Not far from the City of Auburn, set amongst rolling hills, lush forests, and green pastureland, lies Crooked Oaks, the former homestead of Auburn University’s legendary football coach, Pat Dye.
As head coach from 1981-92, Dye is best known for leading the Auburn Tigers to four Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, earning SEC Coach of the Year three times, and being named National Coach of the Year in 1983.
Steeped in Auburn History and Tradition
Dye’s beloved 415-acre property, located in Notasulga, Alabama, is an idyllic setting offering guests and visitors a meaningful connection to Auburn University and the land he treasured through its timeless natural beauty, rich history and tradition, and understated elegance.
Dye began improving the property in 1998 with his partner, and now-retired Auburn nursing educator Nancy McDonald. Following McDonald’s retirement in 2004, the couple established Crooked Oaks as their permanent residence, developing the property into a scenic retreat complete with gardens and an animal sanctuary. Together, they continued to improve all aspects of the land, offering the site as a wedding venue and frequently hosting events that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Auburn scholarships.
After his passing in 2020, Dye’s foundation donated the property to the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) through the Auburn University Real Estate Foundation in honor of Dye’s legacy and desire to provide hands-on learning experiences for Auburn students.
“We both knew we would donate the farm to the CFWE, and seeing the work the college’s leaders have done since accepting the proposal, I could not be more confident that the land will be valued and held to the standard Pat and I always wanted to see,” said McDonald. “I feel his spirit in this, and I know what’s happening is something he would be proud of.”
As a flagship institution for natural resources-based degrees, including forestry, environmental conservation, wildlife enterprise, and parks and recreation management, the CFWE’s leadership immediately recognized the immense value Crooked Oaks would bring to its students.
“Our college is well-known for the student experiential learning opportunities we provide, and this property has not only allowed us to increase those offerings but has also helped us to engage with our broader community and the state. We are grateful to Coach Dye and Dr. McDonald for their generosity and for entrusting the legacy of Crooked Oaks with us,” said Janaki Alavalapati, the CFWE’s Emmett F. Thompson Dean.
A Wedding Venue That Truly Has It All
Today, Crooked Oaks is best known as one of East Alabama’s most sought-after lodging and special-events venues.
With options for groups of any size and budget, Crooked Oaks offers lodging and event space throughout the property, allowing the wedding venue to suit the unique needs of each couple.
Depending on the scale and type of wedding desired, the venue boasts an impressive array of choices, including an expansive, lighted, and weather-proof 10,000-square-foot pavilion with a stone fireplace, formal ceremonial garden and lawn, a six-bedroom, open-concept lodge with a full-service kitchen, porches and green space, a pondside gazebo, fieldstone patio and fire ring, Dye’s lake house and adjacent dockside cottage, numerous guest cabins, and abundant parking.
The pavilion and wedding lawn can seat up to 400 guests, with amenities including 50-inch round tables and chairs, 6-foot rectangular tables for catering and gifts, two bars, garden tables and chairs, a stage for entertainment, propane heaters and industrial fans, and two large-screen TVs. Also available are on-site ice machines, linen rental, golf carts for guest shuttles, and pre-wedding staging for engagement photos.
And, unlike many event venues in the Auburn area, Crooked Oaks can accommodate up to 28 overnight guests in various capacities, including the bridal party and parents, providing a convenient destination where the bride and groom can entertain, take time to enjoy special moments of connection with loved ones, or rest and rejuvenate between wedding events.
Whether planning a full wedding weekend with rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, and reception, or a small lakeside or garden wedding for family members and a few close friends, Crooked Oaks offers couples the flexibility to create an unforgettable wedding experience their guests will cherish for years to come.
“Crooked Oaks was the perfect venue for our wedding! The venue itself is absolutely breathtaking, particularly in the fall. There is so much room, and plenty of ways to utilize the space to suit individual needs,” said Ben Walker, a former groom. “We were married in the meadow, with our reception in the event space. The venue staff had everything set up perfectly ahead of time, and the transition from the ceremony to the reception was perfect. Additionally, we were able to rent out all the lodging on-site, which worked out perfectly to house the wedding party. No one in attendance at our wedding had one negative thing to say. This was my second time staying here, and I already cannot wait to go back.”
As a wedding destination, the venue encourages bridal parties and guests to enjoy its calm serenity as time allows. During the weekend, they can gather on the lodge’s front porch and lawn or host brunch in its open-concept living and dining space. They can also enjoy Crooked Oaks’ green spaces, freely exploring the grounds, hiking the trails, or taking in the expansive views and breathtaking gardens.
According to Katy Vincent, who married the couple and hosted their wedding party at Crooked Oaks, the all-inclusive venue was everything the couple needed and more.
“The venue was beautiful, and the staff was very helpful. We got married in the spring, so everything was blooming, and it just made the pictures that much better,” said Vincent in her review. “My bridal party, my husband, and I also stayed the entire weekend on the property, and the lodging is excellent.”
Visually spectacular in any season, guests encounter numerous camellias, native azaleas, hydrangeas, boxwoods, gardenias, magnolias, oaks, pines, beeches, river birches, and firs. Quail Hollow Gardens, a two-acre retreat adjacent to the nursery, is a natural oasis featuring a peaceful waterfall nestled among a wide variety of Japanese maples, other native plants, and ornamental shrubs.
“The property is gorgeous, and the rooms are wonderful! It is the perfect place to stay for a weekend in Auburn,” said Lauren Smith, a former guest.
There is also a functioning nursery where bridal couples can purchase descendants of Dye’s Japanese maples or other plants and shrubs as souvenirs for their home or wedding party.
N.L. Hart, the Crooked Oaks property manager, says the nursery is presently offering numerous Japanese maple cultivars and Camellia sasanqua, japonica, and hybrid cultivars for sale, with plans to diversify the inventory in the future.
Offering Creativity and Connection
The Crooked Oaks staff, including Hart, Willie “Chico” Canady, Dye’s lifelong friend and former employee, and newly hired events, hospitality, and client services coordinator, Evelyn Roberson, are dedicated to maintaining the property in pristine condition while ensuring bridal parties and their guests enjoy a flawless wedding experience.
“I listen carefully because brides and event planners often emphasize what matters most to them,” Roberson said. “When they feel supported and confident in the details, they can fully enjoy the event.”
In her role, Roberson blends creativity, thoughtfulness, and intentionality to expand and diversify event opportunities that foster meaningful connections.
“My day-to-day work blends strategy with execution, from building client relationships and guiding prospective guests through the booking process to managing the details that ensure each event runs smoothly,” she said.
Like Dye, Roberson’s commitment to hospitality and to creating experiences that reflect both the client’s vision and the property’s unique character is at the center of it all.
This philosophy echoes in the words of Auburn’s beloved Coach Dye, who once wrote of Crooked Oaks, “The good Lord created it, and then I just put a few touches on it, so I can enjoy it and appreciate it. Because no one can paint a picture like Mother Nature.”
To learn more about hosting a wedding or other special event at Crooked Oaks, or to book a private tour, complete a Wedding and Events inquiry form online.
