Rock City Hires Terracon to Start Waterway and Wildlife Review of the Lookout Mountain Gondola

Rock City has directed Terracon to begin a preliminary waterway, wildlife, and cultural-resources assessment of the proposed Lookout Mountain gondola. FOX Chattanooga reported the assignment on Aug. 13. The Times Free Press followed on Aug. 18.

If you own on Lookout Mountain, in St. Elmo, or down in Chattanooga Valley, this is still a traffic-and-viewshed file — not a finished ropeway. Walker County already rezoned the Flintstone base. The Town of Lookout Mountain still has to vote. Until that vote, do not price a gondola into a listing or a contract.

What did Rock City hire Terracon to review?

Officials told FOX the first pass covers a waterway analysis plus potential impacts on cultural resources and wildlife. Terracon has been told to begin. The file is not back.

What has Rock City said about trees and clear-cutting?

Spokesperson Pepper Raper: cabins would run above the canopy. No clear-cutting along the path. Any clearing would be limited to pole bases. The proposed base is Blowing Springs Farm in Flintstone. The upper-mountain arrival would sit on a 14-acre unused Rock City lot. CEO/owner Doug Chapin is leading the plan.

What is still unresolved?

Open houses on the gondola started Aug. 17 at Lookout Mountain, Ga., Town Hall. Until Terracon’s preliminary work is published and the town votes, treat every rendering as a concept. Do not underwrite a finished ropeway.

What are Chattanooga homes doing right now?

Greater Chattanooga REALTORS July, as published on the live Mountain Creek post:

30-year fixed 6.67% on Aug. 13, down from 6.69%. Price against those July closings, not against a ropeway still waiting on a town vote.

What this means

• Lookout Mountain owners: Terracon is a planning step, not an approval. Write the house as it sits.
• St. Elmo / Chattanooga Valley: traffic and viewshed. Ask what the traffic study actually says about your street.
• Buyers: write the contract to today’s zoning. Walker County rezoned the Flintstone base; that does not lock the upper station.
• Move-up sellers: our proven system locks the sale first* so you are not stuck in a two-house trap.

What’s happening in Chattanooga this week

• Collegedale TimberFest — Fri–Sun Aug. 21–23 · The Commons, Collegedale
• Watermelon Festival — Sat–Sun Aug. 22–23 · McDonald Farm, Sale Creek

Call 865-365-2280.

Sources

• Rock City begins waterways wildlife assessment
• Rock City outlines environmental review plan for proposed gondola
• Mountain Creek denial / GCR July data

*Tracy and seller must agree upon price and possession date. Kings of Real Estate, LLC DBA "Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty"