Route Information, History, Photo and Termini Gallery

Situated on the west brow of Lookout Mountain most of its length, GA 189 has the best view in Georgia. It is not advised to get too much into the view, though, or you might find your car upside down halfway off the side of the mountain. The road here is scenic, but also narrow with steep dropoffs in places.

GA 189 is also home to the Lookout Mountain Flight Park where hang gliders launch from a ramp on the edge of the brow and soar into Lookout Valley below. Other area attractions include Cloudland Canyon, a nearby limestone gorge featuring waterfalls, high cliffs and great hiking where Daniels and Bear Creek converge to form Sitton Gulch Creek. Bear Creek is significant in that its waters are crossed in a scenic valley just east of the Canyon along the route. Besides Cloudland Canyon, Rock City is nearby on GA 157, Point Park is near the northern end of the route on the Tennessee side and nearby Covenant College offers a room with a view for students in the college that once was a hotel.

GA 189 is part of the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway system and is also officially known as simply Scenic Highway and West Brow Road. The highway passes through Dade and Walker Counties, straddling the line in places. In distance, the route is 16 miles long. With this much detail about a 16-mile long road, it is interesting to note that GA 189 was not always 189. In fact, the history of the route is rather complicated, but is discussed below in the route history.

History

The original GA 189 is on a partly gravel road that climbs the west brow of Lookout Mountain out of a mountain cove through Newsome Gap. It may go too far to describe the original route as a scenic highway like the present route is, but it is still an interesting drive worth seeing.

The first routing of Old GA 189 has followed the following present-day county roads: Newsome Gap Road, Plum Nelly Road and a portion of Sunset Road totalling 15 miles. Not surprisingly, this road was later shortened as the route literally switched back on Plum Nelly Road despite the fact a more direct connection to GA 143 (now GA 136) was within a mile. The relocation placed GA 189 onto present-day South Moore Road, shortening the distance from 15 miles to 8 miles. Respectively, this also eliminated the portion of the route following the brow (escarpment) of the plateau.

Nevertheless, both alignments served the purpose of connecting U.S. 11/GA 58 in Rising Fawn to GA 143 in New Salem. In New Salem, the northern terminus ends three miles east of the original northern terminus.

The highway along Newsome Gap, Plum Nelly and Sunset Roads. (1952 GHD Map)

Today, GA 189 is on a completely different route from where it was in the early 1970's. Oddly still, the present routing of SR 189 comes very close to, but does not connect, the original highway. In fact, the original northern terminus is within a mile of the present southern end.
The early 1970's brought a northward extension of GA 189 along previous GA 157. GA 157 was relocated east to connect directly with the southern alignment of the road, which had previously been Lula Lake Road and a sizable portion of now-defunct GA 170. This northward extension ended where GA 157 rejoined the route north of Hinkles. With this change, GA 189 then had the maximum mileage it had ever had. However, this proved to be short-lived. By 1976, the GA 189 portion south of GA 143 was decommissioned. This effectively had put the entire route of GA 189 on new alignment.

Note here that GA 189 has been trimmed back and shortened to 8 miles on the southern portion. Note that the route comes close to, but does not connect to its present route (1970 GHD Map) Note here how the highway has taken over GA 157. GA 157 is relocated east and GA 170 is fully decommissioned with GA 157 covering most of that former route. Also note very short GA 210, which later becomes part of GA 189 through a mulitplex with GA 157 (1975 GDOT Map)
A year later, GA 189 saw its final change. With the new alignment of GA 189 fully in place, the route was extended as a multiplex with GA 157 north into Tennessee. When this final change was made, this route overtook all of the short GA 210, GA 189 became the route it is today.
Georgia 189 Photo Gallery

Various photos taken along the route. All photos by J.T. Legg taken August 15, 2004.
Looking southbound on GA 189 where GA 157 joins GA 189. This was the historic southern terminus of GA 210.
Combined GA 189 and GA 157 south of the above intersection. Originally, only GA 157 followed this route.
GA 189 descending into the upper reaches of Bear Creek Canyon. During wetter months when the creek is swift, kayakers park at the creek and kayak into Cloudland Canyon.
Georgia 189 Termini Gallery

Click here if you would like to submit photos.

Southern Terminus: GA 136 in the New Salem community east of Trenton
End signage and photos taken along eastbound GA 136 by J.T. Legg on August 15, 2004.
Northern Terminus: Tennessee State Line in Lookout Mountain (TN 148)
State line signage and first southbound reassurance shield by J.T. Legg taken August 15, 2004.
Related Links

Here are links related to sites and information on or near GA 189:
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