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.