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Part 2: Chattanooga, it turns out, is undergoing a major renaissance of its waterfront.
By Michael Verdon — Spring
2004
After locking through Watts Bar, the next 70 miles downriver and through Chickamauga Reservoir was a carbon copy of the morning’s cruise. Tired but happy, we reached Chattanooga after clearing the third lock at Chickamauga about eight hours after we’d left Fort Loudon. The run into the city, with towering Lookout and Signal Mountains as backdrops, promised good things ahead. From Walnut Street Bridge, a few kids waved to our boat and the WWII Army Duck passing nearby with a gaggle of tourists onboard. Nearby, the Southern Belle paddleboat carried more visitors.
Chattanooga, it turns out, is undergoing a major renaissance of its waterfront that’s expected to be completed by May 2005. The 21st Century Waterfront Plan, costing $120 million, is a major face-lift for the former steel town. It will expand the waterfront park to 12 acres, creating 1,800 feet of transient dock space (currently there is none) and footpaths to major tourist attractions.
The city just might become the most boater-friendly destination on the Tennessee River.
THE TOURIST TRAIL
Despite its work-in-progress status, Chattanooga turned out to be a lot of fun. It has a long, rich history—it’s the site of some of the bloodiest Civil War battles and, before that, the Native American Trail of Tears—and enough attractions to keep boaters of all kinds busy. Almost everything is within walking distance of Ross’s Landing marina (423-266-2572), where we docked.
Dad and I immediately visited the Tennessee Aquarium. It’s heralded as the world’s largest freshwater aquarium, and my philosophy is to do the tourist stuff first, and then get to the real city. The aquarium, despite the hundreds of kids inside, turned out to be as impressive as advertised. I found displays of rare sea dragons, complete river ecosystems with trout and live otters, and reefs of saltwater fish. And it’s only going to get better, as a $30-million saltwater aquarium is scheduled to open in the spring along with the other renovated areas.
>> Next page >> Part 3: Bluff View Art District turned out to be an oasis from the bustling downtown. Page
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