Whether you grew up wandering the pathways of Rock City or recall the destination’s eye-catching slogan painted on birdhouses and barns, Tennessee’s exquisite 4,100-foot garden trail has more to explore than ever before. Celebrating the dedicated creativity of its founding lady, the beloved Lookout Mountain attraction, teeming with ancient rock formations, cascading waterfalls, and botanical delights, has unveiled an exciting summer event that promises fun for the whole family amid the splendor of Chattanooga’s most breathtaking spot.
Having drawn hikers and outdoor enthusiasts for centuries, the awe-inspiring natural rock formations atop Lookout Mountain gained widespread notoriety thanks to the enterprising ideas of Tennessee natives Frieda and Garnet Carter. In 1924, Garnet dreamed up the idea for a living community on the mountain named “Fairyland,” a nod to his wife Frieda’s love for folklore. As the Great Depression stalled Garnet’s development plans, Frieda proposed an alternative idea for a whimsical rock garden.
Armed with only a ball of red string and a love for the area’s natural wonders, Frieda marked out a trail that meandered through the boulders of Lookout Mountain. She supplemented the land’s abundant beauty with native plantings and charming European statuary, and the couple opened Rock City to the public in the 1930s, advertising their new attraction with a clever marketing scheme. They hired sign painter Clark Byers to travel across the country, offering farmers a new paint job on their barns in exchange for permission to add one succinct phrase to the side of the structures: “See Rock City.”
Soon, the Tennessee attraction was drawing visitors from every state. Frieda’s dedication to Rock City lives on today, as more than 400 species of wildflowers and trees line the meandering Enchanted Trail she first tracked more than 90 years ago. Honoring her contribution, Rock City unveiled a new sculptural addition to their garden, a giant ball of red string underscored by a simple mantra: “Never underestimate a woman and an idea.”
If you’re yearning to escape the heat of Southern summers, take a trek to the breezy peaks of Chattanooga and enjoy Mountaintop Summers, an exciting family-friendly experience offered until September 2. Stroll through the new Standing Stones Garden peppered with local flora or get up close with local fauna at interactive animal shows. End your day with dinner and blackberry cider at Big Rock Grill, and be sure to treat yourself to handcrafted frozen desserts at Clumpies Ice Cream Co. while you’re in town.
Whether you’re returning to Chattanooga or visiting for the first time, you’ll want to take it all in—just as Frieda loved to do. Visit seerockcity.com to plan your trip to this wondrous mountaintop locale and read more about Chattanooga in our Southern Getaways 2024 special issue.
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