A Lookout Mountain exhibit centered around a Civil War diorama has permanently closed 68 years after it originally opened as the “Confederama” in the St. Elmo neighborhood.
The Battles for Chattanooga museum closed Oct. 28, said Pepper Raper, spokesperson for Rock City Enterprises, which owned the exhibit and an attached gift shop. Rock City Enterprises, previously called See Rock City, upgraded the exhibit in 2016 with a 3D projection film over the 480-square-foot diorama.
“Over the years, it’s needed to be upgraded again, and unfortunately, the demand to do that just wasn’t there for us to make the investment,” Raper said in a phone call.
Rock City Enterprises bought the Confederama in 1992, renamed it in 1994 and moved it up the mountain in 1997, Raper said.
The building on East Brow Road in Tennessee is owned by Bill Chapin, former owner and CEO of Rock City Enterprises. Chapin sold the company to his son, Doug, in 2022 and leased the building to Rock City Enterprises.