As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to revisit some of the stories that resonated most across Vestavia Hills. These aren’t just top clicks or biggest headlines — they’re pieces that captured something real about the people, places and moments that defined the year.
For years, Vestavia Hills has been a place families have chosen to put down roots. But before it became a thriving city of 37,000, it was a rugged, untamed landscape — so wild that early explorer Andrew McLaughlin once claimed he spent five days trapped in a hickory tree after a pack of wolves chased him down Shades Mountain.
Much has changed since then. What was once considered an “unlivable wilderness” became an incorporated city on Nov. 8, 1950 — two weeks after 96 voters cast their ballots, 88 in favor — turning a growing suburb into an official municipality.
Now, as Vestavia Hills approaches its 75th anniversary, the city is launching a months-long celebration to reflect on its transformation. This feature marks the beginning of a series of stories leading up to the milestone. Throughout the year, the city and its residents will honor the journey from its early days to the thriving community it is today, with historical presentations, community gatherings and the 61st Dogwood Festival already underway…