What was once an empty school campus with an unknown future, surrounded by a chain link fence topped with barbed wire, has come a long way in the past decade.

“It looked like a prison,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said Friday, as Campus No. 805 — which now occupies the property — celebrated its 10th anniversary on the site where Butler High School, Stone Middle School, and, at one point, a UAH satellite campus once stood.

Campus 805, an urban renewal project, today is a vibrant entertainment hub that houses breweries, restaurants and an eclectic array of businesses including the state’s largest tattoo parlor and a hidden speakeasy. It also hosts live music and community events.

“Ten years ago, no one knew what this campus might become, but by working together, we preserved the history, reimagined the space and created something Huntsville had never seen before,” Battle said.

“Campus No. 805 isn’t just a place to grab a drink or catch a band – it’s where Huntsville comes together. It’s become part of our identity as a city that invests in quality of life and knows how to have a little fun.’’

The man behind the renaissance is developer and owner Randy Schrimsher. He said he regularly drove past the property and eventually figured he could do something with what was once the football practice field. Finally given the green light to purchase that land by the owner — Huntsville City Schools — he was offered more.

Schrimsher got a call suggesting he also buy the school building and gym. He did and, as he said, “The rest is history.’’

“When we bought this property there was no master plan – just the hope that we could create something meaningful for our community,’’ Schrimsher said. “What started as a simple idea has turned into a place where people come to celebrate, hear live music, discover new food and drink, and just enjoy being together.’’

Among the city administrators taking the dais Friday was James Gossett, Huntsville’s director of parks and recreation. His office handles bookings for Butler Green, a city park that sits where the football practice field once stretched behind the gym.

Named after S.R. Butler, who gave the school its name, the park was designed with food trucks in mind. Gossett said it’s one of the city’s most-booked venues.

“It blends Huntsville’s past with its future,’’ he said.

To celebrate its anniversary, Campus No. 805 is rolling out a full month of special events. Highlights include the unveiling of a new mural honoring the spirit of the campus, along with the Report Card Challenge (Sept. 1–20). Participants can visit each tenant location to complete a free activity, collect stamps on a ‘report card,’ and trade it in for a swag bag of prizes. It’s all part of celebrating 10 years of ‘Grade A’ fun.

Though the classrooms have long since closed at Campus No. 805, its name nodding to the last three digits of the local ZIP code, the school spirit lives on.

Note: Campus 805 is a partnership between private business and the city.