Georgetown Loop Railroad — Attraction in Idaho Springs

Train ride was fun, however I will never return. I had 2 elderly family members with me that both are handicapped and we had their handicapped placard there are not many handicapped spots to begin with and on this day they were all full. However as I circled the parking lot I noticed a guy that appeared to be getting into a slightly lifted truck but he was just getting a bottle of water out of it, as he closed the door and started to walk away I noticed he was a younger guy wearing what looked like some type of construction workers clothing so I said to him is that a handicapped parking spot? He just looked at me, so I again said do you have a handicapped tag to park there? He then said something in spanish and whistled then was talking to someone else down a ways in spanish and walked away. Another guy came up to my car and asked what my problem was, so I asked him is that your truck? He said yeah, I said do you have a handicapped permit he then proceeded to tell me that they were painting the railing on the steps and that the office gave them a permit to park there??? I said they gave you a handicapped permit? Where is it? He said it's in the office go talk to them...I asked him to please move so that people that truly were handicapped could park there he just walked away. So I went to the souvenir/ticket area and asked who I needed to talk to about it they gave me a business card and told me to call the number so I did, it was the phone number for customer service I told them the situation and asked to speak to management, I was told all they could do was take my name and number and have someone call me back. About an hour and 1/2 later a girl called me back asked me what I needed I explained the situation to her and her response was well I don’t know who hired the construction workers I don’t have anything to do with that. So I then asked who I needed to speak to that would know she said she had no idea but would pass the information on. Never an apology never a let me see what I can do nothing. So I said ok I call the police department and have it ticketed and towed, which her reply was "well you can call them but this is private property so they won't come". Very very disappointing experience, customer service etc. Do better taking care of your guests Georgetown Loop. Handicapped is handicapped it is illegal for non handicapped people to park in...

The train ride was not worth the money we spent. We rode in the last car, an open window car. It was hard to see see the scenery because the desire is to look up; the roof of the car impedes this.

There was someone talking over the loudspeaker however we could not hear what she was saying. We were in the back car furthest from the engine. We couldn’t move cars because we were instructed for safety reasons once the train is in motion we must stay in the car you are in. In the middle of the ride, the train stopped. We couldn’t hear what was being said so we didn’t know why. When I asked, I was told there was a museum and a gift store. Museum is simply a whole shed with old train cars that have been restored maybe five of them. They are not nicely displayed. They look as though it is a storage space for them only not what I would’ve expected for Museum. We boarded the train again chose a different car second from the back. Still could not hear the narrator. Very frustrating! After we were seated the engine, then attaches to what was the back car now making it the front car. No chance, in hearing what the narrator was saying again! And no chance to move due to safety rules.

The train stops again. I had to walk through several cars to find someone to ask why we had stopped. I’m glad we did because this was where we were to get out for our mine tour. I told the narrator, China, of the difficulty hearing and how disappointing it was. She replied, “you need to pay attention to your surroundings. With the engine at the front, you are not going to be able to hear.” Wow! Her sarcasm was not very nice.

Thankfully, things took a turn for the positive, on our mine tour. Tess was an excellent tour guide. Very informative tour with lots to see and experience from a miner’s of view. I am very glad we chose to add this to our day or the afternoon would have been a fail!

In summary, I would not do this train ride without the mine tour. It is not worth it. It’s advertised as a loop, it is not a loop instead a short ride forward and returning on the same track back. Honestly, you can see the same scenery driving in your car so unless the train is the draw for you, skip it. If you’re interested in a mine tour, I would recommend this one. I believe the only way you can do. This mine tour is to...

NOTE** TAKE THE ODD NUMBERED SEATS FOR THE VIEWS YOU SEE ON TOKTOK/YOUTUBE FOR YOUR MONEYS WORTH!

We paid a lot of money for the two of us in the Presidential. For the price, we got a table that can seat up to four people and there was a small sample box of snacks from Pepperidge Farm (complimentary). I think it’s to enjoy with the drinks (not complimentary) and the ride since our trip was at 8pm. The environment of the car was awesome-warm and cozy. We had a waiter, a photographer and an authentic Santa. The (leaded) drinks we chose were delicious and worth the money. We also purchased the pictures. As the ride started, the lights went low. Our car conductor came to the table and we ordered our drinks, which were DELICIOUS. The photographer came around and then Santa stopped in to talk to everyone. Christmas music played and the whole car sang all the songs out loud like a flash mob chorus 🥰 ! I think we were individually surprised at first but then sheepishly shared our joys and singing along with the music. I think that’s what made this experience so memorable for me. Had I been recording at the time, I could post proof of this but I really just wanted to experience this ride without all the electronics. My experience was so genuine and not staged for views, likes, or self promotion. I went in with little expectation other than seeing things lit up in the dark mountainside on a train.

Aside from our mountainside light show (they did what they could), I couldn’t have asked for a better train ride. It was worth the two hour drive out there for the one time experience.

Downside-as I said, we purchased a table that we later found out to be views of the mountainside and had to enjoy the better view overlooking the people that sat in the odd numbered side.

There was also a table that the people didn’t make it for the ride and the conductor/waiter said we couldn’t switch. I get it but that was a 👎🏽.

I would have liked a train ornament where we could put our photos in as a keepsake but it wasn’t even available for purchase. There were train ornaments in the gift shop but nothing that made it known where we were. Even a wooden train (not toy)...