Moffat Road Railroad Museum in Granby, Colorado

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Granby, Colorado · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesHoliday season November 27 to January 3; summer season Memorial Day to September

The Moffat Road Railroad Museum in Granby honors the Denver & Northwestern Pacific, the Moffat Road from Denver to Craig, with a 1,100 square foot O scale Christmas layout, nine pieces of early 1900s railroad equipment and a Family Train Ride around its railyard.

  • Colorado's largest permanent Christmas train display
  • 1,100 sq. ft. O scale layout
  • Family Train Ride opened August 2026
  • Nine pieces of historic equipment
  • Visitor Center in a 1950s chapel
  • Santa visits each December

Moffat Road Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Holiday season November 27 to January 3, Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm (closed December 25; bonus days December 21, 22, 28 and 29)
Admission
As of October 2026: adults 17+ $10, seniors and military $7, kids $4, youngest children free
Train rides
Family Train Ride, $4 per person per ride (two loops) with paid museum admission
Seasonal events
Halloween Haunted Train, Santa Visits, Easter Egg Hunt, National Train Day, Summer Season Opening
Plan for
About 1.5 to 2 hours
Best for
Families with young kids and model railroad fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12
Accessibility
One Family Train Ride car is fully accessible, with ramps at the loading platform

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Moffat Road Railroad Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Granby.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From a town hall holiday display to a railyard of its own

The museum began in 2009, when the Grand County Model Railroad Club started a working model of the Moffat Road, the Denver & Northwestern Pacific Railroad that ran from Denver to Craig from about 1905 into the 1960s. What started as a holiday train display at Granby's town hall has grown into a full museum just off Highway 40, with the goal of opening year round one day.

Along the way the museum gathered real railroad equipment, including a 1902 depot, a 1923 all-wood red Union Pacific caboose and a 1913 steam derrick, and gave itself a striking front door. Its Visitor Center is the former Wedding Chapel from Heritage Square in Golden, built in 1956 by the Magic Mountain construction team and once a one-room schoolhouse from Lakewood. When Heritage Square was demolished in 2016, the chapel was spared, and local historical groups helped move it to Granby. The museum restored it, added a copper bell tower and opened it in May 2020.

The newest chapter is the Family Train Ride, years in the making and a dream of Executive Director Dave Naples. Staff, volunteers and a hired crew laid 2,300 feet of track around the grounds, board members inspected the custom-built train's Kubota diesel engine, and staff member Bob Pease hand-lettered the coaches. Benefactors Fred and Linda Milanovich helped, and the ride welcomed its first passengers in August 2026.

Christmas trains, a Sky Rail and a railyard to ride around

Inside, the 1,100 square foot O scale layout runs several trains at once through tunnels, over bridges and water, along a roadway and around a huge ski mountain with two working chairlifts, with interactive features for kids. Overhead, a G scale train called the Moffat Sky Rail circles the room near the ceiling. In the Exhibit Hall, volunteers are building an HO scale replica of the Moffat line from the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel all the way to Craig, and visitors can watch its progress.

The Interpretive Center holds nine pieces of railroad equipment from the early 1900s in various stages of restoration. Local visitor guides mention a 1905 passenger car, the 1923 caboose, a 1913 steam derrick, a steam locomotive with a working whistle and a 1915 hand-cart shed from Hot Sulphur Springs. The Visitor Center has railroad artifacts, an interactive train display and a gift shop with Lionel and BRIO trains and local handcrafted items.

Don’t miss

  1. The O scale Christmas layoutThe museum calls it Colorado's largest permanent Christmas train display, complete with a ski mountain and two chairlifts.
  2. The Family Train RideFour passenger cars and a covered caboose loop 2,300 feet of track from the 1902 depot's new deck, with a bell and working crossing gates.
  3. The Moffat Sky RailA G scale train that runs around the top of the model room near the ceiling.
  4. The 1923 Union Pacific cabooseAn all-wood red caboose, fully renovated and part of the Interpretive Center collection.
  5. The Visitor Center chapelA 1950s chapel rescued from Golden's Heritage Square and restored with a new copper bell tower.
  6. The HO scale Moffat lineA work in progress that will model the route from the Moffat Tunnel's east portal to Craig.

Model trains to watch and a train to ride

Kids get a lot here for a small price: chairlifts and running trains on the model layout, interactive buttons, a train circling near the ceiling, and then a real ride outside. The Family Train Ride was designed for both children and adults, so grandparents can ride along, and each $4 ticket covers two loops of the yard.

The museum has made the ride accessible, with one fully accessible car and ramps at the loading platform. Holiday visitors can time a trip for Santa's visits in December, and the Halloween Haunted Train is a free community event on October 31.

Plan your visit: tips for Moffat Road Railroad Museum

  • The museum closes between seasons; check the website before you drive to Granby.
  • Train ride tickets are sold inside the Visitor Center and require paid museum admission.
  • The model railroad can open by appointment outside normal hours with 24 hours notice.
  • Turn off Highway 40 onto Park Lane between the Granby Fire Department and the bridge.
  • Look for Lionel and BRIO train sets in the gift shop.

Holidays are the museum's busiest time. The Christmas layout is the centerpiece of the holiday season from the day after Thanksgiving into early January, and Santa visits on December 18, 19 and 20, 2026, from 10 am to 3 pm. On Halloween night, the free Haunted Train event runs from 4 to 8 pm. For more seasonal ideas, see our lists of Christmas train rides in Colorado and Halloween train rides in Colorado.

Dave Naples, the club and a crew of volunteers

The museum is led by Executive Director Dave Naples with Assistant Executive Director Patrick Brower, a board of directors, staff and volunteers. It is always looking for help running the model railroad and building the HO layout, from electricians, carpenters and artists to beginners, and high school students can earn community service hours. Donations can be directed to restoration projects, and the museum welcomes artifacts and event sponsors.

Rail stops over the passes from Granby

The Georgetown Loop Railroad is about 29 miles away and adds a mountain train ride. The Breckenridge High Line Railroad Park is about 42 miles off, and the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden about 45 miles. Browse every train museum in Colorado for more.

Every train museum in Colorado

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The model layout being built here will start at the Moffat Tunnel, and that made me smile, because a tunnel is one of my favorite pages in our book. The train goes dark, Rally holds still, and then there's a big bright light and happy cheers. My mom pictured that moment long before there was a book, and I like knowing kids in Granby will watch little trains disappear into the dark and pop out again. You can read about her on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Moffat Road Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask

How much are Moffat Road Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $10 for adults 17 and older, $7 for seniors and military with ID, and $4 for kids, with the youngest children free (the website lists the free age as under 5 in one place and under 3 in another, so confirm). Admission includes the model railroad displays.

How much is the Family Train Ride at the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

Family Train Ride tickets are $4 per person, per ride, as of October 2026, and each ride is two consecutive loops around the railyard. Ride tickets are sold inside the Visitor Center and require paid museum admission. Both kids and adults can ride the custom-built train.

When is the Moffat Road Railroad Museum open?

The museum is open in seasons. As of October 2026, the holiday season runs from November 27 through January 3, Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, closed December 25, with bonus days on December 21, 22, 28 and 29. The summer season typically runs from Memorial Day weekend through September.

Is the Moffat Road Railroad Museum open now?

As of mid-October 2026, the museum is temporarily closed between seasons. It opens for a free Halloween Night community event on October 31 from 4 to 8 pm, then reopens for the holiday season on November 27. Check moffatroadrailroadmuseum.org or Facebook for any changes before you go.

Where is the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

The museum is at 555 Park Lane (County Road 574) in Granby, Colorado 80446, just off Highway 40 and west of the Kaibab Park ball field and playground. Turn off Highway 40 onto Park Lane between the Granby Fire Department and the bridge, across from Edgewater. The mailing address is PO Box 2221, Granby.

What is the Moffat Road?

The Moffat Road was the Denver & Northwestern Pacific Railroad, which ran from Denver to Craig, Colorado. The museum's model railroad was started to portray the line from about 1905 through the 1960s, and a new HO scale layout will model the route from the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel to Craig.

What is the Christmas train display at the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

The museum's 1,100 square foot O scale layout is billed as Colorado's largest permanent Christmas model train display. It runs several trains at once through tunnels, over bridges and water, past a roadway and around a huge ski mountain with two working chairlifts, and it has interactive features for kids.

What real trains can you see at the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

The Interpretive Center has nine pieces of railroad equipment from the early 1900s in various stages of restoration. Local visitor guides mention a 1905 passenger car, a fully renovated 1923 all-wood red Union Pacific caboose, a 1913 steam derrick, a steam locomotive with a working whistle and a 1915 hand-cart shed from Hot Sulphur Springs.

When did the Moffat Road Railroad Museum Family Train Ride open?

The Family Train Ride began carrying passengers in mid-August 2026 after years of work. The train has four passenger cars and a covered caboose and runs on 2,300 feet of track around the grounds, departing from the 1902 depot's new deck. It has a locomotive bell and working crossing gates.

Is the Moffat Road Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?

The Family Train Ride was built with access in mind: one passenger car is fully accessible, and ramps at the loading platform help everyone board. The museum does not post detailed access information for its other buildings, so call (970) 509-9894 before your visit with specific questions.

What are Moffat Road Railroad Museum reviews like?

Local guides describe it as a popular, family-oriented destination with model railroad layouts, real trains and a strong dose of Colorado history. Sky-Hi News and 9News Denver have both featured its holiday train display and new train ride. Check the museum's Facebook page for visitor photos and comments.

Where can I see Moffat Road Railroad Museum photos?

The museum's website includes photo albums from past events, such as Santa visits, Halloween trains and Easter egg hunts, plus pictures of the Family Train Ride being built. Its Facebook page, @MoffatRoadRailroadMuseum, and YouTube channel share newer photos and videos of the layouts and trains.

Does Santa visit the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

Yes. In 2026 Santa visits on December 18, 19 and 20 from 10 am to 3 pm, during the museum's holiday season. In past years the museum has also brought in reindeer. Check the events page on the museum's website for details and any per-child cost for this year's visit.

What is the Halloween Haunted Train at the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

The Halloween Haunted Train is the museum's free community event on Halloween night, running from 4 to 8 pm on October 31 in 2026. It has become an annual Granby tradition. The museum is seeking event sponsors, and businesses can email Dave Naples at moffatrailroad@gmail.com to help.

What is the Moffat Road Railroad Museum Visitor Center?

The Visitor Center is the former Wedding Chapel from Heritage Square in Golden, built in 1956 and once a one-room schoolhouse from Lakewood. Spared when Heritage Square was demolished, it was moved to Granby, restored with a copper bell tower and opened in May 2020. It holds artifacts, an interactive train display and the gift shop.

What is in the Moffat Road Railroad Museum gift shop?

The gift shop in the Visitor Center is an official BRIO retailer and authorized Lionel dealer, so you can take home a model train set. It also carries handcrafted items from local artisans and kids' toys. Gift certificates for museum admission are available too.

Can the Moffat Road Railroad Museum open by appointment?

Yes. Outside its normal hours, the museum can open the model railroad by appointment with 24 hours notice. Call Executive Director Dave Naples at (970) 281-9094 to schedule a visit, which can work well for a group or a family passing through Granby off season.

How can I volunteer at the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

The museum needs volunteers to run the model railroad and build the HO scale Moffat layout, including electricians, carpenters, artists and model builders, though no special skills are required. High school students can earn community service hours. Text or call Dave Naples at (970) 281-9094 to get involved.

Who started the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

The museum grew from the Grand County Model Railroad Club, which began its Moffat Road layout in 2009 as a holiday display at Granby's town hall. Today it is led by Executive Director Dave Naples, with Assistant Executive Director Patrick Brower, a board, staff and volunteers.

What train museums are near the Moffat Road Railroad Museum?

The Georgetown Loop Railroad is about 29 miles away, the Breckenridge High Line Railroad Park about 42 miles, and the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden about 45 miles. The Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver is about 55 miles, so Granby fits into a wider Colorado rail trip.

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