>> THE SECRET IS YOU DON'T WALK
IN THE SAME CADENCE BECAUSE
WHEN YOU DO YOU CAN MAKE
THE BRIDGE FALL.
>> OH. (LAUGHS)
THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
(LAUGHS)
>> I'M ERICK BAKER
AND I'VE SPENT MY LIFE CROSSING
THE SOUTHEAST ON TOUR
AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER,
BUT I RECENTLY REALIZE
I WAS ALWAYS HEADED
TO THE NEXT TOWN
INSTEAD OF SEEING THE SIGHTS
ALONG THE WAY,
SO I TEAMED UP WITH MY FRIEND,
AERIAL NICOLE, TO CHECK OUT
WHAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING.
♪ THERE'S A PLACE ♪
♪ YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ♪
♪ THAT'S RIGHT WHERE ♪
♪ YOU WANT TO BE. ♪
>> WE HOPE TO TAKE YOU
TO PLACES YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED
OR WHERE YOU ALWAYS DREAMED
OF GOING.
♪ UNCHARTED. ♪
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> AS I'VE MENTIONED
A FEW TIMES,
I'M ACTUALLY A FAIRLY RECENT
TRANSPLANT TO TENNESSEE.
WHILE I HAVE FAMILY FROM
THE SOUTH AND I'VE WORKED
AS AN ACTRESS AND MODEL IN
THIS MARKET FOR A FEW YEARS,
I DIDN'T CALL IT HOME
UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER I JOINED
ERICK AS A HOST ON THIS SHOW.
IN FACT, THE WHOLE IDEA
OF ADDING A SECOND HOST
WAS THAT I WOULD BRING
A DIFFERENT SET OF STRENGTHS
AND INTERESTS TO THE SERIES
INCLUDING MY PERSPECTIVE.
SIMILARLY, THE MORE MILEAGE
I ADD TRAVELING THE STATE,
THE MORE I'M STRUCK BY
HOW UNIQUE EACH OF OUR FOUR
MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE.
MEMPHIS HAS MOXIE,
NASHVILLE, THEATRICALITY,
KNOXVILLE IS SELF-DESCRIBED
AS SCRUFFY, NOT TO MENTION
VERY, VERY ORANGE,
AND CHATTANOOGA IS QUIRKY
IN THE BEST KIND OF WAY.
FROM A CLIMBING GYM
ON A PARKING GARAGE
TO BRAKING FOR EDDIE PONTIAC,
EVEN A LOCAL CAMPAIGN IN 2013
TO MAKE CHATTANOOGA WEIRD,
THIS CITY NOT ONLY SETS
THE BAR HIGH, IT SEEMS TO OWN
THE UNEXPECTED.
SO, ON THIS EPISODE
OF TENNESSEE VALLEY UNCHARTED,
I'M SETTING OUT TO SEE THE CITY
AND AIMING TO DO SO IN SOME
OF THE MOST UNEXPECTED WAYS
POSSIBLE.
>> WHEN YOU HOST
A TRAVEL SERIES,
YOU INEVITABLY TAKE
A LOT OF TOURS.
AND, WHILE BANTERING
CAN BE CHALLENGING, TAKING IN
THE SIGHTS AND KEEPING UP
THE CONVERSATION ARE ALL
USUALLY HAVE TO BALANCE.
BUT NOT TODAY,
BECAUSE IN TRUE
CHATTANOOGA FORM
I'M STARTING OUT MY SURVEY
WITH A CITY TOUR,
BUT THIS TIME,
I'M DOING IT ON A SEGWAY.
>> I LOVE ADVENTURE.
I LOVE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE.
SEGWAYS BRING THOSE TWO THINGS
TOGETHER PERFECTLY.
WE GET GUESTS FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD,
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
>> OKAY.
>> IT'S AN ADVENTURE TO GO OUT
ON A SEGWAY WHEN YOU COVER
A LOT OF GROUND IN CHATTANOOGA
AND THERE'S LOTS TO SEE.
AND SO, YOU CAN DO IT WALKING,
BUT WHY WALK WHEN YOU CAN RIDE.
>> YEAH.
YOU'RE RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> WE COVER A LOT OF GROUND
THAT WAY AND SO
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO EXPLORE
THE CITY.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU FIRST HERE
AND YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW MUCH
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA.
>> UH HUH.
>> WE TAKE YOU AROUND
AND SHOW YOU ALL THE SIGHTS
AND THEN AFTERWARDS
YOU CAN GO AND WALK OR MAYBE
TAKE THE SHUTTLE TO IT
OR WHATEVER YOU LIKE.
>> YEAH.
TO KIND OF LOOK AT THINGS
IN DETAIL IF YOU WANT.
>> EXACTLY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> YEAH.
>> COOL.
ALL RIGHT.
HIT ME WITH SOME KNOWLEDGE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
>> SO, AS I MENTIONED,
THEY ARE SELF-BALANCING.
SO, WHEN THEY'RE TURNED ON
THEY CANNOT FALL OVER.
>> OKAY.
>> IT'S REALLY ABOUT YOU
JUST HEAD AROUND THAT FACT.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT ONCE YOU STAND
ON SOMETHING WITH TWO WHEELS,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THE BALANCING.
>> GOT YA.
>> AND SO THAT LEANING
BACKWARDS, MOVES IT BACKWARDS.
>> OKAY.
>> LEANING FORWARD,
MOVES IT FORWARDS.
AND THEN THE SIDE-TO-SIDE
TURNS RIGHT AND LEFT.
THERE IT IS.
JUST LIKE THAT!
EXCELLENT!
>> ALL RIGHT. (LAUGHTER)
>> COOL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YOU READY TO ROLL?
>> YEAH.
>> THAT'S PART OF THAT HISTORY
AND ART THAT I JUST TALKED
ABOUT.
>> AH.
>> CHATTANOOGA LOVES THEIR ART.
>> I'M DIGGING THE ART.
I'M DIGGING THE ART!
>> THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE,
BIG BLUE.
BLUE BOY.
>> BLUE BOY.
>> HE HANGS OUT RIGHT HERE.
>> OKAY, SO WHAT'S HIS STORY?
>> HE'S JUST A PIECE OF ART.
>> OKAY, OKAY.
>> HE HAS BEEN KNOWN
TO MOVE THOUGH.
>> OH.
>> HE ACTUALLY SHOWS UP
SOMETIMES IN FRONT OF
HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW.
>> OH.
>> PRINCIPALS' OFFICES OR...
>> OH, OKAY.
>> ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
>> SO MUCH SO THEY ACTUALLY
HAD TO TIE HIM DOWN.
>> OKAY. (LAUGHS)
>> SAN FRANCISCO'S GOT
LOMBARD STREET,
THIS IS OUR VERSION.
LOMBARD STREET IS THE TWISTIEST
STREET IN AMERICA.
>> OKAY.
>> THIS IS CHATTANOOGA'S
VERSION OF IT.
>> HMM. (LAUGHTER)
>> AND WE'RE GOING UP
>> OKAY.
>> WE MANAGED TO AVOID
ANY FALLS ON THIS FIRST TOUR.
BUT ON OUR SECOND STOP,
FALLS ARE ACTUALLY
THE MAIN FEATURE.
>> SO FAR, I'VE BEEN TAKING IN
BIG ATTRACTIONS WHILE MANAGING
TO AVOID TAKING TOO MANY STEPS
IN THE PROCESS.
DON'T WORRY,
THAT'LL ALL CATCH UP WITH ME
LATER ON IN THE EPISODE,
BUT, AS A OPPOSED TO A SEGWAY,
THIS TIME I'M STEPPING ON
TO AN ELEVATOR FOR A RIDE
26 STORIES DOWN.
>> IT IS THE TALLEST
UNDERGROUND WATERFALL
THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE WERE THE FIRST ATTRACTION
IN THE U.S. TO BE
U.S. GREEN GLOBE CERTIFIED.
IT'S A CERTIFICATION THAT
IS HONORING OUR SUSTAINABILITY
EFFORTS.
>> OKAY.
>> WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR
OVER 80 YEARS AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AROUND
FOR THE NEXT 80 YEARS.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US
NOT JUST IN OUR MANAGEMENT,
BUT ALL THE WAY DOWN
THROUGH OUR ENTIRE STAFF.
>> OKAY.
>> EVERYONE IS REALLY PULLING
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE REDUCING
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT
SINCE WE OPENED WHEN WE BUILT
THIS OUR NEW EDITION
WAS LEED CERTIFIED.
>> OKAY.
>> WE ARE EVEN NOW,
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW,
IT'S KIND OF RAINY
AND DRIZZLY TODAY.
WELL, ALL THAT RAIN IS BEING
COLLECTED INTO A CISTERN
RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL BE
USING THAT FOR OUR LANDSCAPING.
>> THE OUTDOORS CULTURE THAT
ABOUNDS IN CHATTANOOGA ISN'T
LIMITED TO THE ATTRACTIONS
ABOVE GROUND.
FURTHERMORE, IT'S AN ASPECT OF
THE LOCAL CULTURE THAT CAN BE
APPRECIATED IN A VARIETY
OF WAYS AND BY A WIDE RANGE
OF AGES AND ABILITIES.
UNLIKE SOME OF MY OTHER
EXPERIENCES WITH CAVES,
THIS TRIP DIDN'T REQUIRE
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF PHYSICAL EFFORT,
BUT IT SHED LIGHT ON
SOME SPECTACULAR FORMATIONS
ALL THE SAME.
>> IN RECENT YEARS,
CHATTANOOGA IS OFTEN
REFERRED TO AS THE GIG CITY.
BUT BEFORE THAT IT WAS COMMONLY
KNOWN AS THE SCENIC CITY
DUE TO ITS LOCATION ALONG
A TRANSITION BETWEEN
THE RIDGES AND VALLEYS OF
THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
AND THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU.
THE TOPOGRAPHY MAKES FOR
UNBELIEVABLE CLOUD FORMATIONS
AND SUNSETS AS WELL
AS WORLD-CLASS ROCK CLIMBING
AND HANG GLIDING.
ROCK CITY GIVES VISITORS AN
UNPRECEDENTED VIEW OF IT ALL.
ALONG WITH A COLLECTION
OF CAVES, GARDENS
AND ROCK FORMATIONS
THAT HAVE TO BE SEEN
TO BE BELIEVED.
>> SO OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE
MEMORIES WORTH REPEATING
FOR OUR GUESTS.
>> OKAY.
>> AND OUR PARTNERS.
>> OKAY.
>> AND OUR PARTNERS
ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> SO IT REALLY IS
A GENERATION EXPERIENCE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME
AS CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS
AND NOW A UNIQUE THING
WHERE GRANDPARENTS ARE TAKING
THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
SO THEY COME OR THE PARENTS,
WHO CAME AS CHILDREN,
ARE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN.
>> WHAT DOES THIS PLACE MEAN
TO YOU?
>> WE'RE A GEOLOGICAL
AND BOTANICAL WONDER.
IT LIGHTENS THE HEART.
SOOTHES THE SOUL.
STIMULATES THE MIND
AND INVIGORATES THE SENSES.
IT'S BEEN A FAMILY BUSINESS
FOR FOUR GENERATIONS STARTING
WITH MY GREAT GRANDFATHER
JAMES INMAN CARTER,
GARNET CARTER, MY DAD,
AND NOW ME AND MY FAMILY.
SO, IT'S REALLY A MATTER
OF STEWARDSHIP.
>> OKAY.
>> WE ONLY HAVE IT FOR
A PERIOD OF TIME AND WE WANT
TO MAKE IT BETTER THAN IT WAS
WHEN WE TOOK OVER.
>> YEAH.
>> AND NOW WE'RE WORKING
ON A WAY TO GET IT TO THE FIFTH
GENERATION SO THAT IT CAN
CONTINUE AS A FAMILY
ORGANIZATION AND THE IDEA
OF STEWARDSHIP LETS US KNOW
THAT IT'S NOT OURS.
>> MMHMM.
>> ITS JUST OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
>> YOU ARE SO PASSIONATE
ABOUT THIS PLACE.
YOU LOVE IT AND YOU WANT
TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYBODY
IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I JUST
THINK THAT'S AMAZING.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW,
WE SPEND OVER A MILLION DOLLARS
A YEAR INVITING PEOPLE TO COME.
>> YEAH.
COME TO US.
>> SO, THE ADVERTISING IS
A BIG PART, BUT...
>> YEAH.
>> BUT IT REALLY IS
AN INVITATION.
AND OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE
MEMORIES FOR OUR GUESTS
AND OUR PARTNERS,
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE,
IS KEY TO OUR SUCCESS.
>> YEAH.
>> DURING MY TOUR WITH BILL,
I WAS ABLE TO SEE A LOT MORE
THAN SEVEN STATES
AND ENOUGH GNOMES TO FORM
A FORMIDABLE ARMY.
I SAW A SMALL SAMPLE OF
THE ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS
OF A MILLION VISITORS THAT COME
TO THIS ATTRACTION EACH YEAR.
YOUNG AND OLD,
EVERYONE WAS INTERESTED
AND IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY.
THE OVERLOOKS NOT ONLY
SHOWCASE THE CITYSCAPE
OF CHATTANOOGA
AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES
THAT FRAME HER,
THEY GIVE VISITORS A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE ON THE LANDSCAPE
AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO LAND
SOME SERIOUSLY-AWESOME SELFIES.
>> WHILE THINGS HAVE BEEN
RATHER LEISURELY
UP TO THIS POINT,
WE'RE ABOUT TO SWITCH GEARS,
WHICH IS COINCIDENTALLY
WHAT THE ATHLETES THAT HAVE
TRAVELED TO CHATTANOOGA FOR
THE 2018 LITTLE DEBBIE IRONMAN
WILL BE DOING TOMORROW
AS A PART OF THE BACK-TO-BACK
2.4 MILE SWIM,
112 MILE BIKE RIDE,
AND 26.22 MILE MARATHON RUN
THAT MAKES UP THE EVENT.
WHILE I LIKE TO THINK THAT
I TAKE PERSONAL FITNESS
SERIOUSLY, THESE COMPETITORS
TAKE THINGS TO AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT LEVEL.
AND GIVEN THAT CHATTANOOGA
WAS AWARDED WITH THE TITLE
OF BEST HOST CITY IN 2017,
ALONG WITH OVER A DOZEN
OTHER ACCOLADES
SINCE SECURING THE IRONMAN
EVENTS BACK IN 2013,
I'M HOPING COMPETITOR
STEPHANIE WELDON CAN GIVE ME
SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT
MAKES THIS CITY SO GREAT
FROM RACE DAY.
>> SO THIS IS OUR TYPICAL
DAY-BEFORE-RACE RITUAL.
>> OKAY.
>> EVERYBODY HAS TO
CHECK-IN THEIR BIKE.
>> OKAY.
>> AND WE USUALLY CHECK-IN
OUR TWO TRANSITION BAGS.
ONE FOR ABOUT - BETWEEN
THE SWIM AND THE BIKE,
AND ONE BETWEEN THE BIKE
AND THE RUN.
CHATTANOOGA, THE SWIM
IS A DOWN-RIVER SWIM.
SO THAT MEANS YOU GO
POINT-TO-POINT.
YOU START UPRIVER AND YOU GET
TO SWIM DOWN RIVER
WITH THE CURRENT.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THAT IS...
>> THAT'S A PLUS, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S A VERY BIG PLUS.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU GET THAT LITTLE PUSH.
THAT'S A LOT OF PUSH,
ACTUALLY.
AND A LOT OF ATHLETES
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> UH HUH.
>> IT JUST MAKES
FOR A LITTLE SHORTER
WHAT THEY CALL WARM UP
TO A LONG DAY.
>> OKAY
>> AND THAT'S REALLY FUN.
COMING OUT, THE CROWDS
ARE GOING WILD AS YOU RUN UP
THE HILL AND TRANSITION.
SO, THE CHATTANOOGA SWIM,
AND SWIMMING UNDERNEATH
THE BRIDGES OF CHATTANOOGA,
IT'S JUST,
IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS.
THE BIKE COURSE IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S CHALLENGING,
BUT THE WEATHER IS USUALLY
REALLY GOOD AND VERY SCENIC.
>> IT'S ALWAYS THIS TIME
OF YEAR, RIGHT?
IT IS?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
>> IT'S ALWAYS THE END
OF SEPTEMBER.
>> OKAY.
>> WE HAD ONE YEAR
THAT'S BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY HOT,
BUT FOR THE MOST PART
WE'VE LUCKED OUT
WITH GOOD WEATHER.
>> YEAH.
>> THEN THE RUN IS ALSO
VERY CHALLENGING.
YOU'VE GOT FLAT SECTIONS
ALONG THE RIVER
AND THEN MORE ROLLING HILLS...
>> YEAH.
>> IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, A LOT OF ATHLETES LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT EXTRA CHALLENGE.
IT'S NOT A FLAT COURSE AT ALL.
>> THIS IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL
OF BEAST IN THE IRONMAN.
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW, THAN AS OPPOSED
TO LIKE, YOU KNOW,
LIKE I'M AN
OCCASIONAL 5K RUNNER, LIKE,
AND THIS IS WHAT, YOU KNOW.
>> IT'S GREAT!
>>YOU KNOW, AND I'M SEEING
ALL THIS AND I'M LIKE,
OH MY GOSH!
OH MY GOSH, THIS IS JUST...
>> I STARTED WITH 5K.
>> YEAH?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> SO BACK THEN WHEN YOU
STARTED WITH 5KS,
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU
EVENTUALLY WANTED TO GET
TO THE LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW,
OF COMPETING IN THE IRONMAN?
>> NO.
I, I STARTED TRIATHLON
VERY LATE.
I WAS 41 WHEN I STARTED.
I'M 48 NOW.
IF YOU HAD ASKED
MY 29-YEAR-OLD SELF,
YOU'RE GOING TO DO
AN IRONMAN BEFORE YOU'RE 50,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE,
NO WAY.
IT'S JUST FUNNY
HOW LIFE WORKS OUT.
>> MMHMM.
>> AND HOW THINGS,
ADVENTURES COME ALONG
AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW
WHERE THEY'RE GOING
TO LEAD YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
I STARTED TRIATHLON IN 2011
AND MY - I FOUND OUT THAT
SAME YEAR MY FATHER HAD CANCER.
>> MMHMM.
>> SO I FOUND MY RACING
IN SOLIDARITY WITH HIM ON
HIS CANCER JOURNEY.
AND THEN WE SIGNED UP WITH
SOME FRIENDS TO DO AN IRONMAN
AND WHEN HE WENT TO THAT
FIRST ONE WITH ME,
WE WERE SO EXCITED.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THEN WE FOUND OUT,
OKAY, ABOUT GOING TO KONA,
NORMALLY YOU HAVE TO WIN
YOUR AGE GROUP.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT THERE'S ANOTHER WAY
FOR MIDDLE-OF-THE-PACK
AGE GROUPERS TO GO.
YOU DO 12 CAREER IRONMANS.
AND SO WE GOT IN OUR HEAD,
OKAY, WE'RE JUST GONNA,
WE'RE GONNA KEEP RACING
AND TRY TO GET OUR 12.
>> OKAY.
>> AND MY PASSION FOR
THIS SPORT JUST KEPT GROWING
AND GROWING, AND...
>> UH HUH.
>> AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
MY DAD'S TREATMENT,
I WAS LIKE I REALLY WANT TO TRY
TO GO TO KONA WHERE
HE IS STILL HEALTHY ENOUGH
TO TRAVEL.
>> YEAH.
>> AND GO WITH US.
SO IN 2016 HERE IN CHATTANOOGA,
I GOT MY 12TH IRONMAN
AND I QUALIFIED.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> I QUALIFIED FOR
THE KONA LEGACY
AND I WAS GUARANTEED
A SPOT FOR THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP 2019.
BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP ME
FROM WANTING TO RACE.
>> YEAH.
YOU'RE LIKE, I STILL WANT MORE.
>> YEAH.
AND SO IN 2017, I SIGNED UP
FOR ULTRAMAN FLORIDA.
>> OKAY.
>> TEN DAYS AFTER THAT,
I TORE A TENDON IN MY ANKLE.
>> AH.
>> AND IT WAS A LOT
OF SOUL SEARCHING.
I HAD TO FIGURE OUT OKAY,
DOCTORS SAY I MIGHT NOT
BE ABLE TO DO THIS EVER AGAIN.
AND I'VE GOT THIS SPIRIT
INSIDE ME SAYING YES, YOU WILL.
>> YEAH.
>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS IN
AN IRONMAN IS IT'S SUCH
A GRUELING EVENT THAT YOU WANT
TO FIND MOTIVATION,
IT CAN'T JUST BE YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> I MEAN IT IS A VERY
INDIVIDUALIZED SPORT BUT
I FOUND MORE MOTIVATION GETTING
STORIES FROM OTHER PEOPLE
AND RUNNING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
AND SO I STARTED DOING THAT
THROUGH MY RECOVERY TIME.
>> OKAY.
>> AND JUST MORE MOTIVATION.
>> YEAH.
>> MORE MOTIVATION
AND IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD,
BUT WE'VE STILL DONE
MORE IRONMAN.
>> YEAH, WHICH IS REMARKABLE.
THAT'S SO CRAZY.
>> WE'VE PROVEN THAT, THAT,
YOU KNOW, THAT DOCTORS
HAVE GREAT ADVICE...
>> YEAH.
>> AND GREAT, YOU KNOW,
THINGS TO TELL US,
BUT SOMETIMES
THE HUMAN SPIRIT...
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> CAN PUSH US FARTHER
THAN WE THINK.
>> YEAH.
>> TAKING ON A PHYSICAL TEST
OF THIS PROPORTION OBVIOUSLY
REQUIRES MOTIVATION,
AND FOR MANY COMPETITORS
LIKE STEPHANIE,
THE MEANING BEHIND
WHY THEY COMPETE IS AS
SIGNIFICANT AS THE CHALLENGES
THEY FACE ALONG THE COURSE.
TOMORROW, I'LL GET A CHANCE
TO HEAR MORE
OF THOSE STORIES,
BUT FIRST, I'M HEADING OFF
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF THE AREA,
AND FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD,
THE STORIES I'M ABOUT TO HEAR
WILL SPOOK ME EVEN MORE
THAN STEPHANIE'S SCHEDULE
FOR RACE DAY.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THE HISTORY SURROUNDING
HALES BAR FACTUALLY PRE-DATES
THE DAM AND ENCOMPASSES
CHEROKEE LEGEND REVOLVING
AROUND THE WHIRLPOOL THAT ONCE
RENDERED THESE WATERS
ALMOST AS UNPASSABLE
AS THEY WERE DANGEROUS.
SO, I'M CONNECTING
WITH TVA HISTORIAN PAT EZZELL
TO GAIN SOME INSIGHT
INTO MORE OF WHAT MADE
THIS LOCATION SIGNIFICANT.
>> SO YOU WOULD HAVE
THE BIG TURBINES,
THE GENERATING UNITS...
>> THEY WERE IN THIS ROOM?
>> THAT WOULD BE IN HERE.
THE THING ABOUT THIS IS WHEN
THIS FACILITY OPENED THERE
HAD BEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS
REALLY ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD.
YEAH.
>> IT WAS REALLY STATE OF
THE ART BACK THEN?
>> OH, IT WAS STATE OF
THE ART AND IMAGINE YOU'D
HAVE THE POWER GENERATORS
BUT THERE WERE ALL KINDS
OF PEOPLE THAT CAME TO
THE OPENING OF HALES BAR.
I MEAN IT WAS SUCH
A TREMENDOUS BIG DEAL.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
FROM PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK.
>> OH, REALLY?
>> OH, YEAH.
>> OH, WOW.
>> I MEAN IT WAS NOT JUST
THE CHATTANOOGA ELITE.
IT WAS...
>> I DEFINITELY WAS THINKING,
WELL, THE COMMUNITY
WOULD SUPPORT IT, BUT...
>> NO, NO, NO.
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE...
>> OKAY.
>> SO THE REASON THEY WANTED
TO BUILD HALES BAR,
THE TENNESSEE RIVER
HAD NAVIGATION ISSUES,
YOU KNOW, SINCE, SINCE FOREVER.
BUT, BUT THE 1800S,
SPECIFICALLY, THEY START
LOOKING, YOU KNOW,
THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS ARE
LOOKING AT WHAT THEY CAN DO
TO MAKE THE RIVER
MORE NAVIGABLE.
THERE WAS A HAZARD NEARBY
ACTUALLY IT WAS CALLED
THERE WERE SEVERAL
BUT THE SUCK
AND THE BOILING POT
AND THE SKILLET.
THEY HAD THESE GREAT NAMES.
>> OKAY.
>> THE PIONEERS HAD NAMED
THESE HAZARDS, RIVER HAZARDS,
AND SO...
>> THAT'S A - THERE'S ONE
OUT HERE, RIGHT?
IT'S LIKE WHERE THAT WATER
IS LIKE SPINNING IN A CIRCLE?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> YEAH.
SO, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE
THE TREACHEROUS NATURE
OF THE RIVER AND WE NEEDED IT
TO BE NAVIGABLE
AND SO THE DAM WAS GOING
TO PROVIDE THAT NAVIGATION,
AND IT WAS GOING TO PROVIDE
ELECTRICITY TO CHATTANOOGA.
SO, IT BECAME THE FIRST
MULTIPURPOSE DAM
ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER.
>> WHILE GETTING THE LAY
OF THE LAND, I'LL ADMIT THAT
MY HAIR STOOD ON END
SEVERAL TIMES.
IT COULD EASILY BE THE HAUNTING
FEELING OF THIS HOLLOW FACADE,
BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE
I'M RETURNING FOR A GOOD
OLD-FASHIONED LOCK IN
WITH LOCAL PARANORMAL GUIDE
JEFF HOLDER TO INVESTIGATE
FURTHER.
>> THE FIRST TIME I EVER GOT
TOUCHED IN THIS BUILDING
WAS ACTUALLY IN THIS OLD ROOM
RIGHT HERE TO MY RIGHT.
>> REALLY?
>> YEAH.
>> MY WIFE AND VICKIE
WERE SETTING UP THE TABLE...
>> OKAY.
>> OUT IN THE HALL.
>> ME AND JEFF WERE IN HERE
AND I WAS WALKING BACK TO
THE BACK OF THE ROOM
AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING
TRIPPED ME.
AND WE PULL OUT FLASHLIGHTS.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
>> NOTHING.
>> AND ANDREA HAD SAID,
"GO BACK THERE.
GO TO THE BIG GUY
AND SMACK HIM IN THE HEAD."
WELL, I'M STANDING THERE
AND IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE
PULLED MY HAIR.
(GASP)
>> OH, REALLY?
>> YEAH.
>> OH, WOW.
>> YEAH.
SO, WE GO DOWNSTAIRS
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
EVERYTHING AND I TOLD THEM
THAT STORY.
>> YEAH.
>> AND WE'RE GOING, OH MY GOD!
(LAUGHS)
>> SO.
>> THAT WAS WILD.
>> YEAH.
>> YEP. (CRICKETS CHIRPING)
>> WHO'S MESSING WITH STEVE?
(LOUD BANGING NOISE)
>> WHO IS IT?
>> I'M READY TO GO.
(LAUGHS)
>> WE BETTER WATCH IN THERE,
MAN.
SERIOUSLY.
I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S
AN...  THROUGH.
(LOUD CHIRPING SOUND)
>> SEE, THE CRAZY THING IS...
WHO'S GOT A FLASHLIGHT?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T SEE WHAT...
>> I DON'T SEE ANYTHING,
LIKE, THIS STUFF HERE,
THAT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH...
>> THAT'S TOO SMALL.
IT WAS SOMETHING...
>> THAT WAS LOUD.
>> IT WAS REAL LOUD.
>> YEAH.
IT WAS WAY LOUDER THAN THAT.
I THINK BECAUSE
I WAS ABOUT HERE.
>> YEAH.
I WAS UNDERNEATH THAT
WHEN IT HAPPENED...
>> BECAUSE THAT'S,
THAT'S OVER THERE, I MEAN,
THIS HERE, BUT I MEAN...
THAT DOESN'T EVEN LOOK
BIG ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT
LOUD OF A SOUND.
>> YEAH.
THAT WAS LOUD.
>> THAT WAS VERY LOUD.
>> YEAH.
(BANGING SOUND)
>> THAT WASN'T IT.
>> NO.
THAT WASN'T IT.
>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW
WHAT MADE THAT.
WHAT WAS THE FALLING
FROM THE CEILING?
>> WELL, I HEARD IT OUT HERE
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> AND, AND IT HIT...
>> AT THE TABLE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE A
DOOR SLAMMING OR SOMETHING,
SO.
>> IT WASN'T A DOOR SLAMMING.
>> IT WAS...
>> IT WAS SOMETHING FALLING
FROM THE CEILING.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THERE WAS NOTHING
ON THE CEILING.
>> IT WAS LOUD.
IT WAS LOUD.
>> THAT WAS BIG ENOUGH...
>> RIGHT.
>> TO HAVE MADE THAT SOUND.
>> IT WAS LOUD.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
OH, YEAH.
IT WAS LOUD.
BECAUSE I HEARD IT
ALL THE WAY OUTSIDE.
>> YEAH.
AND IT WAS RIGHT AFTER I HAD
DIRECTLY ASKED, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,
MESSING WITH STEVE.
>> MMHMM.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THEN IT HAPPENED RIGHT
AFTER I FINISHED THE SENTENCE.
>> YEAH.
HE WAS, HEY, OH,
PALE IN THE FACE
I MEAN HE WAS...
>> YEAH.
>> WHETHER OR NOT WE CAPTURED
EVIDENCE OF GHOSTLY ACTIVITY
THIS EVENING I'LL LEAVE UP
TO YOU, BUT EITHER WAY I HAD
A SPIRITED EXPERIENCE
WITH JEFF AND HIS TEAM,
ONE THAT WILL LIVE ON WITH ME
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
YOU MIGHT EVEN SAY
THEY'LL HAUNT ME
LONG AFTER I RETURN HOME.
>> FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THERE WE GO.
JIM LADOWSKI IS UNDERWAY.
>> I COULDN'T HAVE EXPLORED
THE HISTORY OF HALES BAR
WITHOUT THE HELP OF PAT,
JEFF AND THE TEAM.
SIMILARLY, EVENTS
LIKE IRONMAN WOULDN'T
BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT
OF THE CHATTANOOGA COMMUNITY.
FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS
TO THE LOGISTICS,
NOT TO MENTION HELP
WITH RACE DAY MOTIVATION
AT THE MANY AID STATIONS SET UP
ALONG THE COURSE.
IT TAKES ALMOST AS MUCH EFFORT
TO PULL EVENTS LIKE THIS OFF
AS IT DOES TO PARTICIPATE
IN THEM.
SO, THIS MORNING I'M
CONNECTING WITH TIM MORGAN,
PRESIDENT OF THE CHATTANOOGA
SPORTS COMMITTEE,
TO LEARN WHAT GOES IN
TO MAKING MOMENTS
LIKE THESE POSSIBLE.
>> WE ACTIVELY GO OUT
AND CREATE SPORTING EVENTS.
>> OKAY.
>> CULTIVATE THE GROWTH
OF SPORT IN OUR REGION,
AND GO OUT AND CAPTURE
NEW SPORTING EVENTS
TO BRING IN TO HAVE
AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT
ON OUR COMMUNITY.
>> OKAY.
SO YOU HELPED GET
THE IRONMAN HERE?
>> YES, YES, YEAH.
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
I MEAN I HAD NO IDEA WHAT
IT WOULD TAKE TO START
THAT PROCESS, TO GET AN EVENT
LIKE THIS IN YOUR CITY.
>> WELL, YOU REALLY HAVE
TO FIND OUT WHAT THE,
WHAT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING...
>> OKAY.
>> OF THAT PARTICULAR ENTITY,
WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PLAN
FOR THE FUTURE.
>> OKAY.
>> AND IT JUST HAPPENED THAT
WE CAUGHT A LEAD THAT IRONMAN
WAS LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR,
INTO THE SOUTHEAST.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING
AT THE 1-95 CORRIDOR,
BUT WE FOLLOWED UP
ON THAT LEAD AND WE RECEIVED
OUR RFB AND BASICALLY IT
DETAILS AND OUTLINES
WHAT IRONMAN WOULD LIKE TO SEE
OUT OF A HOST COMMUNITY.
>> OKAY.
>> AND GIVES US AN IDEA
ON WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO HOST
AN IRONMAN EVENT, SO.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THEN WE HAD TO GO BUILD
THE TEAM THAT WOULD,
THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY CREATE
OUR LOCAL ORGANIZING
COMMITTEE.
>> OKAY.
>> AND WOULD GARNER ALL
OF THE, AND BUILD ALL OF THE
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE
BEEN EXPERIENCING OUT HERE
TODAY.
>> YEAH.
IT'S KIND OF AMAZING TO ME
THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE
FOLKS ARE, YOU KNOW,
THEY WANT TO VOLUNTEER
THEIR TIME AND COME OUT HERE
AND SUPPORT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT, THAT COMMUNITY?
>> THEY, THEY TRULY ARE WHAT
HAVE DEFINED THE SUCCESS
OF IRONMAN IN OUR REGION.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE,
THEY'RE CREATING THE ENERGY,
CREATING THE EXCITEMENT.
>> YEAH.
>> THEY'RE THE ONES
THAT ARE HELPING THESE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
ON ABOUT, YEAH,
I'D PROBABLY SAY, WHAT,
110 MILES?
>> YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW.
>> SO THEY'VE BIKED ALL THAT
FIRST, RIGHT?
>> I'VE GOT 100, 120 MILES.
AND NOW THEY HAVE TO GO
ANOTHER 26.2.
>> YEAH.
>> SO, YOU KNOW...
>> THAT'S CRAZY.
>> IT'S, IT'S THE VOLUNTEERS
THAT GET THESE PEOPLE
THROUGH THE FINISH LINE.
>> YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S KIND
OF LIKE A TESTAMENT
TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE
IN THE CITY OF CHATTANOOGA.
>> YES.
>> YOU KNOW, THAT THEY,
THEY WANT TO COME AND SUPPORT
AND BE A PART OF THIS.
LIKE IT'S AN HONOR FOR THEM
TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT
THE RUNNERS AND THE ATHLETES,
SO.
>> SO THE SPORTS COMMITTEE
IS INVOLVED IN WITH CLOSELY
IN SOME FORM OR FASHION,
EITHER TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE
OR SUPPORT ROLE IN OVER
100 DIFFERENT EVENTS...
>> WOW.
>> THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR
YEAR.
WHETHER THAT'S YOUTH SOCCER,
THAT'S A 31-MILE STANDUP
PADDLEBOARD RACE CALLED
THE CHATTAJACK, OR AN IRONMAN.
>> OKAY.
>> IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO HAVE
THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT
AND SOCIAL IMPACT
AND THESE GREAT VOLUNTEERS
ARE TRULY THE SOCIAL IMPACT
PART OF WHAT WE DO
IN THE SPORTS TOURISM INDUSTRY.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
(CROWD CHEERING)
>> WHOO!
GREAT JOB!
(APPLAUSE)
>> YAY!
>> HOSTING EVENTS LIKE THESE
REQUIRES A TON OF WORK,
BUT THE EFFORT IS
WELL WORTH IT.
THEY ALLOW THE CITIZENS
TO SHOW OFF THE CULTURE
AND THE CHARACTER OF
THE COMMUNITY THEY'VE WORKED
SO HARD TO BUILD
WHILE GIVING BACK TO THE LOCAL
ECONOMY IN THE PROCESS.
I'VE OFTEN HEARD THAT
CHATTANOOGA IS A MECCA
FOR ALL THINGS OUTDOORS,
BUT SEEING FIRSTHAND
HOW THEY'VE COME TOGETHER
TO HOST ATHLETES OF ALL SORTS,
I REALIZE THAT MENTALITY
STRETCHES FAR BEYOND
JUST THE LANDSCAPE.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> BEFORE LEAVING CHATTANOOGA
TO RETURN HOME,
I'M INSPIRED TO MAKE ONE
FINAL CLIMB TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE CITY.
AND WHILE I'M PROMISED
I'LL HAVE THE VIEW
OF A LIFETIME,
I'VE ALSO BEEN PROMISED THAT
I CAN TAKE IT ALL IN FROM
THE COMFORT OF A VERY UNIQUE
TRAINCAR SEAT.
>> NOW THIS INCLINE
WAS BUILT 1895.
WE OPENED UP; THE FIRST RIDE
WAS NOVEMBER 16, 1895.
>> OKAY.
>> IT WAS ON WEDNESDAY.
WE USED TO HAVE A PAGE
FROM THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR.
IT HAD A BIG RED CIRCLE ON IT.
>> DID YOU?
>> THEY FILED THE CHARTER
IN JUNE OF 1895.
WE WERE OPEN...
>> SO THAT'S WHERE IT
WAS LIKE OFFICIAL OR...?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> YEAH.
THEY WERE EXCITED THEY
WERE GOING TO BUILD IT.
>> OKAY.
>> HAD THE INVESTORS TOGETHER.
>> GOT YA.
>> AND THEN THEY HAD IT BUILT
IN A LITTLE OVER 100 DAYS.
>> THAT'S FAST.
>> AND THE REASON I KNOW
A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS BACK
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE
WHEN I WAS 19 THERE WAS A MAN
NAMED LONNIE HARBIN.
AND HE WAS ABOUT 96
AT THE TIME.
HE WAS A WATER BOY
ON THE CREW.
THERE WAS A CREW OF 1,000
THAT BUILT THIS.
>> OKAY.
>> THEY WORKED FROM DAYLIGHT
TO DARK...
>> CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
>> AND THAT WAS HOW IT WAS
POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BUILD THIS
IN A LITTLE OVER 100 DAYS.
>> IF YOU SAID 100 DAYS
LIKE NOW...
>> YEAH.
>> I'D BE LIKE, OKAY,
WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND STUFF
THAT WE HAVE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT THINKING THAT BACK THEN
THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT
IN 100 DAYS, THAT'S REMARKABLE.
>> YES.
ORIGINALLY, THE HORSE
AND BUGGY THE WAY
OF GETTING UP HERE.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THERE WAS A ROAD
THAT WAS IN SERVICE FROM 1852
UNTIL 1887 CALLED
THE WHITESIDE TURNPIKE.
AND IT WAS OWNED
BY COLONEL WHITESIDE
AND HIS WIFE HARRIET.
HE HAD PASSED AWAY AND SHE
HAD RULED EVERYTHING AFTER,
AFTERWARDS.
AND HARRIET ACTUALLY OWNED
THE PARK.
AND IF YOU RODE UP ON
THE HORSE AND BUGGY,
IF YOU WENT TO THE PARK,
YOU GOT TO SEE THE VISTA.
>> UH HUH.
>> IF YOU DIDN'T RIDE ON
THEIR HORSE AND BUGGY,
YOU DIDN'T SEE THE VIEW.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
SO, THERE WAS ANOTHER GROUP
OF INVESTORS DECIDED
THAT THEY WANTED THE VIEW
ALSO SINCE SHE HELD
A MONOPOLY ON IT.
THEY BUILT A HOTEL JUST BELOW
POINT PARK'S BLUFF
AND BUILT IT.
YEAH.
>> BECAUSE SHE OWNED
THE WHOLE PARK.
YEAH.
>> SHE DIDN'T OWN BELOW
THE BLUFF.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> SO THEY BUILT UP TO IT
AND ALSO TO GET TO IT,
THEY BUILT AN INCLINE.
SO, THEY BUILT AN INCLINE
UP THERE FROM 1886 UNTIL 1896.
>> BECAUSE THEY WANTED
TO RUN HERE OUT OF BUSINESS.
>> PRETTY MUCH.
THEY WANTED, YOU KNOW.
>> HOPE, I MEAN HOPEFULLY TAKE
QUITE A BIT OF HER BUSINESS.
YEAH.
>> WANTED A,
WANTED A SHARE OF THE PIE.
SO AFTER THAN SHE DECIDED,
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD
AN INCLINE.
>> SHE DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
>> I DON'T THINK SHE DID.
AND SO SHE GOT SOME INVESTORS.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THEY BUILT THIS INCLINE.
BY US BEING HERE,
WE WERE AN 18-MINUTE TRIP.
THE INCLINE THAT WAS OUT
AT POINT PARK WAS
A ONE HOUR TRIP.
SO, WE ORIGINALLY
WERE STEAM POWER
AND THEN WE CHANGED OVER
TO ELECTRIC POWER AROUND 1919.
>> OKAY.
>> AND BEEN ELECTRIC POWER
EVER SINCE.
>> EVER SINCE.
AND IT'S A NINE MINUTE TRIP UP
BASICALLY, RIGHT?
AROUND EIGHT OR NINE MINUTES
OR SO.
>> YES.
>> YEAH.
IT'S SUPER-FAST.
>> YES.
>> MAN.
>> WHILE THE TRIP IS JUST
A LITTLE A MILE LONG,
I WAS ABLE TO LEARN
A GREAT DEAL ABOUT CHATTANOOGA
AND ITS HISTORY
AS A DESTINATION.
IT LEFT ME WITH THE PERFECT
PERSPECTIVE OF THE CITY
TO RETURN HOME WITH -
NATURAL SPLENDOR,
DEEP-SEATED CULTURE,
AND DYNAMIC PERSONALITIES
TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
AFTER EXPLORING CHATTANOOGA
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM,
I THINK IT'S A MUCH QUIRKY
AS IT IS HOSPITABLE.
THIS CITY HOLDS AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF HISTORY
AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME
ARE EAGER TO SHARE IT.
SO WHETHER YOU CLIMB UP
TO THE HIGHEST OVERLOOKS
OR DIVE DEEPLY
INTO THE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ATHLETICISM AND OUTDOOR
ADVENTURE, YOU'RE SURE TO
FIND AN ACTIVITY THAT CAPTURES
YOUR INTERESTS AS WELL
AS YOUR HEART ALONG THE WAY.
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
