Rock City (attraction) facts for kids
Rock City is a fun tourist attraction located on Lookout Mountain in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. It first opened its doors in May 1932. Rock City became famous after its owners, Garnet and Frieda Carter, hired a painter named Clark Byers in 1935. Clark Byers painted "See Rock City" messages on barns all over the Southeast and Midwest of the United States. By 1969, he had painted over 900 barns in nineteen different states!
For a long time, Rock City has claimed that you can see seven states from a special spot called Lover's Leap. In 2007, a scientist from the University of Tennessee looked into this claim. He explained that you can see mountains and high points in many states from there. He also noted that this claim was made before cars and power plants caused a lot of air pollution, which can make it harder to see far away today.
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Rock City's Past: A Look at History
Long ago, Native Americans lived on Lookout Mountain. In 1823, two missionaries, Daniel S. Butrick and William Chamberlain, visited them. Daniel Butrick wrote in his journal on August 28, 1823, about a "citadel of rocks" on top of the mountain. He was amazed by the huge rocks, saying they were arranged like "streets and lanes."
During the American Civil War, more people discovered the area known as Rock City. Both a Union soldier and a Confederate soldier wrote in their journals that they could see seven states from the top of the mountain. These stories were written independently, showing how special the view was.
How Rock City Became a Park
Hikers and geologists knew about Rock City in the late 1800s. But it didn't become the popular attraction it is today until the 1900s. Garnet Carter first wanted to build homes on top of the mountain. He planned to call the neighborhood Fairyland, because his wife Frieda loved European folklore.
Garnet also wanted to build a golf course. However, it was taking too long, so he decided to build a miniature golf course instead. He later started a company for his mini-golf idea called Tom Thumb Golf. This was the first mini-golf course in the country!
Fairyland was a large area, about 700 acres (2.8 square kilometers), and it included Rock City. Frieda Carter decided to turn the property into a giant rock garden. She used string to mark a winding trail around the huge rock formations. The trail ended at a spot called Lover's Leap. Frieda also planted many wildflowers and other plants along her trails. She even brought in German gnome statues and other famous fairytale characters to place along the path.
Garnet soon realized that Frieda had created something amazing that people would pay to see. So, Garnet opened Rock City as a public attraction in 1932. The original clubhouse and 10 small cottages are now part of the Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club.
Fun Events and Shows at Rock City
Rock City offers many exciting events and shows for visitors throughout the year.
Bird Shows
Since 2006, Rock City has hosted daily bird shows. These shows feature amazing birds of prey, like hawks and owls. The shows are included with your admission ticket. Today, the bird shows happen from Thursdays to Sundays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You can catch them at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM, with an extra show at 4:30 PM on Saturdays.
Seasonal Celebrations
- Shamrock City: In March, Rock City transforms into Shamrock City, an Irish festival. This event includes Irish music, special food, and fun games. They even turn the waterfall green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
- Corn Maze: Every autumn, Rock City creates a giant maze in the valley below the gardens. You can see the maze and its cool designs from the Lover's Leap lookout point.
- Enchanted Garden of Lights: In November and December, Rock City lights up the park with beautiful Christmas lights. This event is called "Enchanted Garden of Lights." It features food booths, gift shops, and seasonal shows. You can see a lighted telling of the Nativity of Jesus story and listen to carolers from all around the region.
Amazing Attractions to Explore
Rock City has a long, winding rock trail with gardens full of hundreds of local trees and plants. Each plant is labeled so you can learn about them. The trail also leads through many unique and strange rock formations.
Unique Rock Formations
You'll see cool spots like the 1,000-ton Balanced Rock, which looks like it could fall any minute! Another fun spot is Fat Man's Squeeze, a narrow passage between two huge rocks.
Fairytale Caves
Two other special sections are the Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village. These are rock caves decorated with blacklight-responsive sculptures. They bring classic fairytales and nursery rhymes to life in a magical way.
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High Falls of Lookout Mountain
The High Falls of the Lookout Mountain is a man-made waterfall located within the Rock City Gardens. This impressive waterfall is 140 feet (43 meters) high. Its water flows into a small pool at the bottom.
