“We view ourselves not as owners but as caretakers of a special piece of local history.” — Alexandra Hunt
UPPER LAKE, Calif. — A visit to historic Upper Lake in north Lake County might include dining at a downtown restaurant like Blue Wing Restaurant & Saloon, having coffee and a snack at Double D’s, or trying your hand at nearby Running Creek Casino along the way. When you arrive at the Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast, Clear Lake beckons you to gaze at its shores while the parklike setting of a unique resort sits directly across the way. At the resort’s wood pier, I made note of a graceful white heron and a stunning yellow-headed blackbird at lake’s edge.
Mosey around the shady grounds of the nine uniquely themed vintage caboose-cabin lodgings for a special treat. Since the railroad never made it up to Lake County, the Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast is the best way to board a train in the area. After a cozy night’s stay, enjoy breakfast in the historic home on the property. It is believed to have been constructed in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
“The Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast officially began in 1989 under the vision of Len and Lorraine Bassignani,” said owner and innkeeper Alexandra (Ali) Hunt. “They transformed the property into the unique railroad-themed destination it is today by bringing in and restoring the vintage cabooses that now serve as guest accommodations. However, the history of the property extends much farther back than the Featherbed itself.”
She went on to explain that the property was originally owned by the Johnson family, who welcomed visitors to the shores of Clear Lake for generations. Long before the cabooses arrived, the Johnson family operated lakeside cottages on the property, making these grounds a destination for travelers for well over 100 years. David Johnson, grandson of Frank B. Johnson, shared family photographs and stories, including a remarkable photograph of his grandfather standing beside his 1919 Stutz Bearcat automobile. The property was originally purchased by David’s great-grandfather and grandfather in 1918. Since the Featherbed Railroad was established in 1989, there have been five caretakers and preservers of this piece of Lake County history.
Both Hunt and her husband, Jamie, are veterans. Jamie is a retired U.S. Air Force pilot with 24 years of service and currently works as a commercial airline captain. She served as both an Army National Guard intelligence analyst and Air Force reservist and previously worked in law enforcement for nearly a decade.
The fifth stewards of the property, Hunt said their shared passion for hospitality, preservation and community led them to Lake County and ultimately to the Featherbed Railroad.
“We view ourselves not as owners but as caretakers of a special piece of local history, she said. “Our goal is to preserve the property’s unique character while thoughtfully investing in improvements that enhance the guest experience and ensure the Featherbed Railroad can be enjoyed by future generations.”
Since purchasing the property, they have completed numerous upgrades while remaining committed to preserving the history and charm that have made the Featherbed such a beloved destination for nearly four decades.
A little digging into history via past Lake County historian Henry Mauldin’s files cite numerous companies who had detailed plans to bring the railroad to Lake County between the years of 1880 to the 1900s. Dreamers, visionaries and even scammers made plans for a Lake County railroad, but none of those plans came to fruition.
One plan to bring the railroad to Lake County was in 1889. The Southern Pacific Railway proposed a route from Woodland to Cache Creek into Lower Lake and over to Mendocino County to join the Fort Bragg Railroad at the Noyo River headwaters. Alas, it was decided that this plan would not be financially feasible.
In 1914 the Yolo Water and Power Co. constructed Clear Lake Dam at Cache Creek to create room for water storage, so the Clear Lake Railroad, a railroad line beginning in Hopland in Mendocino County, planned to build a depot in Lakeport. Those plans never came to light, and the CLRR was able to grade but a few miles of track land before the company folded due to financial problems.
Cabooses finally made it to Lake County in 1988-89. The Lake County Historical Society’s Pomo Bulletin, October 2015 issue, says, “People driving along the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff in 1988 and 1989 saw an astonishing sight — cabooses parked under the trees along the lakeshore. What they saw was the beginning of a unique bed and breakfast resort, the Featherbed Railroad, which opened in September 1989. In the 1980s railroads were eliminating cabooses from their trains, so cabooses could be bought relatively inexpensively. Kelly and Sherry McLean and the Bassignanis decided to create a resort using retired 50-ton cabooses that arrived in Nice on low-boy trailers. Cranes lifted the cabooses onto the tracks that had been laid down to receive them.
As soon as the cabooses were welded in place, the couples used imagination and elbow grease to transform them into plush suites with utilities, furniture and all of the trimmings to create nine themed rooms. Today visitors can travel through time in caboose-rooms such as the Casablanca, the Gatsby, London Calling, Mystery on the Orient Express, Midnight in Paris, Easy Rider and Wild, Wild West.
“While our signature experience is staying overnight in one of our themed vintage cabooses, guests enjoy a variety of activities during their stay,” Hunt said.
Amenities and experiences include a complimentary gourmet breakfast served daily in the historic Train Depot, seasonal swimming pool, access to Clear Lake and lakeside relaxation areas, complimentary bicycles for exploring the area, complimentary kayaks and paddleboards, nearby fishing, life-size outdoor chess set, yard games and family-friendly recreation areas. Adirondack chairs, lakeside seating, fire tables and outdoor gathering spaces are scattered throughout the property. Guests can enjoy birdwatching and wildlife viewing, taste wine at local wineries and take part in seasonal themed events.
Or it might also be enough to simply slow down, walk the grounds, and take in the history and beauty of the property while overlooking Clear Lake.
Hunt said her support team is small but dedicated.
“We’re a small independent business, and many team members wear multiple hats,” she said, “but our shared goal remains the same: providing exceptional hospitality while preserving one of Lake County’s most unique and historic lodging experiences.”
Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast is located at 2870 Lakeshore Blvd. in Upper Lake.
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Kathleen Scavone, M.A., retired educator, is a potter, freelance writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora and Fauna Tour of a California State Park,” “People of the Water” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She loves hiking, travel, photography and creating her single-panel cartoon, “Rupert.”
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The views, opinions and data presented in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or perspective of Lake County Features or its editorial team. Any content provided by our authors is their own and is not intended to malign any group, organization, company or individual.
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