Most every person in America has either been to Rock City, wanted to go or at least seen signs for the iconic tourist attraction at some point in their lives. But I pose the question similar to driving a Ford: Have you been to Rock City … lately?
I remember the Fairyland Caverns as a child, when I was terrified of the swing-a-long bridge. I went again several times when my boys were at Fairyland School. I was busy chaperoning my dare devil sons and their friends over the bridge that, of course, was being whipped about as they all jumped and threw their weight this way and that in order to make crossing the bridge even more terrifying.
I went through again a decade or so ago when out-of-town cousins came for a visit and wanted to See Rock City. And more recently, I went through with my 4-year-old granddaughter and a week or so later, with my 87-year-old mother. Both times I was awed. And although the two of them are at opposite ends of aging, Rock City was perfect for both.
The trip with the younger Mary Jane, age 4, began with a stop at the gift shop right next to Starbucks. The Cornerstone Gift Shop’s garage-door was wide open, and we wandered in to get our resident passes for the first time. All you need is your driver’s license for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., or Lookout Mountain, Ga., and money for one ticket, which is under $30 for an adult. In just a few minutes, the cute gal behind the register handed me my own Rock City Resident Pass, which is good for three years. After that, you simply go back to the gift shop at Rock City, show them your driver’s license, and keep your ticket money in your wallet. She will renew the pass for another three years - as long as you are still a Lookout Mountain resident. Actually, my money did not stay in my wallet, even after I paid for my initial ticket. Mary Jane spotted an irresistible Rock City key chain that she absolutely had to have. Pleading with me with her big blue eyes, I folded and sprang for the $5 trinket, pleased that was all it cost me.
My granddaughter, husband and I headed through the big red doors and wandered around the beautifully landscaped trail before finding the Critter Classroom, where we were delighted to find Mountain Mirror contributor Tish Gailmard explaining very cool facts about opossums, snakes, owls and more critters. She walked up and down the rows with each animal so that folks could truly be up close and personal with each creature she brought from Reflection Riding. Mary Jane thinks Tish is right up there with Taylor Swift, so she was beyond thrilled when Tish hollered, “Hey there, MJ!” when we walked in. (We are regulars at Reflection Riding and Tish has educated her girl MJ on all things snakes.)
My husband and granddaughter headed for the swing-a-long bridge while I watched them from the beautiful and less nerve-wracking stone bridge. There was a group of boys at one end and yes, they were bouncing and trying to shake and rattle and roll the bridge, and yes, I was freaking out even though my granddaughter walked confidently across the bridge in the sky way to far in front of my husband.
We covered every inch of Rock City, spotting gnomes and historic Fairytale characters and breathtaking views and incredible, crazy tight passages through boulders!
After a round of neon slushies and a Hutton and Smith IPA, we headed back down the trail to the exit. Mary Jane, a Rock City pro who came to the Enchanted Garden of Lights at Christmas, announced the only way out was through the other gift shop, which was bigger, more packed and glitzier than the previous gift shop. I reminded her that we’d already purchased her one gift, and she was much too polite to say, “Seriously? You think you’re getting out for five bucks?” But that’s exactly what my husband said as he headed for his truck, never so happy to have his own vehicle.
MJ and I considered every single item available, from ceramic mugs to massive pink stuffies to art kits to gemstones to bird houses to everything in between. Literally. A good 45 minutes later, she had successfully shaken me down for what I think is a pink salamander she named “Rainbow.”
And just so you know, the only way out of Rock City is not through that gift shop. Rookie mistake on my part.
by Ferris Robinson
I remember the Fairyland Caverns as a child, when I was terrified of the swing-a-long bridge. I went again several times when my boys were at Fairyland School. I was busy chaperoning my dare devil sons and their friends over the bridge that, of course, was being whipped about as they all jumped and threw their weight this way and that in order to make crossing the bridge even more terrifying.
I went through again a decade or so ago when out-of-town cousins came for a visit and wanted to See Rock City. And more recently, I went through with my 4-year-old granddaughter and a week or so later, with my 87-year-old mother. Both times I was awed. And although the two of them are at opposite ends of aging, Rock City was perfect for both.
The trip with the younger Mary Jane, age 4, began with a stop at the gift shop right next to Starbucks. The Cornerstone Gift Shop’s garage-door was wide open, and we wandered in to get our resident passes for the first time. All you need is your driver’s license for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., or Lookout Mountain, Ga., and money for one ticket, which is under $30 for an adult. In just a few minutes, the cute gal behind the register handed me my own Rock City Resident Pass, which is good for three years. After that, you simply go back to the gift shop at Rock City, show them your driver’s license, and keep your ticket money in your wallet. She will renew the pass for another three years - as long as you are still a Lookout Mountain resident. Actually, my money did not stay in my wallet, even after I paid for my initial ticket. Mary Jane spotted an irresistible Rock City key chain that she absolutely had to have. Pleading with me with her big blue eyes, I folded and sprang for the $5 trinket, pleased that was all it cost me.
My granddaughter, husband and I headed through the big red doors and wandered around the beautifully landscaped trail before finding the Critter Classroom, where we were delighted to find Mountain Mirror contributor Tish Gailmard explaining very cool facts about opossums, snakes, owls and more critters. She walked up and down the rows with each animal so that folks could truly be up close and personal with each creature she brought from Reflection Riding. Mary Jane thinks Tish is right up there with Taylor Swift, so she was beyond thrilled when Tish hollered, “Hey there, MJ!” when we walked in. (We are regulars at Reflection Riding and Tish has educated her girl MJ on all things snakes.)
My husband and granddaughter headed for the swing-a-long bridge while I watched them from the beautiful and less nerve-wracking stone bridge. There was a group of boys at one end and yes, they were bouncing and trying to shake and rattle and roll the bridge, and yes, I was freaking out even though my granddaughter walked confidently across the bridge in the sky way to far in front of my husband.
We covered every inch of Rock City, spotting gnomes and historic Fairytale characters and breathtaking views and incredible, crazy tight passages through boulders!
After a round of neon slushies and a Hutton and Smith IPA, we headed back down the trail to the exit. Mary Jane, a Rock City pro who came to the Enchanted Garden of Lights at Christmas, announced the only way out was through the other gift shop, which was bigger, more packed and glitzier than the previous gift shop. I reminded her that we’d already purchased her one gift, and she was much too polite to say, “Seriously? You think you’re getting out for five bucks?” But that’s exactly what my husband said as he headed for his truck, never so happy to have his own vehicle.
MJ and I considered every single item available, from ceramic mugs to massive pink stuffies to art kits to gemstones to bird houses to everything in between. Literally. A good 45 minutes later, she had successfully shaken me down for what I think is a pink salamander she named “Rainbow.”
And just so you know, the only way out of Rock City is not through that gift shop. Rookie mistake on my part.
by Ferris Robinson
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