South Florida native Joe Peters moved to Christiana, Tenn., in August 2004 with his wife Chais and youngest son. A week later he was performing with The Midnight Special Band in a small café in Wartrace. On that balmy summer night, an old brick building west of the railroad tracks first beckoned Chais. Three years forward on a cold February morning, Joe and Chais traveled the winding Tennessee back roads. As jazz played softly on the radio, a steady flow of morphine caused her to drift in and out of consciousness. Five months prior, she’d been diagnosed with cancer. As they pass through Wartrace, the old brick building again beckoned. She touched Joe’s hand and asked him to stop. “I want to go inside,” she whispered. Joe answered, “I know you do, honey. Maybe someday, but not today.” She closed her eyes and smiled as the hotel disappeared in the rearview mirror. Ten days later L. Chais Peters died. She was 52.
On July 12, 2007, Peters purchased the Historic Walking Horse Hotel. Renovations began the following month, and by December, the Strolling Jim Restaurant and Chais Music Hall opened for business. Considered a nirvana for musicians and audiences alike, Chais Music Hall features rosewood floors and staging, state-of-the-art sound and LED lighting. Peters contracted renowned Sound Engineer Steven Durr to insure that the room’s acoustics were world class. Quality was clearly at the top of his priority list from the onset. Live performances have showcased jazz, blues, classic rock, ‘50s, Americana, tributes, country, classical, bluegrass, Western swing, gospel and solo artists. The list of distinguished performers include Platinum recording artist Aaron Tippin, Grand Old Opry legend Charlie Louvin, John Jorgenson, Duffy Jackson, Barbara Morrison, Claire Lynch, Joe Davidian, Kate Paradise, Annie Sellick, Carolyn Martin, Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours, CJ Vaughn, Tom Bresh, Richard Smith, Jim Hurst, Shaun Murphy, Mystery Trip and The Midnight Special Band. Let’s not overlook songwriter and Grammy Award Winner Gordon Kennedy, Grammy and Oscar nominee Tom Douglas, Grammy nominee Steve Bogard, Phil Maderia, Ray Stevenson and more.
Joe Peters
In late 2008, Peters’ dreams crumbled as the economy imploded. Despite a solid equity position, banks were not lending. Less than one year after a grand debut, the Walking Horse Hotel doors closed. To stay afloat, Peters sold his house and possessions, and he borrowed money from his closest friends. He also prayed. In February 2009, he watched a television documentary that chronicled the Great Depression. In it Peters found hope. In the midst of our nation’s darkest economic crisis, entertainment-based businesses flourished. The circus, carnival, picture show and juke joints provided temporary relief from the harsh reality of the times.
In August 2009, Peters reopened the hotel. Word soon reached the wedding planners, and they booked receptions and rehearsal dinners. While there are no immediate plans to open the restaurant, the hotel regularly hosts private events that often include fresh seasonal cuisine. According to Paranormal Investigators, the hotel is one of the most haunted buildings in the country. The television series My Ghost Story recently flew Peters to Los Angeles, and the hotel will be featured in an upcoming episode. During the Halloween season, the infamous third floor is transformed into a haunted attraction featuring actors, original storylines and Hollywood special effects. Peters is quick to point out his attraction is not the stereotypical spook house. It is mini-theater.
Since purchasing the hotel, Peters has experienced more than his share of indifference. Despite spending much of his childhood in rural North Carolina, he was automatically branded a Yankee. In November 2009, Peters convinced the town’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen to sign a resolution asking the State to grant an exception for liquor by the drink. Although Wartrace remains a dry town, in February 2010 a bill was submitted to the State Senate by Sen. Bill Ketron and to the House by Rep. Pat Marsh. The bill passed and specifies that the liquor by the drink exception “will only apply to the Walking Horse Hotel in Bedford County.” Those damn Yankees! Peters has yet to apply for a liquor license, due in part to his reluctance to change the room’s current vibe or to be perceived as a bar, honky tonk or tavern. Guests can currently BYOB.
If you ask a music connoisseur or professional entertainer what is lacking in Tennessee’s small music venue, the answer would be quality. Contrary to popular belief, high tech sound, room design, lighting, acoustics and marquee performers do not ensure an ideal listening atmosphere. According to Peters, the audience is by far the most essential ingredient. He also emphasizes that a quality audience does not happen by accident. When asked how he intends to maintain the status quo and preserve the sanctity of Chais Music Hall he offered two words. Cover charge!
Peters insists, “A cover charge is an investment that neutralizes most problems before they arise. When a guest spends his or her money, he in essence becomes a partner who expects a return on his investment. In my experience, guests attending private events are far more likely to be less cordial when the cuisine and alcohol are complimentary!”
A music event inside Chais Music Hall is undoubtedly a listening experience. In a world in which mediocrity has become commonplace, Peters believes people want and deserve more. The Walking Horse Hotel remains one of Middle Tennessee’s best kept secrets. If you’ve been searching for a unique change of pace, you just found it!
Having been a professional keyboard player for most of my life, I have had the pleasure of playing at the hotel. From a professional player’s viewpoint, it is by far the most acoustically perfect room I have ever played. I strongly encourage you to check out the hotel. It will be a music experience you will not soon forget.
Walking Horse Hotel
101 Spring Street
Wartrace, TN 37183
(931) 389-7050
walkinghorsehotel.com
