Jonathan's 2006 La Plata Trip
To TrainWeb.com's 10th Anniversary And
Opening Of The New TrainWeb.com & TrainParty Building
Celebration

[TrainWeb Editor's Note: Jonathan's report and photos definitely brings back some fond memories for me. This was the beginning of TrainWeb's move to Missouri, the opening of several railroad related venues in La Plata, including our own TrainParty.com building and plans for a Disneyland like railroad themed Silver Rails Resort. But don't come to visit us in La Plata today. The 2008 recession cancelled our plans for the Silver Rails Resort and TrainWeb is no longer located in La Plata, Missouri. However, as of 2025, The Depot Inn & Suites and The Rail Lookout Cabin & Deck are still there and the 40 acres of land that had been set aside for the Silver Rails Resort are still available for purchase. See: SilverRailsProperties.com/railfan.]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first time writing here. I'll start off with my first big trip out of California. My first journey took me to La Plata, Missouri. Trainweb was going to be celebrating their 10th year anniversary and the grand opening of the new TrainParty.com building. So Barbara Cepinko and Steve Grande invited me over to spend the weekend with them in this wonderful little town of La Plata. To tell you the truth, this was the 2nd time that I heard of this city, the first being from Shivam Surve when he told me that he was moving over there.


Kansa City, Missouri Airport.

My first thought when I got off the plane was this place is very very cold. Empty. I'm used to the the traffic jams for Los Angeles, CA, and to get here to airport and see this was amazing. A whole new world.

Steve, Barbara and Barbara's Parent in the Mini - van on our way to La Plata, Missouri. 3 wonderful hours away. :-). I would imagen that the train that leads directly into La Plata, Missouri, would of been the way to go. But due to the time frame that we needed to get there, we had to take a van. But I think if we had to take a take a train vacation, this would be wonderful, since the Amtrak Train runs directly into La Plata.

The scenary of Missouri is very differnet to what I was used to. I'm used the high rises building, traffic, apartments homes that next to each other. Missouri is very different, lots and lots of land in between.

This is a site that I've never seen where I am from. The water towers mark every city that we passed by, La Plata, Holt, Kirksville, St. Louis, Kansa City, all have a water tower welcoming you to the city.

This was amazing, look it's a slide coming out of the hotel and back in.

The Depot Inn & Suites
The hotel where we stayed in La Plata, Missouri

(Acquired & managed by TrainWeb.com's owners Stephen Grande & Barbara Cepinko for a few years.)

Click on each below photo to view the original full size image.

Outside the front of the hotel.

The Depot Inn & Suites Lobby decorated for Christmas

A Standard Hotel Room At The Depot Inn & Suites In La Plata, Missouri

The indoor swimming pool at The Depot Inn & Suites

Outside the back of The Depot Inn & Suites

Railroad decor inside The Depot Inn & Suites

Richard Hamilton of the "Let's Talk Trains" podcast and Ray Burns, President of TrainWeb / TrainParty
standing where the Railroad Lookout Cabin & Deck is now located. Both Richard & Ray passed away a number of years ago.