Back in the day, summer in Chattanooga meant one thing: the Super Waterslide. Perched on the side of Lookout Mountain along Cummings Highway, this iconic slide wasn’t just an attraction – it was a rite of passage. Built for thrill-seekers, risk-takers, and anyone who didn’t mind a good splash (or a belly flop), the Super Waterslide became a legendary part of Chattanooga summers. Though it’s now gone, memories of it live on in tales of epic slides, sun-soaked Saturdays, and the best kind of summer chaos.
A Splash to Remember on Lookout Mountain
Opened in the 1970s on land once home to Big Rock Court, the Super Waterslide was anything but your typical waterpark slide. Imagine a steep, curving slide carved into the mountainside, with only a thin stream of water to rocket you down at the mercy of gravity and your own courage. You started at the top, overlooking Chattanooga from the side of Lookout Mountain, and once you launched, there was no turning back. With panoramic views, the Super Waterslide brought an unforgettable thrill right to Chattanooga’s backyard.
Sunburns, Speed, and Slide Burns
The ride’s charm was in its no-frills simplicity – just a steep concrete slide, a trickle of water, and a splash pool waiting at the bottom. You’d make the climb up, take a deep breath, and launch yourself onto the slide, quickly picking up speed as you hurtled down. Some riders took it easy, enjoying a more leisurely glide down the track, while others threw caution to the wind, speeding down with a mixture of terror and exhilaration as they barely held on around tight curves, sometimes feeling like they might just flip right out of the slide. The rough concrete made sure you remembered the slide for more than just the thrill; slide burns were practically guaranteed, and the hot summer sun left everyone with a matching sunburn by the day’s end. But that was all part of the Super Waterslide badge of honor – because if you didn’t leave with a little “souvenir” from the slide, did you even ride it?
The Golden Days of Chattanooga's Summer Staple
At its peak, the Super Waterslide was Chattanooga’s go-to spot for summer fun. Families packed up their coolers, kids raced each other up and down the hill for endless turns, and people of all ages could be found lining up to conquer the slide. It wasn’t just a ride – it was an experience. This wasn’t some polished theme park; it was raw, real, and a bit rugged, drawing in people who wanted an authentic adventure under the Tennessee sun.
From Slide to Park – and Then to History
After its glory days, the Super Waterslide ultimately faced the same fate as many old-school attractions. By the early 1990s, it closed due to rising insurance costs and safety concerns, and the hillside once again became a quiet stretch of Lookout Mountain. The land transitioned to John Wilson Park, giving locals a place to picnic and reminisce about the thrills they had experienced on that very slope. Though today even the park is gone, those who grew up in Chattanooga carry on memories of racing friends down the slide and celebrating each wild descent.
Bringing Back the Vibes: The Super Waterslide T-Shirt
The Super Waterslide may be a thing of the past, but the spirit it embodied – bold, untamed, and soaked in summer sunshine – lives on. We’ve designed a t-shirt to capture that fearless thrill, those summer days spent racing downhill with Chattanooga’s skyline in the distance. This isn’t just a shirt; it’s a wearable tribute to every wild ride, every sunburn, every daredevil who took on the Super Waterslide. Slip it on, and keep the legend alive – because some summertime icons deserve to live forever, even if it’s only as part of your wardrobe.