Georgia Natural Wonder #22 - Rock City – Yes it is in Georgia. 725

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #22 - Rock City – Yes it is in Georgia.

Rock City is a tourist attraction on Lookout Mountain in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, located near Ruby Falls. It is well known for the many barn advertisements throughout the Southeast and Midwest United States that have the slogan "See Rock City" painted on roofs and sides. Clark Byers painted over 900 barn roofs in nineteen states to advertise for Rock City from 1935 to 1969. Rock City claims that it is possible to see seven states from Lover's Leap, a point in Rock City.


TRD at the Leap with his kids. Hulk Hogan was there too, smoking a ciggy.

Historical evidence indicates that Native Americans inhabited Lookout Mountain at some point. In 1823, two missionaries, Daniel S. Butrick and William Chamberlain, went to minister to them. 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".

 
This is Rocktown from Pigeon Mountain, with a view, for $20.

By the time the American Civil War reached the slopes of Lookout Mountain, more people had discovered what was already being called 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.

                     

These stories are independent and recorded in their own journals. Yankees in Georgia? Who let them in?



Hikers and geologists knew Rock City well throughout the late 19th century, but it did not become the attraction it is now until the 20th century. John Garnet Carter (Feb. 9, 1883, in Sweetwater, Tennessee – July 21, 1954) was an American inventor and entrepreneur who is considered as one of the fathers of miniature golf. Garnet Carter's idea was to develop a residential neighborhood on top of the mountain where Carter owned a hotel.





Quite a spot.




Carter at the Leap with his dog.

The neighborhood was to be named Fairyland because of his wife Frieda Garnet. She had a great 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.





Within a few years, thousands of Tom Thumb courses opened all over the United States. Carter eventually sold the rights to his patent and used his fortune to found the Rock City Gardens.



Fairyland was 700 acres and encompassed Rock City.



Frieda 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 and imported German gnome statues and other famous fairy tale characters, set up at spots throughout the trail.

 

Garnet realized that Frieda had made an attraction that people would be willing to pay for to see. Garnet made Rock City a public attraction in 1932.



The original clubhouse and 10 cottages are included in the Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club. Rock City features a long, convoluted rock trail lined with gardens containing hundreds of labelled local trees and plants.



The trail also leads through a variety of unique and bizarre rock formations, including the 1,000 short tons Balanced Rock and Fat Man's Squeeze.
   
     

Balanced rock and wife and kids at the Squeeze. Great family weekend, Chattanooga.



Two other sections, the Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village, are rock caves decorated with black light-responsive sculptures. The amount of work that had to go into putting this place together is incredible, and evident everywhere. Don't hesitate to make a visit here, you won't regret it!



The High Falls of the Lookout Mountain is a man made waterfall in the Rock City Gardens. The waterfall is 140 feet high and empties into a base which appears as a small pool.


TRD gets credit for this photo, his youthful effort to photograph all the falls of Georgia.



Create Memories Worth Repeating At Rock City Gardens.



Take an unforgettable journey high atop Lookout Mountain!



Sky Bridge.





The other more firm Sky Bridge.



Enjoy the quiet woodland paths and gardens.



Discover ancient rock formations.


TRD’s family back in the day.

Explore the 400 species of plants, flowers, and shrubs. Each step is a discovery!



Cast your wish upon this better Winter photograph of the 140-foot high falls.



Clark Byers (ca. 1915 – 19 February 2004) was an American sign maker. He is famous for painting over 900 barns in 19 states with the slogan "See Rock City" from 1935 to 1969. Byers, of Trenton, Georgia, started painting advertising on barns in the American South and Midwest for the Rock City attraction atop Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Rock City's owners offered barn owners a free paint job and Rock City souvenirs in exchange for allowing Byers to placing a marketing message on their barns.



Because the barns came in various shapes and sizes, each sign was different, but all featured white lettering on a black background, executed in freehand. The number of words and their arrangement varied, based on the size and shape of the barn. On larger barns, Byers might have painted "See 7 States from ROCK CITY atop Lookout Mt. near Chattanooga, Tenn." and on smaller barns, just "See Beautiful ROCK CITY today."



Byers' efforts led to Rock City, Lookout Mountain, and Chattanooga becoming a national tourist destination.


"The Barnyard Rembrandt"

Rock City is proud to be a pet-friendly attraction. If you’re in the Chattanooga area, we welcome you to stop by with your dog or cat. We’ve even had goats and parrots visit us! Leashed pets are welcome to walk the Enchanted Trail or to dine on the terrace at Café 7 with you. Pets must be on a leash at all times.

 

It turns out this dog friendly policy has a origin with Garnet Carter himself. You saw him and his dog above in the post. Here are several images of different pet dogs through the years. One dog was Sport



A man and his dogs.



The official dog of Rock City was Spot.





Magical adventures await you! Be Adventurous! Free Parking.

Adults $19.95 Children (3 – 12) $11.95

Group Rates Available. Rock City is a AAA-approved attraction.

I know your thinking, Come on TRD .... Rock City as a natural wonder? However, this is up there with Stone Mountain in terms of a destination. Nearly a half million people from all over the world visit this natural attraction each year. Our GNW Gal for today is seeing seven states.



We've been in the mountains for a while here. Let's go south of Atlanta, for Georgia Natural Wonder #23 tomorrow.