In 2020, Isaac French, 27, and his family bought a train car that was sitting abandoned on a neighbor's farm in Deary, Idaho. They only pay $3,000.
Train number 306 was built in the 1900s and originally ran on the Washington Idaho & Montana Railroad from 1909 to the 1950s. When the family got their hands on it, the wood was rotting, algae was growing and there were about 20 cats living inside, French told CNBC Make It.
“(My father) had the faith and vision for it and I'm so glad he did,” he says.
The renovation and restoration of the train car was a family project for Frangaich, his parents and siblings.
Isaac French
The family took out a $150,000 loan, including $3,000 to buy the train car and $10,000 to move the 61-foot-long structure to their 145-acre property.
“It's just a beautiful, secluded place in nature,” French says. “We chose the highest point in our building so we could capture these great views.”
French and his family spent the rest of the loan, $137,000, and six months renovating the structure with the goal of turning it into an Airbnb.
“I believe that travelers today are looking for experiences and that you want to have a story. The richer the story you tell through living, through property, the the better the experience,” he said.
French's father first saw the train car on a neighbor's farm.
Isaac French
The French family didn't list the train car on Airbnb just because they wanted to make some money, but because it was a passion project.
“We just felt this was the right thing to do. This is what excites us and we think it's going to inspire other people as well,” Frangais says.
The renovation included converting the old passenger room into a sitting area and the mail room into a bedroom. “Our guests really like it,” French says.
“They wake up in the morning and look straight out at these beautiful panoramic views of the countryside. It's a huge place to sleep.”
They also added a kitchen with a gas potbelly stove and a bathroom, and updated the floors and furniture.
The train car sits on 145 acres.
Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Do it
Guests also have access to a mirrored sauna, hot tub, and fire pitright on the grounds.
“The idea is to reflect what's around nature,” French says. “Because we had these beautiful pine trees and this amazing view, we thought it would be a cool setting between old and new.”
When French opened accommodation on Airbnb, it was an immediate success. Within the first week, the 1909 Revamped Coach it was booked for several months. Accommodations range from $325 to $350 per night.
“I think all our dreams were surpassed by the reception and how much fun it was for us to do it as a family,” French says. “It was gratifying to see all that hard work and the confirm that investment as soon as possible.”
The family listed the train car on Airbnb in 2020 and have been hosting it ever since.
Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Do it
In its first year, the train car had 90% occupancy and $14,179 in revenue. Since then, income has increased to between $75,000 and $110,000 a year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
In 2024, the train car generated $110,172 in revenue from Airbnb and was booked for 140 nights on the platform.
It has a profit margin of about 65%, with 30 to 35% of gross revenue going to cleaning costs, ongoing maintenance and minor repairs, property taxes, and insurance.
In addition to Airbnb, Frangais and his family take a place for the train car online. “We can have more of a relationship with the guests,” French says. “With Airbnb, it feels more like a business, but (the booking is just) allows for more of a relationship that can for us to build.”
The train car has a seating area, kitchen, potbelly gas stove, bathroom and king size bed.
Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Do it
Despite its popularity, the French say they have no plans to raise the price per night anytime soon. It is their pleasure to host people from all over who want to experience a piece of history.
“The best experience we have in hospitality is the gratitude that almost all the other guests send us for taking care of this piece of history,” the father of France, Webb, tells CNBC Make It.
With the income from the train car, the French say they recently paid off the loan they took out to finance the train car project.
Instead of paying themselves, the family invests the money into the train car and the overall experience of the guests. “It's hard to overestimate how hungry the public is for a one-of-a-kind, story-driven stay, and renovation projections are one of the best ways to get here,” French says.
“Even if you don't have a background in restoration or hospitality, if you have a passion to entertain others, to delight them, to surprise them, you can be one of create that because that's what hospitality is all about. “
A stay at the train car includes access to a mirrored sauna, hot tub and fire pit.
Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Do it
French's best advice for those looking to emulate what he and his family have done with this rental property is to open your eyes and make connections: “There's a lot of opportunity right underneath people that they don't even know about.” understand because they have always been. been there and they are out of the box.”
He says to “talk to your neighbor. Your neighbor might be the person to partner with if you don't have the money or the experience that your neighbor might have .”
Although the 1909 Train Car was a very special find for the family, French advises that you never know what's out there and what you might be creatively drawn to: “How many old buildings and old stories and old train cars are just sitting out there waiting to be discovered and loved?”
“I think that's the most important thing,” he said.
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