History & Mystery

The Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast is one of Northern California's most unusual overnight stays, located on the shores of Clear Lake in Lake County, wine country. The property features nine vintage railroad cabooses converted into themed guest accommodations, offering visitors the rare chance to sleep in authentic pieces of rail history while surrounded by peaceful lakefront grounds.

The location itself carries a much deeper story than the cabooses alone. Long before becoming the Featherbed Railroad, the property operated as a lakeside retreat during the late 1800s and early 1900s, when Lake County was a thriving vacation destination for Bay Area travelers seeking fresh air, mineral waters, and relaxation by the lake. At the heart of the grounds stands the historic main home, dating back to the late 1800s to early 1900s, which still serves as a centerpiece of the property today.

Over the years, guests, former+ current staff, and visitors have shared numerous reports of unexplained activity throughout both the historic home and the caboose grounds. Some of the most commonly reported experiences include the sudden smell of cigar smoke appearing where no source can be found, figures seen moving between or around the cabooses late at night, lights flickering without explanation, and shadow-like apparitions witnessed inside the historic main house. Others have reported hearing whispers, lights flickering, unexplained markings, footsteps, doors opening or closing on their own, objects shifting unexpectedly, and electronic devices or batteries draining unusually fast while on the property.

Many believe the combination of history, generations of travelers, and the land's deep-rooted past contribute to the unique energy felt and experienced here. The surrounding area also carries rich cultural history tied to the Pomo people and longstanding regional folklore, adding another layer of mystery to an already fascinating location.

Whether visitors come for the history, the lakefront charm, or the possibility of a paranormal encounter, Featherbed Railroad offers an unforgettable stay unlike anywhere else in California.

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Former Owners of the Property

Frank B Johnson and his 1919 Stuts Bearcat, facing west from where the primary driveway of the Featherbed Railroad is now.
The tree in the background is still on property.

The Train Depot Circa 1930s

Our historic main home on property stands as one of the enduring pieces of Lake County's early residential and resort-era charm. Believed to date to the late 1800s to early 1900s, the residence was built during a time when the shores of Clear Lake were becoming a sought-after retreat for travelers from the Bay Area seeking fresh air, lake recreation, and peaceful escapes from city life.
Today, the home remains the heart of the property, where guests gather for breakfast and experience a setting rich with character, craftsmanship, and old-world warmth. From its historic presence to the stories held within its walls, the house reflects more than a century of hospitality on this lakeside property. It serves as a reminder that long before the cabooses arrived, travelers were already coming here to rest, reconnect, and enjoy the beauty of Lake County.

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Lake County History: Hotels in Lakeport

Lakeport travelers had a handful of choices in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Benvenue, also called the Mound Hotel and Cottages, offered lodging on Main Street where St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church is now.
The Clear Lake Hotel stood on Main Street between First and Second.
Perhaps the earliest hotel was the Mann House in the 1860s, but little is known of it.
Downtown, a succession of hotels in two locations served travelers and boarders for decades.

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Spears Stage line Circa 1911 Dayton Stage W A Piner driver 1913 Rickabaugh photo.

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Upper Lake Ca c 1940

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The Pomo people lived around Clear Lake for thousands of years, sustained by fish, waterfowl, acorns, tule reeds, and extensive trade networks. Archaeological evidence places Native presence in the Clear Lake basin at least 8,000–11,000 years ago.

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In Lake County, California, just north of Sonoma and Napa counties, is Clear Lake with a ripe, young age of 480,000—yes, nearly half a million years old—the oldest lake on the continent.