Going to guess that somehow the hotel is remotely related to NKP or maybe this is just coincidence? The sign looks similar.
Since it has direct access to the Nickel Plate rail trail, per your link, that might be a clue.
It’s a new hotel on the old nkp line north out of Indy
This is great! I love the NKP logo on the sign, the pillows, etc. Very clever. I only wish this hotel were somewhere I wanted to go.
But, CMStPnP: You need to remember a rhyme when spelling out the road’s name. Think of the theme from the Mickey Mouse Club: N-i-c, k-e-l, P-l-a-t-e. I’ve never gotten the spelling wrong when I think of that.
That being said–what a hotel idea! Good luck to 'em!
I don’t believe that the Hotel Nickel Plate, owned by Hilton, is related to the Nickel Plate Railroad. But, as mentioned, it is situated alongside the old Nickel Plate Railroad. The track is long abandoned and removed, and an 8-mile trail of asphalt and concrete runs from Fishers north to Noblesville and south to Indianapolis. There is another 40-mile trail that runs from Kokomo to Rochester. Back in the day, the Nickel Plate Road ran track from Michigan City to Indianapolis.
Rich
This thread heightened my curiosity about the former Nickel Plate branch that ran from Indianapolis to Michigan City.
Source: Nickel Plate Historical and Technical Society
I did not know any of this, but the trackwork was the Indianapolis Division of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad which was acquired by the Nickel Plate Railroad in 1922.
Rich
Going one step further…Where is Fishers, IN? Seems it is approximately 5 miles south of Noblesville, which is shown on your copy of the route. The Hotel sure looks nice. Congrats to them on NOT forgetting the NKP heritage. And Kudos to CMStPnP for calling attention to this. regards mike endmrw0922251707
I came across this explanation of Fishers, Indiana,
Fishers, Indiana, formerly known as Fishers Station and originally as Fishers Switch, came into being in June of 1872 when Salathiel Fisher divided his land into town lots. In those days, it was common for new communities to spring up along railroads, and Fishers was no exception, hence the early reference to a train station or ‘switch’. The railroad quite naturally drew residents and businesses to the area, the first of which was a gristmill and sawmill located approximately where the Nickel Plate restaurant is today. Fishers is located in Delaware and Fall Creek Townships in southeastern Hamilton County.
Rich. I lived about 3 miles from this location for 27 years until I moved to Georgia. From when the old station was there. To a new station for the state fair train. Nkp bar and grille was a great place to eat Now the line has been torn up for one of those trail thingys. That started a redevelopment that was planned/coerced by the city.
The name of the hotel is simply from the fact that the city of Fishers has named this large redevelopment area the Nickle Plate District, honoring the old whistle stop just before Indy as you headed south from Michigan city. That stop was one of the catalysts for the town of Fishers even existing back in the day
Thanks for that post, Douglas.
Rich
The Nickel Plate was often THE premier employer in the towns they served and they developed excellent relationships with the communities. Loyalty to and fond memories of the New York, Chicago and Saint Louis Railroad are still very strong in those places today even though the number of people who actually were around during the Nickel Plate years dwindles daily. Naming a hotel after that history is good public relations.
And a good reason to uncap a nice bottle of Nickel Plate Beer, brewed in Fort Wayne right along the NKP Main.
Cheers, Ed
Similar story here in Cleveland involving the Carling brewery. Many people know about their Black Label but there were a number of breweries in Cleveland including Erin Brew.
I have been to Fishers a few times in the past few years while visiting friends in Indianapolis but never heard about that hotel. Granted I was staying in one a good bit to the south because I needed to pick up I-69 and then I-70 to get back home.
You should check it out next time and report back to us.
Rich
Stayed at a Best Western in Fishers when I was racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway back in 2017. Never knew of its railroad connection.
Back in the 19th Century most metropolitan areas had a number of breweries - there wasn’t refrigeration and and the beer would ‘turn’ if transported too far between brewing and consumption.
My father-in-law in Akron was a fan of POC - Pride of Cleveland.