Featured image: Even after extensive cleaning, the graffiti leaves behind a stain on the rocks

By Tyler Pruett

tyler@southerntorch.com

SAND ROCK, Ala.— On or shortly before Monday, May 2, someone heavily graffitied the rocks at Cherokee Rock Village in Sand Rock. Red paint was used to tag the rocks in several spots. The Cherokee County Parks board is currently seeking information regarding on who committed this act.

Rock Village or “Little Rock City,” as many call it, is a county park in the Sand Rock community in Cherokee County. The park is known for it’s unusual, tall rock formations. Climbers travel for miles to utilize the rock faces which are so well suited for climbing. The park was even used in the filming of the 2005 movie, “Failure to Launch.” Located on the brow of Lookout Mountain, it also features 14 miles hiking trails, caves, and campsites. The park is maintained by the Cherokee County Parks and Recreation Board.

The Cherokee Rock Village released the following statement on their Facebook page:

“Graffiti at Cherokee Rock Village (and most other places) is ILLEGAL and we promise that anyone caught vandalizing this property will go to jail. Then, you will have the pleasure of paying fines and spending the next 6 months of your life doing community service cleaning up not just your mess, but messes left by others. This is a shame and so upsetting. A huge group of volunteers just spent a weekend out of their lives removing graffiti from Cherokee Rock Village on April 23, 2016 at Ascend Weekend. Please help us stop this insanity! If you see someone vandalizing our parks, please call the police!”

The park had just hosted it’s annual “Ascend Weekend,” where volunteers from all over came to clean up the park and remove graffiti the week before. They spent hours cleaning already existing graffiti from the rock faces.

“It takes a lot of work and has to be cleaned with chemicals that cost $500 for a five gallon bucket,” Cherokee Rock Village worker, Dylen Schortnacy said.

“It never completely comes off,” he added.

Perpetrators in the past have been punished with community service which included cleaning graffiti off the rock faces. The parks board as well as the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office would like for these recent vandals to learn the same lesson about what it takes to keep the park clean.

Please contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Tip-line at (256)927-9999 if you have any information on this incident.