Spotatrain

Railway Experience

Tiny Town & Railroad

A 1/6-scale village of 100+ buildings circled by a 15-inch-gauge steam miniature railway near Morrison, Colorado.

Colorado, United States
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About This Experience

Tiny Town & Railroad is a miniature village of more than 100 hand-built structures at one-sixth scale, set on a wooded site at 6249 South Turkey Creek Road southwest of Morrison, Colorado, in the foothills off U.S. Highway 285. The buildings — homes, a church, a school, a bank, a grocery and replicas of Colorado landmarks — are small enough that visiting children and adults tower over them. Winding through the village is a 15-inch (381 mm) gauge ridable miniature railway that covers 5/8 of a mile (about 1 km) of track at a maximum grade of 3%.

The attraction traces to 1915, when Denver moving-and-storage owner George Turner — a friend of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody — began building a miniature town called Turnerville to entertain his young daughter. It opened to the public around 1920 and, by its 1924 heyday, included some 125 buildings and drew roughly 20,000 visitors a year up the mountain roads from Denver. Floods in 1929, 1932 and 1969 and a fire in 1935 repeatedly damaged the site, and the 1948 rerouting of Highway 285 away from the entrance cut its passing trade. A train was added in 1939, giving the site its current name.

After decades of boom and bust, the Northern Colorado Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management adopted Tiny Town as a civic project in 1987, and volunteers established the non-profit Tiny Town Foundation in 1989 to operate it. The World Famous Tiny Town Railway returned to operation in 1990, and the park today runs restored steam locomotives maintained by an all-volunteer roundhouse crew.

Photo Opportunities

The 1/6-scale streetscapes lend themselves to playful forced-perspective shots in which visitors appear as giants beside the buildings. The steam locomotives at the loading platform and the train crossing the village are the main rail subjects, and the ride reaches vantage points over the village that are not accessible on foot. Arriving soon after the 10 a.m. opening, before crowds build, gives the cleanest views of the miniature streets.

Why Visit

For railfans, the draw is the working 15-inch-gauge steam operation. Two of the park''s steam locomotives, engines #10 and #22, have six-inch piston strokes, run at a working pressure of 115 psi (about 800 kPa) and may reach roughly 90 rpm at top speed; on a busy day, engine #10 can burn up to 140 pounds of coal and boil 100–150 gallons of water into steam. In 2012 the foundation commissioned a new locomotive built in the style of a Mason Bogie — a type used on several historic Colorado railroads — and this engine, #12 the "Mary Ross," entered service in 2014. A new caboose commissioned in 2016 was placed in service in 2018. The ride itself lasts 9 to 10 minutes and reaches parts of the village that cannot be seen from the walking paths.

What to Expect

Tiny Town is aimed squarely at families with young children; most visitors spend one to two hours walking the loop, riding the train and using the playground and picnic area under the pines. Expect a low-key, nostalgic roadside attraction rather than a large theme park — reviewers note it takes only about half an hour to walk through the village itself. A gift shop beside the train platform sells train-themed souvenirs, and a snack bar serves chili dogs and ice cream. Trains depart the station roughly every half hour, more often on weekends and holidays. Glass containers and open flames are not permitted, and pets other than guide dogs are not allowed in the park.

Best Time to Visit

Weekday mornings shortly after the 10 a.m. opening are the quietest; weekends and holidays are busier but run trains more frequently. Keep in mind the last train leaves at 3 p.m. on weekdays and 4 p.m. on weekends, and the park closes promptly at 5 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

QHow much does it cost to visit Tiny Town?

Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children ages 2-12, with kids under 2 free with a paying adult. Train rides are $4 per person (again free for kids under 2). Tickets are sold at the gate, and cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

QHow long is the train ride?

The ride lasts about 9 to 10 minutes and loops through parts of the village that cannot be seen from the walking paths. Trains depart the station roughly every half hour, more often on weekends and holidays.

QWhen is Tiny Town open?

Tiny Town is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, plus weekends in May and September. The last train leaves at 3 PM on weekdays and 4 PM on weekends.

QHow much time should I plan for a visit?

Most families spend one to two hours. It takes roughly half an hour to walk through the miniature village, with the rest of the time spent on the train ride, the playground and the picnic area.

QIs Tiny Town good for young children?

Yes. The 1/6-scale buildings, the miniature train and the on-site playground are geared toward younger children, and there is a shaded picnic area under the pines.

QIs there parking, and is the site accessible?

Free parking is available in two lots opposite the entrance. A gently sloping paved path leads from the entrance to the picnic and playground areas, and the train platform can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers for boarding. With the exception of guide dogs, pets are not permitted.

How to Plan Your Visit

Season and Schedule

Tiny Town is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, plus weekends in May and September. Trains run about every half hour, more often on weekends and holidays.

Operating Hours
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily (Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; weekends in May and September)
Peak Season
Summer (June to August)
Last Train
3 PM weekdays, 4 PM weekends and Labor Day

Ticket Information

Tickets for park admission and train rides are sold at the gate; there is no advance online booking. Cash and cards are accepted.

Admission
Adults $5; kids 2-12 $4; kids under 2 free with an adult
Train Ride
$4 per person (kids under 2 ride free with an adult)
Payment
Cash, Visa and Mastercard credit/debit

Accessibility Details

A gently sloping paved path runs from the entrance down to the picnic and playground areas, and the train platform can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers for boarding.

Paths
Paved, gently sloping from entrance to picnic/playground area
Train Boarding
Platform accommodates wheelchairs, walkers and similar mobility aids

What to Bring

Visitors may bring a picnic basket or cooler to the picnic area under the pines. No glass containers, barbecues or open flames are allowed.

Picnics
Welcome in the picnic area (no glass, no open flames or BBQ)

Photography Tips

Personal photography is welcome throughout the village; the miniature streets and the steam trains are the main subjects.

Travel Information

By Air

The nearest major airport is Denver International Airport, roughly an hour''s drive to the east.

Nearest Airport
Denver International Airport (DEN), about 45 miles / 72 km east

By Train

There is no scheduled passenger rail service to Morrison; the nearest intercity rail is at Denver Union Station.

Nearest Station
Denver Union Station, about 25 miles / 40 km northeast

By Car

From the C-470 and U.S. 285 (Hampden) interchange, head south on Highway 285 for about 6 miles, exit at North Turkey Creek Road, go under the highway to the stop sign, turn left on South Turkey Creek Road and continue about half a mile; Tiny Town is on the left.

Address
6249 South Turkey Creek Road, Morrison, CO 80465
From Denver
US-285 south, ~6 miles past C-470, then N. Turkey Creek Rd exit

Parking

Free parking is available in two lots across from the entrance.

Parking
Free, in two lots opposite the entrance

Local Transportation

A car is essentially required; there is no public transit to this foothills location.

Nearby Lodging

Find places to stay near Tiny Town & Railroad.

Accommodation results are provided by Stay22; we may earn a commission on bookings made through this map.

Nearby Attractions

  • Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre icon
    Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre14 km

    World-famous outdoor concert venue and National Historic Landmark set among 300-foot red sandstone monoliths, with hiking trails and a visitor center.

  • Dinosaur Ridge icon
    Dinosaur Ridge13 km

    Outdoor tracksite where you can see and touch more than 250 dinosaur footprints and bone fossils along a paved walk, with guided bus and walking tours.

  • Morrison Natural History Museum icon
    Morrison Natural History Museum10 km

    Small hands-on natural history museum in Morrison with dinosaur fossils and expert-led tours; offers a combined Dino Pass with Dinosaur Ridge.

  • Colorado Railroad Museum icon
    Colorado Railroad Museum23 km

    A 15-acre railyard in Golden with over 100 locomotives and cars documenting Rocky Mountain railroading, plus regular full-size train rides.

  • Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave icon
    Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave21 km

    Museum and gravesite of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody atop Lookout Mountain in Golden — a fitting stop given founder George Turner''s friendship with Cody.

Photos

Tiny Town Colorado

Flickrmaryfrancesmain

CC BY 2.0

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Quick Information

Country

United States

Region

Colorado

City

Morrison

Best Season

Tiny Town operates only in the warm months — daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, plus weekends in May and September. Summer mornings are the most comfortable and least crowded time to walk the village and ride the train.

Visit Duration

1-2 hours

Cost

Adults $5, kids 2-12 $4 (under 2 free); train rides $4 extra

Booking & Pricing

Price range

$4 – $5 USD

Adults $5, kids 2-12 $4, under 2 free; train rides $4 extra per person. Tickets sold at the gate (cash, Visa, Mastercard).

Tags

Steam LocomotiveModel RailwayMiniature RailwayTrain RidesHistoric LandmarkFamily Friendly

Contact

(303) 697-6829