Choo Choo on the Cheap: $42K Riverside Caboose in Georgia Could Be Unique Rental

The caboose is typically the end of a train. But this one could signal a new beginning.

A caboose from 1976 sits on a acre of riverfront property in Dahlonega, GA, and it just rolled onto the market for $41,900.

The low asking price reflects the work that would be necessary to get this train car back on track.

“At one point, it was used for camping and vacationing,” says Jenna Ritter, with Virtual Properties Realty Biz. “It hasn’t been used for that in quite some time; but it’s got a little loft inside of it for sleeping quarters, a little living room, and it used to have a full kitchen in it.”

In 1985, the seller brought the caboose and its tracks to the property, according to Ritter. Beyond shelter, the train car offers few creature comforts.

“It’s full-on primitive—there are no utilities whatsoever,” Ritter notes, adding that electricity is available, and the new owner could drill a well. “It hasn’t been used in quite some time, so the interior would need some investment, and the price is reflective of that.”

The land, however, boasts 186 feet of frontage on the Etowah River.

“It’s beautiful back there,” Ritter says. “It’s very private, and there are no other residences around. It would really be perfect for somebody looking for a primitive camping experience or weekend fishing trips.”

A permanent structure could potentially be built on the property, but Ritter explains it would have to be on stilts and have a nontraditional septic tank system.

“I really haven’t seen anything like this before,” she says. “Then, of course, it’s not every day that you drive up an off-the-beaten path road, and you see a caboose on the river.”

Vacation rental potential

Ritter says many people have shown an interest in turning the property into a short-term rental. She acknowledges it needs some work to make that possible, though.

“I would say with the right amount of investment, that could come to life,” she says, noting the buyer would need to have “a lot of experience transforming nontraditional structures into a residential structure.”

The property is about 15 minutes from downtown Dahlonega and less than two hours from Atlanta.

“I think the perfect buyer for this property is somebody that appreciates a unique experience and appreciates history,” Ritter says. “It’s also someone that’s looking to use it for a vacation, camping, and fishing experience.”

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