Venue
Since 2005, The Head of the Hooch has taken place on the Tennessee River, with the finish line in front of the grandstand at Ross’s Landing Park in Chattanooga, TN. (201 Riverfront Parkway Chattanooga, TN 37402)
This location is perfect for the regatta, as it has a convenient spectator area, several access roads and good spaces for trailer parking and access to the water to launch and retrieve boats.
Boat Storage
Due to the large number of entries, teams are asked to store as many shells as possible on their trailers and on boat trees. Boat trees may not be reserved for single teams. It is highly recommended that teams bring their own boat trees and slings. A limited number of boat trees will be available throughout the venue for boat storage. Boat trees may be rearranged to fit boat length as needed, but please consolidate wherever possible to maximize the limited lay-down areas. Storage of boats is at your own risk. We do not stake or tie down the trees and each team should make provisions to secure their equipment should we experience high winds. The Organizing Committee cannot be responsible for improper storage of equipment.
Access & Parking
Road access to Ross’s Landing will be controlled from Wednesday at 10:00 am to late Sunday afternoon. See VENUE MAP 3 - Road Closure and Trailer Parking for locations of road closures, and VENUE MAP 2 - Boat Trailer Access Directions and VENUE MAP 9 - Boat Trailer Departure Directions for the best ways to access and depart the venue with boat trailers given the current Chattanooga roadway/highway construction projects. A summary of access requirements is shown in the table below. If you have any further questions please email: assistantdirector@headofthehooch.org.
Trailer parking will be allowed on Riverfront Parkway east of Chestnut Street (see P8 and P9 parking areas on VENUE MAP 3 - Road Closure and Trailer Parking). These lots are closer to the launch and recovery docks than parking at the west end of Riverfront Parkway as was done in 2017.
Reminder – Filled water barriers will be placed at or near the four entrances as required by the Chattanooga Police Department to enhance site security. Water filled barriers will be in place from Friday morning at approximately 9:00 am until Sunday afternoon until approximately 4:00 pm and will only be removed in the evenings on Friday and Saturday nights after crowds on site dissipate.
Car toppers arriving after 9:00 am on Friday should see notes added below for unloading and loading instructions.
All Regatta Access Requirements still apply as noted below.
See traffic pattern on Molly Drive. This traffic pattern is mandated by the City of Chattanooga Traffic Engineer (see VENUE 3 - Trailer Parking and Road Closure).
Team Tents
Team tents will be allowed on the grass behind the concrete seating areas and at other locations as identified in VENUE MAP 1 - General Layout. Teams may begin setting up tents Thursday at noon. Tents must be placed in designated areas only. In order to allow a river view for more teams, tent width in the direction of the river may not exceed 20 feet. Most tent locations will allow teams to view the race/finish line. Tent stakes must be no longer than four inches to prevent damage to water lines and power conduits. Alternately, tents may be water weighted. Note: cooking and running generators will not be permitted in the viewing area. This will only be permissible in the grass area between the aquarium buildings. No cooking trailers or mobile generators may be driven on the grass, only portable units are permissible. Teams with cooking gear must bring a fire extinguisher for use in the event of a fire emergency. For more information or questions, please contact: generalinfo@headofthehooch.org
Alcohol consumption is not permitted at the Head of the Hooch or on the venue grounds.
| Riverfront Pkwy – West End | Riverfront Pkwy – East End | Chestnut Street | Power Alley | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Boat Trailers | Th thru Su (Note 1) | Exit Only (Note 2) | No Access | No Access |
| Team Trucks | No Access (Note 3) | No Access (Note 4) | No Access | No Access |
| Team Buses | No Access | No Access | No Access | No Access (Note 5) |
| Car Toppers | Th, Fr (Note 6) | No Access | No Access | Fr, Sa, Su (Note 6) |
| Emergency Vehicles | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Th thru Su |
| Hooch Vendors | No Access | No Access | Pass Only (Note 7) | No Access |
| Chatt. Market | No Access | No Access | Pass Only (Note 8) | No Access |
| Cooking Trailers | No Access | Th thru Su (Note 9) | No Access | No Access |
Note 1: All boat trailer tow vehicles MUST be unloaded and leave the venue immediately after dropping off the trailer. Any truck left on site will be towed and impounded!
Note 2: Boat trailers parked on Riverfront Parkway east of Chestnut Street enter at West End and exit at East End of Riverfront Parkway.
Note 3: Team trucks not towing boat trailers will not be allowed on site Thursday through Sunday. Trucks picking up boat trailers will be allowed on site Saturday after approximately 7:30 pm, overnight Saturday until Sunday morning at 6:00 am, and Sunday after approximately 4:00 pm. Team trucks MUST be unloaded when the boat trailer is dropped off.
Note 4: Team trucks will be allowed to pick up boat trailers parked east of Chestnut Street on Riverfront Parkway after 7:30 pm on Saturday and 4:00 pm on Sunday.
Note 5: There is no team bus parking on site Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to trailer parking needs. Closest drop off and pick to the venue are on 2nd Street in front of the Aquarium parking lot and in front of the Imax Theater on Chestnut Street.
Note 6: Car topper access is for 30 minutes to unload boats and load boats only. There is no car topper parking on site. Friday access may be limited to arrivals before 8:30 am or after 7:30 pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday access from Power Alley is for unloading or loading just outside the barriers located at Cold Stone Creamery.
Note 7: Head of the Hooch Regatta Vendors. Access for Vendor vehicles is available using a pass issued by the Hooch Organizing Committee. Thursday access for Vendor vehicles starts at 3:00 pm. Friday access for Vendor vehicles is before 9:00 am. Saturday access for Vendor vehicles is limited to before 6:00 am and after 7:00 pm. Sunday access for Vendor vehicles is limited to before 6:00 am and after 4:00 pm.
Note 8: Chattanooga Market Vendors. Friday access for Vendor vehicles is available using a pass issued by the Hooch Organizing Committee. Thursday access for Vendor vehicles starts at 3:00 pm. Friday access for Vendor vehicles is before 9:00 am. Saturday access for Vendor vehicles is limited to before 6:00 am and after 7:00 pm. Sunday access for Vendor vehicles is limited to before 6:00 am and after 4:00 pm. Chattanooga Market Merchandise tents can also be accessed from the Aquarium Loop. Only short loading and unloading is permitted.
Note 9: Limited access for 15 minutes to unload trailers EAST of Market Street Bridge; all day Thursday and before 9:00 am Friday. Access is limited to 15 minutes Saturday after 7:30 pm for loading-up. Access is limited to 15 minutes on Sunday before 6:00 am and after 4:30 pm for loading-up. No parking is available for cooking trailers on the venue as this space will be used for team boat trailers.
NO OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE VENUE. THERE IS PLENTY OF SPECTATOR AND COMPETITOR PARKING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE VENUE, OR WITHIN A SHORT, FREE CARTA BUS RIDE.
NOTE THAT ALL VEHICLES ENTERING THE VENUE MUST HAVE A COMPLETED CONTACT INFORMATION FORM ON THE DASH INDICATING NAME OF TEAM, NAME OF CONTACT, CELL PHONE OF CONTACT WHILE ON SITE, NAME OF ALTERNATE CONTACT, AND CELL PHONE OF ALTERNATE CONTACT WHILE ON SITE. PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE CONTACT INFORMATION FORM ON THIS WEBSITE.
TEAM BOAT TRAILERS
Team boat trailers can only enter the venue from the West using Riverfront Parkway. Team boat trailer parking is available on the venue in spaces marked with orange traffic cones (see VENUE MAP 3 - Trailer Parking and Road Closures). Tow vehicles must leave the venue and will be allowed to return after 7:30 pm on Saturday and after 4:00 pm on Sunday. If your team needs to arrange an earlier departure on Saturday, please speak to a parking volunteer and request a parking space in Lots #5, #6 or #7 to make early departure possible. When leaving early, coordinate with the parking volunteer. Drivers wishing to leave early Sunday morning must tow their trailers out of the on-site parking area Saturday night after the venue clears.
TEAM BOAT TRAILER PARKING LOTS
LANE WIDENING ON THE OLGIATI BRIDGE HAS BEEN COMPLETED, SO THE FOLLOWING CHANGES IN BOAT TRAILER PARKING WILL OCCUR THIS YEAR:
THE WEST ACCESS ON RIVERFRONT PARKWAY WILL BE AT THE SECOND MOLLY DRIVE INTERSECTION NEAR SPRING HILL SUITES HOTEL.
NO TRAILER PARKING IS ALLOWED BETWEEN THE ROAD CLOSURE AND MLK OR AT CHATTANOOGA WHISKEY. INSTEAD, TRAILER PARKING WILL BE AVAILABLE ON RIVERFRONT PARKWAY EAST OF CHESTNUT STREET IN LOTS P8 AND P9, WHICH ARE MUCH MORE CONVENIENT TO THE LAUNCH AND RECOVERY DOCKS.
LOT P3 UNDER OLGIATI BRIDGE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR BOAT TRAILER PARKING.
LOT P7 IN THE RIGHT EASTBOUND LANE OF RIVERFRONT PARKWAY BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND MOLLY DRIVE INTERSECTIONS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR BOAT TRAILER PARKING.
THERE WILL BE EIGHT DEFINED LOTs FOR BOAT TRAILER PARKING AS FOLLOWS:
Lot P1 & P2 & P3: MAIN LOT east of and under OLGIATI BRIDGE
Arrive at west Riverfront Parkway roadblock near second Molly Drive intersection
Drive to mid lot access on Riverfront Parkway
Angle parking same as in the past
Rear loaded trailers park on roadside of lot, side loaded trailers park on the hill side of lot
Lot will be for large trailers leaving on Sunday only
Sunday exit will be in the northwest corner of the lot
Lot P4: SMALL TRIANGLE LOT just west of OLGIATI BRIDGE
Arrive at west Riverfront Parkway roadblock near second Molly Drive intersection
Drive to access across from MarineMax on Riverfront Parkway
Rear loaded trailers park on sides of lot, side loaded trailers park at bridge end of lot
Lot will be for large trailers leaving on Sunday only
Lot P5: OFF STREET AND ON STREET parking area along RIVERFRONT PARKWAY and west of OLGIATI BRIDGE
Arrive at west Riverfront Parkway roadblock near second Molly Drive intersection
Parking Manager will advise how to access the parking area
Generally for side loaded trailers only
Lot will be for large trailers leaving on Sunday only
Lot P6: Wide area of RIVERFRONT PARKWAY west of P4
Arrive at west Riverfront Parkway roadblock near first Molly Drive intersection
Drive to second Molly Drive intersection and turn trailer around such that it is oriented to leave the venue
Back trailer into parking spaces marked by traffic cones
Generally for rear loaded trailers only
Lot will be for trailers leaving Saturday or Sunday
Lot P7: Right EASTBOUND LANE of RIVERFRONT PARKWAY between the first MOLLY DRIVE intersection and west ROADBLOCK
This lot will NOT be available for this year’s Hooch.
Lot P8 & P9: ON STREET PARKING east of CHESTNUT STREET to east RIVERFRONT PARKWAY roadblock
Arrive at west Riverfront Parkway roadblock near second Molly Drive intersection
Drive through road block and through the venue, following a parking volunteer escort in golf cart
Access may not be available during Friday 12:00 to 6:00 practice session
Generally for rear loaded and side loaded trailers
Lot will be for trailers leaving Sunday
Please assist parking volunteers by maintaining a walking path to and from docks.
Trailers will leave via East Riverfront Parkway Roadblock
TOW VEHICLE PARKING
Limited tow vehicle parking will be available in the Chattanooga Whiskey parking lot on the southeast corner of MLK Boulevard and Riverfront Parkway. The loading dock area must remain accessible for Thursday and thru midday Friday and will be separated from available parking by orange traffic cones. Parking volunteers on the Venue can address any questions on this when your boat trailer is brought on site.
TEAM BUSES
No team bus parking will be available on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday inside the roadblocks or along the shoulders of MLK Drive west of the roadblock. The suggested bus drop off and pick up traffic pattern is to drive into town on Broad Street. Two options for unloading are in front of the Tennessee Aquarium parking lot on 2nd Street or in front of the IMAX theater on Chestnut Street. The IMAX drop off and pick location is reached by turning left from Broad Street onto 2nd Street, and turning left from 2nd Street onto Chestnut Street. Both locations are very convenient to the venue. These locations are for team drop off and pick up only; there is no long-term bus parking at these locations (see VENUE MAP 6 - Team Bus Drop-off & Pick-up – Overview and VENUE MAP 7 - Team Bus Drop-off & Pick-up – Detail).
TEAM SUPPLY AND FOOD DELIVERIES
Teams should load supplies and food onto trucks and trailers and bring these items on site when the team trailer is delivered to avoid having to walk these supplies onto the site from outside the roadblocks. Limited food trailer access will be allowed from the East Riverfront Parkway road closure, as noted in the table above. Team supporters dropping off food should use the Tennessee Aquarium loop at the end of Broad Street to load and unload. From this point, it is a short walk to the venue seating and team tent area using the walkway between the Aquarium buildings (see VENUE MAP 8 - Food & Equipment Drop-off & Pick-up). Only a small number of vehicles will be allowed to use the turn-around at a time given its small size and the need to allow access for Aquarium visitors. One person must stay with the vehicle at all times while it is parked in the loop. Supplies such as slings, rigging, and tools not delivered when boat trailer is dropped off must be walked in from either Power Alley or the west or east entrances on Riverfront Parkway.
CAR-TOPPERS
Car-toppers should access the site from the west end of Riverfront Parkway on Thursday and Friday, but please see potential restrictions in Note 6 above. Also, see VENUE MAP 4 - Car Toppers. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, car-toppers can access the site via Power Alley. On all four days, car-toppers are asked to unload their boats and equipment and then remove their vehicles from the site immediately.
HANDICAPPED PARKING
Handicapped parking is close to the venue. A valid Department of Transportation handicapped parking sticker or license plate will be required. Access for handicapped parking will be in the parking garage on West 2nd Street, between, Chestnut Street and Power Alley (see VENUE MAP 5 - Public Parking).
BOAT STORAGE
Due to the large number of entries, teams are asked to store as many shells as possible on their trailers and on boat trees. Boat trees may not be reserved for single teams. It is highly recommended that teams bring their own boat slings and low boys for the storage of their boats as there are approximately 40% fewer boat trees available for boat storage this year. Storage of boats is at your own risk. The Organizing Committee cannot be responsible for improper storage of equipment. See VENUE MAP 1 - General Venue Layout for an overview of boat laydown areas.
NOTE THAT NO BOAT LAYDOWN SPACE IS AVAILABLE IN THE BOAT TRAILER PARKING LOTS UNTIL ALL PARKING SPACES ARE FILLED. ONCE ALL TRAILERS ARE PARKED, EXCESS SPACE MAY BE USED AS LAYDOWN SPACE. PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK WALKWAYS MARKED BY ORANGE TRAFFIC CONES. ALSO, NOTE THAT WALKWAYS MUST BE KEPT CLEAR FOR LOTS P8 AND P9 TO ALLOW CREWS TO CARRY THEIR EQUIPMENT TO THE LAUNCH DOCKS AND BACK FROM RECOVERY DOCKS.