One of the Famous See Rock City Barns
by Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Title
One of the Famous See Rock City Barns
Artist
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
"One of the Famous See Rock City Barns"
by Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
...Since 1935, they have stood as genuine highway Americana, their bold white-on-black signs compelling both snowbirds and Sunday drivers to a spot near Chattanooga, Tennessee, where they could "See Rock City"
But the Rock City barns that once dotted the map from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico are disappearing, bowing to time's decay or being replaced by other marketing mediums.
In 2005, Rock City marked the 70th anniversary since the barns first appeared as advertising icons, fewer than 100 remain out of a rural network that once numbered near 900. Clark Byers painted the barns for three decades and became a legend in his own right by braving bulls, slippery roofs and lightning bolts. When he retired in 1969, he had painted some 900 barns in 19 states. He died in 2004. His successor, Jerry Cannon, has handled the brushwork on the barns Rock City still maintains.
Today, spotting one of these ever-recognizable structures not only gives tourists a look at a historic landmark, but takes them on a nostalgic jaunt back to a time when motorists drove blacktop lanes in search of family fun.
Depression-weary Americans were just rekindling their love affair with the automobile when a marketing brainstorm by Garnet Carter turned some country barns into billboards that spread the word on Rock City's come-hither charms.
Carter was a promotional genius who invented Tom Thumb miniature golf, developed a sprawling warren of wealthy men's mountaintop homes and, in 1932, opened his wife's lushly landscaped gardens to the public.
A 10-acre preserve of panoramic views and millenniums-old geologic formations, the site the Carter's christened "Rock City Gardens" had its ancient marvels further enhanced by Frieda Carter. She had transplanted 400 species of wildflowers and shrubs along trails she'd marked out and strewn with pine needles--a botanical bounty that earned Rock City a coveted award from the Garden Club of America.
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November 19th, 2012
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Comments (38)
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Chad, thanks for your Feature in Urbex Abandoned in the World! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Cathy, thanks for your Feature in Farms and Barns! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Randy, thanks for your Feature in our group Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Randy Rosenberger
Bravo! You have been chosen to have your beautiful piece of artwork from your portfolio featured on the homepage of our Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery Group. It is with honor an privilege that I have chosen this particular piece of your works to be a feature on our homepage due to its striking appearance, color, composition, and simply the fact that I really like it. Congrats on your feature!
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Shawn, thank you so much for the Feature of One of the Famous Rock City Barns in our group Southern Beauty! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Dora, thank you for your special Feature of One of the Famous See Rock City Barns in our group Glimpses of Autumn! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Barbie, thanks for your note and special Feature of One of the Famous See Rock City Barns in our group The 200 Club! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Barbie Corbett-Newmin
Thanks for capturing and sharing Americana. It is my pleasure to feature this colorful and nostalgic photo in The 200 Club, a "rising star" group. Congratulations on your well-deserved features and hundreds of views!
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Christina, thank you for your nice congrats! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Juergen Weiss
Amazing image ! So well done ! Congratulations on your sale, Debra and Dave ! All the Best, Juergen
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Kathy, thank you for stopping by again! There are quite a few of these Rock City barns scattered around western NC and close-by Tennessee where this one is. Marilyn, thank you so much! We love the Vote/Fave! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Kathy White
Came by and visited this one again! We just visited Rock City a few weeks ago and Lookout Mountain! What a joy to see it all again after spending years remembering that vacation! I bought a See Rock City birdhouse! But believe it or not, we did not see one actual old barn painted like this, unless we just missed it. I was a little disappointed in that. :)
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