I toured Dolly Parton’s new Nashville hotel. Here’s what to know before booking
I got an early look inside SongTeller, including the little Dolly references you won’t necessarily spot in the hotel photos.
The hairdryer at Dolly Parton’s new Nashville hotel comes in a bag labeled “wig dryer.” The dry-cleaning bag says, “Take me to the Wishy Washy,” a nod to the Nashville laundromat where Dolly met her future husband, Carl Dean.
I toured SongTeller on a media preview during its September soft opening, and there are little Dolly references all over the place. It’s pink and girly, and I found it charming without being over the top.
There are even messages hidden inside the dresser drawers, including “It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.” The soap and lotion are rose-scented, Dolly’s favorite.
My favorite detail was on the walls. The murals in some of the rooms were created from a fan’s collection of ticket stubs from Dolly’s concerts, saved over the years.
Dolly died on Aug. 25, just weeks before the hotel opened. Staff told me she was closely involved in planning it, and that she had been “very joyful” about the opening and how the hotel was coming together.
I didn’t stay overnight, so I can’t give you a full hotel review. But I can share what I liked about the tour and what would make me hold off on booking just yet.
Staying near Broadway
SongTeller is at 211 Commerce Street, close to Lower Broadway. It has 245 rooms and suites, along with live music, a café, and a shop.
Several downtown attractions are within walking distance. The Ryman Auditorium is two blocks away, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is four.
The hotel welcomes pets, with designated rooms on select floors, and asks that you let it know before arrival if you’re bringing one. (I saw one very happy dog who appeared to be enjoying his stay.)
A suite for six, and another with two floors
The Six Sisters Suites are named for Dolly and her five sisters. They sleep up to six, with three queen beds, two showers, and a separate seating area. The one I toured had a chair shaped like a stiletto, a double-sink vanity for getting ready, and great views. These are the ones to look at if you’re planning a girls’ trip and want to share a room.
The SongTeller Suite wasn’t on my tour, but on paper it’s a very different setup: two floors and 1,865 square feet for just two guests. The hotel says its design includes a treble clef worked into the staircase railing and a guitar-shaped cushion in the bedroom.
Live music at Jolene’s and Parton’s Live
Jolene’s is the top-floor lounge, with live singers and songwriters, cocktails, small plates, and views of the Nashville skyline and Cumberland River.
The views from Jolene’s and from some of the rooms were a highlight of the tour. According to the hotel, you can watch the city’s Fourth of July fireworks from up here.
Parton’s Live is on the second floor, hosting songwriter sessions and performances by emerging artists.
During my visit, you needed a room key or a booking at one of the restaurants or music venues to go upstairs. So be sure to sort that out before you arrive.
There’s also a Dolly museum
The hotel is home to Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum on the third floor. I didn’t get to tour the museum, so I can’t speak to that experience. Tickets come in three tiers and prices vary by day, so check the museum’s site before you go if you want to include it in your visit.
I’d give it time before booking a stay
There was still construction going on when I toured the hotel, and I’d want that finished before staying overnight. As of Oct. 5, the hotel’s website still warned that guests could hear construction noise while finishing work continued in some areas.
It also felt like the staff was still working out some kinks. The TVs by the elevators play Dolly performances, but the volume was so low I couldn’t hear them. I heard they’d been too loud before, with guests saying they could hear them from their rooms.
The café was another example. I was told it was for hotel guests only, but the sales staff said security might let non-guests up if it wasn’t busy. Either way, I wouldn’t count on just walking in for coffee.
Then there’s the cost. When I checked on Oct. 5, a Signature Room on a weeknight was roughly $573 before taxes, and an Acoustic Suite was roughly $928. I was told the Six Sisters Suites start at $1,500. Split six ways, that’s $250 a person, which really isn’t terrible.
The fees add up from there. The hotel currently lists a $25 nightly destination fee and $65 nightly valet parking, with no self-parking offered. If you bring a car, that’s another $90 per night before taxes.
Still, I don’t want the caveats to bury how much I liked this place. I loved the rooms I toured, and they’ve really thought of everything, from the amenities to the decor. I think it will be an incredible place to stay once it’s complete and very likely worth its cost.
When the construction is finished, I’d be happy to come back with a room key.
And if you enjoy fun hotels, I’ve stayed in some pretty unusual hotels over the years, including a treehouse in the Amazon and one where giraffes join you for breakfast. You’ll find both in my roundup of unique hotels around the world.
Plus, I’ll be sharing more Nashville tips and tricks in the coming weeks, so follow me on Yahoo to catch those.
10 Unique Hotels Around the World for Adventure Lovers
Care to scuba dive to your hotel room? How about zip-lining down the side of a cliff after you check out of your room? What about a hotel where a giraffe poking its head through a window is your wake-up call? Does it sound like I’m making these things up? I can assure you these are all real and very unique hotels! And it makes me so excited that they exist (except for the underwater hotel you have to scuba dive to…that’s a big NOPE for me).
Read more: 10 Unique Hotels Around the World for Adventure Lovers
I would love to take my girlfriend there.
This is good to know
I love Nashville! This looks like such a fun place to stay next time I’m there.
So cool
I saw a video from a mosaic artist who made the statues in this hotel- it looks amazing!
I’d love to go