An Uncommon Hostel
By Tory Irmeger | Photography by David and Drew Photography
Nestled just a stone’s throw from the Chattanooga Choo Choo, The Crash Pad: An Uncommon Hostel offers one-of-a-kind accommodations for solo travelers and groups passing through the Scenic City. Like many of their guests, co-owners Max Poppel and Dan Rose were drawn to Chattanooga by the rich climbing opportunities in the region.
“The Crash Pad was born after we lived here for a few years and saw all the climbers coming through with no official basecamp,” Poppel shares. “The idea of a climber campground grew to include all the outdoor enthusiasts coming to explore Chattanooga’s beauty and combined with the concept and convenience of a downtown hostel.”
The Crash Pad offers guests convenience, safety, affordability, and built-in community. The interior design is streamlined and unfussy with exposed wood and concrete elements, while a slew of boardgames, books, and brochures encourage visitors to settle in and make themselves at home. Guests can choose from private bunks or group suites, while other living spaces are shared amongst travelers, including a full kitchen, living room, and outdoor event space. The communal style of hostel dwelling naturally lends itself to travelers comparing notes and teaming up to tackle the best outdoor spots in the area. Poppel adds, “Aside from being steps away from all the action, you’ll meet adventurous spirits of all kinds!”
Once guests have finished playing the day away in the great outdoors with newfound friends, they can return to The Crash Pad and walk to the many restaurants, breweries, and attractions nearby. The hostel is catty-cornered with Poppel and Rose’s sister business, Ernest Chinese, a restaurant opened “in favor of our dream of eating dumplings every day,” according to Poppel. This casual dining spot offers American Chinese and Sichuan food paired with a curated tiki drink menu and full bar to help guests and locals fuel up for another day in the mountains.
As if bringing together outdoor enthusiasts in the heart of the city wasn’t enough, The Crash Pad is also the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified hostel, reflecting the owners’ dedication to reducing the environmental impact of construction and operational procedures. “When looking into green building practices back around 2010, there was a stigma of it being a big upcharge that might not be worth it,” Poppel says. “When we dug deeper, we found that the green features may cost slightly more up front, but they pay themselves back over time.”
These green features include repurposed brick and white pine that were salvaged from the preexisting structure on the property, a greywater filtration system, precast insulated concrete walls that conserve thermal energy, a green roof planted with drought-resistant sedum, and native plant landscaping around the property. From their business model to their outdoor excursions, The Crash Pad community is committed to keeping the Scenic City scenic.
The Crash Pad welcomes any traveler looking to step off the beaten path while taking in the vibrancy of downtown. “The best hostels are located in the heart of neighborhoods, allowing walkable access to truly experience the local culture,” Poppel says. “We hope you’ll come away with a love for our city that you’ll have to go tell everyone about.”
