Chattanooga Choo Choo

It's more than a hotel. It's more than a train. It's more than a song. It's the Chattanooga Choo Choo, the place where history meets quaint accommodations, restaurants and more.

The story of  the Choo Choo begins in (you guessed it) Chattanooga, which at the time was a major hub for river and rail thoroughfare. In 1870, John Stanton of Boston invested in bringing to the area luxurious lodging for rail passengers, that later fell to ruins. The first Chattanooga Choo Choo was Cincinnati Southern Railroad's small wood burning steam locomotive, which started its journey through history from Cincinnati, Ohio, and later arriving in Tennessee. The property changed hands in 1905 when Southern Railway acquired the property. Passenger train traffic slowed to a near halt in the 1960s with the dominance of auto and air travel. The name "Chattanooga Choo Choo" grew in popularity worldwide after a catchy song was written in the 1940s about the steam locomotive.

The Chattanooga Choo Choo, famous in history and song, is now a magnificently restored structure for all to enjoy. Today there is again the bustle that was so familiar in the railroad days. Guests can sleep aboard the authentic Victorian train cars that offer high speed wireless internet access.  Each car includes a queen size bed and some cars also have a daybed with a pull out trundle bed. Standard hotel rooms and suites are also available at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

The grounds also feature various shops through which guests can peruse. At the shops are timeless collection of Civil War books, eclectic souvenirs, consignment items and more. Got a sweet tooth? Stop in at the Sweet Stop Ice Cream & Candy Shoppe for hand-dipped ice cream, rich fudge, specialty candies and some sugar-free treats.

If you're still hungry, the grounds offer a collection of restaurants. Experience an evening of entertainment as you dine at the Station House Restaurant. At this restaurant, the serving staff takes turns on stage throughout the evening to bring live entertainment from all varieties of music. Relax in the center of lush green plants and enjoy the view of the formal gardens at the Gardens Restaurant. Have a quick meal aboard the Silver Diner, an eatery located inside a silver train car.

For more information about the Chattanooga Choo Choo, visit the attraction's website.

 

 

- by Leah M. Caudle , Chattanooga Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Leah M. Caudle

Leah Caudle is a professional storyteller with experience in covering local, community and feature stories. While at newspapers such as The Tennessean in Nashville and The Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., Caudle also has experience in shooting and editing videos and photos to accompany stories. The Western Kentucky University graduate received degrees in print journalism and Spanish in 2007 and also has expertise in the areas of public relations, copy editing and proofreading.