Roaring Camp Railroads

Reviews 5

MA

Mark Casey

I took my family here this weekend (August 2013) and had a great time. The main negative is that its pretty costly. The redwoods train ride cost two adults and two boys (ages 5 and 2) something like $90 in total. And, the food they sell at the camp is also pretty costly, with a cheeseburger clocking in at $5.75 or so. That said, the train is fantastic. This is no little kiddie train like they have at Train Town in Sonoma. This is a full sized train that runs on steam power, makes a lot of noise, and has a number of interesting stats to recommend the ride. Apparently at one point during the redwoods ride you go up a 9.5% grade, which is one of the steepest in the US. At another point you go through the tightest radius turn on a trestle bridge in the US. The switchback is also cool. As an extra bonus this weekend they staged a train robbery at the halfway point. It was quite a production, with more than a dozen period clad actors firing blanks at each other from real pistols. We were glad we brought ear protection for our young boys. The steam whistle was pretty loud. After the train ride we bought lunch from the pricey and slow burger joint on site. We enjoyed eating it at a picnic table next to the horseshoe pit. A woman serenaded the camp with an amplified acoustic guitar during lunch, which was a nice touch. All in all, you pay a fair bit, but the experience is great, and wed do it again in a heartbeat. One extra point I should make about excellent customer service: one of the people next to us on the train accidentally dropped an iPhone over the side half way up the mountain. On the way back down the master of ceremonies type of guy on the train kept a sharp eye out for it and jumped off the train to retrieve it. He refused the tip the person offered for its recover. That is top of the line service in my book.

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Shawn Clover

5 stars for the normal Roaring Camp Railroad that Ive loved over the years. It is a spectacular railway with routes to the Boardwalk and, my favorite, the narrow gauge steam train trip up Bear Mountain. The routes are beautiful and the steam trains are the real deal. Then my entire lifetime of memories of this place came crashing down with our most recent trip…. The Thomas the Train event was one of the worst nightmares of my entire life. It was a complete cluster-f beyond description. Hoards of people overcrowding the place and traffic jamming the tiny road in for over an hour, all in honor of a phony Thomas car that is pulled along by a real locomotive on the other end of the train. We missed our train after the excruciating traffic jam and were forced on to a train three hours later. Much of our three hour wait was spent in line for a snow cone in a desperate attempt to quell the relentless, sweltering heat, followed by a visit to the packed store selling all the same Thomas crap you can buy on Amazon from the comfort of home sweet home (which sounded so good once we were in the midst of this train wreck). And then, after missing the opportunity for the Thomas photo due to the impossibly-long line, we rushed to cram aboard our assigned car. When the train finally started rolling, they queue up the ear bleeding-loud Thomas soundtrack that repeats over and over. Most of the kids looked miserable by this point. After the brief out-and-back journey, we missed the photo opportunity again afterward due to the understandably contemptuous Thomas crew kicking everyone out. And believe me, everyone wanted to get out of this miserable abyss by the end of the day. My recommendation: enjoy a "normal" day at Roaring Camp and avoid the Thomas weekend like the plague--words cannot describe how hellish an ordeal it was.

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Cynthia P

Roaring Camp offers 2 rides-the 19th century steam engine through the Redwoods and the Santa Cruz Beach trip. The Steam Ride through the Redwoods is a nice ride with a few switch backs. You stop for a few minutes at the top so you can walk around and us the bathroom if necessary. You can also get off and hike or picnic but be aware that your ability to catch a return trip depends on availability if you dont return on the same train you came up on. On the Santa Cruz Beach trip you have a choice of two return times: one about an hour after you arrive and the other late in the afternoon if youd like to spend more time. We boarded at Roaring Camp but you can also board at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk The trip is a very scenic and the conductor did a nice job of explaining the history of the railway and Roaring Camp. We found an hour in Santa Cruz was a bit too short-it would have been better to have 30-60 minutes additional time before returning. Most people on our train seemed to be taking the earlier return but some were staying to go to the beach or the Boardwalk (the train drops you off at the Boardwalk). At Roaring Camp there is a General Store, a nice BBQ, and places to buy a la carte food (hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, etc). There are picnic tables if you bring a picnic lunch. There was a station to pan for gold (a hit with the kids) and make candles (modest cost for both). The staff was nice and helpful. The rides are not inexpensive (around 20-30 dollars) per person so it can can expensive for a family. Roaring Camp borders on Henry Cowell State Park and you can enter the park from Roaring Camp. We took a short and easy trail walk through the redwoods after visit to Roaring Camp which we also enjoyed.

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Bruce

We drove up last May (2016) specifically for the "Civil War Reenactment" which they hold every year.  After purchasing our tickets, which included a "BBQ lunch" we boarded our steam train.  The trains were "open air" cars in that there wasnt a roof and you had an unobstructed view of everything around you.   The train snaked up the steep mountain as we passed giant redwood trees and as we approached the top, we were held up by "train robbers" briefly before being rescued by rebels during a loud exchange of gun play.  Everyone clapped after wards and the train continued on to its destination. This "Civil War" reenactment draws thousands of visitors each year to see a part of American history being told by hundreds of "weekend volunteers" who spend a week preparing for their roles and dressing up as "Confederate and Union soldiers."  We stood as rows of Confederate and Union soldiers marched passed us and onto the open battlefield. The reenactment itself, looked pretty authentic down to the weaponry each side carried with them into battle with bugles blaring and the roar of antique cannons the event was fun to watch.  After the reenactment, you are allowed to walk around the camps which are made up to look like what life was like back then.   Meals and social gatherings are held among the actors and any question(s) that was asked was answered in a knowledgeable and friendly manner.  We visited the shops, bought some souvenirs, took photos, and enjoyed the "BBQ" and at the end of the day rode the train back down.

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Andrew Gregor

Roaring Camp gives you the chance to experience the might and magic of trains firsthand. The camp contains the station as well as a blacksmith, a general store gift shop, a theater, a banquet hall, a printing press, and a barbecue. During my visit, there were also a handful of activities like a small petting zoo, candle making, and gold panning. It has a lot of opportunity for fun family time. On top of all that, there is a nature trail through the woods next door. Its pretty scenic and a fun break from everything else. The trains themselves are beautiful. Twisting serpentine through the woods, the ride is entertaining and, thanks to some trivia from the announcer, educational. Just seeing these beasts glide along the rails is a thrill. I also had the chance to drive the handcar which was quite fun. I didnt get the attendants name, but he is exceptionally friendly and makes it all the more enjoyable. This is a great place if you love trains or have kids who might. At over an hour long, the ride itself might get a little boring to the young ones, but its worth visiting even if you opt out of doing that; the activities, hiking, and train-watching should be more than enough.

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