Drive Time: 23 minutes from Soddy-Daisy City Hall to the Tennessee Aquarium downtown.
Locator Map: Much of Soddy-Daisy straddles the linear path of U.S. Highway 27/Dayton Pike, its original main thoroughfare, and Corridor J, a newer four-lane highway just east. To the south, it borders the Chattanooga city limits near Thrasher Pike. To the north, it reaches the unincorporated community of Bakewell.
Curb Appeal: The typical home value in Soddy-Daisy is 270,000 according to Zillow.
Breakfast: Doors open at 5 a.m. at Wimpies Country Restaurant on Dayton Pike, putting it ahead of most of its competitors (the cooks at Hardee's are also up that early). For the fullest plate, order one of the Hungryman Specials, all served with two eggs and a choice of meat - everything from an 8-ounce ribeye to chicken tenders to bologna - along with homemade biscuits or toast, gravy and hash browns or home fries. You can also get lunch and dinner at this landmark restaurant across from City Hall.
Lunch: The extensive menu at Delia's Mexican Restaurant on Dayton Pike offers 40 possibilities of plates filled with spicy flavor combinations, from tacos to chimichangas to flautas. The salsa that comes with the tortilla chips is served in a cruet for pouring into individual bowls, a good way to avoid any double dippers at the table.
Dinner: Have dinner under the stars (in season) on the expansive deck at Steve's Landing Waterfront Grill on Poling Circle. In keeping with the waterfront view, several seafood choices are on the menu, but it's the full rack of baby back ribs that put this place on the map for diners arriving by car or boat.
New Businesses: Williams Family Bakery has opened at 8804 Dayton Pike. There's a soup of the day, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches made to order, and the walk-in bakery is stocked with cinnamon rolls, doughnuts and cookies.
In the News:
- Residents are awaiting the name of the "major retailer" set to anchor a $15 million to $20 million commercial project off Dayton Pike on the south end of Soddy-Daisy, not far from the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and Highway 153.
- A recent revamp of Fire Hall No. 3, on the south end of Soddy-Daisy, has added five new bays to the existing building.
- On the north end of town, city officials have approached the Tennessee Valley Authority about the use of property near Fire Hall No. 2 and the park at Soddy Lake.
Happy Place: Kay's Kastles on Dayton Pike - because who isn't happier when eating ice cream? This throwback shop is the last of what was once a family-owned empire around Chattanooga. In addition to sundaes, splits and shakes, you can also find pizza, nachos and hot dogs on the menu.
Shop Talk: Building on its model of "neighborhood convenience," Dollar General has opened a fifth store within the Soddy-Daisy city limits.
Livability score sheet
Walkability: The older residential neighborhoods are generally pedestrian-friendly, but walking tracks at either end of the city also stay busy. Kids Park offers views of Soddy Lake. At Veterans Park, you can stop and smell the roses.
Health care assets:
- The Hamilton County Health Department has a Soddy-Daisy location, Sequoyah Health Center, at 9527 W. Ridge Trail Road.
- Erlanger Express Care, 9448 Dayton Pike, and Fast Pace Health, 9325 Dayton Pike, offer urgent care and other medical services.
- CVS, 9389 Dayton Pike, provides basic medical care through its Minute Clinic.
Claim to fame: Soddy-Daisy was the first seat of Hamilton County government at Poe's Tavern. A replica of the original cabin has been constructed by City Hall, about a block north of its original location. Historians say the original cabin was used by both sides in the Civil War and in the Indian Removal.
Parks and Rec:
The community playground, known as Scramble Alley, is a wood climbing maze behind City Hall. Fun seekers also can find playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, walking tracks and lighted softball and baseball fields at Veterans Park and Kids Park, plus a horseshoe court at Kids Park. For longer excursions, try the Big Soddy Creek Gulf Trail, a 3.5-mile out-and-back, with several swimming holes, off Back Valley Road on the north end of Soddy-Daisy. Or follow it out to the Cumberland Trail. Fishing piers and boat ramps offer access to Chickamauga Lake on the Tennessee River.
Schools:
- Allen Elementary, grades PK-5
- Daisy Elementary, grades PK-5
- Soddy Elementary, grades PK-5
- Ivy Academy, (charter school) grades 6-12. Ivy is also a satellite location of Wauhatchie Forest Preschool and will open an elementary school in the fall of 2022.
- Soddy-Daisy Middle School, grades 6-8.
- Sequoyah High School (vocational school), grades 9-12.
- Soddy-Daisy High School, grades 9-12.