After reading about the proposed Silver Rails resort to be built in La Plata on Train Web I began to wonder what I would like or no if my opinion were asked. I came up with the following . Would be interested to know what the rest of you would like in a rail theme resort. The family idea is fine but I would like to see some separation of the ages. How about a rail camp sort of thing for the kids, staffed with counsellors while the parents did their thing. A dining room for adults only and another for famillies. It would be fun to have one that served the foods of the past ie Santa Fe french toast or the to die for crab cakes and fried green tomatoes on the CRescent.Of course a train for the kids rhat circled the park. An adult only swimming pool would be nice. How about DVDs of varous trains and trips? I am sure the posters on this forum will come up with lots of ideas. Maybe someone will actually listen to us.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Can the train that circles the park be for big kids too, please?
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
If you can fit in the little seats, be my guest
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
How about letting us big kids be the engineer.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Good idea train lady. To be a proper rail oriented resort along the mainline of the Sante Fe it should built along the lines of the Mary Coulter designed LaPosada hotel in Winslow. This would be worthy of a stop on the Super Chief when Amtrak upgrades the SWC to the level that name could be used again.
The main dining room would of course be a Harvey House replica, much like the one recently reopened in Kansas City. There should also be a fine dining room named the Turquoise room and appropriately decorated. The lounge would be called the Observation and have a good view of the tracks. For a little contrast, decorated in an art deco theme with martini's at happy hour and someone playing Sinatra songs on the piano (the beer guys go to the beer hall in the basement that shows non-stop train videos and classic movies).
Any railroad resort must have a siding full of private cars. Some of those would be available for charter or overnight rental for the rail baron wanna be's.
Ok, I'm ready to go.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
some really good ideas, Palmland. I love the idea of private cars. I just don't want to see a garish or honkey tonk place. It occurs to me that it might be fun for the kid(if possible) to have a couple of train cars that are set up like sleepers and diner. Once inside if the motion of riding could be duplicated how much fun that would be. Or pehaps a diner could be an ice cream-snack store. I think I am getting carried away!!
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Perhaps some box cars could be converted to the style of railroad camp cars used by track gangs - but with modern amenities. Perfect for family rentals so the kids could wear themselves out climbing the bunks. The playground could be a hobo camp.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Everything old is new again.
Two of the ex-UP Pullmans now at Travel Town, Los Angeles had been retired from the UP...
... and became part of a motel in Iowa.
Location, Location, Location. If there are enough people to make profitable traffice, it'll be profitable.
If not... watch for the "For Sale" webpages at DF Barnhardt.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Do you know which motel in Iowa? And are they overnight accomodations? I might be interested.
As for the Silver Rails Resort, ponies must be suggested in any discussion on this forum. And a bagpipe serenade at sunset would be delightful.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: Do you know which motel in Iowa? And are they overnight accomodations? I might be interested.
As for the Silver Rails Resort, ponies must be suggested in any discussion on this forum. And a bagpipe serenade at sunset would be delightful.
The ponies could pull little stagecoaches to go places the little train does not.