{"id":75681,"date":"2026-05-18T09:19:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/75681\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:19:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:19:13","slug":"concerns-raised-over-rock-city-gondola-project-local-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/75681\/","title":{"rendered":"Concerns Raised Over Rock City Gondola Project | Local News"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE: Rock city is hoping to build a $30 million gondola system up Lookout Mountain. It would begin at Blowing Spring Farm \u2014 a piece of property in Flintstone that Rock City has owned for decades but hasn\u2019t used.<\/p>\n

Back in February, commissioners in Walker County, GA, voted unanimously in favor of rezoning the property to be used for parking and the base of the gondola system.<\/p>\n

Lookout Mountain Planning Commissioners also debated the proposal earlier this year, as leaders considered amending the town\u2019s tourist commercial district.<\/p>\n

But residents spoke out with concerns of their own \u2014 including traffic congestion in an already busy area.<\/p>\n

No action was taken at the planning commission, and the fate of the project remains up in the air.<\/p>\n

While residents wait to see what happens, one Lookout Mountain resident, Jordan VanderHart, says the gondola system could play a big role in helping those with disabilities get down the mountain quicker.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s very important to me since I love to get out and about. I would use the gondola for transportation. Especially when I have volunteer opportunities downtown,\u201d says VanderHart.<\/p>\n

VanderHart says he currently uses the incline Railway for transportation, but it takes him more than an hour to walk there.<\/p>\n

He says the gondola system would be quicker and more convenient, not just for him, but for all residents.<\/p>\n

VanderHart says, \u201cI’m just trying to fight for the city of Lookout Mountain and Rock City to get the gondola to be approved.\u201d<\/p>\n

We reached out to Rock City for additional updates but are waiting to hear back.<\/p>\n

If the project is approved, Rock City says construction would start as early as January.<\/p>\n

We will continue following the project as updates are being released.<\/p>\n

PREVIOUS STORY: Some residents expressed concerns about the Rock City gondola project during a public hearing on Tuesday night, February 24.<\/p>\n

The major addition to one of the oldest tourist sites in our area, which includes adding nine poles along the side of the mountain, was up for debate during the Lookout Mountain Planning Commission meeting, but in the end no vote nor action was taken.<\/p>\n

\"UPDATE:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“I’m very concerned about it being commercialized and mechanized,” one resident stated.<\/p>\n

Commissioners in Walker County unanimously approved rezoning earlier this month, changing the 14-acre lot Rock City already owns from residential to commercial. This move is raising residents’ concerns, specifically about parking.<\/p>\n

\"UPDATE:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“The increased parking at the bottom, going from 759 to 1200 is, like I said, if people ride the gondola, their length of stay at Rock City extends a little bit,” President and CEO of Rock City Doug Chapin said. “So we need the capacity for people to extend their trips and be able to have their cars stay there for that time.”<\/p>\n

Some residents are still opposing the move.<\/p>\n

“I have no doubt that whether or not the gondola project is approved and it’s going to continue to expand its footprint into the neighborhood,” one resident said. “You know, I deal with traffic from the tourists every single day. Is the magnified existence. I would love it if the gondola actually magically made that traffic go away. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.”<\/p>\n

Construction could start next January, and would cost between $30 and $40 million.<\/p>\n

PREVIOUS STORY:\u00a0A public hearing on Rock City\u2019s proposed gondola system is set for Tuesday, February 24, at 5:30pm, at Lookout Mountain City Hall, located at 1214 Lula Lake Road.<\/p>\n

City leaders will consider amending Lookout Mountain\u2019s Tourist Oriented Commercial District to allow gondolas.<\/p>\n

The hearing follows the unanimous vote by Walker County Commissioners approving the rezoning needed for the project to move forward.<\/p>\n

PREVIOUS STORY:\u00a0On February 5, Walker County Commissioners unanimously approved the rezoning proposal for Rock City to build a gondola system from Flintstone to the top of Lookout Mountain.<\/p>\n

The commission meeting was packed Thursday night with residents and nearby homeowners to the proposed site. Many spoke out against the project, citing concerns for traffic impacts on nearby neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

“If they are going to bring in that many cars, they are going to come through my neighborhood… We already have people who drive way too fast down Chattanooga Valley Road…We have had kids hit on bicycles,” said Martina Brown, a nearby homeowner.<\/p>\n

Despite opposition, commissioners voted to approve the rezoning with one condition that Rock City does not develop past the southern property line. Commissioner Gene Wilson of District 4 told the public that he will be closely following the project as it unfolds and wants to have more public meetings on it.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been on the phone for the last week and looking at emails from all the citizens with concerns. I have already reached out to the state representative. I am trying to get meetings with GDOT. These are going to be the months of discussions to decide what they are going to do and how they’re going to do it. Once he gets info, we will have meetings, and I will be in attendance,” said Commissioner Gene Wilson with Walker County.<\/p>\n

Local 3 News spoke with a Rock City representative after the vote. They shared that the gondola project is in its very early stages, but said that at the very earliest, construction could begin in January 2027.<\/p>\n

PREVIOUS STORY: The Walker County Planning Commission approved the rezoning for Rock City to install a gondola system, transporting visitors from Flintstone to the top of Lookout Mountain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The rezoning request will now move to the Board of Commissioners on February 5, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

PREVIOUS STORY: Rock City\u2019s iconic mountaintop views could soon come with a new way to get there.<\/p>\n

Rock City Enterprises is exploring the installation of a gondola system that would transport visitors from Flintstone, Georgia, to the top of Lookout Mountain, dropping them off at Rock City\u2019s main entrance parking area.<\/p>\n

The proposed gondola would begin at Blowing Springs Farm, a 14-acre property at the base of the mountain. Rock City has owned the property since 1979, but it has not been used by the park since 2019.<\/p>\n

To move forward, Rock City has submitted a rezoning request to Walker County to change the property\u2019s designation from residential to commercial. If approved, the site would be developed into a parking area and a gondola base station.<\/p>\n

Park officials say the project could significantly reduce traffic on the mountain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe gondola seems to be that great solution where it will reduce traffic on the mountain, as most people will be arriving at the base area,\u201d said Pepper Raper with Rock City. \u201cIt will also take motor coaches and school buses off of Ochs Highway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the proposal, visitors would park at Blowing Springs Farm and board the gondola for a six-minute scenic ride up the side of the mountain to Rock City\u2019s current main parking lot.<\/p>\n

Plans also include a redesigned mountaintop entryway that blends with the historic character of the Fairyland neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll also have a new mountaintop entryway that is designed to match the historical character of Fairyland,\u201d Raper said. \u201cFrom there, they\u2019ll proceed to Rock City Gardens.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to Walker County, a rezoning proposal has been submitted to the Lookout Mountain Planning Commission. This proposal is for the approval of the gondola system. Both approvals are required before the project can advance.<\/p>\n

Raper anticipates answers for both proposals around March.<\/p>\n

If the proposals are approved, Rock City would move into the design phase, which is expected to take six to nine months. Construction could begin as early as January 2027.<\/p>\n

Raper says the gondola’s main purpose is for admission to the park, but it will be open to all who want to ride for the views and experience.<\/p>\n

“We’re still in the approval process, but we will expand our ticket and pass offerings. There will be scenic ride tickets that don’t include admission, admission and ride tickets, as well as tickets for annual pass holders,” she said.<\/p>\n

Rock City is already working with Doppelmayr USA, a globally recognized manufacturing company specializing in ropeways, cable cars, and ski lifts. The project is estimated to cost between $30 million and $40 million.<\/p>\n

For more information on the project, you can visit this link.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Rock city is hoping to build a $30 million gondola system up Lookout Mountain. 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