Vestavia Hills, Alabama, took its name from a house that looked nothing like the homes that later filled Shades Mountain. Former Birmingham mayor George Battey Ward purchased 20 wooded acres on the mountain and, after traveling through Italy and Greece, commissioned a residence inspired by the circular Temple of Vesta in Rome. Completed in 1925, Ward called the estate “Vestavia.” Developer Charles Byrd began planning a residential subdivision around the property in 1946, and the community incorporated in 1950 with just over 600 residents. The 2025 population estimate is 38,306.

Ward added another piece of classical architecture to his estate after completing the house. He commissioned a garden structure modeled after the Temple of the Sibyl in Tivoli, Italy, which overlooked the valley and marked the entrance to his bird sanctuary. Ward died in 1940, and Vestavia Hills Baptist Church purchased the property in 1958. His house was demolished in 1971, but the Sibyl Temple survived. The Vestavia Hills Garden Club moved it in 1976 to its present location near U.S. 31 and Shades Crest Road, where it remains one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

Wald Park has an unusual chapter in the city’s history. The park opened in 1963, and the following year 563 local students signed a petition asking the city to build a community house there. Their argument went beyond needing a place to play. The petition cited concerns that American children were falling behind Russian children in physical fitness, reflecting the Cold War thinking of the period. The city eventually built a civic center at the park, which opened in 1969 with a gymnasium, library, recreation room, and meeting space. Wald Park has since been extensively redeveloped with athletic fields, pools, courts, playground areas, and an amphitheater.

The Library in the Forest is another city facility that took a less conventional approach. The 35,000-square-foot library opened in 2010 on nine wooded acres of the former Wald Estate. It became Alabama’s first LEED Gold-certified public library. More than 80 percent of the trees removed during construction were reused inside the building, including pine for ceilings, poplar in the entry hall, and oak for several interior features. The property sits beside the Boulder Creek Nature Trail.

Some local businesses predate much of the development surrounding them. Cahaba Heights Hardware has operated since 1948, four years before Vestavia Hills became a city. The independent store carries more than 12,000 products covering hardware, plumbing, electrical work, landscaping, and masonry. It remained part of Cahaba Heights when that community was annexed into Vestavia Hills in 2002.

Vestavia Barber Shop has been cutting hair since 1959. Jack Braswell and Ted Bedisole opened the original shop before Adam Austin purchased it in 1974. Austin’s daughter Donna joined the business in 1978, and his granddaughter Stevie later became part of the third generation working there. The shop moved to its current Montgomery Highway location in 1989 and still operates as a traditional barbershop with multiple chairs.

Andy’s Creekside Nursery started much smaller than it is today. Andy and Tricia Burris opened a small fruit and vegetable market on Morgan Drive in 1997. Customers began asking for plants, leading to the addition of a garden center in 2001 and later landscaping services. The property now includes a nursery, farm market, rock shop, gem mine, and butterfly house. Darnell’s Fun Stuff has also been operating locally for decades. The Vestavia Hills gift shop opened in 1988 and specializes in personalized merchandise. Its work includes engraving, monogramming, printing, sandblasting, vinyl, and sublimation, much of it handled through the Rocky Ridge Road store.

Diplomat Deli has been serving Vestavia Hills since 1982 and is known for its oversized sandwiches, beer, and wine selection. The menu includes classics such as Reubens, French dips, and turkey sandwiches, along with house combinations that have stayed popular with regulars for years. After more than four decades in business, it remains one of the city’s longest-running independent restaurants.

Like Diplomat Deli, many of the homes around Montgomery Highway have been part of Vestavia Hills for decades, and older dryer vent systems can develop buildup, damage, or airflow problems over time. Kirby Dryer Vent Cleaning provides dryer vent cleaning, dryer vent repairs, and exterior dryer vent cover installation throughout the city. If your dryer is taking longer to finish a load or the vent hasn’t been checked in years, contact us to schedule service.