Tiny Town & Railroad

Tiny Town & Railroad is a charming miniature village and rideable train attraction nestled in a mountain valley along Turkey Creek Road, about 30 minutes southwest of downtown Denver. In operation since 1915, it is one of the oldest miniature villages in the United States and remains a beloved family tradition for Front Range families with young children.

The village consists of over 100 hand-built miniature buildings at 1/6th scale, laid out along winding paths in a pine-shaded valley. Each building is a detailed replica of a real structure type: houses with tiny porches and window boxes, churches with steeples, a fire station with a miniature fire truck, a school, shops, and barns. Many were handcrafted by Denver-area residents over the past century, and the level of detail is remarkable -- miniature furniture visible through windows, hand-painted signs, and weathered wood that gives each building character.

For toddlers and preschoolers, Tiny Town is magical. Walking among buildings that are their height -- peering into windows, imagining tiny inhabitants, pointing out details -- engages their imagination completely. The scale makes them feel like giants in a fairy tale village. Parents consistently report that this is the activity their youngest children talk about most from a Denver trip.

The miniature train is the other major draw. A rideable 1/6th-scale train (diesel-powered but styled like a steam locomotive) carries passengers on a 15-minute loop through the village, along Turkey Creek, through a tunnel, and into the surrounding forest. The open-air cars seat an adult and child side by side, and the gentle pace, creek-side scenery, and mountain air make it a thoroughly pleasant ride.

Kids beg for multiple rides, and at $3 per person, it is affordable to oblige.

The setting in a mountain valley is a significant part of the appeal. Turkey Creek runs alongside the property, pine trees shade the paths, and the elevation (about 7,000 feet) keeps temperatures 5-10 degrees cooler than Denver even in midsummer. The drive up Turkey Creek Road from Morrison is scenic and beautiful, winding through a narrow canyon with the creek rushing alongside.

Important: Tiny Town is seasonal, open only from Memorial Day through Labor Day (with some extended weekends into fall). It is closed the rest of the year. Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM on open days. Check the website before making the drive.

Pricing is refreshingly modest: $5 per adult, $3 per child (ages 2-12), and train rides are $3 per person extra. Kids under 2 are free. A family of four spends about $24-36 total including train rides -- a fraction of what most family attractions charge.

Tiny Town pairs well with nearby attractions. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is a 15-minute drive and offers free hiking among the famous red sandstone formations. The town of Morrison has a few restaurants for lunch. The drive back to Denver passes through scenic foothills terrain.

The site has picnic tables, a small snack bar, restrooms, and free parking. Strollers work on the paved and gravel paths. There is no gift shop or arcade -- just the village, the train, and the mountain air.