Here is an seed of an idea I had. I wanted to throw it out and see what others thought about it. I can’t decide if it is brilliant or really stupid.
I have the opportunity to purchase a very large building for very cheap price. This would give me an “L” shaped layout area (about the size of three basket ball courts). But there is a lot more space in the building. Even if I carve out about 6200 square feet for my private living quarters, 900 for my office, and 2400 for my laboratory there is about 100,000 left over (not to mention the “real” gym).
I don’t want to run a regular hotel, bed & breakfast, or anything like that. I don’t want to make it into condos (the current owner’s plans). So I got to thinking about a private hotel where only model railroaders could come. They could bring their trains and run them on my layout. Maybe even have small conventions where they could bring their modular layouts and operate them with other operating groups from other parts of the country.
There are no other tourist attractions in this area. The closest (but not greatest) are 60 miles away.
The suites would be free for those coming to set up exhibits for the model railroad museum, or to help out with the large layout.
I had thought about a MR club, swap meets, etc. But the location is not conducive for that sort of thing.
Where in Colorado is this located, a trip there is nice no matter where you go. Laboatory ? Is your name Frankenstein by any chance ? Sounds like quite a building , but you said a good price , so it sound like you intend to do it anyway for your own use. If it’s your dream pursue it , but I guess it would be not a money maker.
Gandy Dancer, when I was stationed there with the Air Force many, many years ago I once approached some acquaintances about opening a ‘Supper Club’ in, of all places, Moses Lake, Washington. Moses Lake, Washington, for pete’s sake. Do you know how long a ‘Supper Club’ would last in Moses Lake, Washington? Begin counting NOW: one one thousand two STOP! You’re there!
Your post stated that you were sixty miles from the middle of nowhere. Few people visit there to realize that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon provides a considerably more dramatic view than the South Rim; I once spent five or six days there. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is also sixty miles from the middle of nowhere. After three days I got so tired of looking at this huge slash in the ground that I decided to drive up into Southern Utah to visit a place called Coral Sand Dunes; on the way up towards Jacob Lake I almost clobbered a group of deer crossing the road. Believe me that was the most exciting thing that happened on my five or six day visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
You could perhaps get this to work; if I were you, however, I think I would take my money and see if there’s not a bridge for sale somewhere in England!!!
I was born in Brooklyn, New York. Would you be interested in a bridge a bit closer than England?
Seriously, Colorado is a big place, and a lot of it is pretty nice, even without any nearby tourist traps.
How about putting together your idea with that of the current owner - turn it into model railroad condos. You get both a place to live, and membership in the train club in the basement. Heck, if it’s a single-story building, you could offer interchange service between the club and personal layouts. That helix up to the second floor is going to be a doozy, though.
Here in Corpus Christi, there is a hotel on the bayfront with a really big model railroad. Not just for model railroaders-- but guests who stay at the hotel get a ride on the railroad.
(disclaimer, no financial or other vested interest here. It’s just neat seeing this guy’s old time 4-4-0 when I drive past on my way to college.)
Not what you’re proposing but I thought it might just show something that has apparently worked for somebody. Been in business, five years or more as I recall.
I have heard of a model railroader who has a bed and breakfast in central Texas called the Katy House. He opens his personal layout for guests.
Well, I am bit of a nut…but then again, I have had my business for almost 10 years, and everyone thoughts I was crazy. I dont know much about what you have, in the sense of what the land is like and climate, butif you go for it, think about the RV crowd. Set up a RV campground and you get people to come that way as well. I have spent some time RVing and I have seen all kinds of crazy RV themed campgrounds. Horses, fishing, canoeing, mountain biking, golf… oh, you get the idea. Help bring a few more in. Just thinking outside the box. But, sounds like alot of fun.
Considering my shop in 2,000 sqr feet, I cant even imagine a building that big. I would have a ball.
If you have fundage for this project, can you add/get into collecting/rebuiling and laying some track to run 1:1 trains as well? In the 60 miles from nowhere? That would be a good draw.
Also three basketball court sized layout…how long will it be before this garganguan (which we would all love) will be done so I can run my trains?
How about if you developed a layoutplan? Then assign modules ala club style that visitors could senick themselves (within some parameters to maintain some cohesiveness rather than unrelated modules side by side) and add (permanently??) to the layout. That way, they could revisit with purpose and help it grow!
The building may be cheap, but I would check out the utilities. I would imagine that heating that much space get’s expensive in the winter. Also, there’s the maintenance even assuming the building’s in good shape.
I think you’d be further ahead to build your own place.
Good idea! Kind of like Steve King’s VM layout in MR, you make a temporary loop, then when people come, they can build another section. It will also give them an excuse to come back!
“We need to go back to work on their layout!”[;)]
If you decide to do this, can you post when it’s open? Maybe I can convince my parents to go there for a vacation. They wouldn’t have to worry about where I would be![:D]
Now then…how many locos can I fit in my suitcase?[:D]
It is not in Colorado. This one is in Minnesota. The same building on the same size chunk of land (two city blocks) here in Denver would run about $12 million.
The BNSF runs right through this town. I don’t believe there are any abandon rails that could be rebuilt. However, that is a disadvantage of this site over a couple others I’ve looked at. Two of them I have looked at are directly on the railroad, so I could run a spur into the “yard” and have 1:1 exhibits and storage for private varnish.
Well technically it would never be “finished” as that would be part of the draw. At least one major scene would have to be new every year.
That is what I was alluding to with my last comment about the suites being free for people working on exhibits. I didn’t quite make the jump to think that people might like to pay to contribute. But that makes another possibility - teaching people scenery or have weekend seminars on various aspects of modeling. Invite famous guest lecturers. How about week long operating session competitions. Rail Baron and Empire Builder tournaments. Ok the ideas are beginning to flow.
How about an assisted living complex for model railroaders? A lot of us are getting long at the tooth around here. That might allow some folks to get the help they need yet stay in the hobby.