Being as how it was another gorgeous Fall day in Colorado and the mountains were filled with trees turning that gorgeous golden yellow peculiar to aspens, it looked to be a perfect afternoon for a meandering drive out of the city.
Heading out on 285 west, along the section of the route now known as the Ralph Carr Memorial Highway, just past Indian Hills, a roadside sign proclaimed the exit for Tiny Town was just ahead on the left. It had been awhile since I had last paid a visit to Tiny Town, and that wasn't much of a visit, more of a drive-by.
Nothing else being on the agenda, I decided to stop in and take a look around at one of the Denver area's oldest and more esoteric attractions.
As with most attractions in the Rocky Mountain & Plains states region (except ski resorts and casinos, of course), Tiny Town is open seasonally - Memorial Day through Labor Day, though if weather permits they open for weekends in May and for the rest of September.
Luck was with me today, however, as the winterizing of Tiny Town was just getting underway, and most everything had yet to be wrapped in big blue protective tarps. The staff had just started winterizing the railroad and grounds, so most of the park was still available to view.
Tiny Town was originally built almost 100 years ago by a Denver merchant, George Turner, for his daughter's enjoyment. It grew large enough to be opened to the public in 1920, and for a time was one of the most popular attractions in the Denver area.
The original town fell victim to flooding and fire numerous times over the years, and since George Turner sold the property Tiny Town has closed, fallen into disrepair, been restored, and re-opened, on at least four separate occasions. The town on view currently has been rebuilt and restored by hundreds of volunteers over the past 25 years and is now operated by a non-profit organization known as the Tiny Town Foundation.
The current restoration has included architecture students at a high school building a 1/6th scale model of the Air Force Academy chapel, the additions of a tiny Harley-Davidson Dealership, A replica of Morrison's world renown The Fort restaurant, the Addams Family mansion, and even a petite Coney Island Hot Dog stand (The original was built in 1966 on Colfax Ave in Denver, moved to Aspen Park for a couple of decades, and is now in the town of Bailey).
Tiny Town features quite a few Colorado Landmarks, and the attention to detail is remarkable. Most of the buildings are finished inside as well as they are outside, replete with miniature furnishings and dolls enjoying breakfast or reading the paper.
The Turkey Creek area that is home to Tiny Town is as beautiful as the Rocky Mountains get, and Tiny Town provides picnic and playground areas for families, as well as a well stocked snack bar and a gift shop with lots of cool railroad themed items.
To help pay for the upkeep, there is an admission fee of $5.00 for anyone over 13, and $2.00 for those under 13. It's an additional $2.00 to ride the train (2 years and older). Of course since the place will not be open again until May of 2013, you have plenty of time to save up for a big day in Tiny Town.
Tiny Town being, well, small, it does not require too much time to take it all in. After about an hour, I was back on the road to Guanellla pass to view some of those famous golden yellow aspens.
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