An uncommon hostel in the Southside offers not only the most affordable stay that can be found downtown, but also some of the nicest and newest features lodging has to offer. The Crash Pad’s mission is to further establish Chattanooga as an ultimate outdoor destination by providing a base camp and community hub for adventurous travelers.
Yet, this doesn’t mean that non-adventurers won’t have a place within the serenity of this tucked away lodging. Climbing is what brought co-founders of the Crash Pad Max Poppel and Dan Rose to Chattanooga from the Boston area. They were here for about four years before they started thinking hard about the idea for a hostel to serve as a central location for climbers, before expanding the idea to include all adventure seekers. “With the amazing wealth of climbing that is around here, it was amazing to us that there was no central hub to all the climbers who not only live here but the ones who are traveling through too,” Rose says.
Poppel says it’s this whole experience around the hostel that they hope to offer their lodgers. Coupled with being the least expensive place to stay downtown and the newest, their mission for the outdoor crowd has taken a lot of thought and effort into getting the details right as far as amenities and cleanliness which are equally important to them, he says. They are working to be a gathering place for everyone from outdoor people, businesses, reunions, weddings, and all other events while still maintaining the solitude for their guests. There are 24 super bunks at the Crash Pad that include a premium mattress, light canceling curtains, a fan and a light for $27 per night. The six private rooms with queen-sized beds are $70 per night. With room for additional cot rental, 40 people could comfortably stay at the hostel, Poppel and Rose say.
Additionally there is a kitchen where guests can feel at home with pots, pans and a refrigerator on hand. The counters in this common area and the benches are all made by Haskel Sears Design with reclaimed wood from the house that formerly stood at the Crash Pad location. The kitchen countertop is even inlaid with climbing tools. This is similar to the sinks in the communal bathrooms and in the private rooms where there is bits of Sky vodka glass and other bottle glass, creating a sort of mosaic. The outdoor courtyard of the Crash Pad also has bits of reclaimed wood from the former structure, as well as a barbecue cooking facility, a claw tub to hold ice and drinks, and lots of greenery.
There is also a green roof on top of the building. Builder Collier Construction along with architects Blythe Bailey with Riverstreet Architecture and Thomas Palmer from PDE all came together to create the hostel. Rose says the reason for the method of construction goes back to the idea of being an uncommon hostel. “We try to take the traditional hostel concept which has many great elements, but also many flaws which tend to be cleanliness and sound issues. We went and stayed at over 30 hostels before we started construction here,” he says. “We figured out what the problems were and came back and sat down with our architect and contractor to see how we address this.”
With this line of thinking, one step they took was pre-slated concrete panels for insulating sound, allowing for guests to comfortably sleep in one area and an event to occur in the common area with no disturbance. For those of the adventurous spirit, Rose and Poppel say they are good resources for their travelers to talk about climbing. As far as the other outdoor adventures, they have a good database of information on their Web site. Eventually the two are working to get their guiding licenses, but in the meantime have a network of friends who have can take people out on official guiding and informal tours.
Poppel says, “It’s never hard to link people up to one of our friends if they want a tour because somebody is going out everyday.” The pair does emphasize that their hostel is for anyone coming through. “We are as much a guide and proponent for Chattanooga as just an amazing city. Especially with it being off season when we opened up, we have had a lot of random travelers just coming through who want to experience the city, so we have been able to be a resource and a guide to everything that you can do around Chattanooga,” they say.
Although many attorneys and Realtors may think the Crash Pad is not for them, Poppel and Rose say they challenge any of them to come out, and if they have an adventurous spirit in any kind of facet, they will have fun here. “And for a third of the price of a presidential suite, you could rent the entire place,” Rose says with a chuckle. The Crash Pad has also partnered with local events like Stump Jump and the Triple Crown Bouldering Series, the biggest outdoor climbing event in the country.
Look for more information on their Facebook page.