Taking It Easy at a Relaxing Railroad B&B
Article and Photos By Michel Fike
All too often, the hubbub of holiday travel- endless airport lines, too much time stuck in the car, and cookie cutter hotel accommodations can leave us needing a vacation from our vacation. If so, a very different kind of travel experience can be yours in the New Year at Portola’s Pullman Inn. Here you will find an opportunity to relax and to enjoy time with friends and family, or to meet new friends, in a historic bed and breakfast which celebrates the area’s railroad history.
At the Pullman, you will become part of a simpler time. Originally built as a boarding house in 1910, the Inn is steeped in small-town history and culture. From the weather vane on the roof to the owner’s eclectic personal collection of Pullman products, it’s all about the railroad. Everywhere you look there are railroad antiques and collectibles, including many original paintings by local “train” artist Ken Roller who specialized in painting Western Pacific engines. The current owner, Jan Breitweiser, and her husband George have acquired the property in 1993.
Like its namesake the Pullman Rail Car Company, the Pullman Inn invites you to refresh yourself in “comfort, safety, privacy, and sleep.” The inn offers six non-smoking guest rooms, upstairs and downstairs sitting rooms, a dining area, and a deck with a view of the railroad yard, where train spotters can watch the changing of crews. Each room has its own bathroom, flat screen TV, phone, coffee maker, hair dryer and ironing station, as well as complimentary snack basket. The inn can accommodate individual travelers, couples, or families, and welcomes bookings for family reunions and even small business retreats. Your stay includes a continental breakfast. The atmosphere is small-town casual and definitely, as the owner says, social. On our visit, we delighted in conversation with Jan, the owner, and two former visitors to the inn who have become friends, neighbors, and the owners of local photography business.
It is located at 256 Commercial Street, within easy walking distance of stores, restaurants, the park, the post office, and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum. Within easy driving distance, there are year round recreational activities including, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, golf, and more. For those who prefer viewing to doing, the Plumas County Museum is just down the street, Plumas Sierra State Park museum is nearby, and the stunning scenery of the Lakes Basin and the Sierras surround you.
Room rates range from 60 to 90 dollars, depending on your accommodation needs. Discounts for longer stays, whole house rentals and affiliations including AAA and AARP are available. Sorry no pets. To book a stay, call Jan at (530) 832-0107 or via webmail at pullmaninn@gmail.com. Click below to visit them online.
