I’m not a big fan of cookie cutter hotels next to interstate exits.  While they are usually decent, offer breakfast, and can be reasonably priced, econo-box chain hotels are far from memorable.  Part of the reason for this is that they can be far from a walkable street in an interesting part of town.

Well, if you’re on Route 1 near the Florida/Georgia line, I have a unique and memorable place for you to spend the night!  The FLS Caboose is just a block off of Route 1 on First Street in Folkston, GA.  The caboose has been restored as a space that sleeps four with a bathroom, kitchen area, and a wonderful deck in the back where you can watch CSX freight trains and the AMTRAK AutoTrain roll along the main line to and from Florida. 

The same proprietors also keep a lodge two doors North for those who are looking for something a little less rustic. 

You can really appreciate the size and noise of a big freight train when you’re just a few hundred feet away from the line!  The FLS caboose sits on rails and it moves very gently as the trains pass by.  At 4am, the effect can be much less charming than during the day, but fortunately the rumbling and the horn blasts fade away in a few minutes.  Scores of trains pass the caboose daily.

Why is the caboose in Folkston? Because watching trains is a thing folks do in Folkston.  There’s an observation platform where rail fans can sit under cover and listen to a scanner that broadcasts rail communications.   There’s a museum housed in the old Folkston railroad depot that celebrates the legacy of rail transport.   If you need to wait before visiting Folkston, you can whet your “railfan” appetite with a live feed from the tracks! 

So when you’re out on Route 1 looking for some unique fun, here’s a caboose you can try, instead of pulling into some boring Motel.