A new eye-popping, attention-grabbing bus is circling the Scenic City and giving riders a new way to take in the sights. and you’d have to travel thousands of miles to see anything like it.
It’s called the Chattanooga Double Decker! or “Eleanor” to new business owner Rufus Marye. “Eleanor” is a 1960 Leyland Routemaster and she is the city’s first double-decker, open-top tour bus. Marye can’t wait to hit the road with her. “I came from a family of entrepeneurs and they said ‘do your passion,’ and I found out pretty early that my passion was the city of Chattanooga.”
That passion led him to this bus. He wanted a way to show off Chattanooga’s attractions.and this 28-foot long, 13-and-a-half foot tall, 56-seater will soon be circling the Scenic City. “We’re going to go as far south as the Choo Choo as east as the Confederate cemetery in Fort Wood and then anywhere and everything in between,” says Marye.
But it’s easy to see Eleanor herself could become the star. Wednesday morning as Marye maps out his tour routes and perfects his historical script he’ll recite as the guide, people down below are already starting to notice.
It’s been a long road to Chattanooga. From London to Canada to California. That includes a stop in Hollywood. “She was an extra for one of the austin powers films,” Marye says. “It was not in but it was an extra. I don’t know if those stories are true or not.”
Of course gas prices would be any new business owners concern. Fortunately the bus can go an hour on just 3.2 gallons of diesel fuel. and Eleanor has a 40 gallon tank.
It’s clear that if first impressions mean anything, tourists and Chattanoogans alike will come to love Eleanor. “I think it’s great,” says tourist Wendy Sosa, “it looks wonderful.” Her family member Tracy Belcer agrees. “I think it’s cool. I’d take my kid on it.”
The bus starts touring this weekend. Every rider will also get a free moonpie and a bottle of water during the summer. Rides last about an hour. To find out the costs and times click here.
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