Page 24 - Catoosa Community Guide

TOURISM Catoosa County boasts a wealth of options for
was fought Sept. 19-20, 1863. The park’s
history buffs of all kinds with approximately
25 historical landmarks found throughout the Visitors Center displays wartime memorabilia
county. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga and a 23-minute film, with monuments,
National Military Park is situated at the site
of the oldest and largest Civil War battlefield.
In Fort Oglethorpe, every summer “take me
out to the ball game” gets a whole new
meaning. Vintage Base Ball takes the sport
back 150 years as participants play according
to 1864 rules. Rather than featuring brawny
hitters attempting to slug 90-miles per hour
fastballs, these competitors play a gentleman’s
game, attired in bow ties, vests and bowler
hats, or gingham-checked shirts and overalls.
Chris McKeever, spokesperson for the Fort
Oglethorpe Tourism Association, explained
the sport has its own language and rules
that differ dramatically from those of
modern-day baseball. “It’s part sport, part
history lesson,” she said.
Contests are scheduled from May to August The Lightfoot Club
each year, with the Lightfoot Club serving
22 I CA T OO S A CHAMBEROFC OMMERCE. C OM
The bloodiest two-day battle of the war, it Over the years, the park has become much Weekends in October, the Depot transforms
It boasts hiking trails and walking paths, bikers
of ghosts and goblins, drawing them from
more than a place for historic remembrance. into the Haunted Depot, a magnet for fans
enjoy using its roadways, and it has become a as far as New Jersey and throughout the
historical tablets and wayside exhibits also popular picnic and outreach recreational Southeast. In addition, the holiday event
offering pertinent facts and information. setting for area residents and visitors. includes a ghost tour, hayride to bonfire,
face painting, coloring contest for primary
and middle school-aged children, free
entertainment and a variety of concessions.
A year-round Ringgold attraction is its This area has become a destination for
The Chickamauga “Wedding Walk,” in which the city’s name shoppers looking for antique malls and
and Chattanooga aptly links to “rings of gold.” Since 1858, quaint shops.
National Military more than 228,000 couples have exchanged
Park is Catoosa wedding vows there at the Ringgold
Wedding Chapel, the First Baptist Church
County’s of Ringgold, and other venues. Among these
largest tourist The Veterans’ Memorial is located in front of have been such notables as Dolly Parton,
attraction with the Colonnade on the Benton Place campus. Tammy Wynette and George Jones, and
approximately The memorial is a tribute to America, Don Everly of the famed Everly Brothers
rock ‘n roll duo.
1 million visitors honoring military veterans and citizens, and
each year. a focal point for annual veterans’ events and Known as the “wedding capital of the South”
memorial services.
for many years, couples enjoy returning
The Colonnade is home for the Community the city to reminisce year-round, including The Davis Cattle Company hosts a rodeo
each year to benefit local non-profits and
Players, a local theatre group; it hosts more the 1890’s Day Jamboree. the Catoosa school system.
than 30 other theatrical productions by
as home team on the city’s polo field. It performers young and old throughout the
competes with other teams in the region, and various meetings and events.
Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball.
McKeever also serves as executive director Other landmarks include the Whitman-
of the 6th Cavalry Museum in Fort Anderson House and the Old Stone Church
Oglethorpe, operating on the site of an in Ringgold. The church was used as a hospital
Army post that served as home for the during the Civil War and now serves as a
6th U.S. Cavalry from 1919 to 1942. history museum and genealogy research
library, complete with old census records,
Organized in 1861, the 6th Cavalry saw cemetery books, family Bibles and other
action in the Civil War, the Spanish- memorabilia.
American War, and world wars I and II.
The post predated the city itself, and The Ringgold Depot, located in the city’s
when the post was closed, World War II downtown area, linked Chattanooga and
Atlanta during the Civil War. The sandstone
veterans persuaded the U.S. Army to
antebellum structure serves as a Visitor
move 6th Cavalry memorabilia from Information Center during the day, and
Fort Meade, Md. to Fort Oglethorpe, home for the Ringgold Opry during its Whitman-Anderson House
creating the Museum in 1981. evening performances.
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