There's plenty of BNSF action to be seen; you can take photos of it all from public property - including Westbound trains coming over Ol Man River.
The place is apparently some kind of railfan mecca.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I see the Kingsley Inn is really a B&B. Mixed reviews, but it looks like the railroad tracks are very near. They say it's across from the old Santa Fe Depot..I wonder if it is in walking distance of the Amtrak station?
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Just got back from a few days at the Depot Inn & Suites, La Plata, Missouri. A very nice railroad-themed motel with a separate trainwatching lookout hard by the BNSF Transcon, enclosed and heated in winter. A stop on the Southwest Chief. Downer: The only restaurant close to the place has closed, so one needs a car to get to the two small cafes in town, or drive 11 miles north to Kirksville.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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The Amtrak station is located at Shopton, or some one mile West of the former ATSF Ft Madison station and the hotel.
Not that I'm about to go and book a stay at Depot Inn in La Plata, it can only adversely affect their business that the restaurant adjacent to the place has closed. This closing makes it simply unreasonable and impractical to arrive and depart on the Chief.
Incidentially, a listed hotel in Coralville IA, Holiday Inn Express, is one at which I regularly stay.
There are restaurants (and rowdy bars) in Downtown Ft Madison that are a walk from the Kingsley Inn, but I doubt if any are on a culinary "top 40" chart. Likely that within the hotel is as good as you will find.
Finally, it appears that Trip Advisor thinks the Kingsley Inn is "OK", however one must wonder if " some pretty self entitled guests that detracted from the overall experience" noted in the June 18 review were railfans.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Incidentially, a listed hotel in Coralville IA, Holiday Inn Express, is one at which I regularly stay.
Overlooking the CRANDIC, right, Gil? Or has that line been absorbed by another by now?
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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The Rock Island, CRANDIC, are both now operated by the Iowa Interstate. Also, the MILW Cedar Rapids-Ottumwa.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Forum member 'chrisg' has, I believe, stayed at the Kingsley Inn in Ft. Madison, IA. You can access his website and read his trip reports there through his 'tibute to Amtrak update thread'.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I don't think that the demise of the Red Rooster restaurant should put the kibosh on the idea of a stay at La Plata. To enjoy this northeastern Missouri area, including the various railroading sites and the Amish ambience, requires a rental car. Enterprise will bring one to the Depot Inn.
The Inn serves an adequate if not very exciting breakfast, and La Plata has two pretty fair cafes downtown that would take care of lunch. There are several good places for dinner in Kirksville, about 10 to 13 minutes up the highway.
In any case the Red Rooster wasn't a very good restaurant, which explains its closing.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Thanks for the link to this site. It is a resource which I will enjoy using to plan future trips.
Interestingly, I have stayed at what is now the Quality Inn (previously a Holiday Inn property b-t-w) in Ashland, KY. A great place if you want to watch trains. Not a great place if you actually need to sleep!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Thanks for the link to this site. It is a resource which I will enjoy using to plan future trips.
Interestingly, I have stayed at what is now the Quality Inn (previously a Holiday Inn property b-t-w) in Ashland, KY. A great place if you want to watch trains. Not a great place if you actually need to sleep!
**************** Glad to have posted the link, David. I hope it is of some value. I don't know if I will ever get to Asheville, to see the Biltmore Estate. I see the link lists 4 motels/hotels in Asheville, I kind of like the looks of the Bohemian Hotel. Know anything about it..is it expensive?
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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The Grand Bohemian is posh (and pricey....... particularly during the peak color season in October. We're talking upper $200's and up pricey.)
There are several other hotels of the Howard Johnson, Sleep Inn, level within three blocks of the Grand Bohemian..... and of course downtown a few miles away you have your typical Sherato and Marriott type properties..... or the fabulous Grove Park Inn.
The Grand Bohemian is just across the street from the entrance to the Biltmore Estate BUT since you need a vehicle to actually reach the Biltmore House from the entrance, there is no real benefit to being right across the street from the entrance!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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