Ooltewah is just a short drive from Downtown Chattanooga and is a lively, quaint, and colorful community that many consider to be a suburb of greater Chattanooga.
Ooltewah has a traditional, small-town feel, with a rich history dating back to the early 1800s, when it was originally inhabited by the Cherokee Nation until their people were forcibly removed in the 1830s, during the Trail of Tears. The name "Ooltewah" is Cherokee and is interpreted by many locals today as meaning “owl’s nest.”
Through the mid to late 1800s, Ooltewah would go on to serve as a key railroad hub, with settlers moving in and establishing small communities. In the early 1900s, the suburb would, albeit briefly, function as the seat of James County before its bankruptcy in the Great Depression, wherein it was absorbed by Hamilton County, a county that it remains in to this day.
Technically an unincorporated community, and officially not a town, is something that feels very strange to say if you’ve ever experienced the small-town feel of the dynamic suburb of Chattanooga. The entire area is brimming with life and is nestled amongst beautiful farmland, valleys, teeming creeks, and rolling hills.
Having driven through Ooltewah a lot to visit family, I set out to explore the rich community from sunrise to sunset for a day, and what I found was a unique blend of historic charm and a very family-friendly atmosphere, chock full of tasty eateries, quaint shops, and some of the more beautiful nature spots in the entire Chattanooga area.
What follows are some highlights from my time exploring the area. I began the day bright and early with coffee at Morning Brew coffee shop, which opens on weekdays at seven in the morning for us early birds. Located in Cambridge Square, it’s truly a remarkable coffee shop with an incredible aesthetic, atmosphere, and some of the best pastries I’ve ever had.
I had the Almond Cruffin Iced Latte, and it didn’t disappoint. I also had a cup of their drip coffee, which is always incredible. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, they may even have some good local beans on their shelf for sale. They also offer tea, breakfast sandwiches, and tasty crepes.
With cold coffee now in hand on a warm summer morning, I was ready to walk around the ever-popular Cambridge Square before settling in for breakfast. Scattered throughout the square are several quaint little shops, including Chene Blanc, perfect for gifts and home decor; Sweet E’s Children’s Boutique; and The Finery House, a beloved jewelry shop.
In terms of eateries in Cambridge Square, there is something for everyone, from Italian at Il Primo to southern coastal cuisine at 1885 Grille, now the only one in the area standing after St. Elmo’s recently closed, or perhaps elevated BBQ at Davis Wayne's; there is no shortage of incredible restaurants. There are also beautiful art installations, water fountains, green spaces, and flowers decorating the entirety of Cambridge Square. There are small touches all throughout the square, adding to its flair and personality, making it the heart of Ooltewah.
For breakfast, I chose Wine Down Neighborhood Bistro in the Square. I’d been there many times before, but this time felt different, and I wanted to try something besides my staple dish, the build your own breakfast bennie, served with barbacoa and red breakfast potatoes.
So, I started out with two biscuits smothered in sawmill gravy and broke all the breakfast rules by getting a smash burger with french fries. It was tasty, and I was not judged one bit by the friendly staff at Wine Down, who serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner most of the day.
After breakfast, I wanted to take a break before going into nature to explore, so I popped into a store I’d never been to before but always wanted to check out, the Ooltewah Antique Mall.
Greeted immediately by the owner, I told him I was just browsing, and began to make my way around the antique shop. It was full of ornate furniture, Ben Hampton art pieces, and various trinkets and collectibles that gave the shop personality and character.
After finishing my almond cruffin latte and browsing for a bit, I left the shop and got back in the car to explore more of Ooltewah. While Ooltewah is known for Enterprise South Nature Park, which is one of the largest and best spots for nature and trail exploring in the entire Greater Chattanooga area, I wanted to check out a lesser-known incredible nature spot located right beside the magical Little Debbie Park, Wolftever Creek Greenway.
I ditched the coffee, grabbed some water, and set out on a big hike, where I meandered my way through incredible paved trails alongside the Wolftever Creek, teaming with stunningly beautiful wildlife, including two brown snakes, a massive crane, eight turtles, and two white geese, who I believe were kissing.
The 5.1-mile trail is less known in the area and a hidden gem. There were a few little sitting stations situated amongst the woods, and the quirkiness of the trail’s signs was right up my alley. While Little Debbie Park and Enterprise South are excellent fixtures and likely way more popular, if you’re looking for a more secluded time in nature, less packed with people and more packed with wildlife, Wolftever Creek is the spot for you.
After hours at Wolftever Creek, I spent some time driving by various local shops and staples in Ooltewah, including their European Market, a few boutiques, and their incredible farmer’s market. I then made a stop by the famous Ooltewah Whistle Stop Cafe, a vintage diner offering up everything from hot soups to their signature banana split.
A true highlight of my time in Ooltewah was stopping here to check out the incredible aesthetic of the diner and seeing an old police car that looked like something out of an Andy Griffith Show episode in the sixties. After The Whistle Stop, it was time to check out Couch’s BBQ, the oldest BBQ restaurant in all of greater Chattanooga, which just celebrated eighty years in business.
They offer incredible ribs, fried okra, and all the fixins you’d expect. Their signature shaved pork is a staple dish there, and the establishment has an intimate, diner-esque feel to it. After visiting Couch’s BBQ, I drove around the tight-knit community and reflected on the day I had. Drifting back, I realized that Ooltewah is one of my favorite places in the Scenic City.
From the incredible eateries, coffee shops, and niche stores in Cambridge Square, the bustling heart of Ooltewah, to the serene, peaceful oasis of Wolftever Creek and the surrounding nature spots offered up by parks like Little Debbie and the sprawling Enterprise South, there truly is no shortage of wonderful things to do and explore in the family-friendly community of Ooltewah.