Are you a railroad buff who’d love to travel Route 66?
A KOA campground in Eureka, Missouri, has just the thing for you — a railroad caboose that recently was renovated for use for overnight travelers.
KSDK-TV in St. Louis produced a story about the tricked-out caboose offered by the St. Louis West / Historic 66 KOA campground:
The KOA’s operator, Josh Bell, told about the caboose’s history:
Josh said, “We know the caboose was on the Burlington Northern Railway. It got started in 1954, had a 30 year career as a caboose.”
After its retirement, it came to Missouri.
“Some folks here in Eureka who had a hotel a Red Roof in Old Route 66 thought it would be fun to restore the caboose. Turned it into an ice cream parlor, turned it into a mini golf starting station, after that, they thought it was so popular they turned it into their honeymoon suite. Believe it or not, you could have had your honeymoon in the red caboose,” he said.
The red caboose was moved to the St. Louis West KOA around the year 2000 and recently underwent another renovation to bring it up to date. A place to spend the night that you won’t soon forget.
The caboose in Eureka isn’t the only one offered for overnight lodgers on Route 66. The Canyon Motel and RV Park in Williams, Arizona, offers not one, but two 1929 Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway cabooses to relax in.
The second caboose, according the website, may be haunted, according to overnight guests:
They’ve reported strange sounds, lights going on and off for no reason, and even an old conductor walking through, swinging a lantern in the middle of the dark night. A housekeeper said she hears talking or whispering in the middle of the day when no one else is around.
(Image of the caboose at the St. Louis West / Historic 66 KOA in Eureka, Missouri, via Facebook)
“Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway” should read “Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway”.
Looks like a fun way to spend an evening.