RFI: Chattanooga, TN

[jvencius]

HH6 and I have been talking more about where we might settle when she retires from the AF since her year group/AFSC are on the "eligible" list to get out effective 1 Aug or 1 Sept of next year. She's gotten curious about Chattanooga, TN (so have I) so I'm hoping for some opinions of folks in the area. Our criteria are:

1) NFA-friendly. I brought up this one to her and it's non-negotiable.

2) Reasonable cost of living. Yeah, that's a vague thing, but we'd like to split the difference between NYC/SanFran and middle-of-nowhere prices for land/housing. Ideally, I'd like to have enough appropriately-zoned land (enough for a 50m+ range would be nice) so that if I felt like blasting away on my own property, I could do so. Failing that, proximity to a non-Fudd club/range would be a tolerable if not ideal substitute. While I don't need to live next door to a 1K+ range, having one within two hours or so would be sufficient.

3) Access to an airport. Since most of the places we've looked at (N. Georgia mountains, western N.C., etc.) aren't particularly close to either of our families, it would be nice to be ~1/2 day flying time from them. If we weren't right near a major int'l airport, being less than 2 hrs or so from one would be nice. Chattanooga would be about 6 1/2 hrs drive from her family and 10-11 from mine; a long-ish but doable one-day drive.

4) Some kind of lowered rate or non-taxing re: .mil pensions.

5) Good hunting/fishing

6) Good/plentiful hospitals, preferably with a Level I/II trauma center. I'm a RN and while I'm working in a GI clinic now (smelly and pretty nasty to look at some days, but at least I'm able to pay my student loan bills...) the ED/Trauma Center is where I really seemed to find my "groove" so finding a job in that field would be a very good thing.

7) Some kind of a safe downtown atmosphere (again, a vague criteria)--if we want to go out for beers on a Friday night, it would be nice to not require any more of a PSD than what's on my belt...

From the little bit of research I've done so far, Chattanooga seems to fit most of these criteria. While we would both prefer more of a mountainous area, that's one of the things we can compromise on to have most or all of the other criteria satisfied. So, can anyone in the region with an informed opinion weigh in on what they think of that city/area?

 

[Switchblade]

Upper Mid TN, KY around Ft Campbell is also good. Base offers DOD jobs, VA has jobs in both Nashville and Murfreesboro, Nashville airport is a failry quick, easy drive, and if DOD/VA work is not desired, there are many good hospitals, etc in the AO(Vandy, et al)

 

[Wintermute]

Have you thought about Montana? Somewhere around the Bozeman area (meets your wants, close to an airport, mountainous area, inexpensive houses on a decent amount of land, shooter friendly, low taxes, easy to setup a range, etc...).

--Wintermute

 

[Victor N TN]

I can't say about Chattanooga per se, But the Oak Ridge & Knoxville area is pretty good. I've lived here all but a few years of my life. The Oak Ridge Sportsman Association is one of the premier 1K and under ranges East of the Mississippi River, non military. There are VA clinics in the area. But the nearest VA hospital is a little over 100 miles away. If you like golf, there are several golf courses / retirement communities in the area also. Good luck in your choice.

 

[nashlaw]

Victor lives in a nice area with a PRISTINE SHOOTING RANGE. I like the way KnoxVegas is layed out. Good planning.

I can be in Nashville or Chattanooga in one hour. If I go to Chattanooga, it is to visit the aquarium or an old girlfriend that still speaks to me. I may be giving Chattanooga a short shake, but I seldom go there. If you are a trauma nurse, lots of job opportunities.

Nashville is better, but Murfreesboro sounds like what you are looking for. It is about 90 minutes from Chattanooga and 30 minutes from Nashville.

 

[KHOOKS]

was up at Oak Ridge area for some training. Seemed like a nice place and I have also heard they have a great shooting range there.

 

[jvencius]

Have you thought about Montana? Somewhere around the Bozeman area (meets your wants, close to an airport, mountainous area, inexpensive houses on a decent amount of land, shooter friendly, low taxes, easy to setup a range, etc...).

--Wintermute

Yep--I lived in Great Falls for a while and loved it but it's just too damned far from family--20 years away is enough.

 

[nso123]

The Chattanooga area is a great area. There are mountains all around, and Chattanooga has Erlanger hospital which is the region's trauma center. There is great fishing, but hunting can be hit or miss. If you don't mind being out of the city a little, look at Sequatchie County. It has the lowest tax rates around, and land is very reasonable.

 

[TN-MadDog]

HH6 and I have been talking more about where we might settle when she retires from the AF since her year group/AFSC are on the "eligible" list to get out effective 1 Aug or 1 Sept of next year. She's gotten curious about Chattanooga, TN (so have I) so I'm hoping for some opinions of folks in the area. Our criteria are:

1) NFA-friendly. I brought up this one to her and it's non-negotiable. Good to go. No problem on a sign off. Chattanooga Rifle club is NFA friendly

2) Reasonable cost of living. Yeah, that's a vague thing, but we'd like to split the difference between NYC/SanFran and middle-of-nowhere prices for land/housing. Ideally, I'd like to have enough appropriately-zoned land (enough for a 50m+ range would be nice) so that if I felt like blasting away on my own property, I could do so. Failing that, proximity to a non-Fudd club/range would be a tolerable if not ideal substitute. While I don't need to live next door to a 1K+ range, having one within two hours or so would be sufficient. Reasonable cost of living. CRC range only goes to 500 yrds. Oak Ridge is probably the nearest 1000 yrd range.

3) Access to an airport. Since most of the places we've looked at (N. Georgia mountains, western N.C., etc.) aren't particularly close to either of our families, it would be nice to be ~1/2 day flying time from them. If we weren't right near a major int'l airport, being less than 2 hrs or so from one would be nice. Chattanooga would be about 6 1/2 hrs drive from her family and 10-11 from mine; a long-ish but doable one-day drive. Airport is ok depending on where you need to go. You may be able to get to your family locations easy by flying but it may very well be better to drive.

4) Some kind of lowered rate or non-taxing re: .mil pensions. No state income tax on the pension.

5) Good hunting/fishing Depends on what you are into and used to. You should be able to find good fishing in the area. I don't hunt anymore so not sure what the deal is around here with leases Vs public land. Lots of deer and turkey in my back yard so I wouldn't have far to go.

6) Good/plentiful hospitals, preferably with a Level I/II trauma center. I'm a RN and while I'm working in a GI clinic now (smelly and pretty nasty to look at some days, but at least I'm able to pay my student loan bills...) the ED/Trauma Center is where I really seemed to find my "groove" so finding a job in that field would be a very good thing. Erlanger is a level 1 trauma center. Lots of good hospitals here.

7) Some kind of a safe downtown atmosphere (again, a vague criteria)--if we want to go out for beers on a Friday night, it would be nice to not require any more of a PSD than what's on my belt... The downtown here is great. Lots to see and do. Good restaurants. Lots of good music and a lot of it is free. Pretty safe if you don't stray too far or stay out too late.

From the little bit of research I've done so far, Chattanooga seems to fit most of these criteria. While we would both prefer more of a mountainous area, that's one of the things we can compromise on to have most or all of the other criteria satisfied. So, can anyone in the region with an informed opinion weigh in on what they think of that city/area?

Been here for 15+ years and really like it. I do wish there was a good place to shoot farther than 500 yrds nearby. I have heard of some private ranges in the area. You might get lucky and find something like that. I haven't. Let me know if I can get you more info.

 

[LocoGringo]

It looks like a vast majority of your desires are covered by Chattanooga. MadDog mentioned one range that has 500 yards and there is also a club in Cleveland (Cleveland hunting, rifle and pistol club) that has some nice facilities. I don't know how far their distance range is, but I've shot several 3-gun competitions there. As MadDog mentioned, Oak Ridge has a 1000 yard range that is used for NRA matches that is a maximum of 2 hours from Chattanooga. Tennessee is very NFA friendly. This year I was able to use my .308 AR equipped with a 20 round magazine and a suppressor for deer hunting and it is perfectly legal. I didn't fill the magazine to capacity.

There is no state income tax because it is prohibited by the state constitution. Kinda high sales tax (9.75%), but no income tax.

If Chattanooga's airport is insufficient, Atlanta is only about 2-2.5 hour drive away.

There are some mountain activities in the Chattanooga area. The Ocoee river was used for olympic kayaking in Atlanta in '96.

Good luck on your search. I certainly don't mind living in East Tennessee. Just be ready for some crazy vocabulary and accents.

 

[tansinator]

I live about 6 miles from downtown Chattanooga. Love it here, although I go back to Mississippi to hunt. I am from there and the deer hunting is better. My wife is a nurse and worked at Erlanger. There are 2 places to shoot longrange, 1000 yards within a couple of hours. Also 500 yards here in Chattanooga and 600 yards just north of Atlanta. A tactical match is held near Cookeville a couple of times a year, about an hour an twenty minutes away. I have no problem taking my family downtown at any time to have dinner or go have drinks with friends. There are great group of guys here that shoot and are pretty good, they have done well at Camp Perry. Kayaking and rock climbing are also big here. Crime is fairly low here other than the black on black shootings in the project areas. If you have any questions you can pm me and I'll try to help you out.

Eddie

 

[thejeep]

The RN wages in chatt are about the lowest in the nation out of school starts at like 19$/hr. Really pisses me off. The city is ok . Land you can shoot on is about 30 min out an 2500-6000$/ acre.

Shoot me a message if you have any questions.

Have you thought about southern Oregon. I did an assignment in Medford and it's great. Way more beautiful, less populated, get paid more. And not a KFC or churches chicken in sight.