Grand Canyon Railway, a subsidiary of Xanterra Travel Collection®, recreates the historic trip by rail to the Grand Canyon 364 days a year (excludes Dec. 25), providing passengers with the opportunity to relive an important part of American history.
Passengers depart from the historic Williams Depot and arrive at the Grand Canyon Depot, the last operating log depot in the United States. Located in the heart of Grand Canyon National Park’s historic district, near the world-famous El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon Depot is just 200 yards from the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The trip to the canyon covers 65 miles of classic Old West territory, including high desert plains with endless vistas, small arroyos and portions of the world’s largest Ponderosa pine forest.
More than 150,000 passengers traveled aboard Grand Canyon Railway in each year, helping to reduce automobile traffic to the South Rim.
Grand Canyon Railway is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service and Kaibab National Forest, and is a founding contributor to the Grand Canyon National Park Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, providing support for Grand Canyon National Park.
Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint,” Xanterra Travel Collection® provides a world of unforgettable experiences through its operations in national parks, including lodges, restaurants, tours, and activities, as well as through its ownership of resorts, a cruise line, a railway, and tour companies. Xanterra has operations in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Xanterra Travel Collection® also owns and operates the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel in Williams, Ariz., The Grand Hotel in Tusayan, Ariz., The Oasis at Death Valley in Death Valley Calif., Windstar Cruises, Holiday Vacations, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, and Country Walkers. Xanterra is also affiliated with two Forbes Five-Star Resorts, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO and Sea Island on the coast of Georgia. Learn more at xanterra.com.
Vintage 1950s and 1970s diesel locomotives are utilized year-round. Select dates feature a historic steam locomotive built in 1923.
Six classes of train service are available, including coach, first, observation dome, luxury dome, and luxury parlor class. Our historic Pullman car is available in the Spring & Summer months.
The trip highlights include a daily Wild West shootout at the 1908 Williams Depot prior to the morning departure; and entertainment and live action aboard the train, featuring roaming western singers, as well as the infamous Cataract Creek Gang and the justice of a Grand Canyon Railway Marshal.
The modern Grand Canyon Railway Hotel was designed to resemble the historic Fray Marcos Hotel and Williams Depot structures that stand nearby. Grand Canyon Railway Hotel offers guests the choice of 297 rooms, featuring 4 room types (Value, Standard, Deluxe, Suite) and one Rail Baron Suite.
Additionally, the hotel offers a spacious meeting room available for wedding receptions, seminars and other functions; a game room for children; an enclosed crescent-shaped pool (approximately 50′ long by 20′ wide) and hot tub featuring a large glass wall with a southern exposure allowing plenty of light to fill the pool area; and an exercise room, which includes a multi-station weight machine and 11 pieces of cardiovascular equipment which includes treadmills, an elliptical step machine, an elliptical climbing machine and recumbent bikes.
Grand Canyon Railway RV Park is located just west of the historic Williams Depot and opposite the famed Cataract Creek. Nature paths and a shuttle take guests from the RV Park to the Depot. This facility is adjacent and an easy walk to Williams Visitor Center and Historic Downtown area, including Route 66. The park is comprised of 124 spaces featuring ample room for slide outs as well as buddy spaces for traveling companions and full hook-ups, including wireless Internet and cable television.
Park amenities include a 72-seat pavilion with gas grills, picnic tables and a fire pit, a full-service convenience store, laundry, and shower and restroom facilities. Recreational activities also abound with community volleyball and basketball courts as well as horseshoe pits and a children’s playground.
Guests who prefer not to leave their loved one alone when riding the train or exploring historic Route 66 in downtown Williams, can check them into Grand Canyon Railway’s Pet Resort. This is especially ideal for RV Park guests looking to stay overnight at the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon Railway’s Pet Resort offers 28 rooms for dogs and 16 comfortable rooms for cats. Both dogs and cats are kept cool and comfortable with central air conditioning during summer months and heat in the winter. The Pet Resort’s canine guests also enjoy interactive group and individual playtime in the exercise yard during their stay as well as the opportunity for a doggie wash. The Pet Resort is available to guests of both the RV Park and Grand Canyon Railway Hotel as well as Grand Canyon Railway passengers and the general public.
Grand Canyon Railway’s Grand Depot Cafe is located across from the hotel. The restaurant has a wide selection of buffet items for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Spenser’s Pub, located adjacent to the hotel lobby, serves beer, wine and mixed drinks as well as appetizers and meals. The centerpiece of Spenser’s Pub is an antique bar that was hand crafted in the 19th century.
Grand Canyon Railway has established and maintains relationships with some of the most dynamic names in travel today, including AAA, LibGo and Travel Impressions, among others.
Grand Canyon Railway currently employs nearly 500 people in Williams and Flagstaff, Ariz.
Grand Canyon Railway
1201 West Route 66, Ste 200
Flagstaff, Ariz. 86001
1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724)
Web site: www.thetrain.com
Contact Katie Dabbs at Percepture at 720-206-7710 or via e-mail.
Group Sales Department: 1-800-843-8723
International Calls: Telephone 928-773-1976; fax 928-773-1610