More to the Story with Staley: The Incline Man

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — One of the most well-known and treasured attractions in the Chattanooga area is the Lookout Mountain Incline.

Chattanoogans know it simply as the Incline. Now, for one Chattanooga man, he’s hoping the Incline can get back to “the way it used to be!”

The Incline railway in St. Elmo ranges from the base of Lookout Mountain up to the summit, at Point Park.

It’s one mile up. A ten-minute ride.

It’s a pull and push cable system, built in the late 1800s. It’s also one of the world’s steepest passenger railway systems, with a maximum grade of almost 73%.

The Incline has been through a lot in its lifetime. Fires come to mind, but it’s survived. It also is one of Chattanooga’s most well-known landmarks.

Back in the day, the Incline was mainly used for public transportation. Right now, it’s essentially a tourist attraction.

This man wants to change that. He’s Jordan Vanderhart.

“When I first rode it, I must admit I was a little nervous. As time went on, I thought this was a very important means of transportation,” Vanderhart said. “I would love to see it used for that in the future.”

Vanderhart, who lives and works on Lookout Mountain, regularly rides the Incline. For him, it’s a means of transportation. It’s not really for fun.

That’s why he’s started a petition, asking the Incline to resume selling tickets on top of the mountain. Not just on the bottom.

That’s the way it used to be, before the pandemic.

For Vanderhart, it’s a passionate mission.

“I get the passion because I want the Incline to be used for transportation. Not just the tourists. So that way, the people from Lookout Moutain can take the Incline down, and get on a shuttle and go downtown,” Vanderhart explained.

CARTA says it is exploring the possibility of selling tickets on top of the Incline once again. But right now, CARTA says the online services seem to be working quite well.