Colorado Travel Experience Blog

The Colorado ski train began in 1940. The Ski Train has a history of over 60 years of regular, scheduled trips to Winter Park Resort. The ski train consists of 14 passenger cars (eight Coach class, one retreat class, three Club Car class; two Cafe Lounge cars). The ski train transports 750 passengers to the winter wonderland of Winter Park, Colorado, the largest capacity of any scheduled passenger train in the U.S.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Ski Train was youth-oriented and dominated by the Eskimo Ski Club. The ski club consisted of members ranging in age from 7 to 17. Today, many older Denver natives who travel on the ski train credit the Eskimo Ski Club for introducing them to skiing.

The 1980’s saw hard times come to the Ski Train. Ridership steadily declined, and the 1915 vintage railcars began to show their age. In 1988, the Ansco Investment Company, a Denver-based company, acquired the train with its purchase by its parent company of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.

Under the management of the Ansco Investment Company, the “New, modern Ski Train” was born. A new business plan aimed to rejuvenate the ski train in all respects, complete with upgraded cars, improved customer service, a computerized ticket system and the introduction of Club class and luxury private car service rejuvenated the Winter Park ski run.

Today, the Ski Train calls itself “a Denver Tradition for Generations,” and each year introduces a new generation of skiers not just to the joys of skiing, but to the joys of traveling by train, as well. They have had such great winter success, that the ski train has expanded to operate Saturdays in the Summer! This for those that want to hike and mountain bike on some of Colorado’s best mountain terrain.

The nicest thing about the Ski Train is that it makes skiing convenient to Denver and the Colorado Front Range. Not only that, visitors to Winter Park that use the ski train will find one of the most spectacular landscapes to travel through and visit in all of the state. If you’re visiting Denver this winter and want an exciting adventure to ski territory, the ski train is for you.

To book a ticket on the Colorado Ski Train to Winter Park and plan your Colorado ski vacation, go to Ski Train.