How an abandoned train became a $110,000-a-year business?!

Isaac French, 27, and his family bought an abandoned train car on a neighbor’s farm in Derry, Idaho. For just $3,000.

The car was built in the 1900s and originally operated on the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railroad from 1909 until the 1950s.

When the family got their hands on it, the wood was rotting, covered in moss and a haven for cats. “My father had the faith and vision to do it, and I’m so glad he did it,” French told CNBC. “There’s something so rewarding about bringing an old building that was built with so much love back to life.”

Renovating and restoring the abandoned train car was a family project for French, his parents and his siblings. The family took out a $150,000 loan, including $3,000 to buy the train car and $10,000 to move the 61-foot-tall structure to their 145-acre property.

French says they found a place with a great view. French and his family spent the rest of the loan, $137,000, and spent six months renovating the building with the goal of turning it into an Airbnb, an American company that operates an online marketplace for short- and long-term stays and experiences in different countries and regions.

The profit margin is about 65 percent, with 30 to 35 percent of gross revenue going to cleaning, maintenance, minor ongoing repairs, property taxes and insurance. In addition to Airbnb, French and his family book the train car online.

“We can have a stronger relationship with the guests,” French says. “With Airbnb, it’s more of a transaction, whereas [direct booking] allows for a greater relationship that we can build with the customers.”