Walking Horse Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walking Horse Hotel |
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| General information | |
| Address | 101 Spring Street |
| Town or city | Wartrace, Tennessee 37183 |
| Country | United States |
| Named for | Tennessee Walking Horses, a breed the Wartrace area is known for producing |
| Renovated | 2007 |
| Owner | Joe Peters |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | Seven |
| Restaurant information | |
| Current owner(s) | Joe Peters |
| Previous owner(s) | Floyd Carothers |
| Chef | Jason Thompson |
| Seating capacity | 75 |
| Reservations | Encouraged |
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Walking Horse Hotel
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1917 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003262 |
| Added to NRHP | July 19, 1984 |
The Walking Horse Hotel is a historic hotel located in Wartrace, Tennessee. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important building from the past. The hotel is also part of the larger Wartrace Historic District. Today, it still operates as a hotel and is home to the Strolling Jim Restaurant. This restaurant is named after a famous show horse that won a big championship!
Contents
History of the Walking Horse Hotel
Early Days as a Railroad Hotel
The Walking Horse Hotel was first built in 1917. Back then, it was called the Hotel Overall. It was a "railroad hotel," meaning it was built near train tracks to serve travelers. Many people used trains to get around in those days.
New Owners and a Famous Horse
In 1933, a couple named Floyd and Olive Carothers bought the Hotel Overall. In the late 1930s, the hotel became a meeting spot for horse trainers. These trainers eventually started a huge annual horse show called the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. The first show happened in 1939. Because of this strong connection to horses, the hotel's name was changed to the Walking Horse Hotel.
Strolling Jim's Legacy
The very first horse to win the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was named Strolling Jim. He was owned and trained by Floyd Carothers. Strolling Jim is so famous that he is buried right behind the hotel! Since 2015, a framed picture of Strolling Jim has been on display at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Museum.
Floyd Carothers passed away in 1944. However, his wife, Olive Carothers, continued to own and run the hotel until 1958.
Changes and Renovations
After Olive Carothers, the building was sold a few times. It was renovated in 1995 and briefly reopened as the Hotel Overall. It closed again a few years later. In 2007, the current owner, Joe Peters, renovated it once more. He reopened it with its well-known name, the Walking Horse Hotel. The hotel still proudly displays many items related to Tennessee Walking Horses, especially in the Strolling Jim Restaurant.
The Hotel Today
What You'll Find Inside
The Walking Horse Hotel was updated in 2007. It now has a special place called the Chais Music Lounge. This lounge is named after the owner's late wife. The hotel also has the Strolling Jim Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. If you want to stay overnight, the hotel has seven rooms available for guests.
A Place for Spooky Stories
Every fall, from late September until Halloween, the Walking Horse Hotel opens its doors as a haunted attraction. People say it's haunted by the ghost of Floyd Carothers, the former owner. In 1995, some guests even reported seeing the ghost of Strolling Jim "prancing" around where his old stables used to be behind the hotel!
Some people believe that the spooky activity might have decreased after Olive Carothers, Floyd's wife, passed away in 1991.
In May 2016, a small fire happened on the second floor of the hotel. The second and third floors had some smoke and water damage, but the building was mostly okay.
