Rock City

Coordinates: 34°58′26″N 85°20′55″W / 34.97389°N 85.34861°W / 34.97389; -85.34861

View of the falls

A view from Rock City, 2001.

Rock City is a roadside attraction near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Lookout Mountain in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, located near Ruby Falls. It is well-known for the many barns throughout the southeast United States that have the slogan "See Rock City" painted on their roofs and sides. In total, over 900 barn roofs in nineteen states were painted by Clark Byers for Rock City.^[1]

The publicity and lore claim that it is possible to see seven states from Lover's Leap, a point in Rock City, but this has not been proven scientifically.^[2]

Events and shows

In 2006 Rock City began having daily bird shows for its visitors. The bird shows focus on birds of prey. The shows are included with paid admission to the gardens.

Every fall season Rock City creates a maze using crops of corn in the valley below the gardens. The maze can be seen from the Lovers Leap lookout point. From the gardens you can view imagery and designs that have been cutout within the maze. Below at the site of the maze you can "GET LOST" and try to find your way out by answering trivia questions at certain posts along the maze of corn. There are also hay rides and other seasonal activities at the maze site. The name of this event is "The Enchanted MAIZE".

Every November through December Rock City Celebrates the season by lighting the park with millions of Christmas lights and displays. The event is named "Enchanted Garden of Lights" and features seasonal booths of food and gifts, as well as a couple of seasonal shows such as a lighted telling of the Nativity of Jesus and carolers from all over the region.

History

Panorama View from Lover's Leap

Historical evidence indicates that Native Americans inhabited Lookout Mountain at one point. In 1823, two missionaries (Daniel S. Butrick and William Chamberlain) went to the area to minister to these Native Americans. Daniel Butrick made a journal entry on August 28, 1823 in which he described "a citadel of rocks" on top of the mountain, and noted the immense size of the boulders. He stated that they were arranged in a way "as to afford streets and lanes".

By the time the American Civil War reached the slopes of Lookout Mountain, more and more people had discovered what was already at that time being called the Rock City. During the Battle of Lookout Mountain, both a Union and a Confederate claimed that seven states could be seen from the summit of the mountain. The claims are independent and recorded in their own journals.

Fat Man's Squeeze.

Hikers and geologists knew Rock City well throughout the late 1800s, but it did not become the attraction it is now until the 1900s. Garnet Carter's idea was to develop a residential neighborhood on top of the mountain. It was to be named Fairyland because of his wife's interest in European folklore. One feature of Fairyland was going to be a golf course, but Garnet decided instead to build a miniature golf course because the original took too long to build. He later franchised his miniature golf concept as Tom Thumb Golf, now recognized as the nation's first mini-golf course.

Fairyland was 700 acres (2.8 km²) and encompassed Rock City. Frieda Carter set out to develop the property into one big rock garden, taking string and marking a trail that wound its way around the giant rock formations, ending up at Lover's Leap. She also planted wildflowers and other plants along her trails. She imported German gnome statues and other famous fairytale characters, set up at spots throughout the trail. Garnet Carter realized that his wife had made an attraction that many people would be willing to pay for, and they made Rock City a public attraction in 1932.

Attractions

Rock City features a long, convoluted rock trail lined with gardens. These gardens contain hundreds of labelled local trees and plants. The trail also leads through a variety of bizarre rock formations, including the 1000-ton Balanced Rock and the Fat Man's Squeeze. Two other sections, the Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village, are rock caves decorated with blacklight-responsive sculptures.

Lover's Leap

A sign depicting the states you can "see". (The actual distances to Mt.Pinnacle, Smoky Mtns and SC are 150, 80 and 120 miles respectively.)

Legend states that a Native American man who loved a woman from a rival tribe was thrown from the lookout when his love was discovered. Near Lover's Leap is a beautiful view of the High Falls of Lookout Mountain.

Rock City in culture

The Rock City vista on Lookout Mountain is the site of the climax of Neil Gaiman's 2001 novel American Gods. Several barn roofs painted with "SEE ROCK CITY" were also described in the book.

The main characters in Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road, while traveling in a post-apocalyptic world in an unnamed U.S. state, pass a barn advertising "See Rock City".

Athens, Georgia country music singer Caroline Monroe recorded a song titled "See Rock City" on her 2006 debut CD Ghost Town.

On the popular Internet cartoon Homestar Runner, on the Sbemail episode "Couch Patch", Strong Bad can be seen wearing a T-shirt with a birdhouse on it having the words "See Rock City" on its roof.

Rock City Barns are mentioned in Jason Aldean's song 'This I Gotta See".

Bela Fleck's album Drive contains an original banjo instrumental entitled "See Rock City".

Notes

External links

• Official Site
• Visitor information
• See Rock City barn photos