Amanda and Shane Farmer, the owners of our only full-service gas station, are a true blessing to our mountain. In 2004 David Kendrick, Amanda’s brother, and Greg Daniels rented the building on Scenic Highway and opened the Lookout Mountain Service Center. About three years later, they hired Shane Farmer as a mechanic. David and Shane had worked together for six years at Capital Motors and were good friends, so he was a logical choice for the position.
About two or three years later, Amanda, a single mother with three young children, was working at Spalding Elementary School as a cafeteria/lunch coordinator. David asked her to come help manage the office for the Lookout Mountain Service Center, and later she began dating Shane, a divorced father of three. After going out for about three years, they finally were married at their home in Chickamauga with their children participating in the informal gazebo wedding. Amanda and Shane have 12 grandchildren ranging from ages 4 months to 13 years.
David passed away about five years ago in a tragic car accident, and Ken Smith, who had been with the service station for years, retired. David’s oldest son, Tristan, wasn’t interested in his dad’s business, so Amanda and Shane acquired the Lookout Mountain Service Center and bought the inventory from Tristan. They opened the “new” business on September 4, 2018.
The business might have been new officially, but it has a long history and is been appreciated for decades. Of course, we all remember Duke, the laidback bloodhound that was always on the premises until he passed away three years ago.
This couple tries to continue what David started by trying to accommodate all of our needs - no matter how bizarre they can be. They do all the normal things relating to brakes, timing belts, batteries, etc., and they also inspect used cars their customers are considering to purchase. They make service calls for dead batteries and give folks a ride home after they drop off their cars for service.
But they have been asked several strange and unrelated things over the years, like putting together a bed or fixing a toilet (which they politely declined). I actually asked Shane to cut my stuck rings off my fingers when I was having carpal tunnel surgery, and Amanda cheerfully replaced the batteries in my lighted Christmas tree hat.
Amanda and Shane have stayed very busy over the last several years and are pleased that they can help the mountain residents. They go above and beyond what is required, simply because they care. Farmers, you are truly appreciated, and we don’t know what we would do without you!
by Gwin Tugman
About two or three years later, Amanda, a single mother with three young children, was working at Spalding Elementary School as a cafeteria/lunch coordinator. David asked her to come help manage the office for the Lookout Mountain Service Center, and later she began dating Shane, a divorced father of three. After going out for about three years, they finally were married at their home in Chickamauga with their children participating in the informal gazebo wedding. Amanda and Shane have 12 grandchildren ranging from ages 4 months to 13 years.
David passed away about five years ago in a tragic car accident, and Ken Smith, who had been with the service station for years, retired. David’s oldest son, Tristan, wasn’t interested in his dad’s business, so Amanda and Shane acquired the Lookout Mountain Service Center and bought the inventory from Tristan. They opened the “new” business on September 4, 2018.
The business might have been new officially, but it has a long history and is been appreciated for decades. Of course, we all remember Duke, the laidback bloodhound that was always on the premises until he passed away three years ago.
This couple tries to continue what David started by trying to accommodate all of our needs - no matter how bizarre they can be. They do all the normal things relating to brakes, timing belts, batteries, etc., and they also inspect used cars their customers are considering to purchase. They make service calls for dead batteries and give folks a ride home after they drop off their cars for service.
But they have been asked several strange and unrelated things over the years, like putting together a bed or fixing a toilet (which they politely declined). I actually asked Shane to cut my stuck rings off my fingers when I was having carpal tunnel surgery, and Amanda cheerfully replaced the batteries in my lighted Christmas tree hat.
Amanda and Shane have stayed very busy over the last several years and are pleased that they can help the mountain residents. They go above and beyond what is required, simply because they care. Farmers, you are truly appreciated, and we don’t know what we would do without you!
by Gwin Tugman
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