09/28/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19keJ7sunc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
An Alabama couple is breathing new life into a Mentone landmark, beginning a new chapter for a gathering place that served its community for more than a century.
Since the early 1900s, the Hitching Post was a gathering spot for the local community, serving as a store, post office, soda fountain, event venue and more before it was destroyed by fire in February 2023.
Now, local couple Rick and Mary Gresham Barr are hoping to bring it back to life while continuing the site’s rich history.
The couple, who purchased the property in 2025, and community leaders gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 15, to break ground on the redevelopment of the historic Hitching Post site at the corner of Highway 117 and Scenic Drive.
The new project will include a larger home for Elevation Bistro, a popular Mentone restaurant owned by chef and restaurateur Kevin Dunlap, as well as additional elements that are expected to be announced further into the development’s progress.
