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Surprisingly spacious Historic Railcar on Beautiful Skaneateles Lake

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110ft historic 1936 Stainless Budd Rail Carriage on Skaneateles lakes only rail
Tranquility along one of the USA’s most pristine lakes...Priceless
Favorite spot for afternoon refreshments; breakfast, lunch or evening night cap
Livingroom
Dinning Room; table can be extended, but why stay inside?

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Skaneateles Lake
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Homer, NY
  • Place, Skaneateles Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Syracuse University
    ‪51 min drive‬
  • Place, Cornell University
    ‪54 min drive‬
  • Airport, Syracuse, NY (SYR-Hancock Intl.)
    ‪65 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bunk Bed

Convertible bed(s)

2 Double Futons

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom Master

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Surprisingly spacious Historic Railcar on Beautiful Skaneateles Lake

A family setting. Enjoy morning coffee and evening barbecues on deck overlooking the lake! Historic railcar built in 1936 by Budd and located on Skaneateles in 1976 has been completely refurbished-including charming oak and cherry interior cut and planked in the property. Property features large 20' X 40' dock on 198' of private lakefront. Pebbled beach at lakefront allows for easy wading into the lake. Many upgrades completed in 2018. Enjoy time in the most unique rental property that Skaneateles has to offer!

Keywords: Railcar, Skaneateles, rental, lake, fishing, boating, family, cabin, house

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  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (85 reviews)
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House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM
Check out before 9:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 166878vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Map
Homer, NY

What's nearby

  • Skaneateles Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Syracuse University - 51 min drive - 66.8 km
  • New York State Fairgrounds - 53 min drive - 67.3 km
  • Cornell University - 54 min drive - 65.1 km
  • Destiny USA - 57 min drive - 68.1 km

Getting around

  • Cortland, NY (CTX-Cortland County) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Loft - ‬34 min drive
  • ‪The Glen Haven Restaurant - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Colonial Lodge - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Heuga’s Alpine - ‬32 min drive
  • ‪Grammie's Pantry - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Surprisingly spacious Historic Railcar on Beautiful Skaneateles Lake pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Surprisingly spacious Historic Railcar on Beautiful Skaneateles Lake?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Surprisingly spacious Historic Railcar on Beautiful Skaneateles Lake?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Surprisingly spacious Historic Railcar on Beautiful Skaneateles Lake?

Checkout is at 9:00 AM.

Where is Surprisingly spacious Historic Railcar on Beautiful Skaneateles Lake located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is steps from Skaneateles Lake and within 6 mi (10 km) of Niles Town Hall and Bahar Nature Preserve. Carpenter Falls and Bear Swamp State Forest are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 43 out of 74 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 24 out of 74 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 74 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 74 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 74 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jesse G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best Stay I've Ever Had

The train was absolutely lovely and the dock down across the street gave us access to the clearest, cleanest water! We had an absolutely lovely time swimming and grilling steaks. One of the best small vacations I've ever had. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Aug 2025
Mission accomplished, we love it!!! We want it to be the source of memories
Verified

10/10 Excellent

JoAnn B.

Wonderful time at Skaneateles lake.Had fun relaxing & fishing from the dock. We watched the Eagle catch a fish that was cool!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Aug 2025
Fantastic, so pleased you all had such a great time
Verified

8/10 Good

Joan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Staying in the rail car was cool. There are a lot of stairs. One of the toilets was broken and kept running the whole time. The lake was beautiful.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessi K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place

We really enjoyed our stay and this train house! It's truly unique experience, especially for young kids to be in real " train house". Everything is all about comfort inside, plenty of storage and everything you can possibly need for comfortable stay. We spent most of our time on the dock on the lake, amazing views and the lake so beautiful, kids didn't care the water was cold and had plenty of fun in the lake. Planning on coming back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very happy with accommodations. Large dock on the water was great for relaxing, swimming

Great experience
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Sept 2022
Excellent, s pleased you had a great time. Ian
Verified

8/10 Good

Robert S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Spent a two day weekend at this spacious property, we had a few small issues everything was clean and orderly.Went up for a friend's son high school graduation. We had a few small issues that eventually were addressed to our satisfaction we would surely stay here again! Thank you Ian!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girls get together

We had amazing time. The train car was absolutely amazing! Everything was perfect. The deck at the lake was big and we stayed there with our rafts all day Saturday. Not too many stairs to maneuver. Easy to get down to the lake. Just the experience of the train car was memorable. Ian was a great host! We would do it again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Romayne S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful experience!

Very nice! Children especially loved staying in the train. Outside living areas were superb!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelly R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

July 4th Getaway

My friend and I were looking to get away for a few days with our kids and dogs. This was a perfect little getaway! We enjoyed sitting on the deck but most all the amazing dock looking out onto Skaneateles Lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

JoAnn B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great time at the Lake!

We had a wonderful time Fishing, Boating, swimming Grandkids had a ball and cant wait until next year. Thank you Ian 😊
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Aug 2023
Absolutely our pleasure, so glad you had a great time
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic

Our stay was great, the use of the train car for the cottage is an extremely cool idea. The place was very clean, amenities were all there per Vrbo . The owner is great guy who stopped to make sure everything was good . The lake view is beautiful and large deck at the lake is spot on.We would definitely book this site again
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

helen z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A unique adventure!

A wonderful part of the lake, crystal clear lake water, friendly neighbors and interesting areas nearby to explore. The owner,(Ian) was quick to respond to any question we might have. A wonder stay!
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 25 July 2022
Glad you had a great time and enjoyed this lovely part of the country.
Verified

6/10 Okay

Bob T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Great location, unique rental (not great), way too expensive

Beautiful, quiet location on the lake. But the railcar was poorly maintained and way too expensive.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Oct 2021
Bob, I am so sorry you didn’t enjoy your stay. I suspect the heavy rain that week didn’t help. I do wish however you had reached out, or responded when I checked in, I am sure we could have helped make your stay better. We do take pride in maintaining the railcar and would appreciate hearing more from you as to what was lacking. Regards Ian
Verified

8/10 Good

Dr.Anu v.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Its was a beautiful stay

We loved our stay at this unique place. We were greeted by Mr. Ian. He showed us around the place. That was helpful as some places has antique light switches. The place itself is beautiful, very well kept. Mr. DeSouza left thoughtful list of places to visit around Skaneateles lake. The coach itself has everything including a washer dryer. It was comfortable and clean We will definitely visit again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Mike M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful as it gets

We (6 adults) came and stayed during the week for a relaxing 3 days. The property owner was excellent to work with. We watch eagles in a nest just south of the cabin in a large pine. We kayaked around the southern end of the lake. Used the camp as a base for several outings. Had a BBQ and campfire. The novelty of staying in the train car was also a unique experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Jessica O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique property

Had a wonderful time on Skaneateles Lake. The rail car was clean and spacious and Ian was a wonderful host. Stopped by to bring us a wine key and the full story of the rail cars journey to Skaneateles. A quiet and peaceful weekend. Will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
So pleased you guys had a great time and look forward to seeing you all again. Ian
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amelia R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A unique cabin by a beautiful lake

The railroad car was funky and interesting for the kids. The dock across the way was gorgeous – we just sat there for hours enjoying the view. Ian was a pleasure to communicate with - he got back to us immediately about any question. It was fun to have kayaks at the ready and basically it was a wonderful jumping off point for adventures. I’d highly recommend and would come back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2021
Amelia, Lovely to have had you as guests. Ian
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lyndsey B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So Much Fun!

We had a wonderful time at the railcar. It is surprisingly spacious! It so cool to see all the old features that have been kept intact in the railcar. Everything was very clean and it was amazing that all the supplies we needed were there (sheets, towels, dishes, etc.). It was a hot and humid day but the A/C kept the inside comfortable. Just note, the railcar is across the quiet road from the water/dock, so not on the water itself. We hope to stay again next summer!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Colm M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

1st week of Aug stay

The location and water access was great. The lake was excellent. There's a lot to do and everyone we met was friendly and pleasant. There were a few minor things that were not so good.... the internet connectivity was poor and there were a few too many ants indoors. Elderly or infirm people should be aware that there are a lot of stairs to climb. Overall though we enjoyed our stay a lot and we especially enjoyed the lake access and the general area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Aug 2021
Dear Colm; sorry to hear about the ants, we will see to it immediately. The hot then wet summer has had an interesting impact in that regard. The internet should be suburb, sorry you had difficulty, again I will look into what went wrong. Regards Ian
Verified

6/10 Okay

Cindy A.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Overgrown

The rail car itself was fun to be in but could use some updates. The one bed that my cousins stayed in was very uncomfortable. There was a metal bar that stuck in their back. The foliage was very overgrown. Not neat like the pictures. The deck could use a good power washing. The lake is beautiful.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
Hi Cindy; thank you for the feedback. I agree the hedge needs trimming and that will be dealt with, usually we only need to do it once a year, but this year clearly conditions have been ideal for growth and it needs a second cut. The bed will be sorted as will a power wash of the deck. Apologies that it wasn't as you would have liked it.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful & Fun Place

We experienced Chamber of Commerce perfect weather for our weekend! The lake was a main activity center with swimming, kayaking and tubing (we brought the tubes). Around the house (railcar) lots of grilling, campfire and hanging out. The pictures on the site don't do it justice. Lots of space outside. We did have a tent for extra spreading out at bedtime. The youngsters had space to run around and play. As someone else mentioned in a review the kitchen was updated from the pics. Everyone in the family had a blast and was thrilled with the railcar! Other vacationers in the area stopped to take pics and asked if we were the owners.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 24 July 2024
Fantastic, you guys clearly enjoyed it as intended. The lake is priceless, the Railcar a fun folly, we try to keep accommodating and fun for all who stay. Really appreciate the lovely review....
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Trip!

We had such a nice time on our stay in the Railcar. It’s at the end of the lake so it’s much more secluded and the deck access is amazing! We stayed out there all day just relaxing, swimming and using the kayaks provided. You can rent a boat and keep it there if you want to add to your trip. It was the best part for us! The rail car is really cool, however it’s a little tight. Mostly the bathrooms but it is an actually rail car so it makes sense. There is a lot of steps on this stay so be aware of that with planning. They are steep going to the dock access and a lot going up to the rail car itself. All in all we enjoyed it! Thank you Ian!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
Lovely to hear you guys had such a good time. It is a unique place, hope we see you again....Ian
Archival

8/10 Good

Vanessa F.

Beautiful and relaxing getaway spot in the Finger Lakes

My husband and I celebrated our first anniversary by travelling to the Finger Lakes with another couple. We all stayed comfortable in the railcar. It was easy to find, the location is great, and we were able to bring our golden retriever along. Close to a few towns and driving distance to wine trails and great hikes. The railcar was clean and temperature-controlled, although it could use a little TLC and some pest control (a small ant problem). The stairs are a bit rickety (tough for old dogs/small children) but there is an alternate entrance with more solid stairs on the other end of the car. The dock was incredible (although the stairs down to that could also use a touch-up), as Lake Skaneateles is perfect for swimming, and we enjoyed taking the kayaks out as well. The kitchen, while small, actually has a pretty awesome stove and everything you need for cooking, as well as a few staples that came in handy. It was easy to get in touch with the hosts when we needed to. We also enjoyed the fire pit in front of the car at night. I would definitely recommend staying in this historic, unique place in the Finger Lakes.
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
I am so pleased you enjoyed your stay, it is a unique beautiful part of the US special in so many ways. The car itself is an on going project and we will address all the improvement opportunities you have listed as we continue to improve the car and its location. Thanks again, Ian
Archival

6/10 Okay

John F.

Rustic Rail Car

The listing was accurate but potential customers should be aware that the dock is across the street and down a steep set of stairs. People with boats should also be aware that many of the other boaters don't recognize "no wake" zones and expect your boat to be subjected to a lot of wake (bring lots of bumpers). With all that being said, the dock is the best part of the property and we would've spent our whole time on it if we had better weather. I would've rated the rail car as above average if it was cleaner. The bedding was stained, the stove top was not cleaned and there is no exhaust fan, the bathrooms had left over used soap and shampoos from the previous tenants, and there were numerous wasps and ants inside. The stairs leading to the entry of the rail car are in need of replacement or repair and the deck needs a cleaning. There is also a hedge row out front that could use a trimming and would give customers a better view of the lake. We were unable to get any TV stations off of the antenna but the DVD did work. The owner was accessible and seemed to generally care for our needs. In my opinion, updated bathrooms and flooring with some basic TLC inside and out would make this property much more enjoyable.
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
We greatly appreciate this and all feedback, without it we won't improve this unique and we believe special place and location. We recommend that prospective renters look at the location through Google maps, the country road can be part of the charm, used by walkers and cyclists primarily on warm summer days. The Dock is private, as is the front yard protected by the hedge, which we agree could be trimmed lower, and will be immediately. I am sure all agree the large deck, with its umbrella covered outside table and barbeque offers a great view of the lake. We couldn't find the stained linen, but apologize nevertheless for it, and have replaced it all anyway. Special cleaning care will be given to the stove top in the future, but this is an older, unique piece, not easily replaced. Ventilation for the car, either natural through doors and windows, or air-conditioned through the Forced air system has been previously noted as excellent. Where possible, including the bath rooms, authentic pieces have been incorporated into the layout, renewing and replacing them we feel will impair the experience. That said, there are clearly things we can do to improve the presentation of the car, cleanliness is paramount and will be addressed. We thank John for his feedback and on the main agree his points are opportunity for improvement, and are being addressed.
Archival

6/10 Okay

Allison M.

Kids loved it but needs some updating

The kids loved the exterior and that fact we were staying in a train. The bunk bed room was perfect for them. The house had lots of pros and cons. It could definitely be a 4+ stars with a few upgrades. Biggest issues were the air stopped working while we were there and you are in a large metal box when it is 90 outside so it got a bit warm. The owner came out and attempted to fix it and was were able to get it functioning on a part time basis (we had to turn it off for part of the day and then it would work at night). He was unable to get someone out to repair it while we were there. As stated in previous reviews, the trundle bed was unsleepable as it was just a box spring. The funtons were comfortable though. There was a broken window in the basement and the basement was wet and covered in cobwebs. Trying to go down there to do a load a laundry was kinda gross. Although we were close to wine country we couldn't find a wine opener! Good thing we had our own. Some blinds to block the morning light reflecting off the lake would also be nice. The sun came in early and bright. It rained pretty hard one day and some of the windows leaked. The kitchen had pretty much everything we needed to make our meals. The bathrooms were small but manageable. The house was fairly close to two towns for groceries and entertainment. There was a great hike to go behind a waterfall and swim in the river farther down that our kids loved. It is within 45 minutes of some of the finger lakes wineries and some other nice waterfall hikes. The lake was beautiful and we had a great time in it pretty much every day. There was kayaks down there to use along with a fire pit for enjoying the sunset. You could jump right in off the dock or explore with the kayaks and tub. There was ample parking for the 3 cars we had. The large deck with patio table was great and we ate almost all of our meals there.The owner responded quickly to all contact and wanted to make sure we had everything we need to enjoy our stay. Overall we would probably go back to the area and even go to the railcar again with a few updates. Our kids have asked to go back as they loved that fact that it was a real train car and you could see the wheels and everything.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
Thanks for the thorough review. I agree that the issues listed could be better. To late for you, but I will try and sort separately. The hedge was high and has now been trimmed, in fact we are opening up the whole view to the lake. The trundle bed box spring, is actually the "box mattress" supplied with the unit, but we agree it's really lacking and will replace with a mattress. By the way this was not included in the bed count when advertised, but understand the confusion. The tired deck chairs were a local artists idea, the chairs are actually poly urethaned to seal in the weather look...but I agree it was ambitious and we will replace this coming week. Glad otherwise you enjoyed the area and the uniqueness of the RailCar....Ian

About the host

Hosted by Ian DeSouza

Host profile image
We are local residents with a property further up the lake. My children have all grown up on and around the lake, and regard it as a special place. The railcar was our lake cottage for the better part of ten years, and very much a part of us now.

Why they chose this property

Its unique and rustic. Comfortable for a longer stay, we have had visitors who lived there for six months and loved it, and easy for a short one or two night novelty stay at the end or beginning of a longer holiday elsewhere. Fishing, boating, swimming are fantastic in this notably pristine glacial lake; in fact, we drink from it untreated.

What makes this property unique

The views, sounds, ambiance around the property are soothing and lovely. Its a relaxing place, with most of the comforts of home out in the woods, by a lake....and what is there not to love about sleeping in an authentic railway carriage with history. A fire in the pit on the lawn outside the car just makes for the perfect way to unwind and end the day. The setting is rustic, after all it is a setting in the woods with many of the sounds and feel of a nature based setting that has included a nesting pair of Bald Eagles nearby, deer, foxes, different varieties of water fowl and the other creatures you would expect in such a setting.

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