Attractions
Family pride, honor, traditional values and a love of elegance, culture, art and recreation exist in Dothan, part of the “New South.”
Arts & Culture
The Dothan Civic Center, with seating for 3,200, is host to annual sporting events, internationally acclaimed entertainers, conventions, trade shows, art and music festivals and meetings.
The Dothan Opera House is a landmark in the Historic Downtown District, built in 1903, opening its doors for professional and community theater productions, concerts, ballet performances and many other cultural events.
Also located in Dothan:
Alabama Dance Works
The Cultural Arts Center
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
G.W. Carver Interpretive Museum
Landmark Park State Agricultural Museum
Southeast Alabama Community Theater
Southeast Alabama Dance Company
Tri-State Community Orchestra
Wiregrass Museum of Art
Two Movie Theaters
Shopping
Meeting the retail needs of Dothan’s residents in addition to Houston County residents and the surrounding neighbors in Coffee, Dale, Geneva and Henry counties, Fort Rucker, Georgia and Florida is a priority for Dothan area merchants. And retailers seem to be doing just that when compared to other areas of its size, Houston County offers a much broader selection of retail business.
To underscore the excellent quality of life, Dothan has an impressive array of shopping centers as well as four regional malls. For those seeking a different shopping experience, there are factory outlet stores and several antique malls nearby.
Our malls and shopping centers frequently offer special promotions, fashion shows, educational and cultural displays, health fairs and live entertainment – something for everyone. Regardless of your shopping preferences – the comfort and convenience of the malls, the relaxing atmosphere of historical downtown or simply accessibility of shopping centers – Dothan serves as the tri-state area’s comprehensive marketplace.
Located almost equal distance form Montgomery, Alabama, Albany, Georgia and Tallahassee, Florida, Dothan is a retail hub for about 500,000 within a 90-mile radius.
Golf Courses
Dothan boasts a variety of golfing experiences with four large public courses, one private course and an array of small driving ranges.
Dothan is also one of the stops on Alabama’s famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, featuring 36 holes of world-class golf at Highland Oaks, the site of the 2000 Buy.com Tour Championships and the 1999 Nike Tour Championship, which was seen on televisions around the world on The Golf Channel and Fox Sports Network. Visit the websites of our area’s golf courses:
Recreation
The area’s southern climate is ideal for many activities including golf, swimming, tennis, softball, bike riding, running, walking or simply relaxing. The city of Dothan and public recreation have become synonymous due to the vast network of parks and recreation opportunities available throughout the city, and Dothan Leisure Services continues to lead the charge to provide quality parks and recreation opportunities to the citizens of Dothan and the surrounding communities.
Dothan is home to Westgate Park, one of the largest recreation parks of its kind in the southeast. At Westgate Park, the public can swim at two indoor pools and at Water World Water Park, play tennis at the 20-court Westgate Tennis Center, utilize the walking and bike trails, play softball, baseball, soccer, basketball, football, use an indoor weight room and an outdoor fitness court, participate in BMX, and play on two playgrounds. one of which is a Miracle Playground. The park includes a Miracle Field complex, which is a multi-age, special needs, accessible baseball complex. On any given weekday or weekend, you can find Westgate Park hopping with activities for all ages.
There are also exciting recreational opportunities scattered throughout the city. These include four recreation centers, a Therapeutic recreation center, a Senior Adult Recreation Center, 11 neighborhood parks, 14 playgrounds, an archery range, two disc-golf courses, four fresh-water lakes, four outdoor pools, a splash pad, six pickleball courts, a football stadium and a 387-acre Forever Wild land trust that includes biking and hiking trails.
Dothan Leisure Services’ staff is a cohesive team that works hard to provide quality activities, athletics, programs and events. The physical, psychological and emotional benefits of public recreation are not lost on the city of Dothan, so support of DLS remains a high priority for city officials. Additionally, the economic impact of the events that DLS hosts is a testament to how many large-scale events that the area’s facilities and staff can accommodate. For more information, visit www.dothanleisureservices.org or call (334) 615-3700.
Dothan also boasts a variety of golfing experiences with four large public courses, one private course and an array of small driving ranges.
Hunting, fishing, bird watching or just the general enjoyment of the natural world can also be discovered in the region. Nearby lakes, rivers, public or private gardens, state and national parks, the Gulf of Mexico and other natural open areas will take your breath away with their beauty, simplicity and managed care.
Dothan businesses have found success in commercial avenues of recreation to include bowling alleys, indoor skating, miniature golf and various other recreational activities. Ultimately, Dothan has a variety of activities, both organized and individual, to meet the challenge of providing recreation to everyone.