike.
- Carriage Rides
- Take a picturesque horse-drawn ride through historic downtown Athens. Wild Hearts offers beautifully maintained carriages, professional drivers, and a customizable experience—perfect for weddings, family outings, or a romantic evening.
- Athens Recreation Center
- 270 Hwy 31 North, Athens, AL 35611
- The Athens Sportsplex is one of the best municipal athletic facilities in the United States. It includes eight baseball fields, five soccer fields designed for various levels of amateur competition. There is also a 19-hole disc golf course, Kid’s Dugout playground complex and a large swimming pool.
The Rest of the Good Stuff
Hunting
- Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
- Multiple access points in Limestone and Morgan Counties
- Offers special archery and flintlock hunting seasons with permits required; known for deer and small game.
- Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Along the Tennessee River near Decatur, AL
- 8,870-acre public hunting area offering waterfowl, small game, and archery deer opportunities by permit.
- Old South Sporting Clays
- 27246 Wooley Springs Rd, Athens, AL 35613
- A fully automated sporting clays course in a scenic setting with event hosting and shooting options for all skill levels.
- Limestone Hunting Preserve
- 28759 Coggins Road, Ardmore, AL 35739
- Offers guided deer, dove, quail, pheasant, and chukar hunts, plus sporting clays and bird dog training/sales.
Golf
- Southern Gayles Golf Course
- 22230 Mooresville Rd, Athens, AL 35613
- A public 18-hole course offering scenic fairways, practice greens, and a welcoming clubhouse atmosphere.
- Irons & Ales Golf Lounge
- 204 W Market St, Athens, AL 35611
- A modern indoor golf lounge in downtown Athens featuring golf simulators, local brews, cocktails, and food in a laid-back environment.
- Canebrake Clubhouse
- 23015 Founders Circle, Athens, AL 35613
- A private country club with a championship 18-hole golf course, fine dining, event space, and community amenities.
Disc Golf
- Open to public use outside class/event times; daylight hours
- Warhawk Disc Golf Course – Calhoun Community College
- 6250 US-31, Tanner, AL 35671
- Located on the northside of the Calhoun Community College campus and bounded by U.S. Highway 31, this course is a skill-developer for novice and seasoned players alike. The Warhawk course incorporates advanced design elements including: risk-reward; false fronts; elevated targets; hillside approaches and putts; and out-of-bounds that when the wind blow can be a factor of skill.
- 7 AM – Sunset
- Joe Wheeler State Park Disc Golf Course
- 4403 McLean Dr, Rogersville, AL
- The Joe Wheeler State Park Disc Golf Course is an exceptional treat for novice and seasoned disc players that is approximately 30 minutes west of Athens on U.S. Highway 72 just past the town of Rogersville, AL. This moderately hilly and densely wooded course will hone the skills and be an enjoyable challenge to all skills level.
- Open daily, daylight to dusk
- Greenbrier Woods Disc Golf
- 6935 Greenbrier Rd, Madison, AL 35756
- A wooded 18-hole course with technical lines and elevation changes. Free and open to the public.
- Open to the public during daylight hours unless university events restrict access
- Athens State University Disc Golf Course
- 300 N Beaty St, Athens, AL 35611
- The Athens State University disc golf course sets on the grounds of Athens State University Library and adjacent to the Carter Physical Education Building. This lightly wood course offers beginners and seasoned players an enjoyable round either day or night. Due to the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, the course closes annually the last week of September and 1st week of October.
- Daylight to dusk
- Athens Sportsplex Disc Golf Course
- 1403 US Hwy 31 N, Athens, AL 35611
- The Athens SportsPlex disc golf course offers a challenge for the seasoned players, but novice will enjoy honing their skills on the long-distance tees too. Plenty of natural obstacles will give you a workout as you negotiate the course.
Fishing
- Wheeler Lake
- North Alabama
- Wheeler impounds 67,100 acres and extends roughly 60 miles between Guntersville and Wheeler Dams. It is a reservoir, but mixes shallow banks with deep drop-offs, wide-open spaces and narrow tributaries. Milfoil makes for great top water fishing in the spring and fall.
Family-Friendly
- Quarterbaxe Arcade & Axe Throwing
- 25525 Levie Davis Dr Suite B Elkmont, AL
- Step into nostalgia with classic arcade games from the ’70s–’90s and fight off stress with axe‑throwing lanes (coming soon!). A fun and unique venue for gamers, thrill-seekers, and group outings alike.
- Doomsday Paintball Airsoft
- 24952 US-72, Athens, AL 35613
- Experience adrenaline-pumping outdoor combat on weekends at this full-scale paintball and airsoft park. With gear rentals, themed game zones, UV gel blasters, and party hosting, it's ideal for action seekers and team-building events.
- Carriage Rides
- Take a picturesque horse-drawn ride through historic downtown Athens. Wild Hearts offers beautifully maintained carriages, professional drivers, and a customizable experience—perfect for weddings, family outings, or a romantic evening.
- 31 Jump Street
- 703 US-31, Athens, AL 35613
- A high-energy indoor trampoline park perfect for family fun. This lively bounce house features open jump time, party packages, and plenty of space to jump, flip, and play—great for kids and active families alike.
Sports Facilities
- Athens Recreation Center
- 270 Hwy 31 North, Athens, AL 35611
- The Athens Sportsplex is one of the best municipal athletic facilities in the United States. It includes eight baseball fields, five soccer fields designed for various levels of amateur competition. There is also a 19-hole disc golf course, Kid’s Dugout playground complex and a large swimming pool.
- Athens Community Archery Park
- 655 Hwy 31, N. Athens, AL
- The Athens Community Archery Park is a state- of-the-art facility equipped with four youth targets (5-20 yards), eight adult targets (15-50 yards) and a 12-foot elevated platform with four Olympic style targets (10-40 yards) available for bowhunters to simulate hunting or shooting from a tree stand. A simulated ground blind is available for bowhunters to practice shooting from a kneeling or seated position.
