Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets for the Incline Railway; opinions shared are mine.

A few days ago, my students listened to the “I Have a Dream” speech and cheered when Dr. King mentioned Lookout Mountain.  Ironically, very few of them could identify just where Lookout Mountain was!  My own kids know, thanks to our recent visit to Chattanooga.  We took the Incline Railway to the top of the mountain. Here’s what it was like! 

The Incline Railway base was very close to downtown Chattanooga.  I didn’t realize how close other landmarks were located to each other.  We’d actually visited Ruby Falls earlier that morning; if I’d planned better, we could have waited to do that.  Lesson learned.  We arrived at the Incline Railway a few minutes before 10:00 AM (opening time).  The parking lot was nearly empty and we easily found the ticket booth.

After snagging our parking ticket, we walked around the area at the base of the mountain.  The actual railway car sits right in plain sight, so we took some photos.  There was also a gift shop where souvenirs could be purchased.  Several kids were running around getting snacks and treats from the stores, courtesy of their obliging grandparents.

Looking at the railway car and the steep incline, I wasn’t nervous. It certainly didn’t seem as daunting as some roller coasters I’ve ridden.  I was more nervous for my husband, who gets motion sickness.  When a bout of motion sickness strikes, it can leave him incapacitated for days.  He was firmly willing to ride the Incline, though, so I settled into my seat and got ready to enjoy the ride.   The rest of the car’s cabin was full of passengers, and everyone seemed excited about the trip.  I didn’t get a good photo of the steps, but there are theater-like carpeted steps leading to the lower seating area of the car.

I was fine when the car started moving.  It goes at a slow speed, for the most part, and pulls backward so that you’re looking ahead the entire time.  It was a bizarre, unsettling experience to see the Lower Station shrink in size while we pulled back and up.

Even after reading the website and looking at some photos in preparation, I did not feel prepared for these minutes inside the train car.  The Incline Railway was unlike any other attraction I’ve EVER experienced.  Around the moment that I took this photo, I looked out of the side window and that’s where I went wrong.  The earth was tilted, due to our 70ish degree tilt.  At that moment, my brain panicked.  Guys, it was not good!  On the other hand, my kids and husband, as well as the entire rest of the train car, twittered with the thrill of this ride.  Everyone else LOVED IT!

After those minutes in the train car, the fresh air and beautiful view of Chattanooga was a welcome relief.  I was actually shaky on my feet as we exited the train car.  My family helped me get to a table at a nearby cafe where I sat down and gathered my wits.  My son was thrilled to use one of those viewfinders from the top of the train station…make sure you take quarters when you go!

The cafe at the top station had a huge assortment of fudge.  Literally, that made me feel LOADS better.  I bought 4 blocks of fudge (no joke….it was a much better deal than getting 2.)  and we sat down with some drinks.  Just a short walk from the top station were some historic sites including Point Park and the Battles for Chattanooga Electric Map & Museum.  I didn’t feel up to walking to those attractions because I was still wimpy from the ride.  My family didn’t want to go without me. So after a few minutes, we rode back down the mountain.  I closed my eyes immediately after sitting in my seat and didn’t crack my lids open until we settled firmly at the lower station.  WHEW!

My family still remembers the Incline Railway as one of the best parts of our Chattanooga trip. It might be due to the fact that they saw my kryptonite that day.  Ha!  They’ve all commented about how fun that experience was, so I know they might want to do it again.

If you love looking for unusual activities when you travel, definitely book a trip on the Incline Railway! 

Thanks to The Incline for providing my family with tickets.