Located in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado in the small railroad community of Antonito, the Steam Train Hotel and its owner Bob Rainek are reaching out to retirees with a passion for railroads and steam railroad preservation. Adjacent to one of our Nation’s premiere narrow-gauge steam tourist railroads, the Steam Train Hotel is a cozy destination that caters to traveling railroad enthusiasts, retirees, and outdoorsmen. An area affluent with natural beauty and history, the Steam Train Hotel rests only feet away from the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
Bob Rainek, the hotel owner is now looking to expand his historic hotel into a long-term permanent retirement community for devoted railroad enthusiasts and preservationists. “The idea is to have these types of establishments that cater to specific interests and hobbies. This would be the ultimate place for railroad enthusiasts,” Rainek said in an interview.
In addition to the Steam Train Hotel, Rainek owns the nearby Indian Jones House, a renovated home featured in the 1989 film, “Indiana Jones – The Last Crusade” featuring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. The home is currently available for weekly or nightly rentals and is ideal for traveling families or groups.
“The plan is to slowly transition these establishments into a joint-hotel and retirement destination, catering to permanent retirees while still providing hotel accommodations to visitors.” Rainek also owns a third building, located directly behind the Steam Train Hotel that he intends to remodel into the Steam Train Bed & Breakfast.
The small town atmosphere would allow retirees a chance to become involved in the railroad through docent programs if they choose.
“The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec and the railroad would really benefit from year-round residents who desire to become members and volunteers of the Friends,” said Tim Tennant, President and CEO of Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Inc.
“We have opportunities to docent on the train which is a great opportunity, plus the staffing of an interpretative display. Currently, the Friends place at least one docent on each train daily. Having more fulltime residents that are volunteers would only enhance that we could provide to staff these trains,” he added.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad operates today over a section of preserved Denver and Rio Grande Railroad between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. The mountainous 3 ft. narrow gauge railroad is the highest narrow gauge steam railroad in the United States, operating a fleet of five D&RGW K-36 Class, Mikado type 2-8-2 locomotives.
Information on the Steam Train Hotel and its neighboring properties are available online at http://antonitocoloradosteamtrainscenicrailroad.com.
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