9 Quirky Hotels in Tennessee

9 Quirky Hotels in Tennessee

Why stay in a boring, generic hotel room when you don't have to? From Hobbit Houses to Party Switches and a Dolly Parton themed room, Tennessee has no lack of unique hotel options! If you enjoy this free guide, please click save, share it, leave a tip, or write a review! Follow me and be the first to know when I create new guides. Thanks!
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The Dive Motel
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Each of the World Famous Dive Motel's 23 rooms are uniquely decked out in groovy vintage style. Unusual amenities include a disco ball and Party Switch in every room and 4 signature radio stations. The motel also features a pool, hot tub, sauna, and bar. They are a dog-friendly establishment. Let them know if you're bringing your canine friend along!
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Chattanooga Choo Choo
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Chattanooga was once the primary train station in the South. The once bustling station has now been turned into a vacation complex with lodging, restaurants and bars, and a comedy club. In 1941, the Glenn Miller Orchestra made the train line famous with their song "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Accommodations at the hotel are available in unique Pullman Train Cars and traditional hotel rooms.
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Graduate Nashville
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Portraits of Minnie Pearl and Dolly Parton are just the beginning of the fun, quirky design choices in The Graduate. Everywhere you look is an aesthetic nod to the Grand Ole Opry and the musical history of Nashville. Amenities include a karaoke bar, Cross-Eyed Critters, and a coffee shop. The rooftop pool is adjoined to the White Limozeen restaurant and accessible for a fee. This is a pet friendly hotel. Let them know if you're bringing your furry friend along!
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The Sessions Hotel
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While Nashville might be Music City, it's Bristol that's The Birthplace of Country Music. The Sessions Hotel gives nod to this heritage of The Bristol Sessions recordings that were forerunners to the entire genre of country music as we now know it. In addition to guest rooms inspired by the music born in the region, The Sessions offers concert venues and event spaces, a salon, and an on site restaurant, Southern Craft. You'll find luxury touches like Boca Terry bathrobes, Northern Feather pillows, rain showers, large flat-screen tv's, and curated art in the guest rooms.
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The Peabody Memphis
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Opened in 1869, the Peabody Hotel of Memphis, Tennessee, features elegant rooms, fine dining, and a spa, as you might expect from any upscale, historic hotel. What has made the Peabody perhaps even more famous than its charm and amenities are ducks. Yes, ducks. Every day, ducks are escorted by the Duckmaster from their penthouse at the hotel, down red carpet no less, to the fountain in the lobby where they swim all day. In the evening they are escorted back to their luxury quarters. The Peabody Duck March started as a joke (see the Atlas Obscura article below) and has become a grand parade exciting guests of all ages for nearly a century. The hotel offers a Ducky Day Package, which allows you the opportunity to be an Honorary Duckmaster and receive a commemorative Duckmaster Cane and rubber ducky.
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The Russell
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The Russell is full of surprises. First, the building was formerly a church and retains many of those original design aspects, from the steeple to stained glass windows and repurposed pews. Second, it is Nashville's #1 Boutique Hotel. That might not be surprising. How affordable accommodations are at such a high ranking establishment, however, is. And lastly, my favorite part, every stay helps someone experiencing homelessness in Nashville through the Rooms for Rooms program. Beautiful.
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Ancient Lore Village
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Step into your own Middle Earth adventures at Ancient Lore Village in Knoxville, Tennessee. You'll stay in well appointed accommodations like the Fairy Cottage, Leprechaun Lair, or Orc Home. The visionaries behind this unique place hope people will discover wonder during their stay and leave saying "I feel better than I did yesterday." See the video below for more of their story.
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Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains
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Experience the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in safari inspired accommodations. Under Canvas includes upscale furnishings in each tent, on site dining and activities, and complimentary s'mores by a nightly bonfire. Note: Availability runs from early April to late November or early December seasonally.
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Bobby Hotel
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Stay in the heart of downtown Nashville's Arts District at the Bobby Hotel. The hotel offers four dining establishments, ranging in style from bar to bistro. In true Music City form, live music is on site! The Backyard Sessions summer music series at the Bobby's Rooftop Lounge runs from May to September. Wander the hotel to see a quarterly rotating art exhibit in partnership with Nashville's Tinney Contemporary art gallery, (You can also have a guided tour by hotel staff.) You'll find a happy four-legged friend in the lobby, the Dog-In-Residence! A dog is adopted by the Bobby each year, professionally trained as a support animal, then donated to a U.S. Veteran in need.
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NOTE: This is typically a paid guide ($25.95). I'm currently offering it for free as a way to assist our neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene, which caused severe devastation to the Southern Appalachian region on September 27, 2024. Please support the local businesses and artists listed in this guide by visiting, booking a class, buying their products, or purchasing gift cards. Consider gifting a class to people on your holiday shopping list - it will be a gift they'll never forget! Lastly, if you want to compensate me for creating this guide, you may do so by leaving a tip (button at the bottom of the page). Help more people discover this guide by saving it and sharing it. Thank you for helping Southern Appalachia recover and rebuild. We appreciate you! * * * It's time to indulge your creative side! Learn from master potters, chefs, painters, and folk artisans in the beautiful Appalachian Highlands of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Note: Many of these experiences require early registration, as classes fill up quickly. I encourage you to plan well in advance. If you enjoy this guide, please save it, share it, leave a tip, or write a review! Follow me and be the first to know when I create new guides. Thanks!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
US native. Former resident of Romania. Current solo female globe trotter. I've ventured to more than a dozen countries across four continents as part of group tours, volunteer work, solo travel, studying abroad, and teaching internationally. I lived for over a year in Romania, many years in Tennessee, and several months in England. My travel style is slow, spontaneous, and - shall we say - richly flavorful. I prefer to stay longer lengths in places instead of having a whirlwind sightseeing venture. I'll skip the chain restaurants for a hole-in-the-wall café any day of the week. I prefer a loose itinerary and remain open to what each day brings. My favorite things to do and see as I travel are... - EAT - Try whatever is local. Order the special of the day. Talk with the restaurant staff. - WALK - It encourages me to slow down, notice, and get a feel for community. - HIKE - I'm a lazy hiker. By "hike," I mean a few hours at a slow pace. - MUSEUMS - Spend an afternoon. Read the descriptions on exhibits. Talk with the docents. Buy something in the giftshop. - CHURCHES - I'm fascinated by the various ways people have worshipped the God of the Bible over centuries and across borders. Many older churches are also museums or tourist-friendly spaces. Some additionally hold regular liturgical services. - CASTLES - Castles, fortresses, palaces, big ol' houses: these places transport me back in time. I imagine the people who built, lived in, and defended them. What would they think of how we now live? If this kind of travel sounds ideal to you, hit the Contact Me button! I'd love to help you experience slower, more meaningful travel. We'll discuss tips for how to make the most of your trip, with low stress, reasonable safety, affordability, and lots of fun. Book one of my custom services, and we'll work together to get you wheels up on your next adventure! Follow me to easily access all the resources I create.
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