An old railroad car is transformed into a one-of-a-kind Airbnb in Iowa
If you’re looking for a quirky place to stay, we’ve got the inside track on an Airbnb that might be just the ticket.
The CR Station Train Caboose Airbnb near the town of Decorah, Iowa, is a former caboose – a type of American railroad car used to transport train crew, usually the driver and brakemen, to the end of a freight train.
Inside, it sleeps four – with a double bed and bunk beds – and comes with the original driver’s chairs and handrails.
The CR Station Train Caboose Airbnb (pictured) is located near the town of Decorah, Iowa
Pictured is the caboose before it was converted to Airbnb. A caboose is a type of American railroad car that is used to transport train crew to the end of a freight train
Jim Dotzenrod and his daughter Danielle, who live in Decorah and renovated the Airbnb, first heard of the caboose when a friend spotted it sitting in a salvage yard about 30 miles away.
Although the family does not know where the caboose, which bears the locomotive number “SOO 124”, came from, they later discovered a photograph from 1986 of this one that was taken in Clinton, Iowa, so it dates back to at least the 1980s.
Danielle tells MailOnline Travel that this specific style of caboose is called an ‘extended vision’ or ‘wide vision’ caboose because of its cupola, which is a small glazed protrusion on the roof.
She adds that some of the train conductors who were traveling in the caboose would have “used the cupola windows to watch the train”.
Jim and Danielle spent $8,000 (£5,864) on the salvaged caboose, and also purchased original train tracks to place below as a base.
The couple transported the caboose to the Airbnb site by semi-tractor and trailer, and used a crane to hoist it into position on the tracks.
Throughout 2016, it took six months and $4,000 (£2,925) for the father and daughter team to transform the caboose into the ‘lovely and cozy’ rental it is today.
Images show a crane lifting the salvaged caboose into position on a set of original train tracks
Jim Dotzenrod and his daughter Danielle bought the caboose for $8,000 (£5,864). Pictured is the interior of the caboose before its refurbishment
Danielle says: “My father was a carpenter by trade. He is now retired, but when we renovated and started renting the caboose he was still working full time so could only work there nights and weekends.
The biggest challenge of the renovation was “cutting and removing the old iron” that they couldn’t reuse in the railway carriage, such as the iron stove and the iron platform on which rested the seats of the driver’s cupola.
Danielle explains: “However, we have reassigned the two dome seats, which are reversible. They now sit in front of the main windows and can be turned around to face the seating area or out the west facing window overlooking the horse pasture, which is especially nice at sunset. The couple also built a staircase leading to the sleeping area.
A staircase was built to lead to the sleeping area. It took six months and $4,000 (£2,925) for Jim and Danielle to reuse the wagon
The renovated van. The biggest challenge of the renovation was “cutting and removing the old iron” that they weren’t able to reuse in the railway carriage
Finally, it was ready to be rented. “The caboose was very popular right from the start,” reveals Danielle.
It has a fridge, microwave, double burner hot plate, dishes for cooking and bar utensils for making cocktails. In addition, there is a toilet, a six-gallon water heater and a shower, as well as Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a television.
Guests can help themselves to fruit from the raspberry and apple trees on the Airbnb grounds. The caboose is located in front of a horse pasture and you can pet horses on the other side of the fence. Jim also offers carriage rides in the countryside and through Decorah.
Pictured are the conductor’s seats that once stood in the cupola. “They now sit in front of the main windows and can be turned around to face the seating area or out the west-facing window with a view of the horse pasture, which is especially nice at sunset,” says Danielle.
The Airbnb kitchen includes a refrigerator, microwave, double burner hot plate and dishes for cooking
Pictured is Airbnb’s barware for mixing cocktails. There is also a toilet, a six gallon water heater and a shower.
“Close to Decorah (pictured above), customers have a lot to do,” says Danielle. Image courtesy of Creative Commons
The family also own and operate a second Airbnb near the caboose called Silo on the Ridge (pictured)
Danielle adds: “Customers really like to have a barbecue or have a glass of wine [on] the large adjoining terrace which adjoins the horse pasture. The horses themselves are a huge draw and many of our reviews include them by name.
‘Nearby Decorah offers guests plenty to do… hiking and mountain biking trails plus a popular 10-mile bike path that takes in the city, kayaking and tubing on the Upper Iowa River and award-winning breweries to name a few. ‘
Airbnb reviews are overwhelmingly positive – one recent user wrote, “The caboose was the perfect blend of comfort and uniqueness!”
While a second added: ‘Our son loves trains so this was really exciting for him! They did a great job converting the caboose into a nice cabin.
The family also owns and operates a second Airbnb nearby, called Silo on the ridge, a “restored and refitted” barn silo.
The caboose costs around $135 (£100) a night. For more information visit the CR Station tail train on Airbnb.