The Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo CHATTANOOGA Designer Jenny Bukovec draws on the spirit of rail travel to transform a fleet of train carriages into hotel suites. Words: Cara Rogers • Photography: © Matt Kisiday
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leeper trains are undoubtedly seeing a resurgence in popularity amongst today’s travellers, with carriages becoming ever more luxurious and services rivalling
those of a five-star hotel. And while waking up to new scenery each morning is part of the appeal for some, days spent chugging along the tracks isn’t for everyone. Bringing the worlds of hospitality and transportation together is The Hotel Chalet in Chattanooga, where guestrooms occupy a red brick building and suites come in the form of stationary train carriages. The venture is the brainchild of Trestle Studio, a boutique real estate firm with a history of transforming historic properties into landmark hotels – NoMad Los Angeles, Freehand New York and The Hoxton Williamsburg to name but a few. In Tennessee, The Hotel Chalet is located at The Choo Choo, a mixed-use campus set within a former railroad station. The wider site holds a rich history dating back to the 1800s, while a passenger terminal opened in 1909 as a crucial connection between north and south. The local landmark is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in Chattanooga’s breakthrough as a transport hub, standing proud as a symbol of rail travel’s golden age. And it’s this heritage that informs the identity of The Hotel Chalet. The property opened in 2023 following a two-year renovation, with Jenny Bukovec Design & Creative enlisted to lead on interiors. Within the main building, the lobby lounge and 102 guestrooms pay homage to the chalet lodgings once prevalent in the surrounding Appalachian Mountains, while
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