Rock City is a set of rock formations, a innovative marketing campaign and a tourist attraction in Chattanooga, TN none of which have anything to do with American guitar music.

Rock City has been a tourist destination since its documented discover in 1823. Located at top Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, travelers have been awed by the strange groupings of boulders and rocks that seemed natural streets and avenues. The 1800s era travelers nicknamed the place, Rock City.

In 1924, Tennessean Garnet Carter with his wife Frieda decided to develop a residential community a top Lookout Mountain. While Carter planned the community, Frieda mapped out the rock community, planted wildflower gardens and decorated the gardens with German statuary of folk and fairytale figures. Carter, a promoter at heart, decided that his wife had created an attraction that other people would pay to see.

In 1932, he opened the area to the public, but due to the remote location business was slow. Carter then conjured up one of the 20th Century’s greatest home spun marketing campaigns. He hired a young sign painter, Clark Byers, to travel the area offering to paint farmer’s barns in exchange for allowing him to write “See Rock City” on the structure. Barns from Michigan to Texas were emblazoned with this simple ad slogan and the word was out.

Visitors to Rock City and Lookout Mountain can take in the geologic attractions of the Grand Corridor, a pathway that winds through large boulders, the Fat Man Squeeze, a narrow squeeze through large boulders, follow the Swinging Bridge, a suspension bridge of a 180 foot height to the scenic outcropping known as Lovers Leap.

The view from atop Lookout Mountain is supposed encompass seven states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Other attractions in Lookout Mountain include Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway. http://www.lookoutmountain.com/

To be certain, visitors to Lookout Mountain can see down into the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee a fantastic home base for travelers planning a vacation to Rock City.

Chattanooga is a gem of a city located on the bluffs above the Tennessee River. A number of hotels and restaurants await travelers. The city features a great arts district and the family friendly attraction of the Tennessee Aquarium. To learn how to plan a trip to visit Rock City, Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga, Tennessee see this vacation planning guide. http://www.chattanoogafun.com/

Getting There
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport offers connecting flights to 12 airports. http://www.chattairport.com/
Bustling Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is an hour and a half south of Chattanooga. http://www.atlanta-airport.com/
Travelers would then rent a car and drive north on Interstate 75. Directions to Chattanooga are well marked.