The Dive Motel & Swim Club
Retro kitsch Americana. Think shag carpet, mirrored tiles, sunken platform beds, bold colors, and a bar stocked with weenie tinis. Part motel, part neighborhood pool party, part dive bar — but none of it is actually divey. It's thoughtfully designed chaos.
Day pass pool access costs $10 Mon–Fri and $35 on weekends — worth it if you're a local
Why It Matters
Listed on the 2020 Condé Nast Traveler Hot List. One of the few hotels in Nashville built around the pool-bar-music trifecta, with public access to locals. The Party Switch in every room activates a disco ball and a four-channel Dive Radio playing Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n Roll, or Sleep. Adults-only (21+).
The Dive is a 23-room retro motel, bar, and swim club on Dickerson Pike in East Nashville — built on the bones of the 1956 Key Motel, a place that once hosted Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Hank Williams. Owners Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks (the team behind Urban Cowboy) gutted it and rebuilt it as a love letter to mid-century Americana: disco balls in every room, a Party Switch above every bed, and a 60-foot pool that doubles as a neighborhood social club. The Dive Bar is open to the public daily, which means you're sharing the vibe with locals — not just hotel guests.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Cabin Kings
Sleeps 2. The rustic option in the lineup — a king bed with vintage cabin-style detailing and the signature disco ball. A good entry point into the Dive experience without going full suite.
King
Double Queens
Sleeps 4. The only room type that sleeps more than two. Good for a friend group splitting costs. Still individually designed with the full disco ball treatment.
Two Queens
Honeymoon Suite
Sleeps 2. The top-tier Dive experience. Two side-by-side 6-foot double soaking tubs, shag carpet, a sunken platform king bed, two disco balls, and access to a private deck overlooking the pool. If you're celebrating something, this is the room.
KingKing Pool Rooms
Sleeps 2. Standard kings in Dive terms means nothing standard at all. Individually furnished and decorated, each one with its own story. Pool-facing rooms often have balconies — worth requesting.
KingKing Pool Suites
Sleeps 2. A step up from the King Pool Rooms with extra space to stretch out and lounge. Sit-out areas make these feel less motel, more boutique.
KingPenthouse Suites
Sleeps 2. Two suites sit at the top of the property with 6-foot soaking tubs, shag carpet, a lounge area, and a sunken platform king bed with two disco balls overhead. The private deck looks directly over the pool — perfect for watching the scene below with a drink in hand.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Every room has a custom Dive Radio with four channels: Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n Roll, and Sleep. Part of the Party Switch experience.
The Dive Bar has a stage and DJ booth hosting live bands, DJs, swing dancing nights, drag performances, and themed events. Included with bar access — no ticket typically required for the venue itself.
Poolside events including movie nights, themed parties, and community gatherings run throughout the summer. Swim Club members receive priority invites.
Annual membership for $365 or $95/month. Gives access to the pool at 11am plus a 10% discount on food and beverages and invites to poolside events. For Nashville locals who want a regular summer spot.
A 60-foot outdoor pool with cabanas and striped loungers. Open to motel guests at no extra cost. Non-guests can purchase daily passes ($10 Mon–Fri, $35 Sat–Sun). The pool is seasonal — closed in winter.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Complimentary wireless internet in rooms and public areas. Some guests report inconsistent speeds.
All rooms stocked with EO brand bath products.
Curated by Rainbow Caviar — an offbeat mix of snacks and local Nashville goodies in every room.
The signature in-room feature: a switch that activates the disco ball and Dive Radio. In every single room.
Premium bedding in all room types.
Outdoor picnic and BBQ area on the property.
Dogs welcome in select rooms. Small grassy area on property (not fenced). $50 pet fee per stay.
Strictly 21 and over. No cribs or extra beds available.
Pool deck features cabanas and striped sun loungers surrounding the 60-foot pool.
On-site merch counter selling Dive Motel branded goods — ringer T-shirts and more. Shop also available online, though closed during hibernation season.
Free self-parking on-site, though the lot is small and can overflow on weekends. Overflow parking at the neighboring school on busy nights.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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