Riley's Railhouse Bed & Breakfast

If you like trains, this is the place to go. Probably 30 trains per day, blaring their horns, literally 30 feet from your room. Perfect for train watchers! Highly recommend the Upper Berth for great train watching. Been there 4 times in 3 years, will visit again. Breakfast also awesome.

Unique experience and very comfortable accommodations. Delicious breakfast with all the extras. Anne and Richard are wonderful, friendly hosts. This is the full train experience with actual trains going by beginning early in the morning until late in the evening. We thought it added to the authenticity of staying at a train depot, but don’t be surprised by the sound.

We stayed here on the way home from a wedding, we were all tired and sad to be heading home and parting ways with friends from distant places, but Riley’s Railhouse was a fantastic place to stay and the perfect way to end our vacation. I have no strong feelings about trains, but have two little train enthusiasts and we were all welcomed warmly! The owners are really lovely folks, the room we stayed in was beautiful, clean, and comfortable. The building felt rustic but not shabby at all. The setup in the room was thoughtful, lots of materials on trains and train-themed or derived(!) decor (of course) and local attractions. There was a little loft with a mattress and kids’ books about trains complete with nightlight! It was accessible by a ladder bolted to the wall and sturdy enough for even very nervous kids and parents to feel comfortable. Our room also had a door leading to a balcony overlooking the train tracks that was perfect when we wanted to see the trains, but two thick velveteen blackout curtains inside the door muffled the noise, in addition to earplugs provided on the bedside table so that we were able to get a good night’s sleep. The morning light comes in through skylights and it made our room and the gathering area look really beautiful, a great way to start the day. We also had a window overlooking the gathering/eating area that was high enough up to allow for privacy, but still accessible and delightful for kids to get a better view of the train on the elevated tracks. We were greeted with a delicious breakfast—including gluten free pancakes to accommodate our dietary needs— and good conversation. Riley’s Railhouse exceeded my expectations (already high due to reviews) and we will definitely go back and bring more extended family! I wish we’d taken more photos, because it’s a beautiful place, but we were enjoying ourselves so much that it didn’t occur to us, which is the surest proof of a great place to stay :)

We never got to experience this place because we were met at the door by a woman who very rudely and snooty informed us that guests only were allowed to come in. We were there to check out the place for family coming to town. We were told to leave. Wow! I would never recommend staying here.

The photos do not do it justice! Richard and Ann are incredible hosts who have thought of every. single. detail-- down to engineers caps for the kids! Be prepared for trains to roll through throughout the night, but that's all part of the experience. Our train-loving five-year-old was in heaven! Breakfast is home cooked and we walked to local restaurants for dinner both nights (great location). The only thing we'd change is that we wish we had discovered Riley's Railhouse sooner!

Took our train obsessed 6 year old and loved it. The trains go through this train at full speed and there are trains at least every hour, if not every half hour. The town is adorable, clean, and shops/restaurants within walking distance. If you go on the weekend there is a market next door to the railhouse. The food was amazing and the decor was top notch. You are 4 miles from the Indiana Dunes and even in October they are beautiful. We can't wait to go back!

When looking for a place to stay near Indiana Dunes with our dog, I kept coming back to Riley's Railhouse. None of the other nearby accommodations that allowed dogs even came close in guest reviews. I didn't realize how train fans flock to this place because of, well the train tracks right off the parking lot, but also how the whole place has been made a train fan heaven with all the furnishings, antiques, etc. Dogs are permitted in the two boxcar rooms which have a queen bed and two twin beds in the loft. The boxcar rooms are a bit tight for space around the queen bed, but the bathroom is large and spacious. We didn't use the loft, but it looked plenty comfy. The morning breakfast was delicious, and it was enjoyable meeting the other guests - and there were conversations about topics other than trains. The owners were wonderful in many ways throughout our stay, and called us two days later just after we realized my wife had left some medicine in our room. It arrived at our home in Minnesota shortly after we finished out 10-day roadtrip. Chesterton is very convenient to the various sites in Indiana Dunes National and State Parks, and also a short drive from Warren Dunes in Michigan. The town itself is very cute, and it was an easy walk to many restaurants and shops. A bonus was that the park right next to the railhouse had events going on both days we were there - a wine tasting one night and a craft/art/antique fair the next day. As I mentioned, we aren't train people, but we gained an appreciation for the passing trains, and our dog was fascinated by them. They provide earplugs in each room if the trains keep you awake, but I am a very light sleeper and I only noticed the trains at night if I was already awake. As mentioned, the boxcar rooms are a bit small, but even with all our gear and supplies for a 10-day trip, we found room for everything. My only suggestion would be a folding chair for the room. There were chairs on the patio area outside, but a chair would have helped when putting my socks on in the morning.

We chose Riley's Railhouse because reviews of other lodging in Chesterton was lackluster and the other places to lodge were pricey for what you got. When we entered late at night, my reaction upon seeing the Upper Berth was an audible, "this is so cool!" My next comment was, "this is one of the cleanest places we've ever stayed in"! It was pretty spectacular and we created a memory due to the uniqueness of the environment. There is nothing special about a chain hotel. Instead it's so much fun to go and do something different! I chose to skip the supplied earplugs on the bedside table. Yes, you hear some of the trains as you sleep, yes the bed will occasionally shake a little, I didn't care in the slightest, those things will forever be linked to this overnight at Riley's Railhouse. In the morning, the owner, Richard, and Chris, the kind-hearted young man he had working alongside him, made a delicious breakfast. We had waffles, assorted (and beautifully arranged) fruit, sliced ham, raspberry danish, orange juice, cold water, coffee and tea.... soooo good! After breakfast, the other guests left and we were fortunate enough to be joined at the table by both Richard and his wife, AnneMarie. They refilled their coffee mugs and sat down for a fascinating chat about the town, what brought them there, a bit about their family, the history of the building, and all the renovations that had taken place. They are super interesting, down-to-earth, good people, some of the best out there. We could have stuck around for longer than the 35 minutes after breakfast had we not had a commitment to get to. Go stay at Riley's Railhouse, you most certainly will not be disappointed, it was a blast!

What a unique experience — to sleep in a caboose or old railroad station! We loved the hosts - AnnMarie & Richard ( And he makes the best French toast I’ve ever had!) All the artifacts and knowledge make this a fascinating stay and definitely worth a visit. We enjoyed experiencing the Indiana Dunes NP while here as well.