Andrews Valley Rail Tours — Attraction in Andrews

The experience was okay. The bikes are pretty janky and look like they're made of random spare parts. Each bike has an electric motor for assisted pedaling, ours would turn off every few minutes. A group two bikes down from us mentioned their brakes were not functioning multiple times.

Going uphill was brutal, downhill was very fun though. The staff that came with us was very nice, but each person gave us different, sometimes conflicting, information. The whole arrangement felt very disorganized and sloppy. It felt as if there was no one person on staff taking the lead. Judy provided some instructions at the beginning but was not on the ride to make sure her staff followed or enforced them, so we probably would have benefited from one of the staff members taking the lead. Our ride was cut short due to the lead train not being able to make it up the hill. Without knowing for sure I am inclined to believe the combination of our bikes being parked on a hill and the disorganization, disjointed instructions and iffy equipment all played a factor in one of our group getting seriously injured and rushed to the hospital.

It did not make things any better for Judy to be scolding everyone, as we rolled back in, for causing the accident. I understand it was a heated incident and very stressful but that was a pretty tacky way to handle the situation.

This felt like a business that had been in operation for less than a year, not one that had been in operation (albeit in another state) for over 5 years. I think if there was more quality control for the vehicles and the tour itself, this could be a consistently wonderful experience but ours was not.

///UPDATE\\ - Saying I am the first person to say something does not make it untrue and putting the word SAFETY in all caps does not mean the guidelines were practiced and enforced during our tour. Our guides told us we stopped short because the train couldn't make the hill. Multiple people on our tour mentioned to one another the disorganized nature of the instructions given during our tour. The bike I was on had mismatched pedals and crank arms. The e-bike components were attached with rough-cut metal and bolts. The seat behind the driver didn't have a chain at all. I'm sure you buy new, but what we experienced was not a brand new bike. The uphill ride was rough because our e-bike control turned off every few minutes even after having a few guides look at it.

How a business responds to criticism says a lot about them and their leadership. Trying to discredit poor reviews is a huge red flag. I provided constructive criticism along with positive points. If you want more evidence of difficult pedaling, just read some of the other reviews. If you want evidence of disorganized instructions during the ride I'm sure you'll find some among all the witness statements the sheriffs department had us fill out after the aforementioned injury occurred.

Instead of arguing, you should see negative reviews as opportunities for improvement and chances to show how you handle feedback to prioritize customer experience over...

We were there on May 1 , 2025 . We had looked forward to our peddle car experience but it was horrible . We arrived 30 minutes prior to our 11:30 departure time as the Valley Rail had said do . We had to wait another hour for the Mini Cooper Car Club to arrive and sign their waivers which was supposed to be done prior to their arrival . The owner Judy's son placed all the Mini Cooper Car Club on the peddle cars . Everyone else was also placed except us and there we stood . The owner's son was about to begin the adventure and we had to call to him that we hadn't been seated . He came to us and said that the rail bikes were all taken ( which was what we signed up for ) and so I asked about the two seats on the passenger cart and he placed us there . Before we even got started good there was a break down with a rail bike . Finally we were on our way through what was supposed be picturesque views, which were of a trailer park that looked like it had imploded. Again another break down of a rail bike. This became a big joke because this occurred several times during our journey . The owner's son made light of the situation saying that its opening day . We waited for those picturesque views that were advertised and it never happened and yet more breakdowns . Finally we reach a tunnel and a creek with picnic tables . This was the end of our journey. There was about a 30 minute layover there while they moved the rail bikes turned them around to come back . I feel as though there was a lot of false advertising for this adventure. I wished I had read all the Google reviews before paying for this . The breaking down of rail bikes both old and new rail bikes is a regular and so is giving excuses by this company . I gave them a company review and finally heard from them via email 5/17 / 2025 and it was the same excuses that are listed on the Google reviews . I did also ask for a refund and to place that on our original form of payment . They ignored that . I'm sure they'll attack on here with their excuses as they have done with other reviewers . I did everything correctly- Booked at the first of April 2025 , Signed our waivers in advance and arrived 30 minutes to departure . However they did not do their part . BEWARE to all who book here it's not the fun adventure with beautiful views that you have seen on their advertisements . USE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY on other attractions or better yet travel the Blue Ridge Parkway for views and scenery for free . As for Andrews Valley Rail - Stop offering all the excuses and make your business better or shut the doors it's...

I've gone twice. When you sign up, it says get there 30 min before your res time. The first time we were there super early, but nothing happened until 10 min before our res time. The safety lesson was super quick and were were on our way right about the res time. The tour was nice but it is a work out for your legs!

The second time I went was on my birthday. First off, I do understand that we were late. We got there 10 min before our res time to see the last of the carts taking off. As this was the time everyone started to get onto the carts my first time, I thought we were okay. I told the short haired blonde lady that we were supposed to be on a cart and she started off in a belittling tone that I should have be there 30 min ago. Okay...mess up but I figured I could try to salvage it.

Since all the carts were gone I asked if we could have come back another day (not a refund, but like a credit). She told me no because we had taken spots from other people who could have come. However the tour was not sold out, about half full, so we didn't prevent anyone from coming.

I was understandably upset and trying to figure out what to do. She was pretty condescending and said that they only wanted people in good moods on their carts (which a random customer echoed and the lady agreed - ma'am please mind your own business) and that they would be "gracious" enough to let me on the 9 seater cart.

Mind you, this entire time, I'm within 10 feet of her, but she's speaking to me through the megaphone, broadcasting her condescending tone and replies to me.

Again, I know we were late but she didn't bother trying to work with us, talked down to me and cast a negative pall over the whole tour for my whole family.

Additionally that same random customer started smoking on the cart, the wind blowing smoke straight into my sister's face and mine. Not the fault of the company, but it wasn't great to experience.

The men on the tour were very nice and tried to make it better but we had been told we weren't allowed on the carts by the lady before. Afterwards we just left.

I know Andrews is small and this company is trying to bring in people and tourism, but both times left a bad taste...