See Rock City! Sure, What Is It?

Is Rock City Worth Visiting?

Is Rock City worth it? The answer is “YES!” As it turns out, Rock City Gardens near Chattanooga, TN was a favorite event for the kids and got the “thumbs up” from everyone including adults.

But, what exactly is Rock City? As a native Tennessean, even I couldn’t really answer that question and neither could Amanda. So, we packed up our families during the waning days of summer break, piled into Amanda’s van, and drove two hours from Knoxville to finally “See Rock City.”

But even after visiting, it’s still difficult to describe what it is exactly. Is it a tour of neat natural rock formations? Yes. Is it also a kitschy collection of gnomes and fairies? Yes, it’s that too.

All in all, it really was a fun and worthwhile experience that is certainly unique and that everyone enjoyed.

If you’re at Rock City, consider seeing the nearby Incline Railway for another fun family adventure. Check it out and more ideas from our simply awesome Chattanooga itinerary.

What Is Rock City Gardens?

Rock City Gardens itself is essentially a fun commercialized nature trail weaving throughout existing natural rock formations found on the side of a mountain with various scenic points along the way.

As you continue along the nature trail, you’ll get to squeeze between boulders at “Fat Man’s Squeeze”, cross a suspension bridge, look for deer, and view waterfalls.

It’s about a 1.5 mile walk total but it’s easy enough for most families.

You’ve probably seen the slogan “See Rock City” painted on the rooftops or sides of barns on highways as you’ve driven through many parts of the U.S. Perhaps it’s piqued your curiosity.

It’s a long standing tourist slogan ever since the opening of Rock City Gardens in 1932 on Lookout Mountain.

Because advertising in those days was difficult, they hired a sign painter to travel the nation’s highways and offer to paint a farmer’s barn in exchange for letting him paint three simple words: “See Rock City.” These distinctive black-and-white signs appeared as far north as Michigan and as far west as Texas.

In case you want to add a scenic drive on your way to visit Rock City, see a map of painted “See Rock City” barn locations here.

What Do You Do At Rock City?

Walk The Nature Trail

Lace up your comfortable walking shoes and simply follow the self-guided one-way trail to discover what lies ahead. The views on your walk are indeed fantastic, and on a clear day they claim you can view 7 states from the lookout point (but we have our doubts about Kentucky which is 120 miles away).

Note: Because of the narrow passage and uneven terrain, strollers are not allowed. A child carrier backpack would be perfect if you otherwise need a stroller.

Explore the Fairyland Caverns

I’ll admit it is a bit kitschy with hidden gnomes scattered throughout the trail as well as a journey-ending Fairy Tale Garden located in a “cavern” lit by black light (ok, we enjoyed it too). The kids had fun trying to spot all the gnomes.

Grab Lunch And Take In The Views

Along the trail, you can stop for lunch or have a snack or drink at Cafe 7 while enjoying the views. You can also grab some fudge at the Fudge Kitchen on your way out.

Tip- If you need your Starbucks fix, it’s available right outside the main entrance. Grab a coffee to sip along the way!

Important Info For Visiting Rock City Gardens

Tickets For Rock City

Tickets are somewhat expensive:

• $34 Adults
• $24 Children (ages 3-12).

Winter season tickets are often discounted.

Also be sure to order tickets online at least 24 hour ahead of time. It’s cheaper and avoids a line at the ticket office. You can often save a couple of dollars this way too.

Bring Fido- As an added bonus, pets on leash are allowed at Rock City. You can even take them to dine with you at the designated pet section at Cafe 7.

How Long Does It Take?

Plan on about 2 hours to see Rock City. This will give you time to stop and take photos and perhaps stop for a snack.

Hours

They open at 830 am everyday throughout the year but closing times are seasonal. Generally it is 5 or 6 pm but is later (10:30) in the middle of summer.

Check the website for exact hours as they sometimes change it month to month.

They often run special events throughout the year so you can tour the gardens and special art installations at night so check the website for those as well.

Holiday Events

During the holiday season (Nov- Jan), you can visit at night to enjoy the festive Enchanted Garden of Lights. If you love to see Christmas lights, this would be a really fun holiday trip. You must reserve tickets in advance.

Check Out Our Chattanooga Family Weekend Getaway Blog