Look inside this abandoned train car turned into an Airbnb in Idaho

When the father of Idaho native Isaac French of Deary saw an abandoned railroad car on a neighbor’s farm, he knew it had the potential for something great.

The car, built in the 20th century, sat in the same place for decades. The wood was rotting, algae was growing and about 20 cats were living in it, the 27-year-old Frenchman tells CNBC Make It.

Train car #306 originally operated on the Washington Idaho & Montana Railway from 1909 until the 1950s.

It took several years, but in 2020 the family purchased the wagon for just $3,000.

“(My dad) had the faith and the vision to do it and I’m so glad he did it,” French said. “There is something so rewarding about taking an old building that was so lovingly built and breathing life back into it.”

It also took quite a while for the family to find someone willing to move the 61-foot-long structure to their 145-acre property.

“It’s just a beautiful, secluded place in nature,” says French. “We chose the highest point on our property to capture these epic views.”

The move cost around $10,000.

The family then invested $137,000 and six months renovating the building to use as an Airbnb. Expenses included building a platform, refinishing floors, installing a bathroom, landscaping and furniture.

French, his parents and siblings did most of the work themselves, restoring the wagon to match the original design. They hired subcontractors they knew to do the HVAC and electrical work.

The French hand-painted the lettering on the outside of the car based on an old photo they found. The wagon even still has its original windows.

“In the summer we open these and let the breeze blow through the car. It’s just beautiful. “In hay season, you can smell the ryegrass blowing through the car,” says French.

To make the carriage livable, French and his family converted the passenger compartment into a seating area and added a kitchenette and a gas potbelly stove.

They added a bathroom with a barn door and converted the former railroad car mailroom into a bedroom with a king-size bed.

“Our guests absolutely love it. You wake up in the morning and look directly at this beautiful panoramic view of the landscape. It’s a truly epic place to sleep,” says French.

To enhance the experience, they added a mirrored sauna, hot tub, and fire pit right outside.

“The idea is to reflect the natural environment. Since we had these beautiful pine trees and this spectacular view, we thought it would be a cool juxtaposition of new and old,” says French.

Even though the wagon was in the middle of nowhere, it was an instant hit on Airbnb. According to Fast Company, the listing became one of the most successful Airbnb locations in the country.

Staying in the restored 1909 train car costs between $325 and $350 per night.

“What I love most about it is that there is a sense of history and a story already built in,” French says.

In the first year, the wagon was at 90% capacity and made a profit of $14,179. Since then, revenue has increased to between $75,000 and $90,000 a year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. This year, French said it will raise $105,000.

In 2023, the wagon was booked on Airbnb for 231 nights. The profit margin is around 65%, with 30 to 35% of total sales going towards cleaning costs, ongoing small maintenance and repairs, property taxes and insurance.

The family knows they could raise the price per night to stay on the train, but French says they don’t plan to do that because they find it fulfilling to host people from all over the world who want to experience a piece of history.

“How many old buildings, old stories and old train cars are just waiting to be discovered and loved,” says French. “And I think that’s the key. You have to have some love and inspiration to take part in a project like this and breathe new life into it.”