Rock City Gardens

Rocks have never been so interesting as they are at a local attraction that draws thousands each year.

Rock City Gardens is located just six miles from downtown Chattanooga on Lookout Mountain. Rock City is an enchanting, 4,100-foot walking trail showcasing towering rock formations, caves and lush gardens. Nearly half a million visitors from all over the world trek to this natural attraction each year. 

Garnet and Frieda Carter, some of the original settlers of Lookout Mountain, opened their personal estate as a public attraction on May 21, 1932 during the Great Depression. Rock City has remained in the family, with the current owner a third-generation descendant of Garnet and Frieda.

Today, visitors are drawn to the grandeur of the natural wonder. Plan to spend between an hour and 1 ½ hours at the self-guided walking tour through The Enchanted Trail that slowly winds through the 12-acre property. The grandiose rock formations are a sight to behold: tall pillars of solid rock form winding trails and tight spaces for guests to meander through. Suck in those tummies to walk through “Fat Man Squeeze” and other passages.
 

The gardens feature more than 400 different species of native wildflowers, plants, shrubs and trees. Along the trail visitors will see the White Fallow Deer Park, where the all-white dear roam, a 100-foot roaring waterfall, and the Swing-A-Long Bridge. Also during the walking tour you’ll see the legendary view of seven states from Lovers Leap, a peak on the mountain that has panoramic views of seven states from 1,700 feet above sea level. 

Assorted retail and gift shops and restaurants are located throughout the trail. 

Admission to Rock City is $16.95 for adults, $8.95 for children. Some discounts apply when visiting other Lookout Mountain attractions. An annual pass to Rock City for an adult is $32, $16 for children.

This summer, Rock City will be open daily 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. As the seasons change, so do the hours of operation. Check the website for more details.

- by Leah M. Caudle , Nashville Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Leah M. Caudle

Leah Caudle is a professional storyteller with experience in covering local, community and feature stories. While at newspapers such as The Tennessean in Nashville and The Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., Caudle also has experience in shooting and editing videos and photos to accompany stories. The Western Kentucky University graduate received degrees in print journalism and Spanish in 2007 and also has expertise in the areas of public relations, copy editing and proofreading.