Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant
312 Paradise Ln, Strasburg, PA, 17579
Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant Menu
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Address :
312 Paradise Ln
Strasburg, PA, 17579 - Phone (717) 687-5000
- Website https://www.redcaboosemotel.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Frank A.
My little nephew is crazy about trains. After visiting the chocho barn we decide to stop by and hit the lunch mane at the restaurant.. He loved the atmosphere of using a train cabin as a restaurant.. The staff was very nice and the food delicious. The prices were decent. We then headed to the gift shop and founded some interesting toys. There is a petting zoo with small horses and other animals to feed and a small but entertaining playground.. The interesting part was to see the strasgburg train pass by It was great for pictures.. If it wasn't because i am local i would definitely pass the idea of staying overnight in their cozy train room..
(4)Amy R.
Go for the experience, not for luxury or comfort. The cars are a bit cramped- but what do you expect? It's a train car!! The employees were very nice. The playground was great. The animals at the petting zoo (goats, pot bellied pigs, and chickens) were friendly. The food at the restaurant was diner quality. All in all, this place is great for a one night experience.
(3)James L.
Saw this place from the bus while taking the Amish country side tour. It looked interesting when we drove by so we decided to return for lunch after the tour. When we walked in we already knew we had made a mistake but didn't feel like driving around anymore. The restaurant was full of screaming kids with their oblivious parents there to see the trains pass by. The floor was filthy and everything including the windows were smeared with kid drool. The waitress was very nice but frazzled. I had a sandwich which was acceptable but not great. Great place for little kids but if you are not in your reproductive years forget it!
(2)Angela B.
I had dinner at the Red Caboose. I did not stay at the hotel. I had a crab cake sandwich. I thought it was delicious, very flavorful. I had French fries as a side. The French fries do cost 2.29 extra if you choose them as a substitute for chips. My mother got the chicken fingers basket with fries. She enjoyed it as well. My son did not like his pizza, which looked like it had been a frozen pizza. The waitress was friendly and attentive. She brought us refills without us having to ask for them. Overall the food was average, but I did really enjoy my crab cake sandwich. I did like the ambience. The restaurant was a train car. You could feel the car shake when a steam engine went by. There were coin operated rides outside the store, which my 4-yr old loved. There were Amish buddy rides outside, which we didn't try, but will next time!
(3)Robyn S.
We booked two rooms at this motel after seeing it while at the Strasburg Railroad. My son was SO excited to sleep in a real caboose! When I called to reserve the rooms (one for my family and one for my parents), they were very accommodating and even booked us two rooms that were right next to each other. The lady who called to confirm the reservation was also very very nice. At this point, I was very excited for our experience. When we arrived at the motel, we were greeted by a lady who was VERY negative and was clearly having a bad day. She kept telling this older guy who was, I guess, working on the train setup in the back, to shut up and go away, which I thought was VERY unprofessional to do in front of customers. We had a problem getting our keys right away because of a mix-up, which wasn't that big of a deal, except the girl made it seem like we were bothering her by having her look into whether we could check into our rooms or not. She texted the owner (not sure why she couldn't just call to save us time) and we got it all figured out. The lady at the front desk also told us that my credit card that I made the deposit on was declined, which it wasn't, (I checked it and had two charges for the two days that I paid for), so that also caused a little bit of unnecessary irritation. Then we went into our rooms, and I was a little disappointed, but I kept telling myself that it used to be a train car, so I couldn't expect the Hilton or anything. Our room was clearly not one of the renovated rooms, but it was still nice, and mostly clean. The beds were clean, but VERY uncomfortable. The shower had hair in it. Everything else looked OK. There was a flat screen TV on the wall and we did have cable, which was nice. They even had the Sprout channel, so my 2 year old was happy. My parent's caboose was renovated and GORGEOUS. It had wooden logs on the walls and the bed was made of finished logs. The bathroom was huge and very nice. There was a little loft in their caboose that was neat. It had a little mat that someone could sleep on and a little tv with a cable box. The only thing that I didn't really like was that there were cords all over the place in the loft. Even if they just got one of those plastic cord keepers to corral them a bit, it would have made a big improvement. Both rooms had a little binder with menus for the restaurant, local important numbers (hospitals and such), the TV channel list, and the information for the motel. Our binder was missing the motel information page, which had the free WiFi password, but we got it from my parents binder. We also enjoyed the petting zoo (there were two goats, a few chickens, and two pigs). The feed dispensers outside were broken, but you could purchase feed at the front desk, so it wasn't too big of a deal. There was also a "look out tower" that we didn't go in to, but it looked like it would have provided a nice view. We also didn't take an Amish buggy ride, but there were two buggies there with horses hooked up. My son liked to look at the horses. We didn't eat at the restaurant, but the menu looked like diner food, so it would have been a good option if we didn't feel like going into town. The gift shop was awful. There was a little "hallway" right off of the lobby (to the left if you are looking at the front desk) that had some cute purses and things, but the little room in the back had some very strange things. Lots of odd little toys and a few clothing items, but really nothing that even my 2 year old wanted. There was a little model train setup that was neat to look at. There was also a small collection of arcade games, but most of them were not in working order. The front porch of the motel was really nice. It was a beautiful (I'm assuming Amish made) wooden porch with a few tables and some little grocery store type rides for the little kids, such as a car, carousel, horse, a Jetson's car, and a few others. There was also a place right next to the tracks where you could stand (or sit at a picnic table) and watch the trains go past. We got some great pictures of the steam train, Thomas, and Percy as they went up and down the tracks. Overall, if you are going to come here, ask for a renovated room if possible. Also, be prepared, if it is a Thomas weekend, to pay A LOT for your room. I'm a little ashamed to say that we paid a total of $187 a night to stay here. I know that it was only that expensive because it was Thomas the Train weekend, but OMG that was WAYYYYY to much for that room. And if you are like us and drove several hours to get there and want to check in to your room early, before your train ride, you will be charged for an entire night, which seems obvious, but I guess I didn't think through the fact that I paid $187 to check into my room 2 hours early until I got there. My bad, but probably never again.
(3)Jennifer F.
This review is for the restaurant and gift shop only. We did not stay at the motel. We stopped in for a late lunch after taking our 2 year old to the National Toy Train museum next door. He LOVES trains, so it was a lot of fun for him to have lunch in a real train car, and be able to look out the window at the trains running from the Strasburg station. As others have mentioned, the main dining area is a train car and has a long, narrow layout, seating 4 to a table. Unless they have seating elsewhere, I would not recommend this for larger groups that want to sit at one table. I would also caution that the cashier / hostess stand is immediately inside the door and there can be a bit of a jam in the narrow opening if one party is coming in while another is trying to leave. The restaurant was clean and pleasant, and the service was very, very friendly. Our waitress was a sweet lady - very nice to us and especially to our son. Service was prompt, and the food very good. I ordered a burger that was tasty - good quality meat, nice charbroiled flavor. My husband's reuben was a little soggy on the bottom, but he enjoyed it, and the coleslaw was very, very good. The fries were also fresh and tasty, but there were a lot of them, enough to share from one plate without ordering an additional side of them if one sandwich doesn't come with them. Overall, we'd definitely eat there again. Word of warning about the "amazing" giftshop they advertise..... Yeah. Not so much. There's a neat train set up inside, but the rest is half leftover gifts, half flea market / garage sale stuff. We walked through on our way out, but you'd be better served to have very, very low expectations.
(3)Tiffany D.
I've stayed here twice now, once with friends on a let's-do-something-different spring break and once with my family on a road trip across the East. So Fun! Making a motel out of an old train just gives it that extra kick that makes you feel like you aren't just in Philly anymore. It really does fit right in with Amish country. The staff is super nice and will take you on a Buggy ride to an Amish farm if you like. Kids LOVE it. There's even a petting zoo and a barn behind. Just a fun, quirky, awesome place to stop!
(4)Ziv N.
Seems like anyone who has given this place more than two stars was reviewing the hotel. The restaurant is a tourist trap. Yes, it's cool eating in a train, but it's not cool when the food is so bad you have to leave halfway through. Skip this station...
(1)Gary E.
did it for the grandson, I would never voluntarily stay there. Desperately needs a remodel..
(2)Becky L.
The staff was very nice and helpful. Our bed was very uncomfortable. The whole place seems in need of a "facelift". The restaurant was advertised "open daily". However, was not open at all the whole time we were there. It was a neat experience overall but I don't need to go there again.
(3)Ryan D.
I only ate at the restaurant. It was cool eating in a train dining car. The food was good, but I wish that the fish sandwhich wasn't open faced on a hot dog bun.
(5)Eric E.
Stayed in train #27 and it was one of the worst nights of my life. The double and bunk beds are unbearable to sleep in and the shower looks like it was stolen from a abandon motel. They told us it was recently renovated but obviously they were taking about a different motel. Cool concept but no place for family to gather and completely outdated. Your better off sleeping in the cornfield up the street. Paid $160 a night.
(1)Bruce S.
I wanted to write a quick note on this place in saying that this was a fun restaurant to eat at. The car makes pretend train noises and motions periodically and the kids really love it! We had breakfast and it was very good -- bacon crispy, eggs done just right and the pancakes were yummy! The hotel was less yummy, old and outdated -- the wind came right through the walls and you could hear everything that went on around you. BUT -- you don't stay here for the posh decor, you stay here because it is cool. And it is -- we will return!
(4)Jamie E.
My family of 3 recently stayed at the Red Caboose, thinking it would be a fun alternative to a traditional hotel. It was TERRIBLE. Cons.: Dirty (mold in shower, disgusting carpet, questionable sheets), smelly, mosquitoes and spiders inside of caboose, the most uncomfortable beds. Odd layouts, lack of towels. Extremely loud ac unit. I would not recommend staying here to anyone. It's not worth the 'experience' and DEFINITELY not worth the money. Enjoy a train ride in Strasburg and stay in an actual hotel.
(1)Stephanie L.
Cool experience but not good food. And the staff was just ok. Very scenic though and fun for kids. But it was hard to get our son off the rides!
(2)Beth F.
I am really surprised by the low reviews here. My boyfriend and I just wend in October for our anniversary and absolutely loved this place. The prices were lower than many of the other hotels in the area, and you get to sleep ON A TRAIN CAR!!! We picked the smallest car to save money, and because we knew that we wouldn't be there a ton. We had a huge itinerary of things to cram into a few days, and we were determined to do it all. Keep in mind, this is a MOTEL. You are not coming here for a luxurious experience, you are coming here for the novelty. Maybe my boyfriend and I are just kids at heart still and that's why we loved it so much, but I'd gladly go back many times. When we arrived, it was such a cool experience. We pulled in, and there are several sized and multiple colors of train cars throughout the property. It made for some really neat pictures. There is a farm house that looks really nice, and had some hot tub rooms from what I read. Next to that is a petting zoo, and a play area for the kids. We didn't eat at the restaurant because we had so many other places we wanted to try, and that was my only complaint. The restaurant seemed to have odd hours, so on our checkout day we wanted to try it, but it wasn't open. The area is cool as well because there are so many things nearby. We actually didn't have enough time to try the local places, like the train ride, the Amish Farm, or the amusement park. Both Gettysburg and Hershey are in very close proximity, and if you like shopping there were a ton of outlet malls on the main strip. I loved it, and like I said above, we would definitely go back.
(5)Joyce Y.
We stopped here before boarding our train ride at the Strasberg RR. The split pea soup was amazing. We had the salmon sandwich, which was homemade and tasty. The peanut butter pie....well, ecstasy! So glad to be back after not being in town for nearly twenty years! We also saw the 12 o'clock train rumble by. Nice atmosphere and fantastic staff!
(5)Karla F.
I think people are giving this place a bad break. We stayed here last weekend with our two little ones during our spring break. We stayed in the Pennsylvania caboose and had a ball. The separate cars and the elevation of the trains made for quiet nights even though the place was full of families. Our caboose was up against Paradise Ln, and we weren't disturbed by noise from road traffic. The girls enjoyed the petting zoo and really had a blast in the arcade. The staff was friendly and both property and our caboose was clean and cared for. Yes, the rooms could use some updating - the bunkbed in our caboose didn't have a safety rail and the shower head appears to be the original shower head from when the property first opened. But the furniture was in good shape and the caboose was well-tended. We ate breakfast and dinner at the restaurant everyday. The breakfasts were really good, but the dinner was a little meh. I had the fish and fries which was really good, but nothing that my husband ordered was noteworthy. The kids ate the kids menu dinner items well, though. A tip, the bunkbeds did not have comforters, just thin blankets and sheets. So, it may be handy to bring thicker bedding if you are cold-natured. We had fun exploring Strasburg and the surrounding areas during our stay. Bottom line: this is a great place for low-key family get away. There is plenty to do onsite and even more fun to be had if you get out and drive a bit. Our kids were so disappointed to leave!
(4)Nadav K.
Avoid !!!!! Tasteless dried-out old bagged salad (though menu says "local Amish-grown produce"). Everything else was disappointing too. Crab cake was mush. Cold slaw was awful. Salmon burger was fishy. And lots of flies flying around the dining room.
(1)Kristina B.
This review is for both the motel and restaurant. We booked through Groupon for three days and two nights. My son loves Thomas and I thought seeing real steam engines in nearby Strasburg AND staying in a caboose would blow his mind. YES! The moment we drove into the compound, he was ecstatic. All those colorful caboose set against the rolling green farms were so pretty! The staff members we asked for directions were helpful and welcoming. The pretty young lady at the front desk was accommodating and informative. We arrived before check-in so we had time to kill, and we spent it in the gift shop. What a blast from the past. I felt like I was in a Stephen King book, in a good way, when he describes arcades and carnivals of old. We were the only ones in there and my son had fun looking at the train set-up and playing with the toy trains. When it was time for check-in, we got the most awesome caboose by luck, the N & W! The caboose was clean, the beds were soft, but the pillows too soft. I am used to firmer ones. It has airconditioning and heating, a bathhtub, a flat screen tv, refrigerator and microwave. Perfect! And when the wind was blowing hard the last night we were there, I was very nervous about a tree falling on our heads, nevermind that there WAS no tree outside. My husband said, "we are sleeping in a steel caboose. What are you worrying about?" And he had a point! The playground at the back of the property was rustic and simple. Set against the fields, I felt like I was transported back in time, to a simpler way of life. The View Tower had a great view of the landscape. Climbing is not for the faint-hearted or wild of imagination, and doubly more so going down. Spooky! And creaky stairs! My son wasn't interested in the petting zoo but he liked the small horses. Freely roaming chickens were a delight to see. The food at the dining car was good. The "hungry engineer" is bang for the buck - 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage patty, coffee and juice for $9.99. My breakfast for 2 days :) The dining car itself was clean and had a great view of more green fields, horse-drawn buggies, and the occasional Amish farmer plowing the fields. The tablecloths had vintage newspaper ads printed on them - a good read while waiting. Our waitress was attentive and efficient. All in all, a pleasant experience.
(4)Sandra M.
This review is for the buggy ride only: We had a very lovely ride. The scenery was great, as was seeing the Amish. We got to see them relaxing, and visiting with their friends and neighbors. If it weren't a Sunday, we would have seen them working, but I honestly think this was more interesting. The woman who does the buggy ride is great. Very informative and very nice. She was very patient with the children as well and it seems like she really enjoys what she does. I would not hesitate to come back and take their buggy ride again, next time we are in Lancaster.
(4)James R.
Ok. Visit #5. With a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old it won't be my last in sure. Yes the rooms are VERY basic and I stay only for one night. 2 would really be roughing it lol. But bottom line is the place does what it sets out to, let's you sleep in a caboose and that's what you go there for. Fair price, friendly service. Food I have tried once and venture elsewhere now, not horrible just better option around.
(4)Larissa G.
Before I get into my actual review I have to ask: why so many complaints? Based on some of the comments and complaints I've read, people were expecting a 5-star resort. This is clearly not the place to go if that's what you want. When you're staying in a caboose, surely you understand what you're signing up for. You're volunteering to stay in a piece of machinery that is in all likelihood even older than you are; renovated or not, it's a few steps above camping (and even then I wouldn't complain, because you still get working AC and running water, things I never got when camping!). As someone who has slept in a non-renovated caboose, I can promise, the cabooses here have been relatively well maintained and are very comfortable considering what they were built to be: an office for a conductor working in a time when comfort was not the priority. I'll get off my soapbox after one final comment: staying here should be approached as if you're sleeping in a piece of history. Treat it with respect as such, and if you just can't deal with that and you want a comfortable hotel, go get a comfortable hotel. Simple! Anyway, now that I'm done with that: I was extremely excited to stay here and was not disappointed. Even the fact that it was pouring rain when I arrived didn't get me down. I experienced super friendly service at the front desk as I checked in; speaking of checking in, watch for one of two sweet cats around the front. They're not a fan of screaming kids but love quiet adults. My caboose was so comfortable! Each caboose has a wooden stepping ramp to help people get in; because mine was one of a small handful sitting apart from the others, it got a full ramp complete with a porch and swing. I could see out over the cornfields and got to watch the sun set over an entire row of other cabooses the night after when the rain had passed. Just beautiful. The beds admittedly are not the best thing in the world, but again: I've slept in an actual caboose, and the staff here have done a good job of renovating something that was built to basically be an office space into a space you can temporarily live in. There's an AC unit in the window, and my room had a fridge and microwave. During the weekend I explored the place repeatedly; as a rail fan it was hard for me to accept that WOW, these historic cabooses from about 40 railroads are all here and are part of a motel! Once upon a time apparently all the cabooses were red. No longer! Now they've been repainted and redone in their original colors. Absolutely beautiful. The restaurant is a dining car, which is tiny - but again, that's part of the history. I really have no complaints about the restaurant here (where I ate breakfast two days in a row) - the view of the crossing is excellent and waitresses were all very nice and attentive. The food wasn't out of this world or anything, but it was still very good and left me feeling satisfied. While here, take time to explore the gift shop, stop by the petting zoo, take a buggy ride, and check out their viewing tower, which gives you a birds-eye view of the countryside and the railroad track. There's a number of swing sets and wooden train sets for kids to play in as well. The place overall is definitely kid friendly; there was even a movie on the lawn during my second night here. I only have one complaint overall; the maid service left my TV on and clearly used my bathroom while they were in my room. I would have expected the workers to be a bit more respectful, even though I'm appreciative of the fact that they came in to clean and tidy up. But hey, other than that, my weekend was wonderful here. I'd definitely stay here again!
(4)Jennifer M.
I Stood in the Red Caboose the week of July 28th for one night with my husband and two boys. Upon booking the place I saw mixed reviews and said you know what i'm going to book anyway because of the ambiance and I know the kids would enjoy it. Not by any means am I a picky or fussy person when it comes to hotels and Motels. The service was ok, but I thought it could be better. The ATM in the shop was out of order so I had to leave the facility to get cash so that my children and I can do the buggy ride, which only takes cash by the way. The caboose I found was on the crooked side. I felt like I needed to drink a v-8 all the time. The bathroom was lets just say cramp. The cleanliness was also a problem I found mold and mildew around the shower area, which is due to a lack of ventilation which the caboose didn't have much of. In the evening when I was laying in the bed with my husband I noticed the room shaking, he had mentioned it earlier in the day but I thought it was just in his mind. Thank God I was extremely exhausted otherwise I would of gotten motion sickness. lol. Question is will I stay here again. Answer probably not. for the amount of money that I paid for one room I could of stayed somewhere better at 150.00 for one night I was kind of upset. I mean for the amount of money that they charge rooms should be updated and cleaned a little better. I chaulk it up to my kids having a good time, but its a lesson learned. Staff was very friendly, but that was about it.
(2)Dirt B.
I am basing this review on the family experience in general, rather than just the restaurant food. It was a fun place for the kids and I would go back for them. If I was with my wife only... probably not. We did not stay at the motel - we simply stopped for lunch. We just spent a few hours on the Strasburg Railroad (LOVED IT) and the kids were hungry and begged to stop here and eat. Oh, the things we do for our kids. Here is the good and bad about this place... The train restaurant is tight quarters as you can imagine. The Manager was incredibly nice to us and our children. He gets a gold star. However, the food was less than desirable. We laughed at the amount of water in our son's Spaghetti dinner. He's a kid, though and didn't mind. Both kids were happy and that's all that mattered to us. It's Strasburg, PA, people... you are eating on an old train car - this is not five star dining so suck it up! Here are some really good things about this place after we ate... We went to the gift shop and most of the coin machines were broken and out of order. That is a bonus as a parent... you can just tell the kids it's broken and move on. Ok - that was a little sarcastic, here are some good things for real.... We walked the grounds and found a petting zoo. This was really cool for the kids and they got to pet some pigs, goats and a colt. They tried to catch chickens but they proved to be too fast. Around the corner we found a large playground - a bit rickety so be careful! Again, this was another plus. Lastly they have an old silo converted into an observation tower that the kids loved as well. Again - we would return with our kids - if it was just the wife and I, probably not.
(3)Amy B.
Wanted to give a review for the buggy ride we took here today. It was a joy, the horses are well taken care of and it seems to me it's off the well beaten path. We (husband & I) were lucky to be the only two on the buggy ride. I can't remember the drivers name but he was great! So much info and made the ride very pleasant. $12.00 per person for the ride and last about 30 mins plus. . . . :)
(5)Jared K.
This place was great if you have kids that love trains. My son and I stayed here and everything about the motel was great. We had plenty of space in the caboose (one double bed and one bunk bed). Also, the mini train playground outside our room was great to play on at night and first thing in the morning. The viewing tower was a nice touch as well. Finally, my son had a ball with the 50 cent (great price) rides in front of the office (not to mention the model trains and arcade inside the office). Regarding location, you can't beat it as it is down the road from the Strasburg RR and the awesome train museum. You are about 10 min from Dutch Wonderland. Regarding the cleanliness of the rooms, it is sufficient. Don't expect Four Seasons conditions but this place doesn't pretend to be such a hotel.
(5)Sonia P.
We had a great time at the Red Caboose Motel over the 4th of July weekend. The place was fun, colorful and relaxing. We took the Strasburg Railroad train ride tour and it was a lot of fun. Although a bit windy in the open air car, but it was a good time. It's very family oriented and we loved that. Exciting kids everywhere and our little one loved all the trains. Had a great time and would def come back again.
(4)Miyuki L.
This review is for the restaurant and gift shop only. We did not stay at the motel. We considered staying at the motel for the cute factor and kid but glad we tried the restaurant and gift shop first... I feel like even without staying there, its been there done .. done that.. The people are nice and the rides were fun for my daughter, anywhere from .25 to .75 cents. Reasonable. The restaurant was tight quarters -- I guess what you expect when eating in a small train... The soda was flat and so thankful I didn't get the open faced turkey sandwich after seeing a person next to us get it. Had the hot dog and chips, chips were the best thing.. my daughter got the kid hot dog with fries.. she just ate my chips. My husband got the salad and potato sausage soup.. it was just mehhh...
(2)Sara P.
We went here for lunch, after a day on the trains. The food was great, the service amazing. The price was a bit steep but you can watch the trains while you eat. We went into the game room after, there was a lot of games out of order. The petting zoo only really consists of chickens, a couple pigs and a turkey. It was a pretty good experience.
(4)Eric W.
This seemed too perfect for a family with a train-obsessed child, and to some extent, it was -- in the sense that my son has now fulfilled a lifelong (OK, a couple months-long) dream of sleeping in a caboose. The pros: The property is in the middle of a gorgeous spread of farmland, just down the tracks from the Strasburg Railroad. Horses & buggies clip-clop quaintly by. Amish farmers across the way till the soil with teams of draft horses. There's a petting zoo with sheep, goats, and chickens. Cats roam the premises, nesting sleepily on the front porch. Cons: the cabin of our caboose seemed a little worse for wear. It's never a great sign when there's a fly swatter prominently positioned and the Bible is open to Corinthians. Indeed, there were several flies in the room when we arrived. Two we were able to swat; one continually ducked our attempts. I can't say we slept well, either: our caboose was next to the road, so we were awoken continually by the clip-clop of buggies (how late do the Amish stay out. anyway?) and because we were near the zoo, we were awoken around 5 by roosters, for which nature did not invent a snooze button. The dining experience. Not bad, all things considered. We were only there for breakfast, and my ham & cheese omelette (side of potatoes and buttered wheat toast) was delicious. The view on our side of the restaurant was great, but the other side looks right into the gift shop, which is a little cheesy. Biggest complaint: the coffee. Terrible. Dishwater. But then, why complain? The Red Caboose is one of those places that typifies my mother-in-law's saying: "the food's free, you're paying for the view."
(2)Vanessa W.
We were out with friends on the Strasburg railroad and were looking for some cheap eats nearby. Husband remembered the Red Caboose - a kitchy road trip hotel staple which has a diner like restaurant in a real train car. So off we went. By the look of the crowd - I think we found a local haunt. We mostly ordered off of the limited homestyle menu. I got pork and saurkraut which was nearly as good as my grandmothers with homemade mashed potatoes and green beans. Chicken pot pie and meat loaf were also tasty with a home made flair. At around $10 an entree it was a good inexpensive option for home cooked meal.
(4)Kelly B.
Located in Amish country, this is an actual train car as a restaurant. That alone makes it cool. The service is good and so is the food (though no fancy menu). KIds will get a kick out of eating in a train car.
(4)Alex H.
Perfect stay for the amish country really neat and quiet. not too far from attractions, restaurants, and a bar (we could find only one).
(4)David I.
My wife said it best: "You stay here for the experience, not the accomodations". That statement fits this place perfectly. I'll provide feedback on the overall grounds and then our specific "train car". Office- very basic, no frills whatsoever. Free coffee is provided, although it is just a pot with your common items supplied nearby. I don't drink coffee but if I did, I would probably pass on the offer. Thanks, but no thanks... Petting zoo- very cool feature and the animals are friendly, especially if you go out there with feed (can be purchased at front office or gumball type machines. There are 2 goats, 2 pigs, and a rooster. Cows are off in the distance typically, but you cannot feed them (much to my dismay). Viewing tower- 50 cents per person and quite a few steps. It is a nice view and shows you how untouched a lot of the land is out this way. Playground- an unexpected surprise that our 3 year old loved. Unfortunately, the bottom of the slides had mud pits so we had it end his playtime early when he fell into them a few times. Train tracks- Definitely one of the neatest parts about this place, it is located right next to a set of train tracks that has the Strasburg train on it. Great for little kids to watch it go back and forth (probably every half an hour). Now to the actual sleeping accommodations, our train car. We were in one section of the mailcar. It was quite spacious, had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We didn't know exactly what we were getting into as the website did not provide pictures. We were pleasantly surprised when we walked in, but the novelty of the place quickly wore away the longer we stayed there. There were several issues with our room. These are the ones I can remember: 1. Sound didn't work for one of the TV controllers. We found this out at 5 AM when my son woke up and we turned on TV to keep him quiet. Sadly, the TV woke up the people in the next room (same car) because we couldn't turn down the sound. By the way, the TV was placed on a ledge way out of reach. 2. The walls are extremely thin. After a long day, we crashed around 9. I woke up around 10 to the people in the other part of the car, which had at least 2 walls in between us! 3. There was no heat in the car. During the night, the temperature outside reached around 40, which made the car quite chilly in the morning. At least we had the portable air conditioning units, right? 4. The place simply wasn't clean. There were a few dark hairs in the sink. No one in our family has dark hair, so... 5. Parts of the car looked run down. The bathroom had pieces of tile missing and a part of the trim was coming away from the wall. Plus, the lights in one of the ceiling fans didn't work (it was the main light source in the room) and suddenly the bathroom lights stopped working halfway through our stay. One other thing to keep in mind, the office closes after 9 (or maybe 10). There is an emergency number you can call, but I wonder how long it would take for them to respond. This seems like a great little family operation (or maybe friends). I think someone took a chunk of their land, bought some decommisioned railcars and repurposed them for hotel rooms. A novel idea, but some more work is definitely needed to bring them up to anything above adequate.
(2)Mrs. N.
THE MOTEL: I love the exterior of these cabooses. The paint job looks great and so shiny! When taking a look closer though, part of the caboose was rusty and the stairs leading into the rooms were rickety and unstable. We stayed in the Chessie System car during "Thomas Week." They increased the prices during the time we stayed in June because of the demand to see a freaking toy train come to life (approximately $250 per night, 2 night minimum). I felt like such a sucker. The interior leaves much to be desired. The rooms reek of mold and everything needs to be remodeled. I didn't like feeling nervous and disgusted going into the bathroom and going in the tiny slot they called a shower. It looks like they hadn't replaced the shower liner in decades. Gross. My kids refused to sleep on the bunk beds when they saw the cob webs and old bed sheets. We paid so much for practically staying in a tent. But the kids always wanted to sleep in a train, and they did like their experience. But at that price, we should've stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in Strasberg. At least you would get a free breakfast there. The location is perfect, though. Right next to the Toy Train Museum. The country views are gorgeous. Those are the only positive aspects.
(2)Tony D.
I stayed there a week ago and my room had bugs in it and a bug crawled in my ear in the middle of the night I notified the front desk and was told sometimes people keeps the doors open they wouldn't do anything about it there was spiders earwigs and ants in my room
(1)Melanie W.
If you are a train nut, then you must stay in this motel at least once, if you find yourself in the area. I'm giving it three stars for the charm of the place, the originality, and the history of the cabooses. We stayed here two nights earlier this month and I found the cleanliness (lack thereof) an issue. The carpet was absolutely disgusting. I wore flip flops in the room at all times. There was a terrible smell in the room that just never went away. It helped to put the a/c on very cold, even though the weather was not hot enough to warrant it. I don't know how often these cabooses are refurbished, but I can tell you that our one little chair near the bed was questionable enough that I never even sat on it!
(2)J T.
Spent a family weekend and we were so impressed. Staff are all helpful and very friendly. There is so much to do for the kids...a playground, wooden train play area, petting zoo, lots of room to run and play and for the bigger kids, a barn silo that you can climb and see for miles. The train rooms are functional and rustic and the couples room ( #49) was beautiful with a huge bathroom and more of a hotel feel and still you are in a train! We had 3 different trains and all were clean and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The rooms average $125 per night but well worth it since you can fit 6 to a family car. The restaurant served a very good breakfast and there is so much to do in the area from train museums and rides to antique stores and at least 2 huge outlet shopping centers. Tons of places to eat nearby. This is a great place to spend a few days and the kids will always remember sleeping in a train.
(5)Traveler R.
This is for the restaurant only. We didn't stay at the motel. The ambiance, which I expected to be quaint since the restaurant is an old train dining car, was worse than a decrepit diner. The windows facing the Strasburg train station are very dingy, I'm assuming from the coal smoke from the trains. They can't seat more than four to a table because of the narrow layout, which made for awkward family bonding at two tables near us. The food was also old and gross. Our son's hotdog and fries was decent (hard to mess up) although the hotdog was cold. My tuna melt, which the waitress recommended, would have been ok if I'd gotten it quickly but the underside was really soggy. Really overpriced at $8 for that and chips from a bag. The chicken and corn chowder was gloppy and had tiny pieces of canned chicken. My husband was intrigued by the chicken and waffles. The chicken was tough, stringy, gristled pieces in a bland brown gravy poured over two unseasoned waffles. The combination somehow cancelled out all flavor. He was so disappointed. The waitress apologized for something at every table. She brought me sweetened raspberry tea to refill my unsweetened tea (hey, easy to mistake), she "pressed the wrong button, twice" on a neighboring table's check, forgot my potato salad (which was worse than anything I've had packaged from a store, too much sweet relish and dressing, no chunks of potato) and forgot food for another table, too. Each table is very close to the others so there's no privacy at all which meant we heard about the problems everyone else was having with the food and service. We didn't order off the breakfast menu and since it's a motel, I hope it's much better.... Especially with the proximity to rt 30 and the Rockvale Outlets, there are other options. I'd suggest using them instead.
(2)James F.
We just had dinner once at the restaurant. It was nice. This place is great for kids. They show movies on the white barn out back so bring a blanket and some popcorn. They have a goat that loves to bother you for the .25 cent food right next to him.
(4)Michael H.
I grew up just three blocks from the train tracks. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting in my mother's car and waving to the caboose driver while we waited for a freight train to pass. It was always a thrill when he (usually a he) waved back. So imagine my excitement when my friend discovered the Red Caboose Motel. The story behind the place is classic: man puts bid on 19 cabooses on a dare in 1969, man wins auction, man turns cabooses into a hotel. Now there are about 40 cabooses. Some are family suites (one comfortable double bed and four hard bunks), others are for couples (with one honeymoon suite that has a jacuzzi). They're cozy but comfortable. We stayed in Caboose #26, a family caboose. It was clean and cute. We played mad libs out of the Bible, so if you happen to stay here, you might find that some of the psalms have been altered. This is not for those who need amazing service and incredible luxury--but if you're into unique experiences and want to avoid the Sleep Inn, stay here. This is in the heart of tourist country: Amish quilts, buggy rides, dolls, and other accoutrements abound. There are two train museums within a mile of the Red Caboose. I was here for a water polo tournament at Millersville University, a 25 minute drive away. The woman at the front desk was a little surly, and the reception and restaurant keep odd hours, which is what brought my review down a star.
(4)Jared K.
This place was great if you have kids that love trains. My son and I stayed here and everything about the motel was great. We had plenty of space in the caboose (one double bed and one bunk bed). Also, the mini train playground outside our room was great to play on at night and first thing in the morning. The viewing tower was a nice touch as well. Finally, my son had a ball with the 50 cent (great price) rides in front of the office (not to mention the model trains and arcade inside the office). Regarding location, you can't beat it as it is down the road from the Strasburg RR and the awesome train museum. You are about 10 min from Dutch Wonderland. Regarding the cleanliness of the rooms, it is sufficient. Don't expect Four Seasons conditions but this place doesn't pretend to be such a hotel.
(5)Sonia P.
We had a great time at the Red Caboose Motel over the 4th of July weekend. The place was fun, colorful and relaxing. We took the Strasburg Railroad train ride tour and it was a lot of fun. Although a bit windy in the open air car, but it was a good time. It's very family oriented and we loved that. Exciting kids everywhere and our little one loved all the trains. Had a great time and would def come back again.
(4)Miyuki L.
This review is for the restaurant and gift shop only. We did not stay at the motel. We considered staying at the motel for the cute factor and kid but glad we tried the restaurant and gift shop first... I feel like even without staying there, its been there done .. done that.. The people are nice and the rides were fun for my daughter, anywhere from .25 to .75 cents. Reasonable. The restaurant was tight quarters -- I guess what you expect when eating in a small train... The soda was flat and so thankful I didn't get the open faced turkey sandwich after seeing a person next to us get it. Had the hot dog and chips, chips were the best thing.. my daughter got the kid hot dog with fries.. she just ate my chips. My husband got the salad and potato sausage soup.. it was just mehhh...
(2)Sara P.
We went here for lunch, after a day on the trains. The food was great, the service amazing. The price was a bit steep but you can watch the trains while you eat. We went into the game room after, there was a lot of games out of order. The petting zoo only really consists of chickens, a couple pigs and a turkey. It was a pretty good experience.
(4)Becky L.
The staff was very nice and helpful. Our bed was very uncomfortable. The whole place seems in need of a "facelift". The restaurant was advertised "open daily". However, was not open at all the whole time we were there. It was a neat experience overall but I don't need to go there again.
(3)Ryan D.
I only ate at the restaurant. It was cool eating in a train dining car. The food was good, but I wish that the fish sandwhich wasn't open faced on a hot dog bun.
(5)Eric W.
This seemed too perfect for a family with a train-obsessed child, and to some extent, it was -- in the sense that my son has now fulfilled a lifelong (OK, a couple months-long) dream of sleeping in a caboose. The pros: The property is in the middle of a gorgeous spread of farmland, just down the tracks from the Strasburg Railroad. Horses & buggies clip-clop quaintly by. Amish farmers across the way till the soil with teams of draft horses. There's a petting zoo with sheep, goats, and chickens. Cats roam the premises, nesting sleepily on the front porch. Cons: the cabin of our caboose seemed a little worse for wear. It's never a great sign when there's a fly swatter prominently positioned and the Bible is open to Corinthians. Indeed, there were several flies in the room when we arrived. Two we were able to swat; one continually ducked our attempts. I can't say we slept well, either: our caboose was next to the road, so we were awoken continually by the clip-clop of buggies (how late do the Amish stay out. anyway?) and because we were near the zoo, we were awoken around 5 by roosters, for which nature did not invent a snooze button. The dining experience. Not bad, all things considered. We were only there for breakfast, and my ham & cheese omelette (side of potatoes and buttered wheat toast) was delicious. The view on our side of the restaurant was great, but the other side looks right into the gift shop, which is a little cheesy. Biggest complaint: the coffee. Terrible. Dishwater. But then, why complain? The Red Caboose is one of those places that typifies my mother-in-law's saying: "the food's free, you're paying for the view."
(2)Mrs. N.
THE MOTEL: I love the exterior of these cabooses. The paint job looks great and so shiny! When taking a look closer though, part of the caboose was rusty and the stairs leading into the rooms were rickety and unstable. We stayed in the Chessie System car during "Thomas Week." They increased the prices during the time we stayed in June because of the demand to see a freaking toy train come to life (approximately $250 per night, 2 night minimum). I felt like such a sucker. The interior leaves much to be desired. The rooms reek of mold and everything needs to be remodeled. I didn't like feeling nervous and disgusted going into the bathroom and going in the tiny slot they called a shower. It looks like they hadn't replaced the shower liner in decades. Gross. My kids refused to sleep on the bunk beds when they saw the cob webs and old bed sheets. We paid so much for practically staying in a tent. But the kids always wanted to sleep in a train, and they did like their experience. But at that price, we should've stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in Strasberg. At least you would get a free breakfast there. The location is perfect, though. Right next to the Toy Train Museum. The country views are gorgeous. Those are the only positive aspects.
(2)Tony D.
I stayed there a week ago and my room had bugs in it and a bug crawled in my ear in the middle of the night I notified the front desk and was told sometimes people keeps the doors open they wouldn't do anything about it there was spiders earwigs and ants in my room
(1)David I.
My wife said it best: "You stay here for the experience, not the accomodations". That statement fits this place perfectly. I'll provide feedback on the overall grounds and then our specific "train car". Office- very basic, no frills whatsoever. Free coffee is provided, although it is just a pot with your common items supplied nearby. I don't drink coffee but if I did, I would probably pass on the offer. Thanks, but no thanks... Petting zoo- very cool feature and the animals are friendly, especially if you go out there with feed (can be purchased at front office or gumball type machines. There are 2 goats, 2 pigs, and a rooster. Cows are off in the distance typically, but you cannot feed them (much to my dismay). Viewing tower- 50 cents per person and quite a few steps. It is a nice view and shows you how untouched a lot of the land is out this way. Playground- an unexpected surprise that our 3 year old loved. Unfortunately, the bottom of the slides had mud pits so we had it end his playtime early when he fell into them a few times. Train tracks- Definitely one of the neatest parts about this place, it is located right next to a set of train tracks that has the Strasburg train on it. Great for little kids to watch it go back and forth (probably every half an hour). Now to the actual sleeping accommodations, our train car. We were in one section of the mailcar. It was quite spacious, had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We didn't know exactly what we were getting into as the website did not provide pictures. We were pleasantly surprised when we walked in, but the novelty of the place quickly wore away the longer we stayed there. There were several issues with our room. These are the ones I can remember: 1. Sound didn't work for one of the TV controllers. We found this out at 5 AM when my son woke up and we turned on TV to keep him quiet. Sadly, the TV woke up the people in the next room (same car) because we couldn't turn down the sound. By the way, the TV was placed on a ledge way out of reach. 2. The walls are extremely thin. After a long day, we crashed around 9. I woke up around 10 to the people in the other part of the car, which had at least 2 walls in between us! 3. There was no heat in the car. During the night, the temperature outside reached around 40, which made the car quite chilly in the morning. At least we had the portable air conditioning units, right? 4. The place simply wasn't clean. There were a few dark hairs in the sink. No one in our family has dark hair, so... 5. Parts of the car looked run down. The bathroom had pieces of tile missing and a part of the trim was coming away from the wall. Plus, the lights in one of the ceiling fans didn't work (it was the main light source in the room) and suddenly the bathroom lights stopped working halfway through our stay. One other thing to keep in mind, the office closes after 9 (or maybe 10). There is an emergency number you can call, but I wonder how long it would take for them to respond. This seems like a great little family operation (or maybe friends). I think someone took a chunk of their land, bought some decommisioned railcars and repurposed them for hotel rooms. A novel idea, but some more work is definitely needed to bring them up to anything above adequate.
(2)Melanie W.
If you are a train nut, then you must stay in this motel at least once, if you find yourself in the area. I'm giving it three stars for the charm of the place, the originality, and the history of the cabooses. We stayed here two nights earlier this month and I found the cleanliness (lack thereof) an issue. The carpet was absolutely disgusting. I wore flip flops in the room at all times. There was a terrible smell in the room that just never went away. It helped to put the a/c on very cold, even though the weather was not hot enough to warrant it. I don't know how often these cabooses are refurbished, but I can tell you that our one little chair near the bed was questionable enough that I never even sat on it!
(2)Jennifer F.
This review is for the restaurant and gift shop only. We did not stay at the motel. We stopped in for a late lunch after taking our 2 year old to the National Toy Train museum next door. He LOVES trains, so it was a lot of fun for him to have lunch in a real train car, and be able to look out the window at the trains running from the Strasburg station. As others have mentioned, the main dining area is a train car and has a long, narrow layout, seating 4 to a table. Unless they have seating elsewhere, I would not recommend this for larger groups that want to sit at one table. I would also caution that the cashier / hostess stand is immediately inside the door and there can be a bit of a jam in the narrow opening if one party is coming in while another is trying to leave. The restaurant was clean and pleasant, and the service was very, very friendly. Our waitress was a sweet lady - very nice to us and especially to our son. Service was prompt, and the food very good. I ordered a burger that was tasty - good quality meat, nice charbroiled flavor. My husband's reuben was a little soggy on the bottom, but he enjoyed it, and the coleslaw was very, very good. The fries were also fresh and tasty, but there were a lot of them, enough to share from one plate without ordering an additional side of them if one sandwich doesn't come with them. Overall, we'd definitely eat there again. Word of warning about the "amazing" giftshop they advertise..... Yeah. Not so much. There's a neat train set up inside, but the rest is half leftover gifts, half flea market / garage sale stuff. We walked through on our way out, but you'd be better served to have very, very low expectations.
(3)Tiffany D.
I've stayed here twice now, once with friends on a let's-do-something-different spring break and once with my family on a road trip across the East. So Fun! Making a motel out of an old train just gives it that extra kick that makes you feel like you aren't just in Philly anymore. It really does fit right in with Amish country. The staff is super nice and will take you on a Buggy ride to an Amish farm if you like. Kids LOVE it. There's even a petting zoo and a barn behind. Just a fun, quirky, awesome place to stop!
(4)Ziv N.
Seems like anyone who has given this place more than two stars was reviewing the hotel. The restaurant is a tourist trap. Yes, it's cool eating in a train, but it's not cool when the food is so bad you have to leave halfway through. Skip this station...
(1)Gary E.
did it for the grandson, I would never voluntarily stay there. Desperately needs a remodel..
(2)Frank A.
My little nephew is crazy about trains. After visiting the chocho barn we decide to stop by and hit the lunch mane at the restaurant.. He loved the atmosphere of using a train cabin as a restaurant.. The staff was very nice and the food delicious. The prices were decent. We then headed to the gift shop and founded some interesting toys. There is a petting zoo with small horses and other animals to feed and a small but entertaining playground.. The interesting part was to see the strasgburg train pass by It was great for pictures.. If it wasn't because i am local i would definitely pass the idea of staying overnight in their cozy train room..
(4)Amy R.
Go for the experience, not for luxury or comfort. The cars are a bit cramped- but what do you expect? It's a train car!! The employees were very nice. The playground was great. The animals at the petting zoo (goats, pot bellied pigs, and chickens) were friendly. The food at the restaurant was diner quality. All in all, this place is great for a one night experience.
(3)James L.
Saw this place from the bus while taking the Amish country side tour. It looked interesting when we drove by so we decided to return for lunch after the tour. When we walked in we already knew we had made a mistake but didn't feel like driving around anymore. The restaurant was full of screaming kids with their oblivious parents there to see the trains pass by. The floor was filthy and everything including the windows were smeared with kid drool. The waitress was very nice but frazzled. I had a sandwich which was acceptable but not great. Great place for little kids but if you are not in your reproductive years forget it!
(2)Angela B.
I had dinner at the Red Caboose. I did not stay at the hotel. I had a crab cake sandwich. I thought it was delicious, very flavorful. I had French fries as a side. The French fries do cost 2.29 extra if you choose them as a substitute for chips. My mother got the chicken fingers basket with fries. She enjoyed it as well. My son did not like his pizza, which looked like it had been a frozen pizza. The waitress was friendly and attentive. She brought us refills without us having to ask for them. Overall the food was average, but I did really enjoy my crab cake sandwich. I did like the ambience. The restaurant was a train car. You could feel the car shake when a steam engine went by. There were coin operated rides outside the store, which my 4-yr old loved. There were Amish buddy rides outside, which we didn't try, but will next time!
(3)Robyn S.
We booked two rooms at this motel after seeing it while at the Strasburg Railroad. My son was SO excited to sleep in a real caboose! When I called to reserve the rooms (one for my family and one for my parents), they were very accommodating and even booked us two rooms that were right next to each other. The lady who called to confirm the reservation was also very very nice. At this point, I was very excited for our experience. When we arrived at the motel, we were greeted by a lady who was VERY negative and was clearly having a bad day. She kept telling this older guy who was, I guess, working on the train setup in the back, to shut up and go away, which I thought was VERY unprofessional to do in front of customers. We had a problem getting our keys right away because of a mix-up, which wasn't that big of a deal, except the girl made it seem like we were bothering her by having her look into whether we could check into our rooms or not. She texted the owner (not sure why she couldn't just call to save us time) and we got it all figured out. The lady at the front desk also told us that my credit card that I made the deposit on was declined, which it wasn't, (I checked it and had two charges for the two days that I paid for), so that also caused a little bit of unnecessary irritation. Then we went into our rooms, and I was a little disappointed, but I kept telling myself that it used to be a train car, so I couldn't expect the Hilton or anything. Our room was clearly not one of the renovated rooms, but it was still nice, and mostly clean. The beds were clean, but VERY uncomfortable. The shower had hair in it. Everything else looked OK. There was a flat screen TV on the wall and we did have cable, which was nice. They even had the Sprout channel, so my 2 year old was happy. My parent's caboose was renovated and GORGEOUS. It had wooden logs on the walls and the bed was made of finished logs. The bathroom was huge and very nice. There was a little loft in their caboose that was neat. It had a little mat that someone could sleep on and a little tv with a cable box. The only thing that I didn't really like was that there were cords all over the place in the loft. Even if they just got one of those plastic cord keepers to corral them a bit, it would have made a big improvement. Both rooms had a little binder with menus for the restaurant, local important numbers (hospitals and such), the TV channel list, and the information for the motel. Our binder was missing the motel information page, which had the free WiFi password, but we got it from my parents binder. We also enjoyed the petting zoo (there were two goats, a few chickens, and two pigs). The feed dispensers outside were broken, but you could purchase feed at the front desk, so it wasn't too big of a deal. There was also a "look out tower" that we didn't go in to, but it looked like it would have provided a nice view. We also didn't take an Amish buggy ride, but there were two buggies there with horses hooked up. My son liked to look at the horses. We didn't eat at the restaurant, but the menu looked like diner food, so it would have been a good option if we didn't feel like going into town. The gift shop was awful. There was a little "hallway" right off of the lobby (to the left if you are looking at the front desk) that had some cute purses and things, but the little room in the back had some very strange things. Lots of odd little toys and a few clothing items, but really nothing that even my 2 year old wanted. There was a little model train setup that was neat to look at. There was also a small collection of arcade games, but most of them were not in working order. The front porch of the motel was really nice. It was a beautiful (I'm assuming Amish made) wooden porch with a few tables and some little grocery store type rides for the little kids, such as a car, carousel, horse, a Jetson's car, and a few others. There was also a place right next to the tracks where you could stand (or sit at a picnic table) and watch the trains go past. We got some great pictures of the steam train, Thomas, and Percy as they went up and down the tracks. Overall, if you are going to come here, ask for a renovated room if possible. Also, be prepared, if it is a Thomas weekend, to pay A LOT for your room. I'm a little ashamed to say that we paid a total of $187 a night to stay here. I know that it was only that expensive because it was Thomas the Train weekend, but OMG that was WAYYYYY to much for that room. And if you are like us and drove several hours to get there and want to check in to your room early, before your train ride, you will be charged for an entire night, which seems obvious, but I guess I didn't think through the fact that I paid $187 to check into my room 2 hours early until I got there. My bad, but probably never again.
(3)Kristina B.
This review is for both the motel and restaurant. We booked through Groupon for three days and two nights. My son loves Thomas and I thought seeing real steam engines in nearby Strasburg AND staying in a caboose would blow his mind. YES! The moment we drove into the compound, he was ecstatic. All those colorful caboose set against the rolling green farms were so pretty! The staff members we asked for directions were helpful and welcoming. The pretty young lady at the front desk was accommodating and informative. We arrived before check-in so we had time to kill, and we spent it in the gift shop. What a blast from the past. I felt like I was in a Stephen King book, in a good way, when he describes arcades and carnivals of old. We were the only ones in there and my son had fun looking at the train set-up and playing with the toy trains. When it was time for check-in, we got the most awesome caboose by luck, the N & W! The caboose was clean, the beds were soft, but the pillows too soft. I am used to firmer ones. It has airconditioning and heating, a bathhtub, a flat screen tv, refrigerator and microwave. Perfect! And when the wind was blowing hard the last night we were there, I was very nervous about a tree falling on our heads, nevermind that there WAS no tree outside. My husband said, "we are sleeping in a steel caboose. What are you worrying about?" And he had a point! The playground at the back of the property was rustic and simple. Set against the fields, I felt like I was transported back in time, to a simpler way of life. The View Tower had a great view of the landscape. Climbing is not for the faint-hearted or wild of imagination, and doubly more so going down. Spooky! And creaky stairs! My son wasn't interested in the petting zoo but he liked the small horses. Freely roaming chickens were a delight to see. The food at the dining car was good. The "hungry engineer" is bang for the buck - 2 pancakes, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage patty, coffee and juice for $9.99. My breakfast for 2 days :) The dining car itself was clean and had a great view of more green fields, horse-drawn buggies, and the occasional Amish farmer plowing the fields. The tablecloths had vintage newspaper ads printed on them - a good read while waiting. Our waitress was attentive and efficient. All in all, a pleasant experience.
(4)Sandra M.
This review is for the buggy ride only: We had a very lovely ride. The scenery was great, as was seeing the Amish. We got to see them relaxing, and visiting with their friends and neighbors. If it weren't a Sunday, we would have seen them working, but I honestly think this was more interesting. The woman who does the buggy ride is great. Very informative and very nice. She was very patient with the children as well and it seems like she really enjoys what she does. I would not hesitate to come back and take their buggy ride again, next time we are in Lancaster.
(4)Vanessa W.
We were out with friends on the Strasburg railroad and were looking for some cheap eats nearby. Husband remembered the Red Caboose - a kitchy road trip hotel staple which has a diner like restaurant in a real train car. So off we went. By the look of the crowd - I think we found a local haunt. We mostly ordered off of the limited homestyle menu. I got pork and saurkraut which was nearly as good as my grandmothers with homemade mashed potatoes and green beans. Chicken pot pie and meat loaf were also tasty with a home made flair. At around $10 an entree it was a good inexpensive option for home cooked meal.
(4)Larissa G.
Before I get into my actual review I have to ask: why so many complaints? Based on some of the comments and complaints I've read, people were expecting a 5-star resort. This is clearly not the place to go if that's what you want. When you're staying in a caboose, surely you understand what you're signing up for. You're volunteering to stay in a piece of machinery that is in all likelihood even older than you are; renovated or not, it's a few steps above camping (and even then I wouldn't complain, because you still get working AC and running water, things I never got when camping!). As someone who has slept in a non-renovated caboose, I can promise, the cabooses here have been relatively well maintained and are very comfortable considering what they were built to be: an office for a conductor working in a time when comfort was not the priority. I'll get off my soapbox after one final comment: staying here should be approached as if you're sleeping in a piece of history. Treat it with respect as such, and if you just can't deal with that and you want a comfortable hotel, go get a comfortable hotel. Simple! Anyway, now that I'm done with that: I was extremely excited to stay here and was not disappointed. Even the fact that it was pouring rain when I arrived didn't get me down. I experienced super friendly service at the front desk as I checked in; speaking of checking in, watch for one of two sweet cats around the front. They're not a fan of screaming kids but love quiet adults. My caboose was so comfortable! Each caboose has a wooden stepping ramp to help people get in; because mine was one of a small handful sitting apart from the others, it got a full ramp complete with a porch and swing. I could see out over the cornfields and got to watch the sun set over an entire row of other cabooses the night after when the rain had passed. Just beautiful. The beds admittedly are not the best thing in the world, but again: I've slept in an actual caboose, and the staff here have done a good job of renovating something that was built to basically be an office space into a space you can temporarily live in. There's an AC unit in the window, and my room had a fridge and microwave. During the weekend I explored the place repeatedly; as a rail fan it was hard for me to accept that WOW, these historic cabooses from about 40 railroads are all here and are part of a motel! Once upon a time apparently all the cabooses were red. No longer! Now they've been repainted and redone in their original colors. Absolutely beautiful. The restaurant is a dining car, which is tiny - but again, that's part of the history. I really have no complaints about the restaurant here (where I ate breakfast two days in a row) - the view of the crossing is excellent and waitresses were all very nice and attentive. The food wasn't out of this world or anything, but it was still very good and left me feeling satisfied. While here, take time to explore the gift shop, stop by the petting zoo, take a buggy ride, and check out their viewing tower, which gives you a birds-eye view of the countryside and the railroad track. There's a number of swing sets and wooden train sets for kids to play in as well. The place overall is definitely kid friendly; there was even a movie on the lawn during my second night here. I only have one complaint overall; the maid service left my TV on and clearly used my bathroom while they were in my room. I would have expected the workers to be a bit more respectful, even though I'm appreciative of the fact that they came in to clean and tidy up. But hey, other than that, my weekend was wonderful here. I'd definitely stay here again!
(4)Karla F.
I think people are giving this place a bad break. We stayed here last weekend with our two little ones during our spring break. We stayed in the Pennsylvania caboose and had a ball. The separate cars and the elevation of the trains made for quiet nights even though the place was full of families. Our caboose was up against Paradise Ln, and we weren't disturbed by noise from road traffic. The girls enjoyed the petting zoo and really had a blast in the arcade. The staff was friendly and both property and our caboose was clean and cared for. Yes, the rooms could use some updating - the bunkbed in our caboose didn't have a safety rail and the shower head appears to be the original shower head from when the property first opened. But the furniture was in good shape and the caboose was well-tended. We ate breakfast and dinner at the restaurant everyday. The breakfasts were really good, but the dinner was a little meh. I had the fish and fries which was really good, but nothing that my husband ordered was noteworthy. The kids ate the kids menu dinner items well, though. A tip, the bunkbeds did not have comforters, just thin blankets and sheets. So, it may be handy to bring thicker bedding if you are cold-natured. We had fun exploring Strasburg and the surrounding areas during our stay. Bottom line: this is a great place for low-key family get away. There is plenty to do onsite and even more fun to be had if you get out and drive a bit. Our kids were so disappointed to leave!
(4)Jennifer M.
I Stood in the Red Caboose the week of July 28th for one night with my husband and two boys. Upon booking the place I saw mixed reviews and said you know what i'm going to book anyway because of the ambiance and I know the kids would enjoy it. Not by any means am I a picky or fussy person when it comes to hotels and Motels. The service was ok, but I thought it could be better. The ATM in the shop was out of order so I had to leave the facility to get cash so that my children and I can do the buggy ride, which only takes cash by the way. The caboose I found was on the crooked side. I felt like I needed to drink a v-8 all the time. The bathroom was lets just say cramp. The cleanliness was also a problem I found mold and mildew around the shower area, which is due to a lack of ventilation which the caboose didn't have much of. In the evening when I was laying in the bed with my husband I noticed the room shaking, he had mentioned it earlier in the day but I thought it was just in his mind. Thank God I was extremely exhausted otherwise I would of gotten motion sickness. lol. Question is will I stay here again. Answer probably not. for the amount of money that I paid for one room I could of stayed somewhere better at 150.00 for one night I was kind of upset. I mean for the amount of money that they charge rooms should be updated and cleaned a little better. I chaulk it up to my kids having a good time, but its a lesson learned. Staff was very friendly, but that was about it.
(2)Kelly B.
Located in Amish country, this is an actual train car as a restaurant. That alone makes it cool. The service is good and so is the food (though no fancy menu). KIds will get a kick out of eating in a train car.
(4)Alex H.
Perfect stay for the amish country really neat and quiet. not too far from attractions, restaurants, and a bar (we could find only one).
(4)J T.
Spent a family weekend and we were so impressed. Staff are all helpful and very friendly. There is so much to do for the kids...a playground, wooden train play area, petting zoo, lots of room to run and play and for the bigger kids, a barn silo that you can climb and see for miles. The train rooms are functional and rustic and the couples room ( #49) was beautiful with a huge bathroom and more of a hotel feel and still you are in a train! We had 3 different trains and all were clean and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The rooms average $125 per night but well worth it since you can fit 6 to a family car. The restaurant served a very good breakfast and there is so much to do in the area from train museums and rides to antique stores and at least 2 huge outlet shopping centers. Tons of places to eat nearby. This is a great place to spend a few days and the kids will always remember sleeping in a train.
(5)Traveler R.
This is for the restaurant only. We didn't stay at the motel. The ambiance, which I expected to be quaint since the restaurant is an old train dining car, was worse than a decrepit diner. The windows facing the Strasburg train station are very dingy, I'm assuming from the coal smoke from the trains. They can't seat more than four to a table because of the narrow layout, which made for awkward family bonding at two tables near us. The food was also old and gross. Our son's hotdog and fries was decent (hard to mess up) although the hotdog was cold. My tuna melt, which the waitress recommended, would have been ok if I'd gotten it quickly but the underside was really soggy. Really overpriced at $8 for that and chips from a bag. The chicken and corn chowder was gloppy and had tiny pieces of canned chicken. My husband was intrigued by the chicken and waffles. The chicken was tough, stringy, gristled pieces in a bland brown gravy poured over two unseasoned waffles. The combination somehow cancelled out all flavor. He was so disappointed. The waitress apologized for something at every table. She brought me sweetened raspberry tea to refill my unsweetened tea (hey, easy to mistake), she "pressed the wrong button, twice" on a neighboring table's check, forgot my potato salad (which was worse than anything I've had packaged from a store, too much sweet relish and dressing, no chunks of potato) and forgot food for another table, too. Each table is very close to the others so there's no privacy at all which meant we heard about the problems everyone else was having with the food and service. We didn't order off the breakfast menu and since it's a motel, I hope it's much better.... Especially with the proximity to rt 30 and the Rockvale Outlets, there are other options. I'd suggest using them instead.
(2)James F.
We just had dinner once at the restaurant. It was nice. This place is great for kids. They show movies on the white barn out back so bring a blanket and some popcorn. They have a goat that loves to bother you for the .25 cent food right next to him.
(4)Michael H.
I grew up just three blocks from the train tracks. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting in my mother's car and waving to the caboose driver while we waited for a freight train to pass. It was always a thrill when he (usually a he) waved back. So imagine my excitement when my friend discovered the Red Caboose Motel. The story behind the place is classic: man puts bid on 19 cabooses on a dare in 1969, man wins auction, man turns cabooses into a hotel. Now there are about 40 cabooses. Some are family suites (one comfortable double bed and four hard bunks), others are for couples (with one honeymoon suite that has a jacuzzi). They're cozy but comfortable. We stayed in Caboose #26, a family caboose. It was clean and cute. We played mad libs out of the Bible, so if you happen to stay here, you might find that some of the psalms have been altered. This is not for those who need amazing service and incredible luxury--but if you're into unique experiences and want to avoid the Sleep Inn, stay here. This is in the heart of tourist country: Amish quilts, buggy rides, dolls, and other accoutrements abound. There are two train museums within a mile of the Red Caboose. I was here for a water polo tournament at Millersville University, a 25 minute drive away. The woman at the front desk was a little surly, and the reception and restaurant keep odd hours, which is what brought my review down a star.
(4)Dirt B.
I am basing this review on the family experience in general, rather than just the restaurant food. It was a fun place for the kids and I would go back for them. If I was with my wife only... probably not. We did not stay at the motel - we simply stopped for lunch. We just spent a few hours on the Strasburg Railroad (LOVED IT) and the kids were hungry and begged to stop here and eat. Oh, the things we do for our kids. Here is the good and bad about this place... The train restaurant is tight quarters as you can imagine. The Manager was incredibly nice to us and our children. He gets a gold star. However, the food was less than desirable. We laughed at the amount of water in our son's Spaghetti dinner. He's a kid, though and didn't mind. Both kids were happy and that's all that mattered to us. It's Strasburg, PA, people... you are eating on an old train car - this is not five star dining so suck it up! Here are some really good things about this place after we ate... We went to the gift shop and most of the coin machines were broken and out of order. That is a bonus as a parent... you can just tell the kids it's broken and move on. Ok - that was a little sarcastic, here are some good things for real.... We walked the grounds and found a petting zoo. This was really cool for the kids and they got to pet some pigs, goats and a colt. They tried to catch chickens but they proved to be too fast. Around the corner we found a large playground - a bit rickety so be careful! Again, this was another plus. Lastly they have an old silo converted into an observation tower that the kids loved as well. Again - we would return with our kids - if it was just the wife and I, probably not.
(3)James R.
Ok. Visit #5. With a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old it won't be my last in sure. Yes the rooms are VERY basic and I stay only for one night. 2 would really be roughing it lol. But bottom line is the place does what it sets out to, let's you sleep in a caboose and that's what you go there for. Fair price, friendly service. Food I have tried once and venture elsewhere now, not horrible just better option around.
(4)Amy B.
Wanted to give a review for the buggy ride we took here today. It was a joy, the horses are well taken care of and it seems to me it's off the well beaten path. We (husband & I) were lucky to be the only two on the buggy ride. I can't remember the drivers name but he was great! So much info and made the ride very pleasant. $12.00 per person for the ride and last about 30 mins plus. . . . :)
(5)Joyce Y.
We stopped here before boarding our train ride at the Strasberg RR. The split pea soup was amazing. We had the salmon sandwich, which was homemade and tasty. The peanut butter pie....well, ecstasy! So glad to be back after not being in town for nearly twenty years! We also saw the 12 o'clock train rumble by. Nice atmosphere and fantastic staff!
(5)Nadav K.
Avoid !!!!! Tasteless dried-out old bagged salad (though menu says "local Amish-grown produce"). Everything else was disappointing too. Crab cake was mush. Cold slaw was awful. Salmon burger was fishy. And lots of flies flying around the dining room.
(1)Jamie E.
My family of 3 recently stayed at the Red Caboose, thinking it would be a fun alternative to a traditional hotel. It was TERRIBLE. Cons.: Dirty (mold in shower, disgusting carpet, questionable sheets), smelly, mosquitoes and spiders inside of caboose, the most uncomfortable beds. Odd layouts, lack of towels. Extremely loud ac unit. I would not recommend staying here to anyone. It's not worth the 'experience' and DEFINITELY not worth the money. Enjoy a train ride in Strasburg and stay in an actual hotel.
(1)Bruce S.
I wanted to write a quick note on this place in saying that this was a fun restaurant to eat at. The car makes pretend train noises and motions periodically and the kids really love it! We had breakfast and it was very good -- bacon crispy, eggs done just right and the pancakes were yummy! The hotel was less yummy, old and outdated -- the wind came right through the walls and you could hear everything that went on around you. BUT -- you don't stay here for the posh decor, you stay here because it is cool. And it is -- we will return!
(4)Stephanie L.
Cool experience but not good food. And the staff was just ok. Very scenic though and fun for kids. But it was hard to get our son off the rides!
(2)Eric E.
Stayed in train #27 and it was one of the worst nights of my life. The double and bunk beds are unbearable to sleep in and the shower looks like it was stolen from a abandon motel. They told us it was recently renovated but obviously they were taking about a different motel. Cool concept but no place for family to gather and completely outdated. Your better off sleeping in the cornfield up the street. Paid $160 a night.
(1)Beth F.
I am really surprised by the low reviews here. My boyfriend and I just wend in October for our anniversary and absolutely loved this place. The prices were lower than many of the other hotels in the area, and you get to sleep ON A TRAIN CAR!!! We picked the smallest car to save money, and because we knew that we wouldn't be there a ton. We had a huge itinerary of things to cram into a few days, and we were determined to do it all. Keep in mind, this is a MOTEL. You are not coming here for a luxurious experience, you are coming here for the novelty. Maybe my boyfriend and I are just kids at heart still and that's why we loved it so much, but I'd gladly go back many times. When we arrived, it was such a cool experience. We pulled in, and there are several sized and multiple colors of train cars throughout the property. It made for some really neat pictures. There is a farm house that looks really nice, and had some hot tub rooms from what I read. Next to that is a petting zoo, and a play area for the kids. We didn't eat at the restaurant because we had so many other places we wanted to try, and that was my only complaint. The restaurant seemed to have odd hours, so on our checkout day we wanted to try it, but it wasn't open. The area is cool as well because there are so many things nearby. We actually didn't have enough time to try the local places, like the train ride, the Amish Farm, or the amusement park. Both Gettysburg and Hershey are in very close proximity, and if you like shopping there were a ton of outlet malls on the main strip. I loved it, and like I said above, we would definitely go back.
(5)