The Tale of Noccalula Falls
By The Astonished Storyteller
In the rugged hills of northeastern Alabama, where the rivers carved their paths with unyielding force, there stood a breathtaking cascade known as Noccalula Falls. The water, like shimmering silk, fell gracefully, plummeting into the deep gorge below. Amidst the grandeur of nature's spectacle, there dwelled a heartrending tale of love and sacrifice, forever etched into the annals of time.
Long ago, in the days when the Chickasaw and the Cherokee roamed the land, there lived a chief's daughter named Noccalula. Her raven-black tresses flowed like a midnight river, and her eyes gleamed with the wisdom of the stars. Among the clans, she was revered for her beauty, but it was not her loveliness alone that drew the admiration of many; it was her heart that held boundless compassion for her people.
Noccalula's father, the Chickasaw chief, hoped to secure peace between the warring tribes by uniting her with a suitor from the rival Cherokee tribe. But Noccalula's heart knew no boundaries of tribe or feud. It beat as one with the rhythm of love, a love she had secretly shared with a young warrior from her own Chickasaw tribe—Nunnee, whose bravery in battle was matched only by the tenderness he bestowed upon her.
Yet, as fate often does, it unfolded its hand of cruel irony upon the lovers. News of Noccalula's forbidden love reached her father's ears, and his wrath descended like a thunderous tempest upon the lovers. He decreed that Noccalula must marry the Cherokee warrior, bringing an end to the enmity between the tribes.
In the shadows of the full moon, Noccalula sought solace atop the cliffs near the majestic falls. The sound of the cascading waters seemed to echo the anguish in her heart. It was there, amidst the spray and moonlit mist, that she met Nunnee one last time. Their hearts ached with the knowledge that their love was destined to break like waves against the shore.
In tears that mirrored the falls' cascading beauty, Noccalula made a heart-wrenching decision. She could not bear the thought of living without her beloved Nunnee nor defying her father's decree. With a heavy heart, she bade her lover farewell, whispering words of love into the wind. As Nunnee watched her retreating figure, he knew their love was destined for tragedy.
On a fateful night, as the moon hung low in the sky, Noccalula donned her ceremonial garments—the sacred attire for a bride-to-be. But her heart did not dance with joy; it was a heart heavy with sorrow and sacrifice. In the silence of the night, she slipped away from the tribal encampment, her steps guided by the haunting melody of the falls, where her destiny awaited her.
The moonlight bathed Noccalula as she stood on the precipice overlooking the tumultuous abyss. She could not imagine a life without Nunnee, a life devoid of the love that filled her heart with blissful dreams. She clutched the edge of the cliff with trembling fingers, the abyss beckoning like a sorrowful siren's call. In that heart-wrenching moment, she made her choice—to plunge into the depths below, joining the waters in eternal union with her love.
The next morning, the tribesmen discovered her lifeless form amid the cascading waters, her flowing tresses entangled in the embrace of the falls. They named the waterfall "Noccalula" to honor the memory of the brave young woman who chose love over a life marred by bitterness.
From that day forward, Noccalula Falls became a place of beauty tinged with sorrow, where the spirits of love and sacrifice lingered in the mists and the moonlit shadows. The waters whispered her name to the rocks, and the echoes of her tale were carried through generations.
Noccalula Falls Park at Gadsden stand as a testament to a love that transcended tribes and boundaries, reminding all who beheld it of the eternal power of love, even in the face of sacrifice. The falls became a sanctuary for lovers and dreamers, and it is said that on moonlit nights, Noccalula's spirit dance amidst the spray, forever bound to the falls and to the heart of her beloved Nunnee.