Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant is a Nostalgic, Train-Themed Getaway for Couples in Pennsylvania’s Amish nation
The Short type: The Red Caboose Motel & eatery happens to be serving train-loving individuals, couples, and families close to the Strasburg Rail Line in Pennsylvania since 1970. However, the group claims the house is not for faint of center. With 9 acres and today 38 cabooses (and something post automobile, one baggage car, a farm residence, and a restaurant), required a tremendously unique and specialized individual keep and inhale existence in to the home. Enter the Prickett family â pops Todd, daughter Tyler, in addition to their spouses Debra and Kat â who bought the motel and increased for the obstacle of refurbishing the cabooses as well as the bistro. Your family will continue to make improvements and introduce more and more people towards the Red Caboose’s unique spaces, cafe, and contacts to railway background.
The Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant has become a well known place to go for train-lovers over nearly five many years of procedure, nevertheless rarely had become. Once the original holder, Donald Denlinger, noticed 19 excess Pennsylvania Railroad cabooses right up for public auction in the summertime of 1969, he put in a modest quote.
Half a year later on, that quote was acknowledged. Therefore the remainder is record.
In 1970, Donald changed the cabooses into compartments, in which he used the cabins’ link with railroad history to draw practice aficionados from all over. After Red Caboose Motel unwrapped in May 1970, more than 4,500 men and women toured the upgraded practice automobiles in the 1st five many hours. Around then almost half a century, many individuals, lovers, and individuals make the pilgrimage to rural Ronks, Pennsylvania, to keep within Red Caboose.
“Our place is different in that it’s train cars,” said Kat Prickett, Red Caboose Co-Owner and Marketing Manager. “Lodging is both the destination together with appeal, not only another spot to put your mind overnight.”
Over the years, the cabooses have actually necessary significant maintenance. The original proprietors couldn’t keep up with the necessary work at the property, so they began searching for somebody who could.
Luckily for us, the Prickett family members â grandfather Todd, boy Tyler, as well as their spouses Debra and Kat â purchased the hotel and rose to your obstacle of refurbishing the cabooses and cafe.
“We took more than in March 2016, and then we’ve been working hard to bring back the 50-year-old house,” Kat mentioned. “The cabooses being in the weather all of this time implies they required some really love. We additionally took the bistro back under the umbrella of this hotel and re-branded it Casey Jones’ eatery.”
The Red Caboose is not just 19 vehicles anymore. With time, the institution broadened to 38 autos, such as a luggage automobile, a post vehicle, and two large dining automobiles that seat doing 150 individuals. Kat stated site visitors enjoy that all of the vehicles however maintain their particular Americana design and personality.
“we are trying to supply a long-lasting knowledge for every single visitor, everytime,” she informed all of us. “you want to deliver people out with a great mind with the nearest and dearest.”
an appealing Atmosphere for many Ages
The Red Caboose Motel & eatery sits on nine miles of secure in Amish nation, so most visitors exactly who book using hotel trip to go through the property’s charm.
The hotel supplies a good amount of one-of-a-kind experiences. Each guest place is located in a caboose that maintains the train car’s initial character. Eg, most roofs are curved, showing the vehicle’s previous life on railroad. Each area provides exclusive concept and its title, too, such as the Double dual Caboose, the little household Caboose, and the Queen partners Caboose.
Individuals who stay at The Red Caboose certainly aren’t roughing it, however, as the areas incorporate fridges, microwaves, flat-screen TVs, and wifi. Lots of people decide to remain for special events, and one or two honoring after getting married might elect to stay static in the intimate Honeymoon Caboose.
“This has a queen bed and a jacuzzi and a tiny deck about back. Folks guide that for special occasions,” Kat said.
The people just who remain at The Red Caboose are not of a particular demographic or get older class. As an alternative, the hotel lures people of all age groups trying to celebrate their own milestones â or bask when you look at the reputation of the railroad.
One pair just who celebrated their own vacation on Red Caboose in 1984 lately gone back to the motel to celebrate their particular 35th anniversary.
“the stick to you in September was actually one we are going to remember. The accommodation was great as well as the meals exemplary. Hopefully to go back again,” Warren and Beverly, one or two from Australia, mentioned regarding experience.
The staff normally happy to assist facilitate unexpected situations for friends â for instance, if a wife really wants to commemorate a special occasion with balloons, wine, or meal.
“Since we are family-owned and managed, we’re easily accessible. If people have a thought, they could get in touch with you and make it happen,” Kat said.
Furthermore, The Red Caboose’s nine acres provide visitors with even more to-do than celebrating practice record. Other tourist attractions consist of a petting zoo, buggy rides, and a viewing tower couples can climb up observe the country.
The Pricketts have-been capable restore several of the cabooses to date, focusing on some on a yearly basis, while others have obtained brand-new bedspreads, drapes, and new coats of paint. Nonetheless’re definately not accomplished.
“you can find usually fantastic circumstances in the works. We are constantly doing restoring things and keeping them who is fit for years ahead,” Kat mentioned.
Casey Jones’ Restaurant is actually an upmarket Date-Night Destination
The Red Caboose Motel is during an outlying place, but couples need not drive into community in order to get a bite to consume. The Pricketts have actually reconditioned the Caboose’s original eatery, renaming it Casey Jones’ eatery.
“It’s now in two traveler vehicles that once rode the rails in the Pennsylvania Railroad,” Kat stated.
Partners dining at Casey Jones’ eatery can get trendy dinner offerings like glazed salmon or swelling crab desserts. Additional menu things consist of barbecue ribs, spaghetti, and a Caprese salad.
Kat advises partners not keep supper in the bistro without enjoying a slice of crumb dessert.
“We utilize my grandmother’s dish, and that I bake every single one me,” she said. “It obtained first place inside our state farm program. We’re constantly selling from it, you have to check it out if you are here.”
The restaurant can be open to get more casual morning meal and meal service, and offers an all-day brunch diet plan. Among the basics of the diet plan could be the Maine French Toast, filled with cream cheese and either blueberries or berries.
“It really is enjoyable to eat within bistro because the automobiles have actually fantastic views in the Amish country and also the sunset and the Strasburg Railroad,” Kat stated.
The Red Caboose keeps the nostalgic spirit alive in every single element of its organization, as well. Kat stated the group features possibilities to leave their own personalities shine through while at your workplace.
“our very own forward desk employees dress like conductors, and our servicing staff members dress like designers,” she informed us. “the bistro waitstaff tend to be dressed like those you’d have experienced in the old days regarding railroad.”
The theory should deliver guests to a time when practice travel over the U . S . had been more trendy and welcoming.
You and Your Partner Can encounter Pennsylvania’s railway History Up Close
Guests who remain at The Red Caboose are truly followers of trains, however, many of them are into practice record â and that’s why they choose to remain close to the Strasburg Railroad, america’ earliest railroad line, which opened in 1832 and it has been functioning ever since.
The Red Caboose gives practice lovers the chance to end up being close up and personal with original trains. Eg, in autumn 2019, visitors can easily see a motor that’ll be driving the Strasburg Rail Line for six weeks, the Norfolk & jodi west nationality Class J vapor locomotive #611.
“This is the ultra Bowl for train enthusiasts because there are image options and opportunities to drive the practice,” Kat said. “we are already out of stock for example week-end.”
In their time as people who own The Red Caboose, the Pricketts have updated the historical area whilst making it unique.
“We feel just like we are element of one thing unique and distinctive,” Kat stated. “We get to impact everyone’s lives, in the event which means we obtain to enable them to have a significantly better day.”