The Flora Luna Experience

Listen to the Flora Luna Story

You are invited.

Rock City Gardens opened its gate to the public in 1932, after founder Frieda Carter had taken string and marked a trail that wound its way through the giant rock formations, creating her own Enchanted Trail.

Now, guests are invited to experience a culinary and artful journey through Rock City Gardens at night.

Flora Luna celebrates Frieda’s discovery through red string imagery that invites guests to consider what moves them to explore, discover, and be inspired.

Culinary

Flora Luna invites guests to sip and savor their way through Rock City Gardens – at night.

Specialty-themed food and beverage selections crafted to complement the Flora Luna experience will be available along the path. Contemplative seating spaces and art installations will invite you to take it slow and savor the evening.

The menu is crafted to reflect the mountain that Freida and Garnet moved to and will feature local offerings that are unique to this place and the local food shed. Rock City is situated on one of the richest food sheds in the United States and Flora Luna will highlight ingredients from within 50 miles of the gardens.

Sip and Savor Pass

Taste your way through the Flora Luna experience with the Sip and Savor Pass. Receive 4 small pours and 4 small plates from our Culinary and Drink locations – Parterre at the Garden Party, Perch at the Bird Deck, Café 7 at Lovers Leap, and Hearth at the Pavilion.

$46
Add on to your ticket purchase or at Parterre. All menu items can also be purchased a la carte. 

Parterre @ The Garden Party

Featuring:

Sequatchie Cove Taste of Spring
Award-winning Sequatchie Cove Creamery Cheese, Hand-Sliced Strawberries, Honeydew, and Fresh Mint topped with a Walden Ridge Honey Glaze Drizzle

Voodoo Ranger American IPA, New Belgium Brewing, Asheville, North Carolina
50 I.B.U., Made with Amarillo, Cascade, Mosaic, Chinook, HBC 522, Strata, and Citra Hops, Tropical Aroma with Juicy Fruit Flavors

Lovo Rose Prosecco, Veneto, Italy 2020
Notes of Lilac, Rosemary, and Dried Mint Provide a Perfect Bright Sparkling Finish

Berry Fizz Mocktail
Topo Chico Blueberry, Strawberry Puree, Mint Garnish

Bottled Water, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite

Relax and unwind in the garden before beginning the Flora Luna experience. Adjacent to Michael Brandt’s sculpture, Invitation.

Perch @ The Bird Deck

Featuring:

Bell’s Light Hearted Session IPA, Bell’s Brewing, Kalamazoo, Michigan
36 I.B.U., Made with Centennial and Galaxy Hops, Citrus and Pine Aroma with Light Crisp Floral Flavors

Anthony & Dominic Pinot Noir, North Coast, California 2020
Light Tannins Combined with Flavors of Black Cherry, Spiced Oak, and Blackberries Create a Soft Finish

Orange Bloom Mocktail
Topo Chico Tangerine, Orange Juice, Lime Wedge, Orange Wedge

Bottled Water, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite

Enjoy Passerine, a sittable sculptural Flora Luna installation and suspended woven papasan chairs, as well as the sights and sounds of this avian space.

Café 7 @ Lovers Leap

Featuring:

Alpine Wings
Crispy Tender Wings, Brined, Roasted and Fried In-House, Served with Salsa Verde and Fresh Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Olive Oil

Fire on the Mountain
Slow Smoked Beef Prepared On-Site in our Hickory Wood-Fired Grill Served with White Wine Braised Collard Greens and Appalachia Barbecue Drizzle

Hutton & Smith Promenade, New England Hazy IPA, Chattanooga, Tennessee
A Local Favorite, Juicy with Subtle Bitterness, 90 Points – Beer Advocate

Doppio Passo Primitivo, Pugalia, Italy 2021
Soft and Full-bodied with Aromas of Forest Fruits, Cherries, and Blackberry

Georgia Mule Mocktail
Topo Chico Lime, Topo Chico Ginger Beer, Mint Garnish, Lime Wedge

Bottled Water, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite

This outdoor setting provides ample seating and contemplative spaces, fire pits and features that famous Seven States View…at night. Adjacent to Roger Halligans’s sculpture, Iron Age and Chime Tree, a Flora Luna sound design installation.

Hearth @ The Pavilion

Featuring:

It’s No Spring Chicken
Roasted Chicken Finished on our Wood-Fired Cast Iron Grill Served with Marinated Artichokes, Castelvetrano Olives, Basil Pesto and Grana Padano Italian Cheese *Contains No Nuts*

Evening Adventure
Slow Citrus Braised Beef – Tender Beef Slow Braised with Red Wine, Orange Juice and Lemon Peel Served with Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Cremini Mushrooms, and Red Wine Jus

Monday Night Death Raptor – Killer IPA, American, Atlanta, Georgia
60 I.B.U., Zesty, Citrus Fruit Aromas of Tangerine and Grapefruit with a Malt Backbone

La Quercia Montepulciano D’abruzzo DOC, Abruzza, Italy 2021
Firm Tannins with Flavors of Raspberry, Dark Chocolate, and Plum, Well-Balanced

Mountain Sunset Mocktail
Topo Chico Tangerine, Cranberry Juice, Pineapple Juice, Orange Slice

Bottled Water, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite

The Pavilion will feature a suspended kinetic sculpture, Wavelength. Adjacent to John McLeod’s sculpture, Elder Flame. 

Dessert @ Café 7 and Hearth

Featuring:

Clumpies Brownie A La Mode
Chattanooga’s Famous Clumpies Made From Scratch Brownie Topped with Clumpies Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Chocolate Drizzle

Available at both Café 7 and Hearth

Vegetarian food options will be available upon request at Cafe 7 and Hearth. Please inquire at each location as selections may vary by night.

Gardens

Flora Luna invites guests to experience Rock City Gardens like never before – at night. This one-of-a-kind experience uses artful light and sound design to highlight the beauty of the gardens in springtime and the natural environment that makes Rock City a geological and botanical wonder.

Marvel at unique rock formations and over 400 different species of native wildflowers, shrubs and trees. Listen to the nocturnal soundscape that comes alive after dark and engage in moments of wonder and mindfulness while being immersed in a beautiful nighttime setting that shifts the way you SEE ROCK CITY.

Art

Flora Luna invites guests to experience Rock City Gardens through a series of artfully presented installations combining sights, sound, and story. Site specific sculptures, an original musical composition and poetic story stitches intertwine to tell the story of Rock City Gardens in a whole new way.

The Flora Luna experience invites you to be present, be inspired, be in this place.

Sight

Art installations will be placed throughout the gardens highlighting found and natural materials and celebrating the enchantment of Rock City Gardens. Look for new art installations throughout the gardens to complement Rock City’s permanent art collection.

Designer: Will Jackson

Sound

Providing sound to enhance the experience will be an original musical composition by composer Tim Hinck, along with the natural environmental sounds of the gardens – water, wind, wildlife – plus added sound elements including the all-new Chime Tree at Café 7.

Composer: Tim Hinck

Story

Follow a series of artfully presented story stitches (beginning with the one above) that guide you through the Flora Luna experience and invite you to consider – what is your red string?

FAQs

Ticketing & General FAQs

Can I purchase tickets in-person at the ticket window?

• No, all tickets must be purchased in advance online.
• Gem Members do not need to make a reservation in advance.

What time should I arrive?

• We recommend you arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to the admission time on your ticket reservation. This will give you time to park and walk to the entrance gate at the front of the gardens. Guests will not be admitted before their reserved time.

Can I change the date/time of my ticket?

• Yes, tickets can be changed to different dates/times IF there is availability during your preferred time slot. Guests may change their reservation using the Manage My Booking portal.
• If you are unable to change your ticket online, you can email [email protected] for assistance. Please note: this email address is only monitored Monday-Friday 8am – 5pm.
• Any applicable upcharge will apply.

We were not able to visit on our scheduled date/time, can I get a refund?

• Tickets for Flora Luna are non-refundable. Tickets are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase and the date can be adjusted using the Manage My Booking portal.
• If you are unable to change your ticket online, you can email [email protected] for assistance. Please note: this email address is only monitored Monday-Friday 8am – 5pm.

Is Flora Luna handicap accessible? 

• Flora Luna’s trail is partially handicap accessible, however two sections of the experience are not accessible to guests in wheelchairs. The ADA accessible path will lead from the Garden Party entrance along Legacy Lane to the Seven States overlook. In addition, guests can access the Standing Stones Garden from Legacy Lane and return back up.
• All artwork and experiences throughout Flora Luna will be accessible to guests other than those pieces located from Goblin’s Underpass to High Falls and from Fat Man’s Squeeze to the beginning of the Standing Stones Garden. View the Guide Map with accessible paths here. 
• Limited mobility guests can still purchase a Sip and Savor Pass. Beverage options at Perch will also be available at Cafe 7 for guests unable to access the Perch area.

Where can I find coupons or discounts?

• As an introductory early-bird offer, tickets for Flora Luna will be discounted $5 using promo code FLORA24 when purchased March 6-12, 2024 for any night of the event. No other discounts will be offered for this new experience. 

When is the best time to attend?

• We have timed entry and limited capacity per night, so we anticipate crowds to be more evenly divided on most days. Tickets are ONLY available online and we recommend purchasing your tickets early for best availability.

Will I see the entire Rock City trail during Flora Luna?

• No, there are portions of the trail that are closed beginning at 7pm. The Grand Corridor from the Garden’s Gateway patio to Goblin’s Underpass is closed. In addition, Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village are closed during this time. If you wish to see the full trail, we recommend purchasing your Rock City tickets for entry times between 6pm – 6:45pm and visit those sections first.

Do you take cash?

• No, Flora Luna will be a CASHLESS experience. All major credit/debit cards will be accepted at food and retail locations. All tickets must be purchased online in advance.

Are there vegetarian food options?

• Vegetarian food options will be available upon request at Cafe 7 and Hearth. Please inquire at each location as selections may vary by night.

Gem Membership / Passholders FAQs

Do Gem Members need to reserve a time with their membership?

• No, Gem Members do NOT need reservations and are welcome to visit on any night by showing their membership pass to the greeter, including SOLD OUT nights.
• For FAQs on Gem Memberships, click here to learn more.

How and where do members receive the complimentary Gem Member food or beverage item?

• Gem Members will receive their complimentary food or beverage item at Parterre, the first location inside the entrance to Flora Luna.

Can a Gem Member purchase a Sip and Savor Pass?

• Gem Members will receive 15% off all food items and non-alcoholic beverages a la carte. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the discount. If a Gem Member would like to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, they will have the option to do so at Parterre, the first food location. This pass is already discounted, so an additional Gem Member discount will not apply to the pass.

Can I visit with my Rock City Annual Pass / Resident Pass?

• Since Flora Luna is a new event, it does not apply to current passholder benefits. However, Annual Pass / Resident Passholders are invited to attend Flora Luna on select dates. Capacity is limited and advance reservations are required. Please follow the instructions on the Reservation Form to submit your request. Passholders can attend with a reservation at no charge April 22-25 or April 29-May 2, 2024. Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. Valid ID and annual pass are required upon arrival. Request a reservation using this Reservation Form.

Featured Lodging

Needing Lodging while you are in town to See Rock City?

Chanticleer Inn Bed & Breakfast is conveniently located across the street from Rock City. The bed-and-breakfast is a prime location for the hundreds of thousands of annual out-of-town visitors to Rock City Gardens.

Booking Information