Pardon me, boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo? The Choo Choo got its name during the trip from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, and Glenn Miller then wrote a song about it.
Nostalgic Railway Atmosphere
It is now a hotel and meeting center, but it also has a beautiful model railroad room, a trolley that runs during the weekends, and several one-of-a-kind restaurants. If you choose to stay at the Choo Choo, you can choose a regular hotel room, or opt to stay in one of the rail cars to have an authentic train experience.
Serious Model Trains
The Choo Choo's model railroad museum was a joint venture with the Chattanooga Area Model Railroad Club and is an entire room dedicated to trains in Chattanooga. It has a miniature replica of the Chattanooga area and there are several trains running throughout. It is a dream for kids of all ages that love trains.
While you visit the Choo Choo, you might want to have Dinner in the Diner, the luxurious train car restaurant. Try the Station House for a more relaxed and family-friendly experience, where the servers will sing for you between the courses. There are several shops with unique gifts and souvenirs, and make sure to take a stroll through the gardens as you go from the shops to the restaurants.
The Journey of the Choo Choo
The first Chattanooga Choo Choo was Cincinnati Southern Railroad's small wood burning steam locomotive that started its journey through history from Cincinnati, Ohio on March 5, 1880. Nearly all trains traveling to the South passed through Chattanooga.
Terminal Station was built in 1908 complete with Track 29, and was dedicated on December 1, 1909. During its heyday as many as fifty passenger trains a day passed through the terminal. The bustling terminal served passengers until 1970 when the doors were closed, due to the increase in faster transportation such as cars and planes.
Preserving the Past
Terminal Station was then purchased by a group of local businessmen who were inspired by the theme of the "Chattanooga Choo Choo." They invested $4 million before its new grand opening on April 11, 1973, and the beautiful Terminal Station reopened.
The Choo Choo celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. So, if you have a small person in your life who loves Thomas the Tank Engine, or if you're interested in visiting a time from days gone by, get rollin' to see the Choo Choo in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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