Explore the Gateway to Georgia

Catoosa County and the cities of Ringgold and Ft. Oglethorpe are great places to enjoy momentous history, thrilling amusements, one-of-a-kind shopping and authentic local flavors.

By Freewheeling Daredevil - Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3683308

Delve Into Civil War history at the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, the Old Stone Church, and the Ringgold Depot. Discover Fort Oglethorpe's namesake at the 6th Cavalry Museum. Sample distinctive sips at the Georgia Winery, the state's first farm winery. Spend an exciting day at Lake Winnepesaukah, the South's favorite family amusement park, or bounce out the afternoon at Xtreme Air Mega Park.

Find hidden treasures and delightful eats at local shops and restaurants. Every member of the family can find a favorite activity here in the Gateway to Georgia. Look further through this site to find your way to our annual events and festivals, our attractions, our lodgings and our dining options here in Fort Oglethorpe, Ringgold, and throughout Catoosa County.

Thrills and Amusements

Boyd's Speedway

This 1/3-mile banked clay oval track in Ringgold has been hosting racers since 1952, including many laps and victories by members of NASCAR’s first families, the Allisons and the Pettys.

Lake Winnepesaukah

Only a few minutes outside of Catoosa County, Lake Winnepesaukah, in Rossville, is the South’s favorite family amusement park, featuring more than 35 rides designed for family enjoyment.

SoakYa Water Park

Part of the Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park in Rossville, the five-acre SoakYa Water Park features a crazy river, 2 body slides, 2 tube slides, an 800 ft. mat racer, and interactive kids area just for the little ones.

Xtreme Air Mega Park

Xtreme Air Mega Park in Fort Oglethorpe is the area’s newest addition to family fun and entertainment. The indoor jump park offers a zipline rollercoaster, an inflatable jump park, dodgeball arena, arcade games, a three-story playground, and much more.

Outdoor Fun

Catoosa County Recreation Department

One of the largest Catoosa County recreation facilities is the state-of-the-art Jack Mattox Recreation Complex in Ringgold, which features seven lighted ball fields, a 9-hole disc golf course, a 1.2-mile paved walking track with boardwalks and a wetland area.

TheElsie A. Holmes Nature Park

also in Ringgold, is another outstanding property of the Catoosa County Recreation Department. The park includes more than two miles of hiking/walking trails through a hardwood forest and wooded creek bottom land filled with wildflowers. There is also a trail on the ridge that is accessible for strollers and those with disabilities.

Chickamauga Battlefield

Not only is Chickamauga Battlefield a place to immerse yourself in history, but it’s also a perfect setting for many outdoor activities. Visitors can hike, bike, walk, jog, horseback ride, or walk pets on more than 60 miles of trails in the national military park.

Highway 27

Even before the opening of I-75, Catoosa County has been the “Gateway to Georgia,” since it is also the starting point for the Georgia portion of U.S. Highway 27, a north-south route that stretches from Indiana south through Florida. This is the ideal route for getting off the beaten path and exploring Catoosa County and Northwest Georgia.

Georgia Winery

Georgia’s First Farm Winery is in Ringgold, offering tastings anytime during operating hours and tours by reservation on Saturdays.

Civil War & Military History

Chickamauga Battlefield

Part of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, the oldest and largest military park in the United States, Chickamauga Battlefield was founded in 1890 to commemorate the 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, the second largest engagement of the U.S. Civil War.

Walk or drive Battleline Road, whose many markers commemorate some of the heaviest fighting of the War Between The States. Climb the 85-foot Wilder Brigade Monument for a panoramic view of the battlefield. Back on the ground, take a picture of the park’s most-photographed monument, the riderless horse of the 1st Wisconsin.

The park’s Visitor Center and museum features a film presentation of the Battle of Chickamauga, a state-of-the-art fiber optic battle map, and the renowned Fuller Gun Collection -- 346 mint-condition firearms from the Colonial period through World War I. The Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. but is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

General Monument

The Civil War produced no story more fantastic than that of the stolen railroad engine “Texas” being chased and caught by the engine “General.” The tale is so dramatic that Walt Disney made a movie about it in 1956. Learn more at the “General” Monument in Ringgold. Turn off Hwy. 41 to Tennessee St., left on Ooltewah Ringgold Road; the monument is near the rail line.

Old Stone Church Museum

Built in 1849 as a Presbyterian church, the Old Stone Church in Ringgold was used as a hospital for both Confederate and Union troops wounded in the Battle of Ringgold and as a stable by the Union. Blood stains are still visible on the floor. The famous hymn, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," was sung here for the first time. Today, it’s known as the Catoosa County Old Stone Church Museum and is open from 1 to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday.

Civil War Driving Tour

Explore Catoosa County’s Civil War history at your leisure with the help of the Catoosa County Chamber’s Civil War Driving Tour brochure, which lists the important sites and the significance behind them. Download a PDF of the tour brochure here.

Whitman Anderson House

This private residence in Ringgold was built in 1858 and served as headquarters for General Ulysses S. Grant following the Battle of Ringgold.

Ringgold Depot

This beautifully restored rail depot in the heart of Downtown Ringgold served as a major transportation hub for the Western & Atlantic Rail line as well as a crucial supply point for both Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. Built in 1850, the depot was a supply depot for Confederate troops, but also served as Gen. Hooker’s Union headquarters during the “Battle of Ringgold Gap.” Ringgold Depot is one of the few remaining antebellum railroad depots in Georgia.

Fort Oglethorpe Welcome Center

The Fort Oglethorpe Welcome Center tells the story of Fort Oglethorpe from 1890 to 1949. The Center uses historic artifacts and photographs to interpret the role Fort Oglethorpe played in local, American, and global history from the Spanish-American War to World War 1 and World War 2. Honor is paid to the "Fighting Sixth" Cavalry Regiment, which was garrisoned at the post from 1919 to 1949. The Center is located on the polo grounds in the Fort Oglethorpe Historic District, amidst the original 1905 officers' homes and post buildings, and just across Post Road from the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park Visitor's Center.

Catoosa Citizens' and Veterans' Memorial

Catoosa County citizens and veterans dedicated a monument in 2003 to honor the veterans of the county who served their country. A brick walk leads to the 200-foot wide, 50-foot long white marble memorial wall, U.S. flag, and flags of the four branches of the U.S. military. The memorial is on the Benton Place Campus, Catoosa Circle, Ringgold.

Annual Events & Festivals

Event Date(s) City
1890s Days Friday & Saturday on Memorial Day Weekend Ringgold
Dixie Highway Yard Sale First weekend in June Ringgold
Catoosa Farmers' Market Saturdays in June - August Ringgold
Patriotism at The Post July 3rd Fort Oglethorpe
Labor Day in the Streets Labor Day Fort Oglethorpe
Catoosa County Fall Festival 1st Saturday in October Ringgold
Haunted Depot October Ringgold
Ringgold Opry Second Saturday each month except October and December - Starts at 7 p.m. Ringgold
Sacred Sounds Fridays Second Friday of each month except for October and December - Starts at 7:30 p.m. Ringgold
Downhome Christmas Parade First Friday in December Ringgold
Christmas Parade First Saturday in December Fort Oglethorpe

264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, GA 30736
(706) 965-5201 | info@catoosaconnects.com

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