Rock City Gardens reopening in phases
See Rock City Inc. will have a phased reopening for Rock City Gardens during its Founder’s Day week beginning, Monday, May 18, for annual and Lookout Mountain resident passholders.
Rock City, on Lookout Mountain, Ga., is open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for these passholders, with capacity limits per hour. A reopening date for all other guests is to be determined soon.
“Rock City is looking forward to welcoming guests back in a safe way, after being closed since March 14 due to COVID-19,” said SRC president and COO Susan Harris. “We know that the beauty and enchantment of our gardens will be just what the doctor ordered for many in our community. Our team has done great work preparing our place to open in line with the guidance we’ve received from public health officials.”
Passholder guest capacity is very limited per hour, so advance online reservations are highly recommended. Those who have passes still valid as of March 13 of this year can receive a threemonth extension. Current annual passes are also renewable for $19.32 during the month of May as part of a Founder’s Day promotion. Rock City’s 88th anniversary is Thursday, May 21. Visit www.seerockcity. com/passholderinfo/ to reserve a time.
All gift shops and food locations are opening with capacity limitations. Rock City’s outdoor restaurant,
Guests are encouraged to wear face masks and observe physical distancing of at least six feet at all times (with other guests who are not in their party).
Only a limited number of guests will be allowed entrance per hour. It is recommended for guests to make reservations online in advance to guarantee their preferred timeslot. A limited number of entries will also be available onsite without reservations.
Capacity in all indoor spaces is limited to 50% of the building capacity, with no more than 10 guests for every 500 square feet.
Café 7, is also reopening for the season at 50% capacity from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The annual event Summer Music Weekends is not scheduled for the summer season to help guests maintain physical distancing for the foreseeable future.
Other SRC Inc. properties reopening to the public include the Rock City Starbucks and Clumpies Ice Cream Co. Northshore and
A one-way traffic pattern has been established for guests to enjoy the original Enchanted Trail with adequate physical distancing. Partners (employees) have been positioned throughout the Gardens to assist guests with questions or concerns with the new traffic flow.
Any annual passes still valid as of 3/13/20 will have a 3-month extension available.
Current annual passholders can renew these passes during the month of May for $19.32 (the year Rock City opened).
Southside shops, currently offering carryout service. Clumpies is also offering online ordering that may be picked up at these two locations 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, as well as continuing local delivery and nationwide shipping. Riverview Inn remains open for business.
New safety measures and operating procedures are in place, and the health and well-being of all who come to SRC businesses remains the company’s top priority. Visit www.seerockcity.com/ c19 for info on the additional safety protocols.
Rock City Gardens opened to the public on May 21, 1932 by Garnet and Frieda Carter and remains one of the South’s oldest and most popular natural attractions. Known for its legendary giant rock formations, Swing-a-long Bridge, Mother Goose Village, cascading waterfall and world-famous seven states view.
Generations of visitors have made memories worth repeating at Rock City.
SRC Inc. is a hospitality and entertainment company that features the Rock City Gardens high atop Lookout Mountain, and also owns and operates Battles for Chattanooga museum, Starbucks, the Incline Railway concessions and ticketing, Riverview Inn and Grandview Conference Center on Lookout Mountain; Clumpies Ice Cream Co., and ticketing and concessions for The Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Blowing Springs Farm in Flintstone, Georgia.
ACCG, Georgia’s County Association, recently awarded county officials with certificates for completing requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy.
Recipients were recognized for their achievements in a special announcement sent to the ACCG membership. Catoosa County Commissioners Charlie Stephens and Chuck
Harris were honored for successfully completing the core requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy.
“I appreciate the opportunity ACCG has provided to help me sharpen my skills in ways that will benefit the people I serve,” said Commissioner Charlie Stephens. “The better we are prepared to face our challenges, the better place Catoosa County will be to live, work and play.”
“The Lifelong Learning Academy is a valuable resource that brings experienced county leaders together with visionaries from the University of Georgia to help solve the challenges we all face,” said Commissioner Chuck Harris. “This is a tremendous resource for me and ultimately the citizens in my district.”
ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have collaborated for more than two decades to provide county officials with supplemental training and educational tools in the Lifelong Learning Academy.
With abundant courses to choose from, every county official has a tailor-made learning experience that allows them to excel in specific areas of expertise.
“County officials are faced with many challenges and ever-evolving circumstances under which they must govern Georgia’s local communities,” said Dave Wills, ACCG’S executive director. “The Lifelong Learning Academy was created to help them navigate those challenges. I commend county leaders such as Chuck Harris who take full advantage of educational opportunities to further their knowledge on how to better serve their communities.”
The Lifelong Learning Academy was created with input from county commissioners who identified courses based on the issues and decisionmaking challenges regularly faced by county officials. To ensure the course requirements and curriculum remain relevant and engaging, the ACCG Lifelong Learning Committee – comprised of county commissioners and staff from both ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia – meet regularly to review and adjust accordingly.
Through this collaborative approach, the Lifelong Learning Academy has been successful in equipping county officials with the necessary skills to meet the needs of their constituents.