The Castle Above the Clouds

 The Estate of Dr. Lentz & Mrs. Margaret Reynolds

The Scholze Tannery & Southern Saddlery Company was built in 1878 on Broad Street. By the 1930’s  George Scholze had inherited the company from his father and created the largest harness leather tanneries in this country giving Chattanooga the name of “Saddle Capital of the World”. It was during this time that George and his wife Elizabeth envisioned their “Castle Above the Clouds” at the very end of the road on Lookout Mountain. After being inspired by a recent trip to Spain the couple created one of the most historic homes ever built in the Chattanooga area. 

We have never walked into a home that has absolutely stunned us like this 1930’s winding Spanish Castle in the heart of Lookout Mountain. Windows rumored to be all Tiffany. Fantastical Beasts of hand wrought iron scroll and swirl out of doorways and walls! Ironwork possibly by Samuel Yellin. A home without right angles and with its own turret. Disney himself could have not created a more magical place. The attention to detail in this home is astonishing! 
Don’t stop at the courtyard continue through to the Ballroom in the back where champagne once flowed through fountains and bumper cars screeched across the mosaic floor! 
If you can imagine the toys of a youngster who had bumper cars at their birthday parties you can imagine the toys that  filled the attic. They all now fill the ballroom like a department story at Christmas Time! We even have the aluminum tree!

Though the house has changed ownership twice since it was imagined by the Scholze family it has remained in almost complete original condition, even retaining garden furniture found in early photos of the home!