Train stations were once the centerpieces of many U.S. cities. After decades of neglect, many are now being revived in new and creative ways. Take, for example, Union Pacific Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah. Trains don’t stop at Union Pacific Depot anymore, but that’s because it’s now a hotel. The Asher Adams was built in the former train station, opening in October 2024. Refreshed with white and gilt detailing and long wooden benches interspersed with plush seats, the resulting space pulls a bit of a mind trick: are you lingering in a lobby or waiting for a train to arrive? The Asher Adams is just one of a host of recently restored train stations across the country that are being reclaimed as hotels, restaurants, museums and more. As automobiles, and later planes, became more fashionable than trains, many of these railways consolidated or stopped running, leaving these once-bustling centerpieces of urban life empty. While many abandoned stations were torn down, for Salt Lake City, tearing down the Union Pacific Depot wasn't an option. The public had an emotional connection to it, which led to the restoration. It's also one of the oldest buildings in Salt Lake City, originally built between 1908 and 1909 as a bustling hub to merge multiple railway lines connecting the Northwest to the Southwest.
