The original owner of all these cabooses won them in an auction back in '69 on a lark. It seems he didn't think he would win them, but, he did. Eventually, he turned them into miniature motel rooms, some actually pretty darn large, including this one.
Class NMf, built 9/27, retired 2/59; to Ironton Railroad #8, to Red Caboose Motel 20. RDG 90723 served on the Ironton Railroad as #8 following its retirement in 1959. It became part of the Red Caboose Motel at Strasburg, Pa. For many years, the motel painted all of their cars red and added a placard with a miscellaneous railroad name. In the 1990s, the motel began painting the cars into representative paint schemes that did not necessarily reflect the true history of the car. In this case, RDG 90723 is decorated for Lehigh Valley.
From my previous waymark
This place is kind of in the middle of nowhere. I found it quite by accident. I was forced to take a detour from the Lincoln Highway. After passing and exploring a covered bridge I found this place, off to the side of a dusty road, just past some train tracks. There is everything imaginable out front of this place. I saw: A horse and buggy, an old pick-up truck advertising this place with a bog board attached to the side of it, a cigar store indian on the porch, six coin operated rides which looked very old, a diner in a caboose, a gift shop, another shed off to the sign which wants to "make you Amish", and all sorts of other colorful objects to attract attention.
To the rear were the sleeping quarters, a series of cabooses and dining cars, over forty of them. They were stretched end to end. From the sky it looks like a large, capital "O". The dining car out front was pretty narrow but looked pretty cool (check out the gallery). The porch of the main structure (the dining car is to the left) is old-fashioned, with wood planking and a neat place to sit and relax. The view is nothing but farmland and railroad tracks with an old pair of gates.
There is an interesting story behind this place. A man puts bid on 19 cabooses on a dare in 1969, man wins auction, man turns cabooses into a hotel. Their site says: "What started as a dare has become a one-of-a-kind Lancaster County motel which are made from fully restored 25-ton cabooses. You can sleep in a real caboose in the heart of Lancaster County Strasburg Train Country."
It all started in 1969 when Don Denlinger was dared to bid on 19 old cabooses being auctioned off by the Pennsylvania Railroad. To his surprise, he won them for $100.
He moved them to a parcel of land near the Strasburg Railroad and turned them into unique train lodging in the heart of Amish countryside. He continued to add to his collection of train cars over the years, and the Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant became fun, family-oriented Pennsylvania lodging offering the chance to sleep in real railroad cars.
Lancaster County’s Red Caboose Motel is now owned by Larry Demarco. The Red Caboose offers a little bit of train history tucked away among the peaceful Amish farms of Strasburg, PA. Under Larry's care, the railroad cars have been restored and repainted to feature the authentic colors of the railroads they represent.
The Red Caboose was named Best of Baltimore 2005 for kids and has been mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most singly owned cabooses.. SOURCE
Also from their site: eaturing 46 sleeping cars, dining, and on-site family activities, Lancaster County's Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant offers something for everyone. Nestled on 9 1/2 acres of land in Amish countryside near the Strasburg railroad, the Red Caboose is a must for family
vacations, train history enthusiasts, and couples who want a peaceful, relaxing romantic
getaway. Hurry aboard for a fun and unique Pennsylvania lodging experience. In the
heart of Lancaster County Amish Country!