The Pennsylvania Train That’s Really a Restaurant; You Have to See It to Believe It

There’s something romantic about trains and locomotives particularly those from a bygone era. In Ronks, Pennsylvania you’ll find what appears to be an old school train dotting the landscape over 10 acres of land. The cars are a cornucopia of color and it’s hard to resist their call when you spy them from afar. However, when you get there – you’ll find that instead of finding a train; you’ve found the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant.

So how did a train appear in this remote corner of Pennsylvania? Back in the early 70s, a businessman called Donald Denlinger did a quick deal to buy 19 cars for a train that were surplus to requirements. Unfortunately, he hadn’t done his homework and it turned out to be bank-breakingly expensive to move them to anywhere else in the country.

In that moment the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant was born. It now sits adjacent to the Strasburg Railroad. When it opened people flocked to the restaurant but over time – their interest waned and slowly but surely the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant began to fall into neglect. In fact, it became a bit of a local eyesore with visitors frequently complaining about the quality of experience to be had.

In 2016, it would be fair to say that restaurant had entered the last chance saloon but then Todd and Tyler Prickett, a father and son entrepreneurial team, decided to buy the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant and renovate it to a standard that would reflect the glories of its past.

Today visitors will be amazed at what’s on offer in this unusual dining location. They’ve introduced a takeout service that lets you grab a meal or an ice cream without having to commit to a sit-down dining experience.

The restaurant itself, now the Casey Jones Restaurant, is designed to give you an authentic but luxurious railway dining experience. The menu is modeled on the days when the cars would have been in use and transporting luxury passengers across America; its chef JJ Hutchinson believes in authenticity and tradition.

You’ll find breakfast every day up until 4 p.m. and the omelets are incredible. There are also flapjacks, French toast, sandwiches and more to choose from. The lunch roster includes sandwiches and burgers for convenience in the middle of a busy day.

However, what’s really worth waiting for is the dinner menu where you’ll find a mixture of Lancaster County traditional food and First Class dining experiences. It’s the pinnacle of this recreated railway experience and very much worth heading to Ronks to enjoy both the culinary excellence and the atmosphere of a different time in America’s fine history.

If you want to, you can also stay in the motel portion of the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant but be aware there’s a two-night minimum stay in one of the cabooses converted into comfortable bedrooms. While they’re certainly from a simpler age; they still have Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV in each caboose. So why not check out the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant in Pennsylvania while you can?