Roaring Camp Railroad Fears 'Forced Abandonment'

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Roaring Camp Railroads, a mock frontier town in the Santa Cruz Mountains, may be closed soon due to a change in rail service.

The Old West-themed park in Felton features trains that go from the mountains to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and a national network of trains. On Thursday, the County Transportation Commission will consider changing the track that brings those trains to the boardwalk, which could mean the end of the theme park.

A report from the commission agenda claims that this change would increase “local control of the corridor,” and would end the need to contract with a freight operator. It also notes that the line needs an estimated $48.7 million to $63.7 million in repairs.

Roaring Camp has spoken out vigorously against the attempt, and called the proposal a “hostile attempt proposed by RTC staff to initiate a process that aims to force abandonment of the Felton Branch Rail Line.”

“Forced abandonment of the line, which is wholly owned by Roaring Camp, would remove Roaring Camp’s right to utilize the rail line for freight use,” Roaring Camp said in a Jan. 19 news release. “Loss of the right to freight us would have a highly negative impact on Roaring Camp’s business and would represent the first step in a larger, special interests-fueled effort to end rail service in Santa Cruz County.”