The Crash Pad co-owner Dan Rose, manager Alan Smith and co-owner Max Poppel, from left, stand on the second-floor balcony at the site of the new urban, boutique hostel.
Photo by Rebecca W. MillerThe Crash Pad will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event June 3 from 2 to 6 p.m., providing Chattanoogans a sneak peek inside the one-of-a-kind "green," boutique hostel.
"This is a new product - a boutique hostel with the amenities and inexpensiveness of a hostel that has been elevated to boutique stature with its artistic elements," said North Chattanooga resident Dan Rose, who is co-owner and founder with friend and fellow climber and North Chattanooga resident Max Poppel. "A hostel is an inexpensive place to stay in your travels, originally designed for young people so they can travel cheaply."
The Crash Pad-An Uncommon Hostel is located on a one-acre plot a block from East Main, at 29 Johnson St. Attention to artistic design was put into everything from the counters and sinks to the bike stand and a unique climbable statue on the lawn, said Rose. The two-story, 5,000-square-foot space was created in collaboration with local architects, contractors, artists and craftsmen.
"Most of the inspiration for this place is because of the lack of base camps for climbers in this town, considering the amount and quality of the climbing," Rose said. "We decided to locate our hostel in Chattanooga's urban downtown to allow our guests the opportunity to stay in the heart of the city while still remaining close to all of Chattanooga's outdoor recreation hot spots."
Many of the building materials used for everything from the bunk beds to the pavilion were reclaimed from the site.
"There used to be a 100-year-old house on the property," said Rose, who wanted to keep all of the outer walls intact for the pavilion, but had to satisfy himself with salvaging the brick and wood when it collapsed. "Ninety-nine percent of the materials from the house were diverted from a landfill to be used on-site. We're tracking for LEED Gold certification. We'd be the first hostel in the country to get that honor."
Rose said he did extensive research in national and international hostels to determine what he wanted (comfortable beds) and didn't want (excessive noise) in The Crash Pad. There are six super-bunk rooms that have two bunk beds each. Each individual bed has a velvet privacy curtain, contains a fan, reading light, two extra outlets and an extra-long twin, plush-top mattress and costs $27 per night.
There are also six private rooms for $70 per night. Each is outfitted with a queen-size bed, private sink and large window with a spectacular view of the courtyard. Rose said safety is one of the main focuses for the hostel and there will be proximity card readers at the entrances to the group and living areas.
Rest room facilities for men and women, complete with showers, are on each floor. The first floor has laundry machines available and there is wireless Internet throughout the building. The artfully designed outdoor pavilion features a gas fireplace, gas grill, speakers, lights and electric heaters.
Each morning, fresh bread from Niedlov's Breadworks will be provided. Guests have access to information on local events and outdoor activities on the IMac's in the main community room. The main community room will also feature a reception desk, community kitchen and gathering area. Lockable storage is available, so travelers can leave worry-free to climb, hike and otherwise enjoy the great outdoors of Chattanooga.
"The core concept of The Crash Pad is structured around an atmosphere of adventure, natural beauty and outdoor living," said Rose. "The idea sort of evolved from a woodsier themed campground to an urban hostel because there are so many groups besides climbers to draw from."
Office hours will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information call 648-8393 or visit the hostel's website.