When Rock City opened to the public in 1932, it was the dream come true for Frieda Carter who had spent four years forging a path through the wilderness among the rock formations with only a string to mark her trail. It was a labor of love for her husband to open his wife’s gardens to the public and share her dream with the world.
As for nearby Ruby Falls, Leo Lambert spent 17 hours crawling through a tiny space until he found the magnificent underground waterfall. On his next exploration into the cave, Lambert took several people, including his wife, Ruby, to see the many wonders he had discovered. While gazing at the waterfall, Lambert told his wife that he would name it in her honor, “Ruby Falls.”
It’s interesting to note the love stories from the two natural wonders located only miles apart that have brought millions of people to beautiful Lookout Mountain.
ROCK CITY
The campaign to get tourists to “See Rock City” was painted on barn roofs from Michigan to Texas. The huge red barns and birdhouses with “See Rock City” are located across the country and have led many people to the Chattanooga garden spot.
A walk through the gardens at Rock City lightens the heart and stimulates the mind. As the owner says, “Our vision is to create memories worth repeating.” It has been success as the enchanted trail has been delighting adults and children alike since 1932.
Highlights include the overlook where you can “See Seven States” and the view from the swinging bridge where you get a great look at the massive rock formations, gardens and countryside. Special events are held during the summer, including a bird show.
For more information, go to www.seerockcity.com or call 800-854-0675.
RUBY FALLS
Ruby Falls has been a vacation destination for more than 75 years and it has been voted one of the top seven natural attractions in the United States. It is the deepest commercial cavern in the United States and is located 1,000 feet underground deep inside Lookout Mountain.
Visitors begin their journey by boarding an elevator and heading down to the caverns. An informative and entertaining guide leads you through the caverns and to the spectacular 145-foot waterfall. As you walk through the cavern, it’s amazing to see the small crevices and imagine how the caverns were first discovered. It’s also fun to look at the formations and figure out what they resemble. You might spot steak and eggs or an elephant’s ears as you go deep into the caverns.
An evening lantern tour is offered, as our special events during the holidays. This offers a different experience in the caverns.
Ruby Falls is located at 1720 South Scenic Highway. For more information, check out wwwrubyfalls.com or call 800-755-7105.
A visit to the Chattanooga area and Lookout Mountain isn’t complete without visits to Rock City and Ruby Falls. Whatever the season, there is always something special going on.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
