California dreaming? Not for Roger and Jann Lee who in 1992 left the sunshine state to pursue their dream of owning a bed and breakfast among the pines of New York Mills.

Roger grew up in Mills but had spent his adult life out west. They were back for a reunion when
Jann noticed a charming 1903 Queen Anne style house that had been used as a funeral chapel for Karvonen & Son. She casually told Roger her life would be perfect if she had that house. Standing nearby, Harold Karvonen asked if they wanted to buy it. The Lees said yes and that was the beginning of their journey to the tranquility of New York Mills… until their first night when the train came by...

Jann grimaced at the memory:
“The first night we were here, that engineer with the screaming whistle, the one that really lays it on came through here. We thought, “oh my god what are we going to do?!”
The Lees got creative and decided to go with a train theme on how to handle the noise. Jann commented with a smile, “you can’t convince people they don't hear it, so we convince them they really like it.”

Throughout the years the Lees purchased and refurbished four vintage train cars making the Whistle Stop Bed and Breakfast one of the most unique venues in Minnesota. Sadly, Roger passed away in 2011, but Jann carries on their New York Mills dream.