What we do for fun
WHAT TAYALA DOES FOR FUN
“Going up on [Missionary Ridge], me and the kids, and throwing rocks and look(ing) out, especially when the sun is setting.” — Tayala Patterson
Antique District
Some of the best shopping can be found in East Ridge’s Antique District just off I-75 behind Cracker Barrel, at 6501 Slater Road. In one central location of over 70,000 square feet, multiple shops feature a variety of vendors and a beautifully curated selection of everything from furniture to clothing to jewelry. If “pickin” is your pastime, be sure to also stop by Chattanooga Mercantile, located just down the road at 6725 Ringgold Road. It houses over 300 vendors offering everything from antiques to boutique clothing to fresh flowers. If that’s not eclectic enough, there’s even a bakery, coffee shop and full-service tea room.
Camp Jordan Park & Arena
323 Camp Jordan Pkwy. Call 423-805-3111.
The 34,000-square-foot arena brings out the best of recreation in East Ridge. Located on over 250 acres, the facility boasts picnic areas, playgrounds, 13 baseball and nine soccer fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, a fishing pond, an amphitheater and access to canoe/ kayak launches along West and South Chickamauga creeks. There’s also an independently owned adventure center with ziplines and obstacle courses.
Over $2.3 million went into the complex for a facelift in early 2019, bringing new concession and restroom facilities and updated ballfields. The complex, which is home to annual, seasonal and sporting events, can seat up to 5,000 people.
For nature enthusiasts, Camp Jordan’s walking track and wide, pet-friendly trails outline the property through wooded areas, an old farm and along the creeks. The trail also crosses a walking/ biking bridge to the west side of South Chickamauga Creek, where it continues north to link with Chattanooga’s greenway, which runs to downtown Chattanooga and beyond. The East Ridge Needy Child Fund typically sponsors Pioneer Fest at the park in September, celebrating the city with local food, entertainment, games, vendors and a cruise-in.
East Ridge Community/ Senior Center 1517 Tombras Ave. Call 423-867-6406.
A paved walking track circles Pioneer Frontier Playground, and the nearby community center contains a gymnasium, fellowship areas and other activities. Annual membership fees are $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents. The city also offers a family membership for $40 per year. Additional fees apply to some classes and activities, and the facilities can be rented out. East Ridge community members pulled together to build Pioneer Frontier Playground in the early 1990s, and the city is matching a $500,000 grant to replace equipment and add an outdoor splash pad water feature to the overall amenities, which include picnic tables, a gazebo and restrooms. Demolition began in April 2021 and installation was anticipated to begin in early May.
Red Wolves Soccer
In summer 2019, the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club broke ground off of I-75 for a planned $125 million development that will host a 5,500seat stadium, the first professional soccer-only stadium in the region. The development will also ultimately feature 400 apartment and condominium units, 375 hotel rooms, 475,000 square feet of restaurants and other commercial space, and a network of walking and nature trails that could connect under I-75 with Camp Jordan. It’s far from being done — but the Red Wolves’ home field, CHI Memorial Stadium, is complete, with room for about 750 socially distanced spectators as work continues on the buildout. The team’s first home game in its 28-game slate for 2021 is May 22 against Fort Lauderdale FC, owned by David Beckham.