Pardon me, boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo? 🚂

Designing Chattanooga: The Chattanooga Choo Choo

Tyler Perry’s “Six Triple Eight” was almost solely filmed inside the Chattanooga Choo Choo. | Photo by NOOGAtoday

Welcome back to Designing Chattanooga, a series where we dive into the history and architecture of Chattanooga’s iconic buildings.

In honor of World Architecture Day, we thought we would highlight one of Chattanooga’s greatest architectural works — The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel.

Chattanooga was a major hub for industrial + passenger railway services in the south during the late 1880s and early 1900s. To accommodate, the Southern Railway began the construction of Terminal Station (now known as the Choo Choo Hotel) in 1906.

Terminal Station was the first train station to connect the north to the south (keeping it incredibly busy), but as the years went on and railway services began to decline, the station was destined to be demolished in the early 1970s.

However, the station was saved by local businessmen who were inspired by the song “The Chattanooga Choo Choo.” After investing more than $4 million, Terminal Station was redeveloped and renamed The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel in 1973.

NOOGAtoday | Chattanooga Choo Choo archs — The design of the Chattanooga Choo Choo was influenced by the Beaux-Arts style. |

The design was headed by American architect Donn Barber, who used his studies from the École des Beaux-Arts school in Paris to influence the Choo Choo’s design. Large archways and an 82-ft high ceiling dome with a skylight in its center are some of the building’s highlights.

When its doors reopened, it welcomed visitors as a vacation complex spanning 24 acres in downtown. After several years, the hotel went bankrupt. But in 1989, former mayor Jon Kinsey purchased and revitalized the building.

The complex now includes hotel accommodations, restaurants, shops, gardens, an ice skating rink during the winter, and so much more.

The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel has remained a major tourist attraction for those near and far and is well-loved by locals, too. Bonus: it’s almost time for the complex to transform into a winter wonderland.

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Today

BPATH: Reflections on Blackness | Mon., Oct. 3 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Hunter Museum | Free, RSVP | Chattanooga’s Black professionals are invited to a celebration of Black artists spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to today.
Introduction to Intuition | Mon., Oct. 3 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery | $33 | Everyone has the gift of intuition, and this class is designed to help guide you in remembering your power from within.

Tuesday

“Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations” | Tues., Oct. 4-Sun., Oct. 9 | Various times | Memorial Auditorium | $40+ | This Broadway musical follows the journey of the musical group The Temptations.
Songbirds Radio Hour | Tues., Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. | Songbirds | Free | Attend the live recording of episode two, “Television & the NYC Punk Scene,” with special guest Richard Lloyd. 🎙️

Wednesday

Reading Down Fines Downtown | Wed., Oct. 5 | 4-6 p.m. | The Chattanooga Public Library, downtown location | Free | In this new pilot program, youth patrons will have the opportunity to earn “credits” towards fines from overdue items by reading. 📚
Wednesday on Wheels | Wed., Oct. 5 | 7-10 p.m. | Moxy Chattanooga Downtown | Free+, RSVP | Spend the night skating with Moonlight Roller, skate rentals are available for $10. 🛼

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Goodbye stress, hello spa day 👋

Center MedSpa is located in the heart of Chattanooga on E. Main St. | Photo provided by Center MedSpa

Leaf your stress behind this fall and treat yourself or a deserving friend to one of the last “Spa Day” experiences left in NOOGA. 🍂

With talented, highly-trained aestheticians and therapists providing customized beauty services + personalized massages, Center MedSpa is the perfect place to go for a weekend (or mid-week) refresh.

Here’s a look at some of their treatment offerings:

Unique-to-you massages: Massages start with a conversation about your lifestyle, mindset, and reason for the visit so therapists can tailor massage techniques to you.
Pampering packages: Think: manicures, pedicures, seaweed wraps, indulgent facials + more.
Facial tox and filler services: A difference you can see — A nurse injector, R.N., provides a robust portfolio of injectable and clinical facial services.
Skin rejuvenation: Beauty tech is only getting better, and Center MedSpa uses the best in laser treatments, skin resurfacing, microneedling, chemical peels, and more.

You can’t change the skin you’re in — but you can improve it + feel better in it.*

SEE THEIR SERVICES

Weather

76º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain ☀️

Civic

The city’s office of family empowerment recently began its new program year for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time assistance payment that is applied directly to the applicant’s account with the energy provider. 🔌

Health

Starting today, the Hamilton County Health Department will begin offering flu vaccinations at all health department locations — no appointment necessary. 💉

Open

Urban Air — an indoor trampoline + adventure park — celebrated its grand opening this past weekend at 2020 Gunbarrel Rd. The over 55,000-sqft park features a suspended ropes course, climbing walls, slam dunk zones, a warrior course, and more.

Eat

Starting today through Sat., Oct. 8, the 2nd annual Rossville BLVD Taco Tour will take place along the Rossville Boulevard corridor. Participating restaurants include Miss G’s Tortas y Tamales, Taqueria la Delicia, Tacos Darleen, and more. Check out the full lineup here. 🌮
BUNZ Chattanooga — a local online bakery offering a variety of cinnamon buns — recently announced it will become a food truck, complete with a revamped food and drink menu. The business will offer sweet + savory options beginning the summer of 2023.

Cause

Tennessee American Water announced that six local watershed projects will receive financial support through its Environmental Grant Program. Recipients include the Chattanooga Zoo, WaterWays, the Conservation Kid, Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Reflection Riding + the City of East Ridge. (The Pulse)
A Chattanooga shop owner + Florida native is working to provide support to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Stacy Slockbower plans to fill a moving truck with supplies to take to those in need. If you’d like to help, you can drop off toiletries, towels, blankets, and other supplies at Miller’s Ale House. 💗 (NewsChannel 9)

Outdoors

Swim the Suck, a 10-mile open water swim that takes place in Chattanooga at the Tennessee River Gorge, is coming up on Sat., Oct. 8. The race is hosted by the Chattanooga Open Water Swimmers + is sanctioned by US Masters Swimming. 🏊

Try This

On Thurs., Oct. 6, the Lookouts will host the University of Tennessee’s Pride of the Southland band at AT&T Field. The free concert will begin at 12 p.m. + feature “some of your favorite Tennessee songs.”

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Alexa, can you play “Burning Up” by the Jonas Brothers?

Fire Up the Fields Sculpture Burn in Chattanooga, TN

A 40-ft wooden sculpture will be burned after sundown. | Photo provided by Sculpture Fields

Fire Up the Fields Sculpture Burn will return to Sculpture Fields at Montague Park on Sat., Oct. 22 from 5-9:30 p.m.

After sundown, a colossal 40-ft wooden sculpture designed + constructed by local artist Andrew Nigh will be burned. Pro tip: community members can see the sculpture before it is burned beginning Sat., Oct. 8.

The rest of the event will feature live music and a performance by the Fire Cabaret. Food and drinks by local vendors will also be available for purchase.

Bonus: event organizers will host an after party at Oddstory Brewing Co.'s new location at 1604 Central Ave.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Kristen.

Editor’s pick: This weekend I finally got to visit Dilemma Bar — the new bar on The Bitter Alibi’s third floor. It was the perfect cozy space to catch up with a friend from out of town. I tried the Violet Daydream cocktail made with Nikka Coffey gin, Probitas white rum, Creme de Violette, Yuzu sake, and a hint of lemon. If you’re a floral flavor lover, this is the cocktail for you.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? How would you reimagine Chattanooga’s Broad Street?

Connect with us.

Editorial: Brianna Williams, Kristen Templeton, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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