What can I say about
Rock City?
If you like lots of rocks and boulders,
this place is for you.
Meandering rock trails lead you
through this botanical wonderland
with over 400 native plant species.
In the 1920's, Garnet Carter,
the Father of Miniature Golf,
or Tom Thumb Golf, as he called it,
purchased a large tract of land atop Lookout Mountain
intended for residential development.
While Carter built his mountain top home,
his wife, Frieda, landscaped the grounds,
weaving walkways over, under, through, and around
natural rock formations
and planted native flowers and trees along the path.
In 1928, Fried started a four year project
forging a path through the wilderness
with only a string to mark her trail.
Carter is the star in the story of how a personal retreat
became a symbol of American tourism.
The housing development was scrapped,
but a tourist attraction that has amazed guests ever since
was born in the early 1930's.
In 1932, Carter introduced his wife's unique gardens
to the public as Rock City Gardens.
In 1936, Carter, ever the marketing genius,
hatched the marketing scheme of the century when
he began his famous roof advertising campaign.
He sent one of his handymen, Clark Byers across the country
to paint "See Rock City" slogans
on almost 1000 roadside barn roofs from Michigan to Texas
to lure vacationers from the highways.
This is looking down into the crevice
we just walked through.
No deer were seen.
They had the good sense to stay
out of the sun and hide somewhere in the shade.
While the massive boulders are impressive,
not to mention the plantings,
many of which are labeled,
the panoramic view from Lover's Leap
was spectacular.
This is Lover's Leap,
an outcrop of rock which overlooks 7 states:
Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
This is the damn swinging bridge.
The folks in front of us thought it great fun
to make the bridge sway wildly back and forth
as they tromped across.
I did not find this pleasurable or amusing.
I'm quite sure these are the same people
who get on a Ferris Wheel and, while stopped at the very top,
proceed to make the car rock violently.
I was able to snap off a few shots
from the bridge without plunging
to my certain death.
Oooh.
Lookie.
An eagle.
Stay tuned for our last little tourist jaunt in Chattanooga-
the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain.
Last post:
Ruby Falls in Chattanooga.
What can I say about Rock City?
If you like lots of rocks and boulders,
this place is for you.
Meandering rock trails lead you
through this botanical wonderland
with over 400 native plant species.
In the 1920's, Garnet Carter,
the Father of Miniature Golf,
or Tom Thumb Golf, as he called it,
purchased a large tract of land atop Lookout Mountain
intended for residential development.
While Carter built his mountain top home,
his wife, Frieda, landscaped the grounds,
weaving walkways over, under, through, and around
natural rock formations
and planted native flowers and trees along the path.
In 1928, Fried started a four year project
forging a path through the wilderness
with only a string to mark her trail.
Carter is the star in the story of how a personal retreat
became a symbol of American tourism.
The housing development was scrapped,
but a tourist attraction that has amazed guests ever since
was born in the early 1930's.
In 1932, Carter introduced his wife's unique gardens
to the public as Rock City Gardens.
In 1936, Carter, ever the marketing genius,
hatched the marketing scheme of the century when
he began his famous roof advertising campaign.
He sent one of his handymen, Clark Byers across the country
to paint "See Rock City" slogans
on almost 1000 roadside barn roofs from Michigan to Texas
to lure vacationers from the highways.
This is looking down into the crevice
we just walked through.
No deer were seen.
They had the good sense to stay
out of the sun and hide somewhere in the shade.
While the massive boulders are impressive,
not to mention the plantings,
many of which are labeled,
the panoramic view from Lover's Leap
was spectacular.
This is Lover's Leap,
an outcrop of rock which overlooks 7 states:
Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
This is the damn swinging bridge.
The folks in front of us thought it great fun
to make the bridge sway wildly back and forth
as they tromped across.
I did not find this pleasurable or amusing.
I'm quite sure these are the same people
who get on a Ferris Wheel and, while stopped at the very top,
proceed to make the car rock violently.
I was able to snap off a few shots
from the bridge without plunging
to my certain death.
Oooh.
Lookie.
An eagle.
Stay tuned for our last little tourist jaunt in Chattanooga-
the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain.
Last post:
Ruby Falls in Chattanooga.
Ah, so that's the infamous Rock City. The views are spectacular.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful is that place that I've never heard of!!! I am enjoying your road trip pieces, Rosie, and thank you for taking the time to post and share your photos.
ReplyDelete