The remote town of Deary, Idaho, where the population barely reaches past 550, has become a buzzy spot to visit, thanks to a converted historic train car that’s quite a sought-after stay for travelers.
It’s a 120-year-old combination railcar that a man named Isaac French and his family restored, turning a decaying relic into a successful Airbnb that’s now raking in up to $350 a night. Sources say the accommodation is one of the short-term rental site’s most profitable properties.
“My dad bought this 120-year-old train car [for $3,000],” French, 27, shared in a viral X thread that’s now been viewed more than 16 million times. “It was a rotting, cat-infested wreck. But after investing $149k and five months of work, we redeemed it.”
This Airbnb maintains a 90% occupancy rate year-round. French told The Post, adding that the stay “paid for itself in 18 months.”
The project began in an unlikely way.
French’s father, now 55, a lifelong train enthusiast, was helping a neighbor shovel snow off a collapsing barn roof when he stumbled upon the forgotten railcar, buried under years of neglect and the stench of a feline takeover.
“Approximately 20 cats had made it their home, and the smell was almost unbearable,” French said.
Despite the odor and dilapidated state of the car, French’s father saw potential where others saw junk. He struck a deal with the neighbor for $3,000 and then faced the daunting task of moving the 61-foot train car down winding, snowy backcountry roads to the family’s property.
“The wood was almost completely rotten, and the ground was slick with mud and snow,” French said. But with the help of a local trucker, the car was safely relocated.
The family’s collective effort over the course of five months in 2020 brought the railcar back to life.
“My brothers and I each took on different parts of the work, tediously restoring every single piece of the car,” French, who has seven brothers, explained. “We reimagined the space … The mail compartment became a bedroom, the cargo area a bathroom, and the passenger space a kitchenette and lounge.”
French told The Post more about the family’s DIY approach.
“We pretty much did all of it with our own hands, and we did it in about five months,” he said. The result was an Instagram-worthy retreat that quickly caught the attention of travelers looking for a standout stay.
The railcar, originally built in 1906, was a combination car, used for mail, cargo and passengers — a rarity in the world of locomotion.
“Most people probably wouldn’t have known this, but that means that it was used for three different purposes,” French told The Post. “So a US mail carrier, another section of it we use for cargo and freight, and then the third and biggest section was a passenger car.”
The French family also purchased and restored the old train depot in Deary, converting it into a three-unit stay. That work happened the following year, from January to October of 2021.
And when they spotted an old caboose on the side of the road, they couldn’t resist adding it to their collection. “And just like that, the ID train ecosystem was restored!” French added in his X thread.
The family’s restoration efforts have drawn visitors from all over the world.
“It’s been so much fun to help breathe life back into the town,” French told The Post. Their efforts have even inspired other locals to get involved, leading to the opening of a butcher shop, a bakery and a crafts store — all housed in lovingly restored historic buildings.
“So now we have all these pieces, sort of a new ecosystem of life for the town,” French said. “And it’s great because to get to Deary, Idaho, you really have to have a reason … so when people make the investment of time to come out and visit and stay in the train car or the depot, there’s things for them to do.”
French and his family’s project has been featured on Magnolia Network’s “Restoration Road,” giving them a much-needed boost.
But it’s the viral X post that has truly put Deary on the map.
“The thread has been viewed 16.3 million times,” French said. “So there’s obviously a lot of people that resonate with the story that would not know about it otherwise.”
Despite the current rate and exclusive appeal, French aims to keep prices static, in hopes that more can enjoy his property down the line.
“We want it to be affordable for people,” he told The Post. “We want those that really want to stay there … to be able to visit.”