Starring Catherine Deneuve

October 11, 2015 11:24 AM

An unusual rock formation in Chattanooga appears perilously balanced; but more than thirty people can stand on its top at one time. It's called Umbrella Rock. In one of the earliest picture of Umbrella Rock is of soldiers taken in 1863. Today, of course, it looks different.

(Bonus)

posted by growabrain (27 comments total)

Did it erode or become more unstable, or is the lockout more a function of authorities fearful of litigation?
posted by Miko at 11:43 AM on October 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

Probably we don't want any problems attitude eh...?
posted by growabrain at 11:47 AM on October 11, 2015

My guess, Miko, is a combo of A) idiots like the Boy Scout leaders who purposely shoved over that balanced rock in Utah, and B) fools who would purposely rock it off-balance while standing on top and then sue when they got hurt.
posted by easily confused at 12:01 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

Dang! That rock is clearly a monster. I am glad we are all safe from it now.
posted by Oyéah at 12:02 PM on October 11, 2015 [5 favorites]

But it's my pet.
posted by alex_skazat at 12:12 PM on October 11, 2015 [3 favorites]

Burn the rock!
posted by downtohisturtles at 12:14 PM on October 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

Looks like the rock is right on a cliff. If so they are probably worried about someone falling to their death and then getting sued.
posted by Mitheral at 12:22 PM on October 11, 2015

I drove all the way to Tennessee and all I got was to sit on this rock. (This one has the right mood.)
posted by chavenet at 12:42 PM on October 11, 2015 [3 favorites]

I think it's probably likely that some drunken tourists or locals HAVE fallen off the cliff and died. Though it's going to be hard t find evidence of that.
posted by happyroach at 12:43 PM on October 11, 2015

Also looks like fairly substantial pieces have broken off over the years.
posted by jamjam at 12:44 PM on October 11, 2015

worried about someone falling to their death and then getting sued

Yeah, because getting sued after you've had a fatal accident is just adding insult to injury, amirite?
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:59 PM on October 11, 2015 [5 favorites]

This one has the right mood.

I notice that photo specifically calls out this is his second wife.....one wonders if he keeps suffering a series of unfortunate accidents related to wives sitting out on the ledge.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 2:24 PM on October 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

NOPE

weird to come in here after the rail safety thread.
posted by howfar at 3:18 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

Try coming in here after the microgenres thread. I thought "umbrella rock" was a genre of Mary-Poppins-themed guitar music.
posted by a car full of lions at 3:53 PM on October 11, 2015 [12 favorites]

Also looks like fairly substantial pieces have broken off over the years.

I see foreshortening in the gated photo, but not anything that's broken off. Where is it that you're looking?

Unfortunate that it's gated, and the gate is so, I dunno, ugly

I imagine The Flatirons here fenced off in a similar way, and just sort of chuckle to myself. There are fenced off caves, but the reasoning isn't safety of humans, but the health of bats.
posted by alex_skazat at 4:06 PM on October 11, 2015

So more than 30 people can stand on top of it at one time until... until what? After more than 30 what happens? Does it start to tip over?
posted by I-baLL at 4:32 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

I'm visiting in Oak Ridge for a few weeks. After the first link I was all, "I'm totally going to go see that!" *clicks last link* Awww... pout.
posted by ctmf at 4:52 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

I look forward to visiting America one day and having myself photographed standing next to fences.
posted by um at 5:16 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

Metafilter: Standing Next To Fences
posted by alex_skazat at 5:25 PM on October 11, 2015

Boulder laughs at your balance-y rocks and fences.

Also, bonus video?
posted by alex_skazat at 5:29 PM on October 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

So more than 30 people can stand on top of it at one time until... until what? After more than 30 what happens? Does it start to tip over?

It's like "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin." Some things just aren't meant to be known.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 5:38 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

There's one of these in a national park (I forget which one) in Ghana. Though it actually looks like an umbrella. You go under and see how little of the tonnes above you are actually supported by anything.
posted by clvrmnky at 6:04 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

PICNIC AT UMBRELLA ROCK
posted by Chrysostom at 6:51 PM on October 11, 2015 [1 favorite]

meetup anyone?
posted by numaner at 8:29 PM on October 11, 2015

Everyone working in that garage is riding bicycles home!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:29 AM on October 12, 2015

BOULDER IS STILL LAUGHING
posted by alex_skazat at 12:32 AM on October 12, 2015

According to this story from the April 12, 1939 edition of The Evening Independent:

Sightseers were barred permanently from famed Umbrella Rock...[P]ark officials announced its 12-foot pedestal was so badly eroded the 20-ton stone might crash down the steep mountainside under relatively light weight.

posted by zakur at 11:05 AM on October 12, 2015 [1 favorite]