Opelika’s “Monkey Park” (officially known as Municipal Park) received its nickname because, from 1956 to 1980, live spider monkeys were housed there. Today, all that remains to tell the story is a historical marker and a small fenced-in area with a couple of carved monkey statues.
Municipal Park officially opened its doors in 1955 under the leadership of Opelika’s Board of Parks and Recreation director, W.J. Calhoun. One of its earliest attractions was the Rocky Brook Rocket, a G-16 miniature train built at one-fifth scale to resemble a modern diesel locomotive that carried visitors through the park’s scenic route.
In 1956, Monkey Village opened, holding eight spider monkeys in specially designed enclosures. For 25 years, they welcomed visitors coming to the park and became local celebrities. By 1980, they were relocated to the Montgomery Zoo, with some suggesting that it was because they kept escaping their enclosure, sometimes with the help of parkgoers.
Today, families can still hop aboard the Rocky Brook Rocket for a small fee or explore the park’s playgrounds, picnic under the sheltered area, and stroll along its babbling creek. Each summer, the park also hosts the annual Summer Swing Concert Series, where visitors enjoy various music genres every Tuesday evening, accompanied by hamburgers and hot dogs from the park’s cabin.
