Celebrating 5 Years
Celebrating 5 Years of the Pinhoti Outdoor Center
September 26, 2025 marks a special milestone—5 years of the Pinhoti Outdoor Center. Since opening our doors in 2020, our mission was clear then—and it’s the same today: to serve hikers. What started as a dream in Sylacauga, Alabama has grown into a trusted home base for Pinhoti Trail hikers seeking shuttle services, lodging, resupply, and community.
Over the years, the Pinhoti Outdoor Center has become more than just a hiking hostel in Alabama. It’s a gathering place where stories are shared, friendships are made, and hikers are supported every step of the way. From helping plan a thru-hike to offering a safe bunk or warm shower, we’re grateful for every chance to be part of the trail experience.
Our 5 year Anniversary shares a special date this year with the Kickoff of our 4th annual Pinhoti Fest in Sylacauga. We are incredibly proud of both of these milestones, and are thankful that we get to celebrate both events with you.
Five years later, what has changed? Plenty. We’ve learned, we’ve adjusted, and we’ve grown!
What hasn’t changed? Hikers still have our hearts.
When we officially opened our doors on September 26, 2020, the world was in chaos. Uncertainty was everywhere, but the outdoors offered something steady: safety, peace, and freedom.
As I was making final preparations for this year’s festival this morning, I stumbled upon our original press release from 2020 (included below). Reading those words again reminded me of our why. IT’S YOU!- IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN YOU! (if you know me, then you know there are tears welling up, so que the sappy rom-com music and join me in a quick ugly cry-fest)
The friendships, the conversations, the trail magic, and the countless connections we’ve made along the way have filled our hearts to the brim. Every single one of you has shaped the story of this little hostel and shuttle service into something so much bigger than we could have imagined.
We remain committed to:
Serving hikers with safe, welcoming spaces and reliable services
Inspiring people to get outdoors and discover the Pinhoti Trail
Being a proud part of the Sylacauga community, an Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association designated Pinhoti Trail Town
As we celebrate 5 years of the Pinhoti Outdoor Center, our hearts are full of gratitude—for every hiker who has stayed in our hostel, caught a shuttle, or simply stopped in to share a story. The Pinhoti Trail community has given us more than we could have ever imagined, and it’s an honor to serve hikers who inspire us daily.
Looking ahead, our mission remains the same: to provide reliable hiker services in Sylacauga, Alabama, and to continue being a trusted resource for anyone traveling the Pinhoti Trail. Whether you’re thru-hiking, section hiking, or just discovering the trail for the first time, we hope to be part of your journey for many years to come.
💙 Thank you for making these five years unforgettable—and here’s to many more miles together on the Pinhoti.
Our Original Press release from the POC Grand Opening September 26-2020
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Pinhoti Outdoor Serves Hikers of the Pinhoti Trail
Sylacauga, AL: On Saturday, September 26, the Pinhoti Outdoor Center officially opened its doors to serve hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. The POC has a hostel available for hikers to catch a good night’s sleep complete with multiple bunk beds, washer/dryer, shower, and kitchen. The hostel is complete with heat and air and a nice fire pit area. Hikers can even opt for tent camping on the property. The POC also offers food drops to hikers at the trailhead as well as planning and shuttle services.
Nathan and Kimm Wright developed the Pinhoti Outdoor Center to serve hikers and outdoor enthusiasts as they travel through the local portion of the Pinhoti trail. Sylacauga was recently awarded “Alabama Pinhoti Trail Town” status, which helps the Sylacauga area receive promotion and advertising of the trail as well as educating local businesses on how to best serve the hiker community.
“We have the most beautiful trail. I would measure the Pinhoti's beauty against any other trail in the world. Our trail maintainer's do an awesome job keeping everything clear and beautiful. Hikers have our heart and we want to do everything we can to encourage them to continue hiking in this time of chaos. Just use the outdoors as a way to have a good time right now. Hikers bring a lot to our communities and we are thankful when they visit our town. So, if you see a hiker walking through Sylacauga, be sure to say hi and share a good dose of our Sylacauga southern hospitality.” says Kimm Wright.
The Pinhoti Outdoor Center serves hikers of all levels by planning their trips, supporting needs for directions and aid, and shuttle services. The POC hostel is located off of Highway 280 on Old Plank Road and can be contacted by (205) 202-9525.
