Cruce's Cabooses in Windsor
Matt on 08/21/2019 10:34 AM:
I saw that Damon passed away. So sorry to hear that.
Is there a contact number for the new management?
Thank you.
Kim Henderson - Kim's Cabins from Windsor on 08/22/2019 05:33 AM:
660-525-6394 is Diane Fosnow the new owner
Cruce's Cabooses in Windsor
Mary from Sayner, Wisconsin on 10/24/2017 09:22 AM:
Cruce's Caboose was a great place to stay and Damon a very personable host. The cabooses are located off the trail about 2 miles in the country along a stream. Very peaceful and quiet. Somewhat hilly to get there, but well worth it once there. The caboose was all ready for us when we got there and Damon checked on us later and helped start the campfire.
If you are looking for any night life after a ride, this isn't the place for you as it's situated out of town. Damon suggested we eat a good meal in Clinton or Windsor before arriving or be able to bring food to eat there. We stocked up on refreshments in Calhoun's convenience store before we got there, so we were good once we arrived at the caboose. There is a continental breakfast of milk/juice, bagel, cereal to enjoy the next morning. Damon gave us a heads up on a great breakfast restaurant in Windsor called the Wagon Wheel, so we opted for that option and was a great choice.
Cruce's Cabooses in Windsor
Anonymous on 10/09/2017 06:46 PM:
We enjoyed our stay here. The owner set up a lovely fire and plenty of wood was available. The green caboose has a double bed with two sets of bunks. We were not in the red caboose but it just has bunks. This could be compared to a stay in trailer with the bonus of saying you've slept in a caboose. Breakfast is just a bagel and juice, bring your own food or have owner purchase additional for you if you need more. We were lucky that we did not have to share our fire pit, so it was a relaxing stay for us. Ask when you reserve if there is anyone in the other caboose. Road to the cabooses is hilly. We accessed from Calhoun, which is where these cabooses should be listed.
Cruce's Cabooses in Windsor
Karen and Jerry from Chicago Illinois on 02/26/2017 10:18 AM:
SEPT 2016
Truly enjoyed our brief stay on night one of our five day "KATIE" run the rooms were surprisingly accommodating. You laid out all we needed for comfort we spent hours into the night by the fire gazing upward at the stars we don't see quite as clearly in Chicago. On to Sedalia today to a more conventional hotel. We will never forget our night on the tracks.
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Anonymous from Iowa on 06/12/2016 12:59 PM:
Couldn't wait to stay in the caboose. Disappointed!! It smelled heavy of air freshener. It was only a half step above camping. Breakfast was a cold bagel from the fridge with orange juice. I guess if this is called a B&B --Then it is. Way over priced ($110) for what we got.
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Hollis Price from Jones, Oklahoma on 10/01/2015 07:44 PM:
Had a great night in the green caboose. Very unique accommodations. There was even a cd of train sounds to give an authentic feel. Had a pleasant fire in the fire ring by the pond.
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Stuart H. from Lee's Summit on 09/22/2015 12:38 PM:
My brother and I stayed in the red caboose the night of Sept. 19, 2015. Our stay was great. The cabooses were comfortable and adequate after the ride from Clinton to Windsor. One exception though. There needs to be seperate fire pits, chairs and picnic tables for each caboose. We were unable to utilize the fire pit area because a family of five in the other caboose totally monopolized the entire area known as "Hobo Holler" behind the cabooses. My brother and I were relegated to sitting in a couple of dilapidated and dirty chairs that we had to clean dirt and spider webs off of and sit off by ourselves by our caboose. The temperature was cool that night and it would have been nice to be able to sit by the fire and stay outside longer. So, if you want to insure that you have access to the ammenities of Hobo Holler, I suggest either you book both cabooses, or invite somebody friendly and unselfish to stay in the other so you will be welcomed by the fire pit and have access to the picnic table and hammock.
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Russ Rushinf from St. Joseph mo on 10/27/2014 07:42 AM:
This place is great! It's a short ride from the trail and the owner is super nice. It was the best decision we could have made.
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Diane from Giddings, TX on 10/01/2014 07:11 PM:
This place is phenomenal! This is a really cute place to stay. Damon was very acomidating and hospitable! He asked us what we wanted for breakfast and went to the store and got it. He built a fire for us and everything. This was my 3rd visit but not my last!
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Clayton, Denise, Frank, Mickie from Archie, MO. on 08/30/2014 01:42 AM:
Cruce's Cabooses is a must stay for any Katy Trail fan. It is a short 2.9 miles from the trail head. Believe me it is worth the trip. While it is technically an un-hosted stay you will probably see Damon working on something, helping you build a fire, telling you where the honey hole is in the lake, or giving directions to the best eatin places. I am surprised his picture is not placed by the definition of "host". He is with out a doubt one of the best in the business. The place is clean, well stocked, and very comfortable. If you stay @ this establishment I promise you an A+ experience. Thank you again Damon.
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Anonymous from Leawood, KS on 07/19/2014 10:42 AM:
The cabooses are great! They have all the necessities, yet still feel like a train car. My 2 young boys loved playing around the cabooses while we relaxed around the fire and enjoyed the beautiful view of the lake. The Cruce's are exceptionally welcoming and accommodating. It was a great place and fun was had by our whole family!
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Sean Swift from Tulsa Ok on 10/29/2013 10:35 AM:
We enjoyed our stay. Plenty warm. Roomier that we thought they would be. Service was good.
Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun
Gwynn & Dave from St. Louis on 05/31/2011 04:49 PM:
We stayed at the green caboose last week and it was a great way to end the trip. The owner, Damon, was extremely hospitable and we spent the evening sitting at the lake and talking over a campfire. Definately recommend and we will stay again...
MAH on 05/31/2011 05:23 PM:
We stayed there with our grandson (4 y/o) while riding the Katy fall of 09. Also had a wonderful stay and our grandson absolutely love it! Looking forward to doing it again when the next grandson turns 4!
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
Barb Kinne Pierce from Originally Hamilton, now Maryville, MO on 04/20/2010 08:46 AM:
I remember Patti telling us at one of our Penney High Reunions that she and her husband had bought two cabooses and were going to turn them into Bed and Breakfasts. I would love more info and wonder if I just missed availability and prices? Thank you for more into. Barb
DAMAON from CALHOUN on 05/11/2010 12:29 AM:
BARB, GO TO OUR WEB PAGE AT WWW.CRUCESCABOOSES.COM AND THERE IS LOTS OF INFO AND PRICES.
THANKS,
DAMON & PATTI
DAMON from CALHOUN on 05/11/2010 12:30 AM:
BARB, GO TO OUR WEB PAGE AT WWW.CRUCESCABOOSES.COM AND THERE IS LOTS OF INFO AND PRICES.
THANKS,
DAMON & PATTI
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
The Campbell Clan from Branson, MO on 07/06/2009 03:54 PM:
GREAT place to stay!! Our family party of 5 bikers took both cabooses (though one would have been enough - at least bed-wise) and had a great time. Nicely refurbished, very comfortable and VERY unique (ever seen a toilet in the shower? :-)). We'll return on next Katy Trail excursion!
Damon picked two of us up at Trailhead on short notice, as our plans changed in mid-trip, and delivered us back to trailhead next morning. He is VERY accomodating and easy to deal with. Everyone enjoyed him - and Abby, the dog, as well!
Small caveat to bikers only: Plan to bring food and/or cook out at his great fire spot, as Calhoun has NO eating places except for service station with carry-out pizza, chicken, etc., and cabooses are fairly removed from Calhoun anyway. If you have a support vehicle, as we did, there are good restaurants in Windsor - 7 miles away.
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
Craig & Tammy from Blue Springs, MO on 07/03/2009 08:57 AM:
We love this place! We stayed there 2 years ago, enjoyed it very much. The Cruces are very hospitable, friendly people, and very accommodating, to say the least. Our son really loves the cabooses, and getting up into the cupola and looking out was a highlight. Fireworks in the country were fun, and fire cooked dinners a standard. We are looking forward to next our visit, this weekend.
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
Ann and Pete from St. Louis on 04/27/2009 04:35 PM:
We stayed here in July 2008 and loved it. As prearranged, Damon picked us and our bikes up in town (Calhoun), where we'd purchased our dinner-to-go at the Bull's Eye. The cabooses are great, just the right mix of authenticity and comfort. We enjoyed the hammock out under the trees, watched the moon come up over the quiet woods that night, and had breakfast outside the next morning. It was an easy ride back to the trail the next day.
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
M & Wy from Grandview MO on 09/23/2008 12:37 PM:
This was our second stay at the Cabooses. This time we brought our 9 year old grandson. HE LOVED IT! He checked out every nook & cranny in the caboose and was fascinated that he could stay in something that had once rushed down a railroad track. It rained all night but we were quite cozy in the caboose. We enjoyed the great breakfast the next morning. Luckily the rain cleared and we enjoyed riding the Katy Trail. What a wonderful experience to have with your grandson.
DougK from Troy on 09/23/2008 01:00 PM:
Do you know if Cruce's will pick you up at the trailhead?
Doug from Bluffton on 09/23/2008 07:39 PM:
Perhaps a question of what services might be provided by a particular business would be better directed to the business providing those services. The respondents here, may or may not have any actual knowledge that would pertain to said business.
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
M & Wy from Grandview, MO on 07/08/2008 03:21 PM:
My husband and I stayed in one of the caboose's and we really loved it. We arrived early to find Mr. Cruce waiting for us. We mentioned that we wanted to grill bratwurst for dinner and even though there was already a grill there, when we arrived back he had left a Weber grill for us to use. We loved the area with the large woods in the back and enjoyed watching the horses across the street at night. We can't wait to come back and bring our grandson in the fall. It was a great and unusual way to spend a couple of days away from the busy city.
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
jc from Kansas City, MO on 07/07/2008 05:03 PM:
This is a great place to stay! Patti and Damon did an amazing job restoring and refurbishing the cabooses and they are super nice people. My 3 friends and I stayed there overnight in one caboose on June 16, 2008 and were very comfortable. The Cruce's offered to pick us up from the trail to take us to their property, but we chose to ride there and it was a pleasant (if a little hilly) ride. We had told them we wanted a fire and they had the firepit started when we arrived. The continental breakfast was ample with coffee, bananas, bagels, muffins, cereal, skim milk, orange juice and cream cheese. We had so much fun, we're going back in August!
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
Fred from Georgetown SC on 06/01/2008 11:41 AM:
We stayed the week of May 11 08. My wife and I enjoyed our stay. The accommodations were clean and comfortable. It was nice to be out in the country and to have a firepit to enjoy. However, they are not near the trail. You will need to call for a pick up, and there is no real place to find dinner unless you call a gas station a dinning establishment.
ET from Columbia on 06/03/2008 03:05 PM:
We stayed here several years ago, and the owners, by previous arrangement, supplied us with dinner from a local restaurant. Also, they gave us directions for riding to the cabooses, and it wasn't that hard to do.
Cruce's Cabooses (Calhoun)
DownRiverDan from Topeka, KS on 10/28/2006 09:27 AM:
I would wager that the phone number that is listed is incorrect. Most of the towns and cities around Windsor/Calhoun have a 660 area code now~ the area code was 816 several years ago.
Ray (Webmaster) on 10/28/2006 11:51 PM:
Actually that is the correct number. The Cruces divide their time between the Kansas City area and the train car B&B near Windsor - that is their KC number. Or maybe it's their cell phone, I'm not sure... Anyway, they have either answered the phone or returned calls pretty quickly on the couple of occasions when I've called that number a few months ago.
Doug K. from Troy on 10/29/2006 05:33 PM:
I drove down to Calhoun today to "scope out the lay of the land". I found Cruce's on at 781 (train said 811) NE 901st. It looked unkept and drab. Are you sure they're still in business??
Rick Fosnow from Calhoun on 01/08/2007 09:29 PM:
The Cabooses are closed for the winter. All of Missouri looks drab in the winter. You should be here just after a fresh snow. The 811 is the orginal train number on the Caboose.
Cruces' Cabooses (Calhoun/Windsor)
tracy cookson from farmington, arkansas on 04/12/2006 02:51 PM:
Hi! The cabooses look like a really interesting, fun place to stay! Do you have any pictures of the insides of them?
Tracy Cookson
Ray (webmaster) on 04/17/2006 04:44 PM:
Unforunately, I think Cruces Cabooses may have gone out of business. Their website is dead, and no one is returning phone calls from the last number I have for them. If anyone knows anything about Cruces Cabooses, please let us know whether they're still open for business.
Ray (Webmaster) on 04/21/2006 09:03 AM:
I'm happy to report that
Cruces Cabooses is still very much IN business. I spoke to the owner last night, and he says they've been having website problems, but you can still reach them by phone at 816-229-8389. This is definitely one of the most unique B&Bs around.
To answer Tracy's question: sorry, I do not have any photos other than the exterior photo showing the two train cars. Maybe there will be some on the Cruce's Cabooses website, whenever it's back up again.