If you are looking for a luxurious getaway in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, the Read House Hotel is the perfect choice for accommodations! From the attentive valet parking to the 1920s Gatsby vibe, walking into Chattanooga’s Read House Hotel is like being transported to another era, full of luxury and glamour.
We recently stayed at the Read House on a trip to Chattanooga and absolutely loved our stay! This is one of the rare instances where budget wasn’t a priority (it was my birthday trip, after all!) so when I had a chance to splurge a little on accommodations, I took it. And it was so worth it!
The Read House is a luxury hotel conveniently located in the heart of downtown that has recently undergone a 28-million-dollar renovation to achieve a posh, Roarin’ Twenties ambiance that guests will swoon over. Its romantic soft lighting and carefully-curated Art Deco designs combined with the attentiveness of the highly-trained staff makes it clear why the Read House has been voted Trip Advisor’s #1 hotel in Chattanooga.
STEP BACK IN TIME
The soft sounds of jazz greet you before you even enter the door, setting the stage for a stay that transports you back in time. Walking into the lobby, you immediately feel a connection to the glamorous hotels of old.
The interior designers cleverly incorporated the old into the new with historical antiques placed around the public spaces and the color schemes that harken back to the times when a hotel stay was a special event, not an everyday occurrence.
We were assigned a corner king room in the historic tower and I could not have been more pleased with our space! The decor was simple but plush, the ceilings were tall and the room was spacious, with lots of natural light and impressive views of the city. I could have lounged in this room all day! Laying in bed was like snuggling into a giant plush pillow, and I wasn’t ready to get out in the morning.
The one thing I was not expecting was how stunning the bathroom would be. The room is huge! The classic black-and-white tiles hearken back to the Art Deco age and the spacious spa shower added to the feeling of pampering.
I love ghosts and I love history, so the Read House Hotel was the perfect opportunity to stay in what many say is a haunted hotel with a colorful past. The present hotel eventually replaced another inn on the property known as the Old Crutchfield house. Built in the mid-1800s, the inn was built by the Crutchfield family across from Chattanooga’s new railroad that had recently begun to increase traffic through town.
Business was good until the Civil War, when tensions in the Crutchfield family over differing opinions over which side was right resulted in the house being sold. The new owners did not enjoy much success, and the hotel was turned into a Union hospital in 1863.
After the building burned down in 1867, the property was purchased by Dr. John Read who, with his son Samuel, wanted to build the finest hotel in Chattanooga. It opened to great excitement on New Year’s Day in 1872 and enjoyed some prosperity, but sadly, the majority of it was flooded in 1875.
The present day 10-story Georgian style brick was erected in 1927, where, although having gone through a series of upgrades over the years, you are still surrounded by luxurious features of a bygone era – hand-carved walnut paneling, terrazzo flooring inlaid with marble, mirrors recessed in gilded arches and soaring, hand-carved columns. In 1977, the Read House was included in the National Register of Historic Places as a prime example of period architecture and decorative art.
THE READ HOUSE HOTEL’S HAUNTED PAST
Any building with this much history is bound to have a ghost story or two associated with it, but in the Read House Hotel, you can step into the location of the story and its resident ghost. You can inquire at the desk for an opportunity to tour room 311 and hear a staff member relay the tale of the unfortunate ghost of Annalisa Netherly.
We were told that Annalisa was murdered in room 311 by her husband some time in the 1920s, after he learned of affairs she conducted during a time she was living at the hotel while he was away on business. The story goes that Annalisa’s spirit haunts room 311 and that guests, mostly men, feel her presence on several occasions.
The room and ensuite bath where Annalisa died were recently renovated and restored to appear the way the room looked at the time Annalisa was in residence. The room can be toured upon request and, once a year, one can bid on a chance to sleep in Room 311. Good luck!
Along with fabulous decor, a thrilling ghost story and luxurious accommodations, the hotels also boasts award-winning dining at its Bridgeman’s Chophouse, with an extensive steak and seafood menu, a speakeasy-themed Bar and Billiards Room where staff in 1920s attire serve delicious cocktails, as well as an in-house Starbucks.
We had a fabulous stay and would highly recommend the Read House Hotel if you are coming to visit Chattanooga! See what other sights we enjoyed while in the city in this post.
If you would like to see more of our stay at this historic hotel, visit us on our YouTube channel here!
Have you stayed at Chattanooga’s Read House Hotel? What did you think about it? Let me know in the comments!
P.S. To feel safe and secure wherever you stay, I recommend taking the Addalock with you whenever you travel. Designed to fit most any exterior door, this is my most recommended travel gadget for peace of mind while traveling. Read more about it here!
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Nice article and photos! It makes me want to go!