Rock City Gardens — Attraction in Lookout Mountain

All the signs have said See Rock City. I've seen this sign on barn roofs almost my entire life, and had absolutely no idea where it was or how to get there. But while we were in Chattanooga for a conference, my wife suggested we drop by Rock City on our way home.

Imagine my excitement, after 50 years I was finally going to obey those roof signs and SEE ROCK CITY!

In a word, this place was Unforgettable. Nestled in the high ridge of Lookout Mountain, with a view to seven states, Rock City has a mystic feel throughout.

At the gift shop before you begin walking the trails, there is a small stand that offers cards to fill out, with Easy, Medium and Hard questions. Those who do the work of answering the questions are offered a nice prize at the end of their visit, if they bring the card back to the shop with the giant gnome.

Trails lead back through the woods and rock cliffs, through tight passages and tunnels, suspended rope bridges over deep chasms and many forbidden side passages where gnomes peer out in many different frozen activities. Hiking, camping, sleeping, mining, playing guitar and flute. Playing with a dog or dancing, swinging on a swing. Statues are EVERYWHERE.

The music from the Hall of the Mountain King plays from speakers as you travel through a cave trail of the same name, and other mystical music plays in every tunnel.

The vertigo-producing dizzy view of Lovers Leap is the endpoint of the first set of trails, and seven state flags stand tall on massive flagpoles at that sight, with binocular stands that give you a view of seven different US States.

Flora festoon every scene, and there are signs identifying some 50 different horticultural species. There are waterfalls everywhere, but especially just before you reach Lovers Leap.

You can get your 10,000 steps here if you want, walking every trail. But all over this park there are benches in the shade to rest on.

There is a souvenir shop at the Leap, and it serves a variety of yummy food, including pizza, which my son had to experience. It got a thumbs-up from him. There's also a mystical stairway out into space that leads to a hot air balloon, perfect for a fun photo op.

At the end of the trail through the Hall of the Mountain King is a trail through the Fairy Caves. At every step in this cave there is a scene of a fairytale or a Mother Goose rhyme. There's so much to see it's overwhelming, all illuminated with blacklight. Cool breezes blow through this cave too, a welcome respite from the heat of summer.

I'll add here that we visited during the heat of the day, in the middle of July, and the heat was significant but not oppressive, partially due to the trees. I also noticed that there are colored floodlights everywhere, and it's no doubt that this is a much more magical place to visit in the evening, when the stars are out above and the floodlights light up everything.

If we ever find ourselves back in the Chattanooga area we will certainly return to this spot. All workers there were pleasant, friendly, and efficient. The food was excellent, the price...

I give this attraction 1 star due to its lack of accessibility even though it is promoted on Google as being kid friendly. I purchased advanced tickets online and arrived with my wife and 1 year old son which we brought in a stroller. No sooner did we get into the park did we see a stroller parking sign outside the first building you enter where they take your photo. That should have been a red flag. Since no paper brochure was provided at the entrance we stopped by the information booth where the attendant informed us that the attraction is 90% not accessible with a wheelchair or stroller. We asked the attendant why they didn’t say anything at the front and he told us it’s his job to inform everyone once they get inside which makes no sense because had we been informed of this we wouldn’t have even bothered to come. The FAQ on the website mentions only the enchanted trail being not stroller accessible, which come to find out after speaking to the man at the info booth, the enchanted trail is their term for the main walking path of the whole attraction not just one of the trails as my wife and I had been led to believe. The only place on the property you can even use a stroller is to get you from the parking lot to the gift shop. My wife ended up taking our stroller back to the car and we decided to proceed on without it. We headed down the first trail, the Grand Corridor trail, I can’t even tell you how far along the trail we got until we encountered the Needles Eye where you essentially have to squeeze through sideways. I was carrying a diaper bag on my back along with my son and my wife a backpack. I was unable to fit through Needles Eye holding my son so we were unable to proceed any farther. I feel like I would have been able to squeeze by myself without a backpack on my back but carrying a one year old made this an impossibility. We immediately turned around and headed back to the entrance to request a refund which fortunately was granted. As for how the rest of the park is I have no idea since we couldn’t get past Needles Eye. I would strongly recommend families with young children to avoid this attraction at least until the child is able to walk without any assistance. Due to this I’m not even sure I would describe this attraction as being kid friendly. Maybe we will return in five or 6 years once our son is older to experience...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Rock City Gardens at Lookout Mountain, GA, and it was an experience I won't soon forget. This place is like stepping into a fairytale, with something new and beautiful around every corner.

Scenic Views and Trails: The trails here are just incredible. As soon as I started walking, I was surrounded by gorgeous greenery and these impressive rock formations that make you feel like you're on a real adventure. The paths are easy to follow, and I loved squeezing through "Fat Man's Squeeze" and "Needle's Eye" – it was such a fun challenge! When I got to Lover's Leap, the view blew me away. Seeing seven states from one spot was something I'd only heard about, but to actually experience it was amazing. I couldn’t resist taking a ton of photos!

Gardens and Landscaping: The gardens themselves are a highlight. Everywhere you look, there are vibrant flowers, unique plants, and quirky little sculptures that give the place a magical vibe. The Swing-A-Long Bridge was another favorite of mine – it adds a bit of excitement as you walk across and take in the stunning surroundings. And the Fairyland Caverns? Pure enchantment! The glowing scenes inside make you feel like you’re in a storybook, which is so much fun for both kids and adults.

Facilities and Accessibility: Rock City Gardens is really well set up for visitors. The signs are clear, the facilities are clean, and there are plenty of benches to take a break if you need one. The staff were super friendly and happy to help with any questions. While most of the paths are easy to navigate, a few of the tighter spots might be tricky if you have mobility issues. But even if you skip those, there’s still so much to enjoy.

Value for Money: For what you get, the price of admission is totally worth it. The combination of natural beauty and creative landscaping makes this place really special. Plus, there are some cute gift shops and snack stands where you can grab a souvenir or a quick bite.

Whether you’re into nature, photography, or just looking for a fun day out, Rock City Gardens is a must-see. It’s the perfect blend of nature’s beauty and a little human creativity, making it a place where you can relax, explore, and feel inspired. I’m already looking forward to going back and seeing how it changes with...