Staying at Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir, CA

I never thought I would stay in an old railroad car, but Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir is just that. When looking for possible hotels along my drive up north, I stumbled upon Railroad Park Resort. I didn’t really even know that was “a thing,” but I was immediately drawn to it. I grew up with brothers who loved trains, so I guess I enjoyed them too. I’ve ridden all kinds of trains from the London tube to the metro and subway in NYC. Many moons ago, I even lived right next to train tracks.

About the Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir:

The Railroad Park Resort has been around since 1968. There are 23 cabooses, but they also offer cabins, RV hook-up sites, and tent campsites. Unlike many Northern California campgrounds, the Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir offers everything from camping, to RV hookups, to sleeping in actual hotel rooms (IE: the train cars). They sell out quickly so they also offer cabins to use too.

There are several different cars from Wells Fargo, to Northern Burlington, to Southern Pacific and even Great Northern Railay. It was fun to see old photos of how they got the train cars in and they used cranes to set them on the ground.

One thing that makes Railroad Park Resort an ideal place to stay if you like hiking is that it’s just 2 miles from the Pacific Coast Trail (which I love). You can hike or run one of the best trails on the west coast. It also borders Castle Crags State Park, which I was lucky to run in as well.

About the Inside of the Cabooses:

One of the most common questions I received was: how is the inside? If you are worried that the inside will not be comfortable, you don’t need to worry at all!

The inside of the train cars at Railroad Park Resort is every bit as nice as a regular hotel. There is heating, AC, and all of the regular accommodations such as a bed, shower, and even TV, microwave, and refrigerator. Once you are inside the railroad car, you forget you are indeed sleeping in a railroad car. Each railcar has a vintage and rustic vibe to it. Plus each room has a piece of history inside whether it’s showing how the traincar was placed into the hotel area or what the traincar was previously used for. It’s certainly not the standard hotel room.

The cost of staying in one of the caboose ranges from about $150-$200, which is the standard price of more expensive chain hotels.

Dining Car Restaurant:

At the Railroad Park Resort, there is also a dining car restaurant. While we weren’t able to dine in (timing didn’t work for us), it was neat to see. The Dining Car Restaurant is built inside authentic, vintage railroad cars. In fact, the restaurant is practically a museum itself. If you like trains, it’s a great spot to stop for a bite to eat. Keep in mind, reservations are suggested due to it being so busy.

Is staying at the Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir worth it?

Absolutely, if you are ever in northern California, Redding, or Mount Shasta area, I highly suggest the Railroad Park Resort. You won’t be disappointed. It’s a great spot whether you have kids or not or even if you just want to park your camper in a scenic area.