Doug Chapin, whose ancestors helped turn a Lookout Mountain garden into one of America’s best-known attractions at Rock City, is taking over the tourism business from his father Bill next month.
Chapin, age 32, becomes the fifth-generation owner and fourth-generation leader of the mountaintop attraction that has lured millions of people from around the world to “See 7 States” over the past 90 years.
The younger Chapin literally grew up in the business, living in the home known as “Carter Cliffs” on the mountaintop property. He began working at his family’s business in 2004 at age 15 when he greeted visitors dressed up as the character Rocky the Elf.
“Growing up here, my parents never pressured any of my sisters or me to work here, but it’s a great family-owned business that I hope continues to grow over the next 90 years,” Doug Chapin said during an interview at Rock City last week. “We’re looking at the opportunities to continue to make memories for our guests.”
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced Rock City to close for more than seven weeks in the spring of 2020, the attraction drew nearly 600,000 visitors last year.