Ok, I am not even remotely going to try to talk about all the Chattanooga hotels you could stay in. I’m not even going to talk about the best ones–you can hit up any one of many aggregate review sites like Trip Advisor to tell you which Mariott, Double Tree, or Hampton Inn most folks prefer.
I *am* going to try to talk about hotels that are unique to Chattanooga, or have a significant impact on the community. They may not even be locally-owned, but they are definitely going to be a different experience than your average hotel stay.
CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO
Of course, I have to start the discussion with the Chattanooga Choo Choo. I’ve already talked about the Choo Choo as a classic Chattanooga attraction, but of course, you can stay here as well! You have the option to stay in The MacArthur, the newly-renovated hotel wing, or in a Pullman train car. The Pullmans are definitely the unique draw here, and they aren’t that much more expensive than a regular room, only about $10 more on the weekends. Nightly rates are around $119 during the week, during the weekend it’s $149 for The MacArthur and $159 for the Pullmans.
Outside of your room, you’ve got everything the Choo Choo offers: the Glen Miller Rose Garden, a super fun beer hall in one of the train cars, several excellent restaurants, the Songbirds Guitar Museum, concert space, and a comedy club. There’s even a new escape game to play in a train car! A weekend just spent here would be a great time.
I visited recently, and while the Songbirds Museum was fun–even for a non-guitar enthusiast like me–and I really liked the charming American Draft beer hall, the Choo Choo still feels very much under construction around the main buildings. I can’t promise that it will be the best hotel stay at the moment, but I’m really glad to see the place move into the 21st century.
READ HOUSE
Likewise, the Read House might not be at its best at the moment because the lobby, ballroom, and ground-level restaurant are under renovation until later in 2018. Apparently, they dropped their affiliation with Sheraton in 2015, was bought by a North Carolina hotel group in 2016, and the renovations are in the 18-20 MILLION dollar range. I’m super excited to see what they will do!
HISTORY
There has been a hotel on this site since 1847, a place called the Crutchfield House right across from the railroad station. (Not the Choo Choo Terminal Station, that came later.) It was used as an Inn and even a Union hospital during the Civil War before it burned down in 1867. John T. Read rebuilt a hotel on the site, then tore it down and did it again in 1926, a bit nicer this time. This is the building we have today.
It’s both quaint and grand–dark woods, small hallways, but then in the center is a soaring lobby. Famous visitors have included Oprah Winfrey, Winston Churchill, and even Al Capone. They apparently put bars on the windows of his room that didn’t come off until a 2004 renovation.
HAUNTINGS
The same room Capone stayed in is the one that is supposedly super haunted. Guests have reported shadows, cold spots, and even glimpsed Civil-War era soldiers wandering the fourth floor. But the real action takes place in room 311, the place where Annalisa Netherly died in the bathtub with her neck nearly severed. It seems she hasn’t left, preferring to terrorize sleeping guests, especially men who smoke.
STAY
If you want to have a ghostly experience at the Read House for yourself (or just want to stay somewhere nice in the middle of downtown) rates are around $150-200 per night. You’ll be on the same block as the Tivoli Theater with tons of restaurants in walking distance, and the Aquarium and all the downtown attractions just a few blocks north.
WESTIN CHATTANOOGA
I can’t even remember what was in this location before the Westin took it over a few years ago, so completely have they changed the landscape of the neighborhood. Not only did they renovate the building, they revitalized the block, making the West Village a weekend event.
The tall, gold-mirrored building, which I swear was once an office complex, now has 260 beautiful rooms with a focus on the view through floor-to-ceiling windows. The Alchemy rooftop bar takes it to another level (HA!) with amazing views to go along with drinks and small bites. The spacious lobby holds the Dorato bar and restaurant on ground level, with an outside terrace towards the street, making it part of the party on West Village nights.
Speaking of the West Village–on Saturday nights, enjoy live music, food trucks, street entertainment, and laser shows. During the day, enjoy wonderful restaurants and retail shopping. Rates to stay at the Westin are around $200, especially if you include breakfast.
CRASH PAD
For pretty much the opposite experience, check out the Crash Pad, Chattanooga’s “boutique hostel.” Clean and fun with a focus on community, you can rent a bunk for around $38, or the new Hemingway Suite for $199 for up to four people. A private room goes for $89 for two people.
The Crash Pad is the world’s first LEED platinum hostel, meaning that you’ll find a lot of energy saving LED lights, water-conservative showers, and repurposed building materials. There are lots of places to gather around the inside kitchen and lounge areas, outside on the lawn, or next door at the Flying Squirrel Bar.
THE CHATTANOOGAN
I have been lucky enough to enjoy almost everything that the Chattanoogan has to offer, except for the hotel rooms! I like this hotel. It’s a little farther south than the other downtown hotels, but still very close to the Choo Choo, Warehouse Row, and plenty of restaurants. Plus, that puts you closer to the Lookout Mountain stuff. Downstairs, you’ll find the spacious lobby–I love the rocking chairs–the convention center, and the restaurant and bar. I’ve eaten at both eateries and they were good, not great.
What WAS great is their spa services. I won a gift certificate here, and it was the best massage I’ve ever had in my life! The spa connects to the upstairs pool area and has a dry sauna in the changing rooms. I feel like the Chattanoogan doesn’t always get the business it deserves, but I really like it! Rates are around $179-200 per night.
DWELL
Formerly the Stone Fort Inn, Dwell is the hip boutique hotel on the block. 16 richly-decorated rooms–think wildly colorful mid-century modern–and two restaurants/lounges make their home in this hotel dating back to 1909. Prior to that, this was the location of Fort James during the Civil War. It operated as first the Colonial Hotel, then the Stone Fort Inn, before being re-imagined by the current owners in 2016.
I’d love to come here just for a drink–it looks so amazing! To stay would cost in the range of $200-300, depending on the season. And no children under 12 are allowed at the hotel.
Lots of cool hotels! Sylvia was offended by Dwells’ “No children under twelve rule” She said, quote ‘Swell Dell!’ 😂