Pre and post civil war History. It was there and used during the battle of Chickamauga. If you are…read morea civil war era buff then this is a great place to start. It is next to the Chickamauga Battlefield which has a great museum and loads of tours and the cannons and placements were placed by veterans who fought in the actual battles. This whole area is packed full of history.

Tony and I happened across this lovely plantation style home on one of our drives in the back…read morecountry roads of Tennessee in Chickamauga, Ga and there was mention of this Mill...so we went looking for it. It is located a few towns over in Ringgold, GA, it was closed so we just walked around and took some pictures. Found some history about it so I thought I would share and review. I would definitely go back here again. Seems very interesting. Great for a day trip from Nashville only 2.5 hrs one way ...if you like taking a driving and seeing what's around the next turn..you must go!!! History: Lee and Gordon's Mills, one of the oldest mills in the state of Georgia, is located about 2 miles east of the center of town on the west bank of the Chickamauga Creek. The mill was built by James Gordon, who came from Gwinnett County, Georgia in 1836. The mill served as the first general store in the area. A blacksmith shop was located nearby and the stagecoach and mail passed twice each week. Some time after the War Between the States a covered bridge spanned the creek by the mill, eventually torn down in the early 1900's. Click on the painting above and you'll see all of the early structures plus many of the citizens of the day. During the War Between the States, on September 9-10, 1863, the mill served as the headquarters of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by General Braxton Bragg. On September 10, Gen Bragg moved his headquarters south to LaFayette Georgia and Union troops occupied the mill and surrounding area the next day. Skirmishes between the opposingPost War Mill photo armies occurred September 13-18 with the major Battle of Chickamauga drawing the troops to the north on September 19-20, 1863. The mill then served as a headquarters for Wheeler's cavalry corps, but was recaptured in the winter of 1863 by Union troops who used the second story as a Masonic Lodge. The wartime mill burned in 1867. Shortly thereafter, James Lee, a partner in the mill, rebuilt the mill on the same site, which still stands today. The mill was operated by different owners until 1967 and stood empty and neglected until 1993 when Mr. Frank Pierce purchased the mill and restored it to operating condition and rebuilt the dam. Corn meal, ground by the mill, can be purchased today at the mill and rental buildings on the property may be used for all types of gatherings. The following photos show the mill as it appears today, ready for your visit. The City has recently entered into a lease agreement to operate the Mill. For more information, please feel free to visit their website. Parking is plentiful and free and no admission is charged. Winter Hours: Tues-Sat 9 am to 5 pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Phone 706-375-6801 for more information on tours or rentals.

THE HISTORICAL RINGGOLD DEPOT…read more The Ringgold Depot, built in 1850, is one of the oldest antebellum railroad depots in Georgia. The depot was once used in the Civil War as a supply point for Confederate troops. In 1862, the locomotive, "The General" passed through the depot after being stolen from the Kennesaw station in a failed attempt to disrupt Confederate operations. The chase came to an end just two miles north of the depot. After sustaining damage from Union artillery during the In 1863 battle of Ringgold, the building sustained heavy damage and evidence of the repair is apparent as it is a lighter shade than other parts of the building. I love that this building is now being used for community events such as musical performances (the Christmas show is tonight), weddings, and other programs. It is a beautiful building that has been lovingly restored, (2003). We were very fortunate today to discover a couple of employees in the building who were able to give us a bit of history about the building and how it was used. Looking at the front of the building, you will see two identical doors, the door on the left was used for "colored people" who purchased their tickets and then had to wait outside until the train arrived. The door on the right was for "whites" because it was closer to the train and of course they were allowed to wait inside of the station. The young lady providing this information mentioned that she did not like talking about this racial history and it obviously made her uncomfortable but I really appreciated her honesty and openness. It was priceless! The original doors that lead to the train have been replaced but they are covered by huge sliding structures. These structures were moved away from the door so that we were able to stand on the platform and see what it was like to wait for the train. I was surprised at how close it was. I could have leaned out and licked it! We were also given information on how items, (including the mail) were loaded on the train.

Grandview deserves 5 gazillion stars because they truly are phenomenal at what they do! Lenzie and…read moreNikki helped make all of my dreams a reality. Having a 3 year engagement, it allowed me many of times to change my mind, and Lenzie and Nikki were always so patient and accommodating to my indescisive nature. If you haven't been to this venue, it's really a show stopper. An old house with so much charm, and the views are breathtaking. The patio allows you to see beautiful views of CHATTANOOGA, and then having the opportunity to take pictures at Rock City the day of the wedding, there really is just no bad place to take a picture at this venue. I honestly can't rave enough about the staff. The professionalism, sincerity, and overall patience of the staff is out of this world. If you love the outdoors/nature, this venue is your best bet. Oh and did i mention they are dog friendly! My pup Ella was there the entire day for the wedding. They truly take care of you here, and make the process so much easier in an already stressful process. Thank you so much Grandview for giving me the wedding of my dreams.

This has been the worst experience of my life! Brides stay far away from this venue! I originally…read moresigned a contract for $5,250 via esignature for the venue only on 9/9. I made an appointment on 11/11 to tour the place and go over with details with Breanna or Hannah. I drove 2 hours there, got there and they say just show yourself around because I've got to take a call. I never saw them again during the visit. we had no idea where to go, so the caterer showed us around and spoke with us about what they provided. So, I got no where with numbers. On December 1, I received an email from the manager Jonathan stating that food amounts have increased. I still haven't at this point signed any contract about food or drinks or anything besides the use of the venue. I never received an updated invoice sent to me. I logged onto my online portal in January and my bill went from $5,250 to over $12,000 with my esignature from 9/9/21 on it!!!! Not only did they increase my bill without my permission, they added my esignature without permission!! Basically, they created a contract on a bunch of what ifs for my potential wedding and then signed my esignature via 9/9 to make it look like I wanted this from the very beginning. It is very misleading! The customer service was horrible! Please all future brides keep an eye on your contract. Terrible experience!!

This really was the highlight of my trip to Chattanooga! I did not get my ticket in advance, but it…read moreis easy to purchase tickets at the two kiosks available. The attendants at the check-in are so helpful. I booked the next available appointment, which was about an hour or so away, but that left me plenty of time to take in views from the observation decks. There is also a restaurant in the castle as well as zip lining, if you want additional things to do while you wait for your guided tour to begin. (I recommend getting your tickets online if you come in a group, especially during the summer months and on weekends.) Parking is free and there are numerous places to park. The experience is really eye-opening and the video at the beginning tells the story of the cave formation and why it was named Ruby Falls. Very interesting! The walk takes about 60-70 minutes back and forth. You will see amazing stalagmites and stalactites along the way. Distinct lighting is added to the cave to enhance your experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained everything in detail. It does get cool down in the caves (around 60 degrees) and I was glad I took a light jacket once I got about halfway through the process. The waterfall and the lighting at the end were something to see! Minor issues-they packed about 40-50 people in our tour group. A group leaves every 10 minutes or so. As such, you have to hug up against a wall NUMEROUS times as previous groups are coming back from the waterfall experience. You have to make room to let them pass. The wait for the elevator to take you back up to the top is also a tedious wait. This could be due to the summer crowds, so plan accordingly. If you are claustrophobic, this may not be the experience for you.

Went to Chattanooga with my husband and decided to book the cave tour for something to do during…read morethe day while it was hot out. We've done various cave type tours around the US on our travels and this would not be one I would return to. It's such a cool waterfall and cave but completely ruined by management trying to cram as many people in as possible to make more money. We had about 40-50 people in our group and the entire time you are expected to stop and go to one side to let other groups of 40-50 people go by. With this many people in the narrow walkway, you can expect it to smell like sweat and any other odors of people near/passing by you. They also kick you out of the waterfall area within a few minutes because you are then holding up other tours. The staff and tour guides throughout our experience were really pleasant and the waterfall was beautiful. We were just shocked that they allow group sizes that big and in 10 minute intervals each. It truly ruined the experience for us and management should be ashamed as there are hundreds of similar reviews stating the same concerns.

Tony and I happened across this lovely plantation style home on one of our drives in the back…read morecountry roads of Tennessee. We had to park and get out and check it out. I was so excited. I always get excited when I find old mansions like this. So when I got home I had to find out some additional history about the home and the site. The mansion property was bought by James Gordon after the removal of the Cherokee in 1836. Mr. James Gordon previously built the Gordon Mill, which served as the first general store in Walker County. With the success of the mill Mr. James Gordon wanted to build a permanent estate and construction began in 1840, but due to labor and financial problems it wasn't completed until 1847 The Gordon Lee Mansion was originally the Gordon residence built by Mr. James Gordon, who with his two brothers came from Gwinnett County, Georgia in 1836 to Crawfish Springs, now Chickamauga Georgia. Construction was started in 1840 and completed in 1847. The bricks used in construction were made on the residence grounds. The walls of the house range in thickness from sixteen inches at the base to twelve inches at the top. Later a piping system was installed to pipe water from Crawfish Spring up to the kitchen, then bath house, then the spring house, and on to the watering troughs for the animals. During the War Between the States, the main house was used by the Union Army for General Rosecrans Headquarters just before the Battle of Chickamauga. During the battle the house became a hospital and reports show that many soldiers died in the house, the floors were so blood-stained they were later covered with mats. Many soldiers scribbled a last message to loved ones on the walls, and the girls of the James Lee family made copies of them and tried to contact families of the soldiers after the battle. Mr. James Lee purchased the homestead from the heirs after Mrs. Gordon's death. He was married to Elizabeth Gordon and was the son of a Methodist minister, and was one of the principal organizers of the nearby Methodist Church later named in honor of his wife (Elizabeth Lee Memorial Methodist Church). Mr. Lee had a school in his front yard for his children and others in the community. The teacher was usually a male graduate of one of the well know institutions of learning of that day. In his will, Mr. Lee donated $250,000 and 15 acres to be made into a high school. Gordon Lee Memorial High School stands proudly today on the very land donated by Mr. Lee. After Mrs. James Lee's death, the house was purchased by one of her sons, Mr. Gordon Lee, who served the Seventh District of Georgia in the United States Congress for 20 years. He completely remodeled the house in the early 1900's changing the double front porch to the present large one with tall, white columns. In 1974, Dr. Frank Green acquired the property and extensively restored and remodeled the Mansion and grounds. Today, the Mansion stands on the hill overlooking the spring just as it did when it was first built over a century ago. The City has recently entered into an agreement to purchase the Mansion and grounds. Please visit the Gordon Lee Mansion website or phone them at (706) 375-4728 or outside the Chattanooga area phone (800) 487-4728 for operating hours.

The Gordon Lee Mansion is a beautifully restored old mansion steeped with Civil War history and…read morefull of interesting artifacts. The admission is just a few dollars and goes toward the historical society to help maintain the expansive property. There is the main mansion with two floors to explore, an outdoor kitchen in the back, a couple of smaller log cabins, a large garden, and a beautiful front yard with massive oak trees. Inside the mansion is about a dozen rooms to walk through. Most of the items in the house are not original, but they are period-specific reproductions or antiques that show off the house as it would have looked over a hundred years ago. It is very well maintained and presented, especially on sunny days when the light beams through the large windows. It only took about fifteen minutes to casually walk through the mansion, but if you come on a weekend and snag one of the interpreters you could be there for hours listening to stories about this place! It has been a Civil War hospital, headquarters, owned by a few families, and the current owner still lives on the property in a private log house! It is an interesting place I would highly recommend as one of those off the beaten path places to visit.

Love the owners and is an amazing venue. Love the atmosphere, and we can not wait for the wedding…read morein September 2024. Inside and out will be a fantastic day.

Kate is AMAZING!! We have booked our ceremony and reception with the Venue for next April! Just…read moreknowing the owner has spent her career as a wedding planner makes me so much more relaxed! We can't wait! The English Ivy wall in the garden is going to be beautiful!! The drive along Cummings hwy at the base of lookout mountain past ruby falls is the best way to send guest staying in downtown, lovely drive.

I enjoy coming here for some shows, but not others. I've seen Come From Away, Jesus Christ…read moreSuperstar, and a couple of musical acts here. My most recent outing was Come From Away and luckily the 3 rows in front of me ended up being empty, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see anything. I'm short, and without stadium type seating, I usually have a hard time seeing, thus I usually choose to sit in the balcony/mezzanine. Unfortunately, at this auditorium I can't do that because it's so far from the stage, you can't see anything. During Come From Away I also had a hard time hearing the show, though I'm not sure if that was a production issue, or a speaker issue. I haven't had that issue with other shows. Personally, I think the auditorium is just not well suited for Broadway shows though I understand the Tivoli is undergoing renovations. Music acts are somewhat different because you aren't really going there to watch them so much as listen. Parking is a big issue because there are not nearly enough parking lots adjacent to the building to accommodate the audience size and there are no designated walking areas on the left side of the building so you have to be very careful of traffic if coming from a back lot. Overall it's not a bad venue, but I'll be glad when the Tivoli is back up and running for Broadway shows.

Had a great time at the Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga with my youngest son watching Tyler…read morePerry and cast's Madea's Farewell Tour. The auditorium was very nice. I don't think there's a bad seat in the entire theater. Everything was nice and clean. I just wish they would have turned on the A/C some...it was hot in there. It was funny because Tyler Perry/Madea, diverted from the script and mentioned it from the stage. That man is hilarious! Anyway, we both enjoyed the theater and the play very much.

Haven't been here since they got new owners so stopped by after work to catch up with a friend that…read moreworks nearby. The space looks the same - funky cool, with different colored glass lamps hanging, a velvet couch, a leather couch, a few tables in the middle, and a piano up on a raised area off to the side. Their menu includes juices, drip coffee, chai tea, soda, sandwiches, salads, and homemade hot cocoa. We both ordered the hot cocoa, the white chocolate hot cocoa for me. They make each drink order, one at a time, on the counter. And it is the perfect balance of creamy, sweet, chocolate deliciousness with whipped cream on top! My friend was quite happy with his plain hot cocoa too. We felt cozy drinkin our hot cocoa on the velvet couch. This was the right stop for this dreary day.

we payed for the venue for the night and the bartender decided to flip out and kick everyone out…read more he was stumbling around the bar and slurred his words when kicking us out. This ruined the experience for the night.