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Located in Upper Lake, California, Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast is a historic, lakeside bed-and-breakfast known for its collection of restored train cabooses turned into themed guest rooms.
The property features nine cabooses for guests (with 11 total on site), each offering a unique design and personality, ensuring that no two stays are the same. Guests also enjoy a 19th-century main house used as a dining space for complimentary breakfasts, along with lake access, paddle boarding, kayaking, and fishing from the pier.
Owner Alexandra “Ali” Hunt reflects on the challenge of becoming a steward of a long-standing historic property:
“One of the most defining challenges has been stepping into the role of preserving and revitalizing a truly one of a kind property while honoring its deep-rooted history,” said Hunt.
Don’t just build a business, build an experience people can feel.Alexandra “Ali” Hunt, Owner of Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast
She revealed that balancing modernization with preservation has been central to maintaining the property’s identity while improving the guest experience. That responsibility, she says, extends beyond ownership into stewardship:
“Ultimately, it’s shaped us into stewards, not just owners, of something much bigger than ourselves,” Hunt explained.
For Hunt, the heart of entrepreneurship lies in experience and emotional connection rather than just service offerings. She emphasizes that hospitality is about creating meaningful moments for guests:
“Don’t just build a business, build an experience people can feel,” Hunt said.
Over the years, she has learned that the smallest details often define the guest experience and lasting impressions:
“The smallest details can create the biggest impact,” added Hunt.
Today, Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast continues to thrive as a multigenerational hospitality destination, offering guests a rare opportunity to slow down, connect with history, and experience lakeside living inside authentically restored railroad cabooses.
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