If tickets were sold to enjoy Chattanooga’s scenic beauty, Point Park on the northern end of Lookout Mountain would have to be the VIP section.
The front-of-the-balcony-like view offers panoramic scenes of not only the various other mountains and valleys, but also the Tennessee River, Moccasin Bend and constantly evolving downtown Chattanooga.
In fact, I have decided this would be the perfect spot if a person were able to enjoy only one constant view – at least in Hamilton County.
While Signal Point and parts of the other area mountaintops also offer breathtaking views, Point Park more perfectly captures the man-versus-nature experiment that is Chattanooga.
And in contrast to other green spaces in Hamilton County, one would not need to walk more than a few feet to enjoy an aesthetically exhilarating setting here.
But the park itself, with its expansive grass and old trees and the nice New York Peace Monument commemorating the local Civil War battle, is quite attractive even exclusive of its view. In fact, every time I am there, I want to sit down in the grass and relax for a spell when the weather is nice and I have already looked off the mountain or become a little tired walking down to the Ochs Memorial Museum.
I sometimes want to imagine this is my front yard. Actually, it is all of Chattanooga’s front yard due to its public accessibility!
My only complaint with Point Park is that there is an admission charge due to the fact it is under the operation of the National Park Service. As one who remembers when there was no charge up until about the 1990s or later, that bothers me, although I certainly understand the Park Service’s financial struggles to meet upkeep needs on all their parks.
But I avoided having to pay that last Saturday when I went there, due to the fact admission was being waived at parks around the country due to the start of National Park Week. So, after lunch, I got in my car and left my home near Northgate Mall and was there in roughly 30-35 minutes.
I found a parking place on the street 50 yards from the park entrance, but realized the Town of Lookout Mountain, Tn., was charging $3 for an hour of parking, so I reluctantly paid it after seeing a few signs about cars being booted.
But the beautiful spring weather that was obviously a little cooler than the valley below put me back in a good mood, and I quickly hustled into the park through the handsome stone entrance gate patterned after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers insignia.
Within a few feet of being inside, I noticed that the familiar and beautiful old view of the Chattanooga valley below came into range, a scene I never seem to get tired of seeing. Point Park and I are actually old friends dating back more than 50 years to when I used to walk down to it after riding the Incline Railway with my mother, Velma Shearer, as a young boy.
Although the Battle of Lookout Mountain was primarily fought just below Point Park, and Civil War information can be found there, including an inconspicuous plaque to Gen. Edmund Pettus of Selma, Al., bridge fame, I went there Saturday to find peace instead of to learn about war.
After taking a few pictures while walking along the right part of the circular path, I soon made my way down the narrow steps toward the Ochs Museum. I realized the steps were narrower than I realized because I was passing people closely with a COVID-19 awareness I did not have during my last visit more than a year ago.
After noticing old Umbrella Rock behind a fence, which is to keep people from climbing it and falling off, I almost started thinking the poor old stone formation is in rock prison, but understandably so. The old photos of Babe Ruth and maybe Civil War soldiers standing on top of it are just a part of the past in this era of increased liability concerns.
The beauty of the spring day and nice views in all directions quickly came back to mind as I continued. I loved looking off toward the west and north, as well as down the nicely constructed steps leading down to the trails that circle around the mountain below.
I had been on some of these trails before in my younger and more vigorous years, including toward Sunset Rock a few yards away on the west bluff, a place popular for rappelling. But I did not go on the paths Saturday due to my usual and unfortunate shortage of time – and desire not to pay for another hour of parking.
So, I went back up the steps, closely passed a few other visitors while holding my breath, and took in the seemingly newer lookout observation point toward the west. The otherwise beautiful view in this direction had one small glitch – a rock quarry in the Lookout Valley area that has been slowly growing in recent decades.
I then headed up into the grass to sit for a spell. Believe it or not, that was almost as fun as looking at the valley below.
It was a wonderful day, and I was at a wonderful place.
Now, if some kind philanthropist or foundation would come forward and work out a deal with the Park Service – if that is bureaucratically possible – so that Point Park could be visited for free every day or maybe just operate on donations. If that could happen, that would make a visit to this handsome place even more wonderful!
After all, it is a priceless treasure of Chattanooga.
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After this story was first posted, Tricia K. Mims, the executive director of the local National Park Partners, emailed to say that visitors can purchase an annual pass to Point Park that is economical for those wishing to visit multiple times.
"For $35 a year, you can get an annual pass that allows up to four adults entry at any time,” she said. "The pass basically pays for itself in less than one visit, as normally four adults entering would be $40 total."
For those interested, here is the link to purchase an annual pass to Point Park:
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To see the previous story in this series, read here:
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/3/29/425720/John-Shearer-Exploring-And-Searching.aspx
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Jcshearer2@comcast.net