Drive Time: It's a 6-minute drive from the Tennessee Aquarium to the intersection of North and South Crest. Proximity means that residents of the ridge have easy access to just about anywhere in the city. It's a straight shot on North Crest to the Highway 58 area or to Fort Oglethorpe along South Crest. Coming off the ridge east takes you to either East Ridge, Brainerd or the Eastside parts of town and falling off the ridge to the west will find you in either the Rossville, Ridgedale, Glenwood or Avondale areas. All of those areas, plus downtown and East Brainerd, are within 10 minutes for most ridge residents.
Locator Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Missionary+Ridge/@34.9864623,-85.296077,14z/
Curb Appeal: Homes for sale on Missionary Ridge recently ranged from $350,000 to $1.7 million.
Most of the nearly 600 houses on the ridge are between 80 and 100 years old, though there are some newer homes. Many have views of either the Chattanooga valley or the Brainerd/East Ridge side, and some have both.
Breakfast:
Wally's on McCallie Avenue is a local icon known for home-cooked meals and a place to meet and greet.
Lunch:
Sugar's Ribs on Westside Drive on the side of the ridge overlooking Interstate 24 offers good barbecue and some of the best sides in town, including grilled corn on the cob and okra.
Dinner:
Giardino is located across from Sugar's, and this new Italian restaurant has become a quick favorite of ridge residents and others. It offers locally grown seasonal veggies, and the veal marsala and shrimp and polenta are wonderful.
Happy Place: Missionary Ridge offers one of the best places to walk, or drive, in Chattanooga. Whether you enjoy looking at architecture, sunrises, sunsets or just beautiful vistas, the ridge has them all and they seem to change with every viewing and certainly with the changing seasons. History buffs will also find plenty to see as Missionary Ridge was the site of a key battle on Nov. 25, 1865, when 50,000 Union troops stormed Confederate defenses along the ridge and into Georgia near Tunnel Hill. Monuments placed along the ridge by the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park tell the story of the battles.
Livability score sheet
Walkability: Sidewalks run from one end to the other, making it a great place to get out and walk. The views are among the best anywhere. It is essentially the center of the area with easy access to just about anywhere.
Health-care assets: Erlanger, Parkridge and Memorial hospitals are all within two to four minutes of most of the ridge.
Claim to Fame: The Chattanooga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park has some units on Missionary Ridge including the Sherman Reservation, a 50-acre park that marks the location from which General William T. Sherman attacked Confederate forces, and the Bragg Reservation, which marks the site of General Braxton Bragg's headquarters and features the Illinois Monument as well as other smaller minor monuments.
Parks and Rec: Warner Park is just a few minutes away, as are the city's Brainerd and Avondale recreation centers.
Schools:
- McCallie School (6-12)
- Notre Dame High School (9-12)
- East Ridge, Brainerd and Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences are the closest high schools. Because of its length, it is also near to dozens of elementary and middle schools. Ridge residents along North Crest are zoned for Hardy Elementary, Dalewood Middle and Brainerd High schools. Residents on the ridge on South Crest are zoned for East Ridge Elementary, East Ridge Middle and East Ridge High schools.