California has Disneyland. Florida ...

California has Disneyland. Florida has Disney World. Texas and numerous other states have Six Flags. Alabama has, well, um any cows. When you're thinking "tourism," that's not a big draw.

Fairfield, Ala., Mayor Larry Langford finally got tired of watching tourists stop in his town for the gas that would take them somewhere otherwise

"Alabama," he laments, "is a great big service station."

This fact has bothered Langford for going onward nine years, ever since his niece whined, "Uncle Larry, when are you gonna take me to Six Flags?"

"My question was, 'Why do we have to retain taking people somewhere else?'" Langford says. "The Birmingham just discovereds just did a poll asking questions like, 'What is your favorite place to eat? What is your favorite thing to do?' I couldn't answer that poll! There's nothing to do here!"

That, however, will not be real for much ...