If you aren’t familiar with Rock City, it was discovered around the time of the civil war. Though when visiting you will likely navigate through Chattanooga, Rock City is actually located in Lookout Mountain, GA. It was brought to life by husband and wife, Garnet and Freida Carter. He with a creative business mind and her with a love of plants and fairies opened Rock City in 1932. It includes:
- A 4100-ft walking trail surrounded by geological wonders such as a 90-ft waterfall
- The ever popular Swing-A-Long Bridge, a 180-ft long suspension bridge overlooking the Chattanooga valley,
- Lover’s Leap, a large stone / rock structure where you can See Seven States
- Fat Man’s Squeeze – a tight spot to pass through on your journey at Rock City
A new event is happening at Rock City this spring that is sure to bring some excitement to evenings. It is called the Flora Luna event, which brings together music, lighting and sculpture installations. The special event takes place from April 5th to May 12th.
The event begins at dusk and goes on until they close at 11:30, however, the last entrance is an hour and half before that, so you have enough time to explore the park. I’d recommend getting there at dusk so you can see some of the spots like Lover’s Leap at dusk and take some photos. Then, I’d do the entire walk once it turns dark so you can experience it just the way it was intended.
In addition, they’ve added a fun Sip and Savor tasting menu to the experience. Here’s how it works, with the sip and savor pass, you’ll receive a card that can be punched. You can use it at each stop for a small sip and bite. Each card comes with 4 sips and 4 tastes. So you could double punch the card and get a double pour. There are even mocktails available. We loved the Mule Mocktail and the Orange Blossom one the best. Alcoholic drinks of wine and beer are available too. These included a selection of IPAs including a lovely Chattanooga brew.
The food is excellent at the Flora Luna event as well. Some of the highlights include Fire on the Mountain, a beef with barbecue sauce over collards and the It’s no Spring Chicken. This is cast iron grilled chicken with marinated artichokes, olives, and pesto. Another highlight was the citrus braised beef over mashed potatoes and mushrooms. The food is plentiful and the portions for the items described above were more than adequate to fill you up. We even tried the brownie topped with local town favorite, Clumpie’s ice cream.
At Perch, choose from an IPA, Red wine or Orange Blossom mocktail and “perch” yourself in a sittable sculptural installation and woven papasan chairs that are suspended from the ceiling. If there’s one part of the event you want to spend the most time, it’s definitely at Lover’s Leap. Grab your drink and entree at Cafe 7 and snag one of the many tables overlooking the beautiful vista along with the sounds of the Chime Tree sound installation. Continue enjoying in one of the gliders as you are serenaded by music while taking in the views at Rock City.
One of the most fun things besides Lover’s Leap with its sweeping views was gliding through the Fat Man’s Squeeze at Rock City. Literally as it is named it is a tight spot to sqeeze through.
Here are some other common questions you may want to know before visiting Rock City
How long does it take to walk through Rock City during the event?
While the event is geared toward the night, you may want to arrive around dusk (about 7 or 7:30) so you can enjoy Lover’s Leap and some of the other dusk views. If you just walk through the event, expect to spend about 1.5 hours. However, if you are enjoying the Sip and Savor experience it may be closer to 3 hours.
How far is Rock City from Atlanta?
About 2 hours with traffic
Can I buy tickets on site to the Flora Luna light event at Rock City?
No you will need to pre-purchase your tickets online.
How much do tickets cost for the Rock City Lights event?
Tickets for the Flora Luna event are $33 (Friday and Saturdays) and $30 weekdays (adult pricing). You can additionally purchase the Sip and Savor pass for $46. Buy tickets here.
What are the hours of the Flora and Luna light event at Rock City?
During Flora Luna, Rock City stays open until 10:30 weekdays and 11:30 Friday and Saturday. The last entry is 1.5 hours before they close.
Where should you stay when visiting Rock City?
The best place to stay is the Chanticleer Inn Bed and Breakfast. It is just steps away from Rock City, so you don’t even have to drive. Plus it is intimate and offers a delightful daily breakfast as well as afternoon snack time.
Why do I see “See Rock City” on barns all over?
When Rock City first opened, they needed a unique way to market it, as it wasn’t near anywhere most people traveled. So, they offered to paint farmer’s barns in exchange for the ability to paint three words in the barn.
Rock City Gardens location
1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
