Historic Train Car Accommodations at The Hotel Chalet in Chattanooga, TN

Planning a visit to nearby Chattanooga, Tennessee? The Hotel Chalet offers an elevated, educational, and engaging accommodation option for every trip, whether you’re in town for a family vacation or a romantic getaway. Enjoy the comforts of a modern stay among all the elegance of historic railway travel when you book a room, suite, or real train carriage at this stunning hotel.

Thank you to The Hotel Chalet for upgrading our family’s stay to a historic train carriage for us to share this experience with families.

The History of The Hotel Chalet

Nestled amongst mountains and the Tennessee River, Chattanooga’s historic railroads are at the core of its scenic character. The Hotel Chalet resides in a special place called The Chattanooga Choo Choo—a plaza bringing together history, entertainment, and dining around the original Terminal Station from 1909.

When the last train departed from the Terminal Station in 1970, a group of local investors recognized its continued value to the community and saved it from demolition. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and over the past half-century, The Choo Choo has grown into a beautiful destination for locals and tourists alike to enjoy the historic railroads that helped build Chattanooga.

The Hotel Chalet is the crowning development, inviting families to stay in the very heart of The Chattanooga Choo Choo while immersing themselves in a combination of luxury and history. Since opening to the public in 2023, the hotel is rapidly receiving public recognition, including a MICHELIN Key in 2025 and retaining that distinct honor in 2026.

Exceptional Design with Historic Inspiration

From the moment we entered the lobby at The Hotel Chalet, we were swept away by every detail upon which our eyes landed. A grand staircase immediately beckons the attention upward, where a balcony sweeps across the second floor. From the ceiling, a golden chandelier cascades down towards the polished Lobby Bar on the far wall. Hardwood floors ripple out from the center of the room, carrying visitors into every corner where comfort awaits.

The hotel’s interior design, spearheaded by Jenny Bukovec, brilliantly integrates classic railway travel with the popular chalets of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. We found ourselves thinking of Wes Anderson films as we explored the property, and found validation in a Wes Anderson coffee table book perfectly at home on one of the lobby tables.

Guests are transported to a bygone era from the moment of arrival, with an uninterrupted design across every room and recreation space on the grounds. We discovered the same commitment to continuity everywhere we turned…

• Vintage board games in the retail shop
• Floral wallpaper in a boutique fitness center
• Striped lounge chairs next to the heated outdoor pool
• Seasonal concessions sold from a retired caboose
• Wooden lawn games around a gorgeous gazebo
• An outdoor patio with hammocks and fire pit

The Hotel Chalet represents a master class in total design, fully integrating comfort, functionality, and décor into a seamless guest experience. Every detail has been thoroughly planned to provide visitors with an immersive escape into the historic elegance of railway travel.

Refined Train Carriages and Guest Rooms

Of the hotel’s 127 guest rooms, 25 are located inside restored Pullman carriages from the 1920s and 60s, with unique interior designs that smoothly span the decades. The Hotel Chalet offers two named carriage accommodations—the Sleeper Deluxe and the MacArthur Suite—both of which provide ample room for a family stay.

We spent the night in a Sleeper Deluxe carriage and were truthfully surprised by the level of comfort and sophistication we found inside this little piece of history. We slept soundly on a soft queen bed, while two of our children shared the pull-out trundle from the sofa. Blackout curtains ensured a good night’s rest, while a lavish bathroom with heated floors and superb water pressure made even getting ready for the day feel indulgent.

The MacArthur Suite offers even more space to spread out and relax, with a 700-square-foot interior encompassing a private king bedroom, a dining and living area with a queen sofa trundle, and one and a half bathrooms. This special suite also comes with the outdoor amenity of a wide poolside porch, making it an excellent space for entertaining visitors during your stay.

The traditional guest rooms in the main hotel building are no less magnificent. Families can choose among a Chalet King for two, Chalet Double Queen for four, or a Chalet Suite for four with separate bedroom and living areas. Each of these rooms incorporates the same historically inspired design and luxury as the train carriages, and all accommodation options include…

• Wi-Fi access
• High-definition smart TV
• Bedside charging station
• Miniature refrigerator
• Coffee station
• Secure safe
• Steamer and hair dryer
• Bath products from The Botanist & The Chemist
• Bedding and towels from Bellino Fine Linens
• Option to request a crib or cot for infants

Accessible guest rooms and bathrooms are also available for booking. If your party has any special needs, or if you are celebrating any special occasions, we highly recommend calling The Hotel Chalet directly at (423) 266-5000 to speak with a guest services representative to book your stay. We found their team to be incredibly kind and accommodating, and they will be glad to talk with you about ways to create the perfect stay for your family.

Family-Friendly Hospitality and Amenities

For all its brick-and-mortar beauty, the real highlight of our family’s stay was the kindness we received from the whole team at The Hotel Chalet. Juggling multiple young children while traveling comes with its share of challenges, and the compassion of strangers can make a world of difference during those long days. Every single team member we encountered met us with a smile, a sincere willingness to help, and spontaneous acts of generosity like offering train-themed lollipops to our children or meeting us in the parking lot at night to help us find a spot.

The Hotel Chalet is deliberately inclusive, and it shows in the attitude of every team member and in the wide range of amenities and accommodations available for visitors. We found quiet corners where sensory-sensitive children could pause to breathe or busy parents could complete some work. We enjoyed a lovely variety of outdoor spaces, like the string-lit Arbor Lawn with yard games and a stately white gazebo, or the year-round Alpine Pool, which is heated even in winter and includes an accessible pool lift for guests with limited mobility.

Back in the lobby, a cozy retail shop sits tucked behind the check-in counter, offering puzzles, games, activity books, toys, snacks, and treats for children—even s’mores kits to enjoy around the fire pit. Active families will appreciate the complimentary water bottle refill station there, as well. The store also sells toiletries, souvenirs, drinks, and specialty goods from locally loved businesses such as Cupcake Kitchen.

Dinner is available most nights of the week at Elsie’s Daughter, an upscale bistro at The Hotel Chalet whose name preserves a family legacy from Terminal Station. The architect of Terminal Station, Donn Barber, and his wife, Elsie, had a daughter who shared her mother’s name and later passed it on to her own daughter. French and Belgian flavors shape the menu, while the weekend brunch offers a delightful start to Saturday and Sunday mornings.

More To Do Around The Choo Choo

The Hotel Chalet’s setting within The Chattanooga Choo Choo makes it an ideal home base for exploring the city, and maps are available at the front desk for guest convenience. We found dining, shopping, and entertainment were all just a stone’s throw away in the larger plaza at The Choo Choo and around Chattanooga’s walkable downtown.

We spent a morning strolling among the historic train cars, wandering the courtyard and gardens, and peeking into many of the nearby establishments. Our children were especially enthused upon their discovery of the fully automated Coin-Op Arcade, where visitors can load a game card, earn points by playing games, and even redeem prizes from a vending machine. For adults, the Escape Experience’s Runaway Train Transport caught our eye, promising fun with a simulated runaway train scenario inside a real train car at The Choo Choo.

Guests of The Hotel Chalet can also ask at the front desk about discounts with local businesses. We made a point to use the hotel guest discount at Clumpies Ice Cream Co., which—we were assured by several locals—sells the best ice cream in all of Chattanooga. Their Southside shop is conveniently situated just across the street from The Hotel Chalet, so you can easily pick up ice cream to enjoy back in your room at the end of a long day exploring the city.

Plan Your Stay at The Hotel Chalet

With its convenient access to downtown Chattanooga, its intimate connection to the city’s railway history, and its exceptional hospitality and design, The Hotel Chalet makes for an outstanding family getaway. Those who choose to stay at The Hotel Chalet will appreciate the proximity to all Chattanooga has to offer, relish the luxurious comfort in every detail of their accommodations, and walk away with treasured memories among the historic train cars.

Before booking, consider these practical details to help you plan your stay:

Are the train carriages real?

Yes, The Hotel Chalet offers guest rooms inside real Pullman train carriages from the 1920s and 60s. You will climb into a real train carriage to enter your room, and find that the space has been fully renovated and updated to provide you with a luxurious experience with modern comforts in a historic atmosphere.

Is The Hotel Chalet pet-friendly?

Yes! The Hotel Chalet offers many pet-friendly rooms, and it also provides pet-free rooms to protect visitors with allergies or sensitivities to pets. Dog-walking facilities are available onsite.

Is parking included at The Hotel Chalet?

The Hotel Chalet has a parking lot wrapping around its front and side, and it is recommended that you pay for parking when you reserve your room. If you choose not to pay for hotel parking, there are paid parking lots immediately adjacent to the hotel lots. Valet parking is not available, but the hotel may be able to provide limited transportation to and from the airport or special events in town.

Is smoking permitted at The Hotel Chalet?

No, The Hotel Chalet prohibits smoking inside all its buildings. However, there are a few designated smoking areas outside the hotel. We encourage you not to smoke around hotel entrances or common areas where it could disturb other guests.