HANCEVILLE, Ala. – As Wallace State continues its celebration of Community College Month, it is highlighting the successes of students and alumni.
The Flying Fifty, a new boutique hotel run by two Wallace State Community College alumni, Paul and Challie Johnson Knetter, will open soon in downtown Cullman. The hotel will be located at 515 Fourth St. SW, adjacent to Hank’s Sports Bar & Rumors Deli, and is set to host its grand opening on May 4, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Flying Fifty Hotel is the result of the combined efforts of the Knetters and John Riley, president of Cullman Savings Bank and Wallace State Future Foundation board member.
The hotel aims to fulfil the need for upscale lodging in Cullman while also celebrating the history of the area, fulfilling a dream of Riley’s inspired by a visit to the Gunrunner Hotel in Florence and architectural elements in downtown Fairhope.
Riley said he found the perfect partners in Paul and Challie, who helped him to realize that dream by establishing The Flying Fifty, LLC, to develop and run the operation.
“There was a need for luxury hotel accommodations in Cullman. We wanted to honor our community’s past while looking forward to the future of Cullman,” said Challie. “Locally made products from Alabama will be used throughout the hotel. The hotel will use the convenience of a hybrid self-check-in system, which many luxury boutique hotels utilize. If someone rents all the suites, they will also have private access to the conference room, library and large outdoor balcony space.”
The Flying Fifty Hotel will feature seven rooms on the top floor, with three tenant spaces and a Cullman Savings Bank drive-through location on the first floor. Each of the rooms will feature a different theme surrounding the history and culture of Cullman.
The Knetters both enrolled in classes at Wallace State Community College in 2016. Challie, originally from Hartselle, said her time at the college introduced her to multiple people in the Cullman area that shaped who she is today. She also shared that she first met Paul during her freshman year history class.
“Our involvement in the Cullman community began when we both started attending college at Wallace State in 2016. We loved attending Wallace State, and we loved meeting so many people that we still keep in touch with today,” said Challie. “The best part of attending Wallace State definitely was meeting each other.”
While enrolled at Wallace State, Paul, a business entrepreneurship graduate, was the president of Rotaract and a member of SGA. He was a member in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the Wallace State scholars’ bowl team. At graduation in 2018, Paul received the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.
During her time at Wallace State, Challie, a business management graduate, was SGA President, vice president of Campus Ministries and Club Service Coordinator of the Rotaract Club. She was president of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and was a member of Mu Alpha Theta and Sigma Kappa Delta honor societies. In 2018, she was named Wallace State Homecoming Queen.
Challie said she first heard about the story of the Flying Fifty as a student at Wallace State.
“Paul and I volunteered with our Wallace State history class to help celebrate the Chamber of Commerce’s 75th Anniversary by dressing up in period fashion. At the event, the Chamber highlighted The Flying Fifty and it was clear they made a huge impact on our community. We didn’t know at the time, but we would later choose the name of the hotel to honor this incredible group,” said Challie.
Challie shared that the hotel is named after a group of 48 area men, self-dubbed “The Flying Fifty,” who travelled around the United States in the 1950s, encouraging business owners to bring their operations to Cullman. The mural on the outer brick wall, painted by Arab-based artist Donald Walker, is in reference to a photograph of these men preparing to board an airplane southbound to the King Edward Cigar Company Headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.
The story of the Flying Fifty, as the Knetters recall it
“In the 1950s, during a time when many residents were forced to seek employment outside of Alabama, a transformative moment unfolded in Cullman. Mrs. Betty Bledsoe received a casual phone call from a friend, who had just eaten at the All-Steak restaurant and was bound for Mississippi with a group of men to locate land for a King Edward’s Cigar Plant. After the call, Betty alerted her husband, Dr. Leroy Bledsoe, and the Chamber of Commerce hastily convened.”
“The following morning, a group of forty-eight men, self-dubbed ‘The Flying Fifty,’ boarded planes on a mission to meet with the board of directors at King Edward’s headquarters. During this meeting, the Flying Fifty effectively persuaded Swisher to designate Cullman as the location for their plant.”
“However, the agreement came with a condition — Cullman needed to develop a suitable plot of land for the plant. Undeterred, the community rallied together, raising funds and erecting a modest structure affectionately known as ‘The Cigar Shack’ on the Courthouse lawn. Even the youngest members of the community contributed pocket change, demonstrating the collective commitment to the cause. Local radio stations joined the effort, suspending regular programming to champion the town’s initiative.”
“This chapter of Cullman’s history stands as a testament to our community spirit and ingenuity. The Flying Fifty, with their determination and resourcefulness, played a pivotal role ensuring a brighter future for our town.”
For more information about the Flying Fifty Hotel, visit www.theflyingfifty.com or www.facebook.com/theflyingfifty or call the hotel at 256-793-0115.
