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Home Borrowers Services The I&C Conerail Caboose

The I&C Conerail Caboose

Location:

1020 Front Street
Cresson, PA

County:

Cambria

Description:

Start-up

Total Project Cost:

$90,000

We had an ice cream stand years ago and when we found a caboose that was equipped as an ice cream stand, we had to have it.

Diane Dunmyer, co-owner, The Conerail Caboose, Cresson, PA

People

Cresson is a rail town, and proud of it. The Cresson Area Heritage Park features the N5C Caboose and an observation tower that overlooks the Norfolk Southern Line. It’s also a town that screams for ice cream, especially since highly successful Dunny’s Pizza stopped selling the confection years back. When Michael and Diane Dunmyer, owners of Dunny’s, heard about a caboose that housed an ice cream shop, which happened to be up for sale, they hungered for the opportunity.

Progress

The Dunmyers started searching for financing, and a banker referred them to The Progress Fund. The Progress Fund agreed to lend the $90,000 needed to buy the caboose and two ice cream machines. “It was an easy process,” says Diane.

Impact

The I&C ConeRail Caboose is located adjacent to the Cresson Area Heritage Park, across the street from a bed & breakfast and other businesses that cater to rail fans. The Dunmyers expect to employ eight people at the ice cream shop, serving three flavors of soft serve ice cream, plus yogurt, banana splits, shaved ice and milkshakes. A new business, new jobs, the enhancement of a beloved heritage, and delicious ice cream – that’s an economic development sundae with all the fixin’s.

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