Wildwood

Winding backroads and sprawling green hills are shadowed by the rise of Lookout Mountain, the neighborhood of Wildwood existing peacefully in the valley below. Wildwood is immediately past the Georgia state line, only a 15-minute drive southwest of downtown Chattanooga. It might be the right spot if you're looking for a more rural, quiet area without leaving the city an hour behind.

Wildwood has a vast range of architectural styles and acreage – if you're looking for a house with plenty of green space, chances are you'll be able to find it. While it used to be primarily comprised of single-family homes, condos and town houses have cropped up in the last decade. Typical for Middle Tennessee, you'll be able to find ranch homes – many of them with raised foundations to handle hilly terrain – alongside the sensible split-level and stilt cabins. Built in the last decade, new construction is undeniably contemporary, but the houses employ several different characteristics from classical and picturesque styles. These current homes have plenty of unique features, from the steep layered roofing to stone turrets. While many houses are set on sprawling acreage along winding roads, subdivisions have started to be developed in pockets of the area.

The median selling price for single-family homes is $265,000, while town houses are a bit pricier at $340,000. Residential areas began to sprout in the 1980s, and new construction is constantly popping up around the neighborhood. Smaller, older homes or one-bedroom condos typically start selling at $150,000, while large contemporary homes can easily surpass $500,000.

The closest public schools will be found atop Lookout Mountain and in the eastern Chattanooga Valley. Students begin their education at Fairyland Elementary School, which takes the No.1 spot for best elementary school in the Chattanooga area, with an overall A- ranking on Niche. It also scores a whopping 10 out of 10 in all aspects of GreatSchools rankings – in fact, it makes the top 1% of all schools in Georgia regarding overall test scores. Children then move on to Chattanooga Valley Middle School – another highly rated institution – and finish their primary education at Ridgeland High. Students can prepare for the next step in their academic career through several college prep programs, and Ridgeland offers a diverse and vast list of extracurriculars.

The main thoroughfares of Interstate 59 and Route 11 will take you on a quick journey south into the city of Trenton. The city shares a significant commercial area with Wildwood, making it easy to run the weekly errands, from popping into Food City for groceries and stopping into the bank or pharmacy. You can meet up with friends at Corner Coffee for breakfast wraps and hot lattes or order slow-smoked ribs and brisket on the wooden porch of Thatcher's Barbeque and Grille.

Regarding outdoor recreation, Wildwood has quick access to one of Georgia's most stunning state parks. At nearly 3,600 acres, Cloudland Canyon State Park is made incredibly unique by the deep gorge that forms its iconic canyons, and it's got miles of trails through dense woodland that lead to waterfalls, caves and cliff outlooks. Mountain biking trails can be found at the new Five Points Recreation Area, and the park is dotted with plenty of different options for adventure – fishing ponds, a disc golf course, horseback riding and the list goes on. Make sure to keep an eye on the park's calendar, too. They host a ton of events throughout the year, from stargazing and campout parties with live music to group exploration hikes and half marathons.

For those searching for some peace and quiet without leaving city conveniences behind, Wildwood is a worthy consideration.

Written By

Kaitie Lamb

Photography Contributed By

Morgan Nowland

Video By

Tyler Newbold