The Lookout Mountain, Georgia, City Council rejected a proposed amendment Monday tied to Rock City’s planned gondola project, but company officials say they are not giving up on the proposal.
Rock City has proposed investing between $30 million and $40 million to build a gondola connecting the base of Lookout Mountain in the Flintstone area with the popular tourist attraction atop the mountain.
According to Rock City, the project could create approximately 20 new full-time jobs and generate an estimated $900,000 in additional tax revenue.
Company officials have also said the gondola could help reduce vehicle traffic on Lookout Mountain by providing visitors with another way to reach Rock City. The proposed entrance in Chattanooga Valley could eliminate thousands of vehicle trips up and down the mountain during peak periods, according to the company.
Despite Monday’s vote, Rock City indicated that planning efforts will continue.
In a statement released following the council’s decision, Rock City said the vote “will not quell the effort for growth.”
Fourth-generation Rock City owner Doug Chapin said the company plans to spend the coming months reviewing and refining the proposal.
“We’ll use the coming months to fine-tune our plans and develop a strategic path forward,” Chapin said.
Rock City said it remains committed to developing new projects and visitor experiences at the attraction, regardless of whether the gondola ultimately becomes part of those plans.
The proposed gondola represents a private investment estimated at between $30 million and $40 million. Monday’s council action leaves the future of the project uncertain, but Rock City officials say their efforts to explore the proposal will continue.