The Groovy Nomad Hotel
13395 N Main St
Trenton, GA
Rooms, local murals, and Cloudland Canyon passes. Built by people from here.
About The Groovy Nomad Hotel
Ryan and Melissa Faircloth, both Dade County natives, drove past the vacant and deteriorating 1959 Southland Motel on North Main Street in Trenton every day for years before they could buy it. They spent three years pursuing the property before the acquisition came through. Their renovation announcement went overnight from 200 Facebook likes to more than 30,000, which tells you something about the gap this building represented in its community. The first rooms opened in June 2022, all ten complete shortly after. The renovation was complete: all new electrical, plumbing, windows, and doors. The only original elements retained are the structural walls and the exterior milk glass light fixtures, which have been there since 1959. Cloudland Canyon State Park passes are included with every reservation. The Chattanooga Times Free Press called it something people are going crazy for in November 2023.
What The Groovy Nomad Hotel Is Known For
Ryan and Melissa Faircloth are from Dade County. They drove past this building every day. They spent three years pursuing the acquisition because they wanted to bring something back to life for their own community. The milk glass fixtures from 1959 are still there. The murals announce you are in Trenton, Georgia, which was Ryan's explicit intention. The Cloudland Canyon passes are included because the canyon is five minutes away and the Faircloths built the stay around where they live. Sustained excellence across hundreds of independent guest reviews for a motel is the kind of number that only happens when the execution is consistently excellent and the people running the place are invested in every guest who shows up. The designation follows from that.
Amenities
- WiFi
- Cloudland Canyon State Park day passes included with every room
- In-room coffee maker with coffee and creamers
- Retro mini-fridge with freezer
- 50-inch TV with
- Tiled walk-in shower
- Smart lock entry with deadbolt
- Fresh flowers in every room
- Steamer and full-length mirror
- Full set of toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion)
- Nightstand charging port
- Individually controlled mini-split heat and AC
- Entire motel available for group bookings
What Guests Love
- Cloudland Canyon State Park day passes are included with every room. The canyon is two miles away. You are paying for the motel and the park is part of the deal.
- Sustained excellence across hundreds of independent guest reviews for a motel in a town of 2,500 people. That is the most reliable signal in any review dataset: sustained excellence over hundreds of independent guests.
- Ryan and Melissa Faircloth are Dade County natives who spent three years pursuing this specific building because they wanted to bring it back for their community. That backstory shows in every operational decision.
- The original 1959 milk glass light fixtures are still on the building. The walls are the original walls. The renovation preserved what was worth preserving.
- Local artist Keeley Farmer's exterior murals exist specifically to announce this is Trenton, Georgia, Ryan Faircloth said so. The murals are not decoration; they are a statement of place.
- Cloudland Canyon's Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls are two miles away. Chattanooga is 25 miles north. Rock City and Ruby Falls are under 20 miles. The Groovy Nomad is the natural base for a full weekend in this corner of the Appalachian ridge.
- Best of Georgia nominee in the Hotels and Travel category three consecutive years: 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Chattanooga Times Free Press, NOOGAtoday, and AllOnGeorgia have all featured the property.
Worth Knowing
- Pet policy is unconfirmed. One aggregator source says no pets; property marketing suggests pet-friendly atmosphere. Verify directly with the property before traveling with a dog.
- No on-site breakfast. Trenton is a small town; plan for a short drive to Chattanooga or pack accordingly for early morning canyon starts.
- Cloudland Canyon State Park passes are included but the canyon itself requires a significant physical effort for the waterfall hikes, the descent to Cherokee and Hemlock Falls involves hundreds of stairs. The rim trails are accessible without the descent.
- The Groovy Nomad is also bookable as a full property for group events. If you are booking individual rooms during a peak period, confirm availability early.
- Trenton sits in Dade County, Georgia's westernmost county, partially isolated by mountain terrain. The nearest substantial grocery and dining options are in Chattanooga, about 25 miles north.
The Room
Ten individually themed rooms, each sleeping two or four guests: Flower Power, Elvis' Jungle, Havana, 50's Sci-Fi, Palm Springs, Pac-Man, Seriously 60's, The Cheetah, Pretty n Pink, and Traveling Hippie. Every room has an in-room coffee maker coffeemaker with coffee and creamers, a retro mini-fridge with freezer, a microwave, a 50-inch TV with , a tiled walk-in shower, a charging port on the nightstand, individually controlled mini-split heat and air conditioning, and a full set of toiletries. Smart lock entry with deadbolt on every room. Fresh flowers. Full-length mirror. Steamer. The room themes range widely but the consistency underneath them does not: guests single out the cleanliness, the water pressure, and the quality of the bedding across nearly every review. The entire motel can also be booked as a group, rooms, full property, available on the Guesty booking platform.
The Grounds
Single-story motor court on North Main Street in Trenton, exterior access confirmed, park in front of your room. The 1959 Southland Motel footprint is intact. The original milk glass light fixtures still run the length of the building. Keeley Farmer's exterior murals cover the facade in colors visible from the road, the visual identity announces the property and the town simultaneously. A courtyard is on-site. Cloudland Canyon State Park is approximately two miles away. Lookout Mountain stretches north into Tennessee from here; the Georgia-Tennessee state line is minutes up the road, with Rock City and Ruby Falls reachable in under 20 miles. Chattanooga is 25 miles north. Trenton sits in Dade County, the westernmost county in Georgia, isolated enough by the mountain terrain that it is sometimes called the 'State of Dade.'
The Experience
The Cloudland Canyon passes change the math on the stay. A park that charges day-use fees is included with your room, 3,485 acres of Lookout Mountain terrain, Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls at the canyon bottom (reached by a long staircase descent), 64 miles of trails, the West Rim Loop with gorge overlooks, mountain biking, and cave tours. You can be at the canyon trailhead in five minutes from the motel parking lot. What guests keep saying across hundreds of guest reviews: immaculate cleanliness, great water pressure, unique rooms, excellent value, and proximity to the canyon. No safety or cleanliness concerns across any review platform. The Groovy Nomad was nominated for Best of Georgia in the Hotels and Travel category in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Faircloths built this for Dade County as much as for travelers, and the reviews reflect a property where the owners care about both.
Details
Trenton, GA 30752
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Groovy Nomad Hotel pet friendly?
No, The Groovy Nomad Hotel does not allow pets.
Does The Groovy Nomad Hotel have EV charging?
No, The Groovy Nomad Hotel does not have EV charging.
Does The Groovy Nomad Hotel have WiFi?
Yes, The Groovy Nomad Hotel has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Groovy Nomad Hotel?
Cloudland Canyon State Park: 2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there. Rock City and Ruby Falls: 18 miles, about a 35 minute drive. Chattanooga, Tennessee: 25 miles, about a 50 minute drive.
How far is The Groovy Nomad Hotel from Cloudland Canyon State Park?
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is The Groovy Nomad Hotel from Rock City and Ruby Falls?
18 miles, about a 35 minute drive.
How far is The Groovy Nomad Hotel from Chattanooga, Tennessee?
25 miles, about a 50 minute drive.
Are Cloudland Canyon State Park passes really included?
Yes. Every room reservation at The Groovy Nomad Hotel includes Cloudland Canyon State Park day passes for guests. The park is approximately two miles from the motel.
What is Cloudland Canyon State Park?
Cloudland Canyon is a 3,485-acre Georgia state park on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, featuring a dramatic gorge with two waterfalls, Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls, accessible by a steep staircase descent. The park also has 64 miles of hiking trails, a West Rim Loop with gorge overlooks, mountain biking, and cave tours. It is one of the most scenic state parks in the American South.
What is the history of The Groovy Nomad building?
The building was originally the Southland Motel, constructed in 1959 on North Main Street in Trenton, Georgia. It sat vacant and deteriorating for years before Ryan and Melissa Faircloth, Dade County natives, acquired and renovated it. The original structural walls and 1959 milk glass light fixtures were preserved. All rooms opened in summer 2022.
How far is The Groovy Nomad from Chattanooga?
Chattanooga, Tennessee is approximately 20 to 25 miles north of The Groovy Nomad Hotel, about a 25-minute drive. Lookout Mountain attractions including Rock City and Ruby Falls are closer, roughly 15 to 20 miles north just over the Georgia-Tennessee state line.
Can I book the entire Groovy Nomad for a group?
Yes. The Groovy Nomad Hotel offers a whole-property booking option for groups through the Guesty booking platform. Individual rooms remain separately bookable for standard reservations.
What else is there to do near The Groovy Nomad Hotel?
Rock City and Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain are approximately 15 miles north in Tennessee, just across the Georgia state line. Chattanooga is 25 miles north with a strong independent restaurant and arts scene along the North Shore and Southside. The area is also known for scenic road cycling on the Lookout Mountain routes.
Does The Groovy Nomad Hotel have a pool?
The Groovy Nomad Hotel does not have a pool. The property has a shared courtyard.
Is parking available at The Groovy Nomad Hotel?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at The Groovy Nomad Hotel.
Does The Groovy Nomad Hotel include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at The Groovy Nomad Hotel.
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Things to Do Near Trenton, Georgia
Cloudland Canyon State Park
2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
A 3,485-acre Georgia state park on the western edge of Lookout Mountain. The canyon's signature hikes descend hundreds of stairs to Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls at the gorge floor. The West Rim Loop follows the canyon edge with continuous views. The park also has 64 miles of trails, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cave tours. Day passes are included with every Groovy Nomad room reservation.
Rock City and Ruby Falls
18 miles, about a 35 minute drive.
Two of the South's most enduring roadside attractions, both on Lookout Mountain just over the Georgia-Tennessee state line. Rock City's garden pathways wind through dramatic sandstone formations to a seven-state view. Ruby Falls is a 145-foot underground waterfall inside a cavern 1,120 feet below Lookout Mountain's surface. Both are within 20 miles of the motel.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
25 miles, about a 50 minute drive.
A full city destination 25 miles north, Chattanooga anchors the Tennessee River gorge with the Tennessee Aquarium (one of the largest freshwater aquariums in the world), the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge, a concentrated independent restaurant and bar scene along the North Shore and Main Street Corridor, and access to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and additional Lookout Mountain attractions. A half-day trip from The Groovy Nomad.