Summary
Description
About the job
Company Description
Each year, tens of thousands of guests from across the country and around the world travel to Cañon City to experience the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is one of Colorado’s most iconic tourism destinations and home to the state’s most unique rolling restaurant experience. Traveling along the base of the spectacular Royal Gorge beside the Arkansas River, the train offers guests an unforgettable combination of breathtaking scenery and freshly prepared, locally sourced dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Beyond the railroad experience, the organization operates several additional hospitality properties including the Royal Gorge Mansion, the Happy Endings Caboose Café, and other growing ventures within the Royal Gorge corridor.
With nearly 300 team members, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad is one of the largest tourism employers in Southern Colorado. The company is known for its strong culture, passionate leadership team, and exceptional employee retention, with many team members having served the organization for more than a decade.
As the business continues to expand, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad remains focused on delivering extraordinary guest experiences while building a premier hospitality and tourism destination in one of Colorado’s most remarkable natural settings.
Role Description
General Manager – Iconic Colorado Tourism Destination
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Cañon City, Colorado
Lead One of Colorado’s Most Extraordinary Tourism Experiences
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is one of Colorado’s most iconic and successful tourism attractions, offering an unforgettable rail journey through the breathtaking Royal Gorge along the Arkansas River. Guests from around the world come to experience our combination of stunning scenery, first-class dining, casual dining, and year-round special events—including our signature holiday and laser light show experiences.
We are seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead this dynamic operation and continue elevating it as a premier destination in Colorado tourism.
This role requires a high-energy, hands-on leader with a strong background in hospitality, tourism, or restaurant operations who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about building outstanding teams, delivering exceptional guest experiences, and driving operational excellence.
The General Manager will oversee all aspects of the business, including hospitality operations, train operations coordination, dining service, events, financial performance, and team leadership. This position offers the rare opportunity to lead and grow a truly one-of-a-kind tourism experience in one of the most spectacular locations in the American West.
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Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership
Provide strong leadership for a multi-department team, setting clear expectations and creating a culture of accountability, hospitality, and operational excellence.
Operational Excellence
Oversee daily operations to ensure seamless execution of guest experiences, dining service, train departures, and special events while maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
Guest Experience
Champion a hospitality-first culture that ensures every guest receives an exceptional and memorable experience worthy of a world-class destination.
Financial Leadership
Manage the business with a strong focus on financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, labor management, and revenue optimization.
Team Development
Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing leadership team while creating clear performance expectations and accountability across the organization.
Strategic Growth
Work closely with ownership to identify opportunities for new experiences, events, and operational improvements that strengthen the Royal Gorge Route Railroad brand and drive continued growth.
Safety & Compliance
Ensure strict adherence to safety regulations, operational standards, and company policies across all departments.
Operations Coordination
Lead and coordinate teams responsible for train operations, railcars, locomotives, and guest service to ensure all equipment and operations remain in excellent condition.
Special Events & Peak Operations
Oversee holiday events, peak tourism seasons, and special programming to maximize both guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
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Qualifications
• 10+ years of leadership experience in hospitality, tourism, restaurant, resort, or attraction management
• Proven ability to lead large teams and build strong workplace culture
• Strong financial and operational management experience including budgeting and forecasting
• Exceptional leadership presence and communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment
• Experience managing operations that include dining, events, or entertainment is highly desirable
• Willingness to work weekends, holidays, and peak tourism seasons
Experience with tourism attractions, resort operations, or transportation-based hospitality is a plus but not required.
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Why This Role Is Unique
• Lead one of Colorado’s most iconic tourism attractions
• Work in the breathtaking Royal Gorge along the Arkansas River
• Guide a business that blends hospitality, dining, entertainment, and rail tourism
• Shape the future of a destination experience visited by guests from around the world
• Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
• Comprehensive benefits package to include heath, dental and vision:100% paid premiums for employees and their immediate family members. Up to 8% 401k match, life insurance.
The Opportunity
This is a rare opportunity for a driven and visionary hospitality leader to oversee and grow one of Colorado’s most distinctive tourism operations. The General Manager will lead a team of nearly 300 employees across multiple hospitality and tourism venues while continuing to elevate the Royal Gorge Route Railroad as a premier destination experience. Working closely with ownership, the General Manager will have the ability to strengthen operations, develop leadership within the organization, expand guest offerings, and help shape the next chapter of growth for this iconic Colorado attraction.
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How to Apply
If you are a driven leader with a passion for hospitality, tourism, and operational excellence, we invite you to apply.
Submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your leadership experience and interest in the role.
Application Email:
Dawn Greksa, COO
dawn@royalgorgeroute.com
Join us in leading one of the most extraordinary tourism experiences in Colorado.
