Spend the night in the 19th century in a working National Historic Landmark rail yard – sleep in a working caboose! The creature comforts are rather thin, a bunk and an oil stove. No electricity, no air conditioning (but not to worry, the evenings are always cool in the high desert), no wi-fi, no tv, but yes your cellphone will work.
Sit in the cupola and watch as the sun goes down. Imagine what it was like during the heyday of the railroad. It’s not that hard to do, you can see where the paint has rubbed off the walls, where countless conductors and brakemen have sat watching the train as the miles roll by.
At night, the rail yard becomes eerily quiet. Soon all you hear is the hooting of the owl that lives in the coaling tower. Climb into your bunk and you can visualize what it was like during the day. Soon morning comes and sunlight fills the caboose and the rail yard comes alive. Locomotives move about getting ready for another day of railroading.
Guests that stay in the caboose have access to the restrooms, showers and kitchen that are in the nearby bunkhouse. The caboose has room for three. Limited availability, reservations strongly suggested. |
Caboose Lodging Options |
Member |
Non-Member |
| Caboose Overnight - Single Night |
$80 |
$115 |
Caboose Overnight - Weekend (2 nights) |
$144 |
$207 |
| Caboose Overnight - Week (5 nights) |
$320 |
$460 |
Excursion train ticket package with caboose overnight (2 Adults, 1 Child) |
$50 |
$50 |
Memberships start at $30
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East Ely was never a large community. The railroad, mines and mill had a constant need for workers. To entice workers to the railroad, the railroad proved living quarters in bunkhouses.
Today the museum continues this tradition with our bunkhouse. Located in the middle of the rail yard, it is used by volunteers and interns of the railroad. Now, the general public has a rare chance to also sleep in the bunkhouse with the crews. (Though be warned, morning comes very early for steam engineers and fireman. Crew calls of o-dark thirty are normal.) Like the crews, the rail yard does come alive very early in the morning as locomotives move about getting ready for the day’s activities.
Unlike the caboose overnight experience, the bunkhouse has all of the modern conveniences - four sleeping rooms, two restrooms with showers, a kitchen and a sitting area. (Though the air conditioning is still natural, i.e. open a window.)
Built in 1906, it was recently remodeled to serve as a bunkhouse. Now it has all of the comforts of home - electricity, heat and running water but it has no air conditioning (but not to worry, the evenings are always cool in the high desert), no wi-fi, no tv, but yes, your cellphone will work. Click here for the history of the building.
Guests that stay in the bunkhouse can use the restrooms, showers and kitchen. Two adults and a child per room. Limited availability, reservations strongly suggested. |
Bunkhouse Lodging Options |
Member |
Non-Member |
| Bunkhouse Overnight - Single Night |
$95 |
$135 |
Bunkhouse Overnight - Weekend (2 nights) |
$171 |
$243 |
| Bunkhouse Overnight - Week (5 nights) |
$380 |
$540 |
| Bunkhouse Overnight - Adult Railroad Reality (8 nights) |
$645 |
$1,080 |
Excursion train ticket package with bunkhouse overnight (2 Adults, 1 Child) |
$50 |
$50 |
Memberships start at $30
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