Rock City Gardens has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance. Its importance as a tourist attraction, its unusual landscape, and its architecture were noted as significant in the nomination. The property owner sponsored the nomination and a consultant prepared the nomination materials.
Rock City Gardens was developed in the 1930s by Frieda Untermoehlen Carter (1880-1964) and her husband Garnet Carter (1883-1954) as a means to capitalize on the growing trend of automobile tourism in the United States. Largely designed by Frieda Carter as an informal rock garden and walking trail, the 42-acre property integrates the dramatic stone formations and topography of Lookout Mountain with stone hardscape features, native woodland vegetation, scenic vistas, and fanciful statuary. In 1933 the Garden Club of America awarded Frieda Carter the Horticultural Bronze Medal of Distinction for her landscape work.
Rock City Gardens opened to the public on May 21, 1932 with an admission charge of 50 cents. Visitors followed a self-guided tour along the winding “Enchanted Trail.” Natural and designed features identified by imaginative names such as Fat Man’s Squeeze, Lover’s Leap, and Tortoise Shell Rock were adorned with flowering vegetation and imported German statues of gnomes and fairytale characters to enhance the whimsical qualities of the landscape.
To publicize their attraction, Garnet Carter embarked on an extensive and innovative roadside advertising campaign between the 1930s and 1960s that included slogans painted on the rooftops of over 800 barns that enticed the public to “See Rock City.” The distinctive marketing bolstered the popularity of Rock City. Increased attendance prompted additional development, including Fairyland Caverns in 1947 and Mother Goose Village in 1964.
Rock City Gardens is also important for its collection of architect-designed buildings. Chattanooga-based architect William Hatfield Sears (1875-1951) designed the 1928 Tudor Revival-style Grandview estate that was built for Peyton Carter, Garnet Carter’s uncle. Chattanooga architect Halbert Grant Law (1909-1981), with creative input by Frieda Carter, is credited with the design of many of the other buildings, including the Sugar Loaf Shop, the Trail Entrance Building, Woodland Wonders Building, and the Carter Cliffs residence. Frieda Carter also supervised the design of the later Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village attractions.
Rock City Gardens remains open to the public today.