So if you are ever in Chattanooga area and are looking for something free to do, come check out Little Debbie Park. I have been hearing all about this park online, so I couldn’t wait to go visit. The park is located just 20 minutes outside of Chattanooga in a small town called Collegedale, Tennessee. This is such a fun and unique place to visit. It is dedicated to all things Little Debbie. As you walk around the park, you can see and play on fun statues shaped like all our favorite Little Debbie snacks.
We took our kids and they loved the huge playground, especially the fun zipline but they loved climbing all over the fun equipment out there as well as the fun musical instruments they had out there. My husband and I enjoyed sitting in the shade while swinging on the metal porch swings and sitting under the large pavilion area. We could have brought a picnic lunch to enjoy.
You will see a fun Cosmic Brownie climbing wall, an Oatmeal Creme Pie you can rest on, a Nutty Buddy balance beam, and a Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake right at the entrance. There’s also a statue of Debbie holding out a tray of some yummy Swiss Cake Rolls. You can stroll around the park and read all about the history of McKee Foods and Little Debbie. They have lots of signage detailing the story behind McKee Foods, the family bakery that created Little Debbies. It dates all the way back to 1934.
My kids were very curious about the steep hill at the side of the park, so we climbed up there and I told them how I had a big hill in my backyard and remember rolling down it. They thought that sounded so fun and later I realized they called the hill “Swiss Rolls” Once we started doing the rolls down the hill, other kids joined in on the fun!
So why is this park here? Did you know Little Debbie was founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee? Their story began in 1934 when O.D. McKee and his wife, Ruth, bought a bakery in Chattanooga called Jack’s Cookie Company. They began baking and selling cakes to earn a living for themselves and their three children during the depression.
In 1937, they actually moved Jack’s Cookie Company to Charlotte, North Carolina; however, they couldn’t stay away long. O.D. and Ruth returned to the Chattanooga area in 1952 and eventually moved the business to Collegedale, where it still resides today.
Where did the iconic name come from? Well, around in 1960 O.D. and Ruth were trying to create a new company name to sell their individually-wrapped snacks under. After talking with one of their packaging suppliers, they decided to name the company Little Debbie after their 4-year-old granddaughter, inspired by a photo of Debbie in a straw hat which would go on to become the company’s iconic logo that we all know and love.
Once you are done exploring the area, head over to the little town named “Hixon” to the Little Debbie Thrift Store ( approx. 25 min drive from the park) to grab some discounted Little Debbie snack cakes or grab them before you arrive to the park. They have all kinds of Little Debbie snacks that are close to expiring, boxes that are damaged or have some kind of imperfection that they can’t sell elsewhere.
This is such a fun place to stop, explore and see. I hope this blog post helped you with what to expect!
Have a great day!
