Following the spelunking that led to Ruby Falls, the CurbCrushers did a mostly outdoor activity. We drove to the top of Lookout Mountain and headed to the Incline Railway. This railway runs up the east side of Lookout Mountain, and drops the passenger off about three blocks from Point Park. Point Park is a National Park, part of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, which is one of the first National Military parks ever created.

We visited Point Park first. This is a self guided walking tour that visits the positions the Confederate defenders of Lookout Mountain held, and some plaques that discuss how the battle unfolded down below. This is actually the end of the battle for the area around Chatanooga, which started in September of 1863 and lasted through the end of November when Lookout Mountain fell to the Union forces.

Following the tour of the park, we simply rode the Incline Railway to the bottom of the mountain, and then back up. There is really nothing at the bottom of the railway except the parking and the gift shop and snack shop. Of note is that if you drive to the top of the mountain, as the CurbCruhser family did, you pay a dollar an hour to park at city run meters. If you park at the bottom and ride the train up, it’s free.

The brochures here say this is the steepest inclined railway in the world. It does seem to have a fairly steep grade right at the top, and I think it is that last 100 yards that gives it that claim. CurbCrusher was not overwhelmed by the Incline Railway, I’ve been on others. As a matter of fact if Little CurbCrusher had not been with us, we probably would have skipped this attraction.

Pictures can be found here.