Ruby Falls

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.  Ruby Falls can now be seen in a whole new light - a more natural one!  The Lookout Mountain attraction just had 24 new lights installed in the waterfall viewing area at Ruby Falls, creating a more luminous light presentation for visitors.  The improved display, provided by Stone Mountain Media of Atlanta, is more appealing to the eyes, and is capable of creating 14,000,000 hues.  The subtle transition of lights and music gives guests a more natural experience, and presents Ruby Falls in a more photogenic way.  Most importantly, the new LED technology is friendlier to the environment and conserves more energy than the previous system.  

"Our past Falls presentation contained approximately 25 1,000 watt incandescent bulbs that provided a lifetime of 1,000 hours per bulb," said Hugh Morrow, president of Ruby Falls.  "Our new LED system uses no more than 50 watts per light with over a 50,000-hour lifetime per light.  This means there is at least 80 percent less power usage and 50 times the life expectancy of our previous system!  We overwhelmingly think this investment was the most environmentally responsible decision."  

As part of a new "environmental" initiative involving the Lookout Mountain Attractions, Ruby Falls is developing a 5-year plan to be more environmentally-conscious.  One of the goals is to use LED technology throughout the caverns by 2012, representing a substantial investment.

"The lighting of the Falls Room at Ruby Falls was a great application for LED lighting and we were extremely excited to be able to integrate this new technology into such a unique location and show," said Paul Creasy, president of Stone Mountain Media.  "Solid state LED lighting was a perfect match for this project, providing both the flexibility to deliver incredibly rich and saturated colors for show choreography, while also providing the owners with an energy efficient and environmentally-friendly lighting solution with near zero maintenance (a major plus for a location that is more than 1,100 feet underground).  The end result is a spectacular light show which we are confident will continue to entertain guests for a very long time."

Stone Mountain Media is a full service lighting design and integration firm specializing in LED applications.  Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, SMM's portfolio includes projects from around the country as well as international work.  Specific service offerings include lighting and show design services, control integration, procurement, installation, programming, and on-going support.  

Ruby Falls holds the distinction of being America's deepest commercial cave and most-visited underground waterfall.  Enjoy a guided tour through the fascinating cavern with its unique rock formations.  The highlight of the tour is the sparkling 145-foot waterfall flowing out of the roof of the cavern.  See the panoramic view from the Lookout Mountain Tower or relax on the mountainside deck with a snack.  Ruby Falls is open every day from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Guided tours depart every few minutes. Call 423-821-2544, extension 142 to make reservations for weekend Lantern Tours, or visit www.rubyfalls.com for more info.