There are few Southerners over the age of 40 who haven’t heard of Rock City or grown up with the “See Rock City” signs emblazoned on barns throughout the Southeast.
The Lookout Mountain, Georgia, attraction established almost 100 years ago continues to lure visitors to its unique ancient rock formations and elaborate gardens, not to mention its dramatic waterfall, view of seven states from Lover’s Leap, the Swing-A-Long Bridge that spans nearly 200 feet and the underground Fairyland featuring fairy tales for kids of all ages to enjoy.
Visitors take in the view of seven states from Lover’s Leap at Rock City.
What’s new this year at the attraction, located just six miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the switch from an event focus to “Rock City Seasons,” four distinct themed seasons each featuring special celebrations, performances, activities, photo opportunities and more. They include Mountaintop Summers now through Sept. 2, followed by Fall Colors from Sept. 14 through Nov. 8, and HoliDAYS, the daytime complement to the nightly Enchanted Garden of Lights, a longtime holiday favorite to be offered Nov. 22 through Jan. 4. Spring Blooms and its nighttime complement Flora Luna occurred this past March-May.
Summer is peak time for Rock City, and Mountaintop Summers offers a variety of activities. The Rock City Raptors show remains one of the most popular, with close-up views of hawks, bald eagles, owls and other birds in a live program hosted by Wings to Soar, a nonprofit organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured birds of prey. The show is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays at the park’s Critter Classroom.
Mother Goose Village offers a below-ground trek through fairy tales animated and glowing with black lights.
New to Rock City this summer is the Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center’s animal educational show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays on Legacy Lane next to Critter Classroom.
What is Rock City?
Garnet and Frieda Carter moved to Lookout Mountain at the turn of the 20th century and developed a residential neighborhood on the mountain called Fairyland, named for Frieda Carter’s fascination with European folklore. Garnet Carter complemented the subdivision with a pint-size golf course called Tom Thumb Golf, now considered the nation’s first miniature golf course.
Visitors use Rock City's tower binoculars to get a better view of the mountainous landscape.
Meanwhile, Frieda Carter was busy creating a garden on their property, marking a trail with red string through the geological outcroppings and enhancing the planting of flowers and plants on her “Enchanted Trail” with German statues of gnomes and fairy tale characters. The combination of garden and folklore attracted visitors to the mountain and the Carters soon realized they were on to something.
The couple opened Rock City to the public and began advertising “See Rock City” on the roofs of barns across the country. Some considered their ingenious marketing ploy to be the country’s first highway billboards. Added to the draw of the park was Mother Goose Village, a below-ground trek through fairy tales animated and glowing with black lights.
Today, more than half a million people visit Rock City every year, where the 4,100-foot Enchanted Trail continues through corridors of stone and caverns. This summer, new garden artwork has been added, including the debut of the Standing Stones Garden pathway with native plantings. Rock City added a marquee piece titled “Red String,” a sculptural installation honoring Frieda Carter. To further honor her and her ongoing legacy, “Never underestimate a woman and an idea” merchandise is on sale at the attraction’s gift shops.
And there’s more. As for those gnomes, this summer visitors may participate in the Gnome Quest by documenting gnome “sightings” at the park’s Prospector’s Point. To learn more about the team who sculpt and create the attraction’s magical elements, visitors can watch the artists at work painting a mural at the Rock Shop. In July, the round gatehouse at Legacy Lane is slated to become a mini Rock City history museum.
If you go
Rock City and Lookout Mountain are approximately an eight-hour drive from Baton Rouge. The historic and delightful Chanticleer Inn Bed and Breakfast is conveniently located across the road from Rock City, but the boutique property is for adults only. Massey’s Kitchen at the top of Lookout Mountain serves up fresh, delicious Mediterranean entrees and next door is Canopy Coffee and Wine Bar and the Market on the Mountain.
For more information on Rock City and its summer offerings, visit www.seerockcity.com/summer.