Chattanooga, TN
"Chattanooga Choo-Choo" by SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent) is licensed under CC BY 2.0
About Chattanooga Choo Choo
At the former Terminal Station in Chattanooga, Tennessee, guests wander beneath an 82‑foot Beaux‑Arts dome lit by brass chandeliers, then step into a hotel that incorporates restored Pullman cars, a neon‑lit miniature train display and the historic Gate 11 micro‑distillery. The complex spreads across 24 acres of rose‑garden‑lined grounds, offering restaurants, a comedy club and a former heritage streetcar line.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Heritage railroad & tourist attraction
- Location
- Chattanooga, TN
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Chattanooga Choo Choo. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Find the Depot
The Trains
The complex displays a former 2‑6‑0 steam locomotive that originated on the Smoky Mountain Railroad, formerly Chesapeake and Ohio #206, which was renumbered as Cincinnati Southern #29 after being moved to the site in 1972. A 1924‑built Perley Thomas streetcar, originally New Orleans trolley car #959, also operates on the property’s heritage‑streetcar line.
History
See full history
The Chattanooga Choo Choo site began when construction of the grand Terminal Station started in 1906 on the former Stanton House and opened in 1909 at a cost of $1.5 million. After passenger service ended with the Southern Railway’s last train in 1970, a group of investors rescued the building, invested more than $4 million and reopened it in April 1973 as the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hilton and Entertainment Complex. A second investment of $4 million in 1989 refurbished the property and renamed it The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. In 2017 the two rear buildings were renovated into apartments called Passenger Flats, and a further renovation began in 2022 that moved and donated many of the historic train cars. The 2023 renovation completed the transformation, reopening the complex as The Hotel Chalet by Trestle Studio.
Around the Depot
The Chattanooga Choo Choo sits at the heart of Tennessee rail history, with the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway just 3 mi off and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Inc. about 6 mi away.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
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Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities near Chattanooga
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
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