We're budgeting $400,000 to flip 5 train cars into Airbnbs. It all started with a 1970s caboose we bought on Facebook marketplace.

Ray and Karen DeVite happened upon a vintage train caboose on Facebook Marketplace. Now, they're planning a site with 5 cars to host overnight guests.

• Real-estate investors Ray and Karen DeVite weren't sure what to do with land they bought in Xenia, Ohio.
• One night, Karen spotted a historic 1970s caboose on Facebook Marketplace and got inspired. 
• Now, the couple is budgeting at least $400,000 to build an Airbnb park for train enthusiasts.

One Ohio couple is all-in on ambitious project to turn historic train cabooses into short-term rental getaways.

Ray and Karen DeVite spoke to Business Insider about the project, which all began with a fateful Facebook Marketplace scroll. The couple had purchased land in Xenia, Ohio with the intention of developing it. One night, Karen was scrolling Facebook and by chance saw an advertisement for a historic train caboose.

"When I put in 'trains', I was just expecting to find some lights or lanterns," Karen told BI. "I sure wasn't expecting to find a full-sized caboose."

Now, the couple has a historic 1970's Chessie System caboose and 1950's Nickel Plate Road caboose, purchased from the same seller they found on Facebook.

As the short-term rental market becomes more competitive following the post-lockdown boom, middle-of-the-road offerings have fared worse in staying booked. Some hosts have turned to offering unique stays, like the DeVites, and highlight off-the grid experiences.

The DeVites unknowingly tapped into a massive community of train enthusiasts and have been connected with historic caboose fans through Facebook groups. They're expecting to host many of them once the cabooses are ready for overnight guests by the summer.

For those interested in pursuing similar projects, Ray's advice is to "just go for it."

"You can't anticipate everything, you just learn along the way," he said.

Here's how the project is unfolding:

The DeVites had some experience in real-estate investing, before purchasing a tract of land in Xenia, Ohio — located 20 minutes west of Dayton.

One night, Karen found a 1970's Chessie System train caboose for sale on Facebook marketplace. Initially, she was just looking for lights.

The couple immediately saw the potential for an Airbnb and bought the caboose in October 2023. They also picked up another historic 1950's caboose from the same seller.

With two on the lot, the DeVites are now budgeting at least $400,000 to flip and rent out five train cars altogether.

Renovating has not been easy for the two cabooses, which are around 400 square feet each.

Unexpected costs, like $16,000 for a "tap-in fee" for local water access, have piled up.

But the joy the cabooses bring has been infectious. When they were moved to the property on a tractor trailer, it felt like a special event. "You just don't see a train every day going through your neighborhood," Ray told BI.

Xenia is well-known for a network of paved bike trails, so the DeVites also hope to entice bike enthusiasts with the future rentals.

Renovation is underway in the Chessie System caboose. The DeVites hope to host their first guests this summer.

The Chessie System caboose includes a coupla, where there will be lofted beds. Stairs are being built into the storage space.

The couple is also trying to keep the cabooses as authentic looking as possible, while updating plumbing, heating, and air. Karen plans to decorate each space with train-themed items.

Eventually, the DeVites plan to list the cabooses for $150 to $200 per night on Airbnb.

The DeVites have already tapped into the train enthusiast community, who are anxious to stay on the premise. Some have already reached out to share their memories of different trains.