Initially, I was ashamed to admit that I had never been to Audubon Acres. However, when I mentioned my ignorance to others, not one person said they had visited. Their responses lessened my embarrassment: “Oh yeah, heard of it but I have never been.” “Where is it?” “What’s there … birds?”
Unlike some of the more well-known nature spots such as Reflection Riding, Audubon Acres does not have a pristine landscape feel, nor does it offer a large parking lot, extensive programs or acres of trails. There are no expansive mountain views.
It is its own little charming and rustic spot with level paths tucked into a neighborhood off the untraveled side of Gunbarrel Road. Even though it is close to the congested Hamilton Place Mall area, it is a treasure of its own - quiet and homey. The paths are well groomed with soft with pine needles and fallen leaves. On our visit, wildflowers were just starting to emerge. Lovely.
Audubon Acres has a strong link to our area’s history and pays respect to the lives of the Cherokee. Along the trails, signs indicate plants according to their Cherokee language and according to their Cherokee uses: mullein for chest congestion and asthma; blackberry for inflammation and joint pain and tea, and hickory for baskets, bows, arrows and kanuchi, a hickory nut soup.
Walking along the trails with these markers breeds a sort of quiet reverence to the stewards of our land.
For the birder, Audubon Acres might provide hours of watching. However, as not even a novice in the world of birds, I was happy with about an hour and a half of meandering and listening to various chirps, hoots and coos. If I had brought children or a family, I might have stayed longer because the open spaces offer long wooden picnic tables and plenty of area for catching butterflies. Furthermore, it suits young ones as the trails, unobstructed by rocks and ruts, allow them to run free and ahead of the group without tumbling and scraping a knee.
While much of Chattanooga tourism involves the Trail of Tears, Audubon Acres harks back centuries prior with its connections to prehistoric Native American life and the Napochie village called Little Owl Village. The indigenous site, established in the 1560s, includes a quarter-mile path with interpretive signs that encircles the archaeological site. In addition, the learning center includes artifacts ranging from arrowheads and axes to over 1,500 painted birds eggs.
What Makes Audubon Acres Special?
It is a little oasis of quiet tucked aside the well-traveled and commercial Hamilton Place chaos. Undiscovered by tourists, it is only two minutes away from a world of Taco Bells and Gig City, offering one the nostalgia associated with campfire songs and s’mores. A feel-good place with restorative power and an escape from the commercial world, I wish I had not waited two decades to visit. After you have endured hours or waiting in a nearby medical building or braved major store sales, you might want to stop by for some downtime to consolidate your thoughts and just breathe.
by Robin Howe
Unlike some of the more well-known nature spots such as Reflection Riding, Audubon Acres does not have a pristine landscape feel, nor does it offer a large parking lot, extensive programs or acres of trails. There are no expansive mountain views.
It is its own little charming and rustic spot with level paths tucked into a neighborhood off the untraveled side of Gunbarrel Road. Even though it is close to the congested Hamilton Place Mall area, it is a treasure of its own - quiet and homey. The paths are well groomed with soft with pine needles and fallen leaves. On our visit, wildflowers were just starting to emerge. Lovely.
Audubon Acres has a strong link to our area’s history and pays respect to the lives of the Cherokee. Along the trails, signs indicate plants according to their Cherokee language and according to their Cherokee uses: mullein for chest congestion and asthma; blackberry for inflammation and joint pain and tea, and hickory for baskets, bows, arrows and kanuchi, a hickory nut soup.
Walking along the trails with these markers breeds a sort of quiet reverence to the stewards of our land.
For the birder, Audubon Acres might provide hours of watching. However, as not even a novice in the world of birds, I was happy with about an hour and a half of meandering and listening to various chirps, hoots and coos. If I had brought children or a family, I might have stayed longer because the open spaces offer long wooden picnic tables and plenty of area for catching butterflies. Furthermore, it suits young ones as the trails, unobstructed by rocks and ruts, allow them to run free and ahead of the group without tumbling and scraping a knee.
While much of Chattanooga tourism involves the Trail of Tears, Audubon Acres harks back centuries prior with its connections to prehistoric Native American life and the Napochie village called Little Owl Village. The indigenous site, established in the 1560s, includes a quarter-mile path with interpretive signs that encircles the archaeological site. In addition, the learning center includes artifacts ranging from arrowheads and axes to over 1,500 painted birds eggs.
What Makes Audubon Acres Special?
It is a little oasis of quiet tucked aside the well-traveled and commercial Hamilton Place chaos. Undiscovered by tourists, it is only two minutes away from a world of Taco Bells and Gig City, offering one the nostalgia associated with campfire songs and s’mores. A feel-good place with restorative power and an escape from the commercial world, I wish I had not waited two decades to visit. After you have endured hours or waiting in a nearby medical building or braved major store sales, you might want to stop by for some downtime to consolidate your thoughts and just breathe.
by Robin Howe
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