When Gina Pierce, a retired schoolteacher, mother and self-proclaimed thrifter, realized that there were no thrift stores convenient to Lookout Mountain, she hoped to find a space to change that. Her fiance, Doug Zukowski, who makes lighting for the armed forces, decided to expand part of his business and found the space at 2441 Broad Street, but he only needed the top floor. So Gina eagerly decided to open the bottom area as Lookout Thrift Store.

She had been collecting things for a while, and after sending flyers to residents, both donations and customers came rolling in. The shop is not huge but has plenty of space. All clothes are priced by categories, including things for infants/toddlers, children, and adults. She has a little reading nook full of used children’s books and toys, as well as a linen and shoe area. Her housewares and kitchen items are in one area, and her ornamental /knickknacks pieces help decorate the store. It is very well thought out and planned.

Gina explained that she is a for-profit thrift store, but she donates clothes that don’t sell to Teen Challenge and gives any torn or discolored linens to the McKamey Animal Center. The store does pick up, which is a huge plus, and the wait time is usually the next day or so. She says that no pick-up is too small.

Gina said she opened this shop because she is used to working and keeping busy, but most importantly, she wants to help train and teach people life skills. While I was there, several college students came in looking for clothes and dorm essentials. She laughed and said this endeavor is a family affair, with her mother-in-law helping on Thursdays and her children pitching in after school. Her husband helps with heavy pick-ups, so her bases are covered.

I had a hard time finding the store, and she explained that before she can have a sign, she must meet all kinds of city ordinances. For now, she is using a placard and also placing items near the street. Lookout Mountain Thrift Store is right past KFC on the same side of the street. There is also a drop off box for donations in the back corner of the parking lot. Her hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and her number for pick-ups or questions is (423) 225-3511.
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by Gwin Tugman

​The holidays are upon us, and the Garden Club of Lookout Mountain’s 2025 Christmas greenery sale is underway!  We are excited to offer new magnolia products along with the old favorites!

As always, we have several different sized wreaths and garlands made of various greenery mixtures to choose from, fresh and of the highest quality coming directly from Henderson Farms in North Carolina. Last year we introduced beautiful magnolia wreaths and garland from the Magnolia Company in central Florida.  Everyone loved the magnolia products so much that we decided to not only sell them again this year, but also include a lovely magnolia golden woodland swag. Don’t forget to order our handmade red velvet Christmas bows to highlight the gorgeous greenery!

We are excited to again offer amaryllis bulbs from our own mountain resident, Mac Mitchell. These beautiful bulbs are from Peru, and you may choose a Denver white bulb covered in gold wax or a Victory red bulb also covered in wax.  Beautifully packaged, there is no need for soil or water, and these make perfect gifts!  

The proceeds from the greenery sale have been used to support projects at Lookout Mountain School, Fairyland Elementary School, Reflection Riding Arboretum, the Nature Center and many more. In addition, funds are used to reach the GCLM’s goal of keeping our mountain looking as beautiful as possible by maintaining our wonderful parks and gardens and continuing to help with the many community projects brought to us by members of the community.

As you may or may not know, the GCLM is responsible for preserving many of our shared green spaces and gardens, including Jane’s Garden and Temple Park on West Brow Road, as well as the fountain area across from the Commons. You may have even seen our members out there weeding.

Place your order today and help us keep our mountain beautiful! Go to our website, gclm.org, and see what beautiful decorations and gifts we have to offer! The best and easiest way to order is to order online; however, you may find order forms at Market on the Mountain and Fairyland Pharmacy. Please hurry to order as the deadline is October 24, 2025, and, unfortunately, we cannot take late orders this year. Pick up will be Friday, December 5, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon at the LMS skating rink.  
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by Cathy Pettway

Sally Nelson, who organized the first Lookout Bookout in May, was so thrilled with the success that she has decided to organize another one! Mark September 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on your calendars and join the fun at the Fairyland Mountain Hall! This will be a fun day to share and donate any type of book that you no longer need, from children’s books to adult non-fiction and every tome in between. Also puzzles, crafts and audio tapes are accepted. This event is a win-win for everyone; not only do you have a chance to get rid of your books, you get to find new ones to read. In fact, you are invited to throw down a blanket on the lawn, take a load off and read a few books right there! Folks of all ages can enjoy the craft table, tiny handmade animals will be for sale and refreshments will be served.

You can donate your books, puzzles, and/or audio material ahead of time, from September 22-26, at boxes outside Lookout Mountain School, Fairyland Elementary School, and the Fairyland Mountain Hall in Lookout Mountain, Ga.  Come to the FMH on September 27 to pick up some things to enjoy and visit with other bookworms!

Sally couldn’t believe how well the mountain supported this idea. Any items left over from the last Lookout Bookout were taken to little free libraries around the mountain or donated to Goodwill. You can also donate cash that day, which will be used to build new the free libraries. What a fabulous idea and thanks, Sally, for not only thinking of it, but making it happen. Hope to see you all on September 27!
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by Gwin Tugman

The Lookout Mountain, Ga., police department is now fully staffed with the addition of the new Chief of Police Jason Lewis and Assistant Chief Brian Dedmon. At the March council meeting, Chief Lewis was sworn in with a room full of friends, family, mentors, colleagues from the city of Chattanooga’s police department and his wife, Shelly, who teaches at Fairyland Elementary School. He comes to the mountain after being in the Chattanooga Police Department since 1994, last serving as the assistant chief of criminal investigations and special operations. After the swearing in ceremony, Judge Buddy Pressley welcomed Chief Lewis to the city, telling him that he would not find the same level of intensity that he had in Chattanooga.

Chief Lewis thanked the councilmembers for the opportunity they have given to him. He said “I’m really excited about the job. It is like a light switch - coming up here is amazing!” He also thanked Wes Barrett who has served as the interim chief the past several months, very appreciative of the way he handled the department and for his help and assistance as he transitions into the job. Taylor Watson, the council liaison with the fire and police department, said the city owes Officer Barrett “a massive amount of gratitude for how he stepped up and handled the interim position.”

New Assistant Chief Brian Dedmon brings his experience working with the Catoosa County Fire Department and as a Georgia state trooper. He is certified as both a firefighter and a police officer.

Ongoing operations of the public works will be on brush removal this spring. Residents should remind their contractors that they are responsible for taking away what they cut. If contractors take brush to the street, it will be passed over. Councilman Kevin Leckenby said that requirement can be found in the city’s ordinance.
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Potholes should be reported to Mr. Lee, town manager, while the city is repairing the roads. Other projects that the department is working on include painting parking spaces at the Oberon Trail lot. Regarding work being done at the new park area on Red Riding Hood Trail, a small wall has been removed and a water meter has been installed. After a bridge is built, the space will be sodded.

The city’s fleet is repaired and is in working order. Regarding trash, residents are reminded that only household trash should go into the garbage can. Cardboard, glass, plastic and aluminum should be taken to the recycling center in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Dumpster Day is available for items that cannot be recycled. The next time the dumpster will be available for residents is April 5. No construction debris will be accepted.

Wes Hasden, chairman of the sewer board, reported that the Chickamauga Trail pump station improvement project has been scheduled.  The final design, including the drawings and contract, should be completed. Then, after approval by the state of Georgia, the project will be advertised and put out to bid. By mid-September the site preparation and actual construction will begin and should be finished in mid-March 2026. After inspection, the project will be closed-out in April 2026.

Planning for the 2025-2026 budget will begin this month when the department heads bring their wish lists to the council. The process will also include a workshop and a public hearing. The first reading of the budget will be June 12, and the second reading which finalizes the process, will be sometime between June 16-20.

by Gail Perry

Sally Nelson is organizing the first-ever Lookout Bookout at the Fairyland Mountain Hall May on 24! Lookout Mountain’s first annual book share is a perfect time to get rid of your children’s books and puzzles and pick up some new ones for your summer reads. And, it’s a wonderful opportunity to clean out your own bookshelves and pass those already-read books on!

“I originally thought of the idea when I counted the number of children’s books I had, and it was over 300! I realized I should give some away. Of course, I had an attachment to most of them - either from my own childhood or a lesson I taught my students from them. I am also a book lover myself and have many to adult books to donate as well as cookbooks. I give away books here and there,” the former teacher said, but she had a lot of books to move! And her husband, Sam, was all for clearing out some books.

She and her son, Davis, and daughter, Mary, boxed them all up and the books were ready to go. But go where? She considered posting something on Facebook about the free books, but realized her friends were all facing the same predicament. The Little Free Libraries were also an idea, but she knew they couldn’t hold all of her books, and those of her friends’.

Thus, Lookout Bookout was born. And it’s not just for books. Puzzles will also be shared, as well as Tonies figurines and Yoto cards and maybe a few things in-between.

“The goal is for everyone on the mountain to get as many books as they need for the summer.  There will also be an opportunity to donate money, so we may build more free libraries on the mountain,” Sally said.
The week before Lookout Bookout, donation boxes will be set up at Fairyland Elementary School, Lookout Mountain School and Fairyland Mountain Hall. You can also drop them off at Fairyland Mountain Hall on May 24. Volunteers are needed both for organizing donated items on May 23 at Fairyland Mountain Hall and helping with the swap on May 24.

“In my ideal book share day, everyone who comes will share their books, puzzles and/or audio items that they no longer need and maybe find a place in the area to sit and read. If the weather is pleasant, we may all have a quiet day reading on the mountain,” Sally said.

Come enjoy reading at the landscaped areas that the city and garden clubs have so graciously beautified!
What a fabulous and fun event that is a big win for our mountain. Great idea, Sally!
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by Gwin Tugman

Ellie Hildebrand loves to read, and clearly certain books have impacted her since childhood. She says the names of authors and books she loves with reverence, and her excitement is contagious as she speaks their names: “The Giving Tree”; Wendall Berry”; John Steinbeck”; “Sequoia.” And her face lights up as certain sentences and passages come to her mind.

It’s not surprising that Ellie majored in English, but it is surprising she chose technical marketing as a career and excelled in it. After a very successful career in California as a tech marketer, she and her husband Jay moved to Lookout Mountain with their three children at the same time Ellie was looking for a career change. Like most women, Ellie goes weak at the knees for jewelry, but not many of us can cobble a career in that field.

Ellie confesses that she loves to shop. And, she knows exactly what she’s looking for, at least in the jewelry department. She was searching a special piece of jewelry that called her name, that was meaningful and that she could put on and never take off. Aren’t we all on a similar quest for that perfect piece? She also wanted to find this elusive bauble at the perfect price point, something not so expensive it stayed in the jewelry box, but not so cheap it turned color or broke or worse, caused a reaction on sensitive skin. No matter how far and wide she searched, she couldn’t find what she was searching for. So, Ellie flat out created it. And ended up with an amazing line of jewelry when she did.

With no background in jewelry at all, Ellie downplays her ability to decide to do something and basically just dive right in and do it! “I love fashion and literature,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “I am my own target audience,” she explained. Sister Homage, her jewelry business, offers what Ellie calls “high quality staples that are low maintenance but have meaning.” But this jewelry is more than that. It speaks. It doesn’t sit in a velvet box and stay in its place on the shelf. No. Her pieces find their way into your hands and as you feel their weight and details and symbols, you hear their stories. As you hold these beautiful things up in the light, you find you connect to that heavy ring, adorned with the birthstones of your children or the Castle ring or the Frida necklace, which pays homage to Frida Kahlo and her poem “You Deserve a Lover.” “You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings hope, love and poetry,” Frida writes.

I happen to own a pair of her hydrangea earrings. My daughter-in-law gave them to me, and besides the fact that I am fool for native hydrangea, the description of them on the Sister Homage website reads, “May you live from a place of abundance, beauty and grace.”

​Each piece Ellie creates was inspired by words of authors who move her, whether they are living or not. And as you browse her website, sisterhomage.com, you can’t help but find hope and inspiration and words to live by. 

By Ferris Robinson

Massey’s Kitchen opened last summer amidst great anticipation and much enthusiasm from the community. It was only fitting that the restaurant’s first birthday was marked by a celebration with special invited guests: the entire community! Live music, spontaneous dancing, scoops of that divine gelato, carnival games and patio cocktails were in order for the afternoon that moved into the evening. The staff was on hand for the event, of course, including many that were celebrating their own one-year anniversary of working at Massey’s Kitchen.
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One year ago, the community waited with bated breath for the restaurant to open, and it was worth that wait. The patio is full every evening, even in the dead of winter, thanks to the igloos that were there last year. There was just something special about dining under the stars in a cozy little private dome!

My office is only a few feet away from Massey’s Kitchen, and I am a regular diner there. It is wonderful to have a restaurant that is open every single day for lunch and dinner! And a yummy brunch on the weekend!
My house is almost as close to MK as my office is, so I really have zero excuse to use the restaurant’s delivery service. But have you seen that zippy little car? For a mere $3 charge, you can order anything you want for delivery on the mountain!

I’m very familiar with the menu, and my favorite starter is the baked feta. Divine. There is a tie with the salads – Shrimp Louie and Mediterranean Chicken Salad take turns. The smash burger is really good, and the French fries are special – hand cut and soaked in salt water before frying. The Italian sausage pizza is to die for, but if you want, add a little of the sausage to the Tuscan pizza, which boasts artichokes, roasted red peppers, onions, roasted mushrooms, and pistachio pesto. The flour for the dough is imported from Italy, as is the olive oil and other ingredients. My friend who is gluten intolerant can eat this pizza dough with no problem. The flatbreads are all yummy, but last summer they offered one with grilled peaches and arugula. Incredible.

Massey’s offers several flavors of gelato, and a seasonal option as well. Get the chocolate. It’s like nothing you’ve ever had, with a dense rich chocolate flavor.

There’s lots more on the menu, but these are my favs, along with the gyro bowl in the secondo section.

Lots is going on at Massey’s, including the new Massey’s Lookout Mountain Market! On Saturday, August 24, a farmers market took place on the patio! Indeed, lots is happening at this neighborhood restaurant, but a lot remains the same, including great service, great food and a great location!

by Ferris Robinson

Justin and D’Anna Farrar recently bought the Mountain Escape Spa from its original owner, Cindy Stiles. After over 30 years in business, Cindy is so pleased to sell the spa to someone who cares and loves our mountain like she does. Cindy is so appreciative of the support this community has shown her business through the years, but knew it was time for her to choose another path for her and her family.
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D’Anna and her husband, Justin, fell in love with the magic of Lookout Mountain and moved here seven years ago. “As residents, we have a deep gratitude and respect for the special beauty, charm and gifts of the mountain and its community,” she said. “We always wanted to own a small business, and buying Mountain Escape Spa was an exciting opportunity to do so and give back in a way.”

Well versed travelers, D’Anna and Justin have visited spas all over the world, so suffice to say, this couple knows spas.

“Visiting spas around the world, we are deeply passionate about wellness and the importance of self-care,” D’Anna said.

D’Anna also has a background in beauty, with extensive experience working as a brand manager of various skincare and beauty brands. Longtime customers of Mountain Escape Spa, the couple have nothing but appreciation and admiration for both Cindy and the spa, noting the satisfaction and joy it has brought to the community for three decades. D’Anna and Justin are grateful to Cindy for her vision, commitment to the community and business acumen, and are honored to carry the torch and continue her legacy.

The Farrars were also inspired by other nearby businesses like Canopy and Massey’s, which are bringing fresh new energy to the town center in Lookout Mountain, Tenn. They are currently remodeling the spa to refresh the space and ready the building for new exciting amenities.

“We will be offering massages, facials and aesthetician services, a new hair salon offering both women’s and men’s hair services, a new nail salon, and a Scandinavian inspired sauna, D’Anna said. The spa will also offer a new luxurious mountain serenity lounge room where guests can sip tea, relax and unwind before and after services, but that’s not all!

“Furthermore, we are revamping the retail portion of the spa with an enchanting new boutique. We will have many new items including apparel, jewelry, accessories, home items, gifts, Christmas items and more just in time for the upcoming holiday season,” D’Anna explained.

Keep your eyes out for special limited-edition packages inspired by the seasons, including the Autumn Spice Spa Retreat. This package provides the ultimate fall glow-up experience with a pumpkin spice facial, autumn aromatherapy massage and pumpkin butter hand and foot treatment.

They are so excited and are so grateful to the community for all the love and support! D’Anna can’t wait to start this new chapter in their lives and on the mountain, and her excitement is contagious!

The Farrars are planning a grand reopening this October and accepting pre-bookings now. Please visit mountainescapespa.com or call (423) 821-1772 to book your appointment today.

by Gwin Tugman

My mother had back surgery four years ago, and, although the surgery was a success, she had a time of it. An unexpected knee surgery immediately followed, as did several terrible falls. Her hospital and rehab stay was long, much longer than expected. A widow, she needed a place to recover, and Thrive was the perfect option.

She’d been having physical therapy for a few weeks before she got to Thrive, and, like is common after surgery and trauma, this PT is not pleasant. My siblings and I were really concerned about her healing, and knew the physical therapy was vital. How would she like a brand new physical therapist in a brand new place when her pain level was still almost unbearable?

Logan Drew popped in immediately after she moved into her room.

“I still remember your mom sitting up on the edge of her bed the first time I met her,” Logan said. She could literally not move without assistance then.

We all warned Logan about her pain and fragility, and he listened to us. Then he listened to my mother. Then he coaxed a smile out her. All within minutes of introducing himself to her.

As her therapy went on, she gushed about Logan, teasing him about being her “tormenter.” He played right along, joking every step of the way. Until before we knew it, she was out of the bed for the first time in well over a month, gushing about “cute Logan,” her personal tormentor who was summoning her for PT. And she couldn’t wait to go!

Truly, he brought her back to us. Not only physically with his routine of steady strengthening her, but by being a delightful sidekick, a partner in crime, as they yukked it up in the PT room amidst encouragement and praise and raising the bar so incrementally and steadily it seemed like nothing at all to her.

Clearly, my family is devoted to Logan Drew. And not just because of his rapport with my mother. Told I needed a knee replacement, I first tried physical therapy for my knee and went to Logan. And he strengthened my knees in short order. I no longer have pain in my knees - but I do keep doing my “homework” that Logan prescribed.

Logan had a firsthand experience with physical therapy at a young age.

“Growing up I had ankle injuries from playing basketball and went to physical therapy to rehab my ankles. I really enjoyed my time in that atmosphere, the physical therapists and seeing the empowerment of other patients reaching their goals,” Logan said.

Clearly impressed by the entire experience, Logan knew at an early age that he wanted to be a physical therapist, as well as an accountability partner and offer support to folks as he helped them regain their optimal function. He has worked as a physical therapist for close to 10 years, and yes, there have been surprises along the way, notably the long-lasting relationships that go beyond the physical therapy treatment.

I can vouch for that. Every time my mother and I would run into Logan in the hall or the dining room, she would ask about Haili, Logan’s adorable wife, and Walker, Logan’s now 3-year-old son. My mother feels as connected to Walker as she does her own grandchildren, demanding to see his ultrasounds, newborn pictures and now his “big boy” photos. She is very possessive of George, Logan’s 3-month-old son, always asking for regular updates.

When Logan announced he was opening an outpatient clinic in the town center of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., my whole family was worried about him continuing our mother’s physical therapy because she is starting a new regime of PT in efforts to avoid a second back surgery.

Thankfully, we were reassured that Logan is offering mobile PT services to Lookout residents and is willing to travel to my mother and others across the mountain as needed. My mom knows that means Logan will be cracking the whip, and she also knows her longtime “tormentor” will go above and beyond to help her achieve her goal.
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by Ferris Robinson