Fenelon Place Elevator

This thing was terrifying and amazing all at once. It’s super cheap and a great way to spend a few minutes. Sadly there wasn’t much to do when we got downtown as it was evening, but the views from the top were good and the lady working the elevator was very friendly. Not sure if it’s something I’d do again but I’m glad I did it once.

A great little piece of history. Mr. Graves built the elevator to get back and forth at lunch time to save time. Pretty soon the neighbors started to ask for rides. And the rest is history! Read more about the elevator online before going. Fun to do and only $ 3 for a round trip. Lady at the top, forgot to get her name was very friendly and seems to love her job.
WARNING: GPS gives you the directions to the top, which is where their building is located. You can do a round trip from the top also, not a problem. BUT the problem is that if you have a large vehicle, say a camper or Winnebago, you may not be able to make the tight turns of this very old neighborhood. Also to find parking may be difficult. This is the 4^th Ave elevator, so if you go to the end of 4^th ave, you will find the bottom end of the elevator.

Over 130 years old and still impressive. Very steep Incline railroad/​elevator. $ 3.00 for the round trip and a great view of Dubuque from the top. We really enjoyed this throwback from 2 centuries ago. Highly recommended.

Not too many tourist attractions that only cost $ 3 anymore!
It was an amazing night to sit on the South Porch and overlook the city and the river. I had ridden the Elevator many years ago, this was the first time I have been here at night.
Night is the best…

A must-​see if you’re in Dubuque! Where else can you see a view of historic Dubuque’s business district, the Mississippi River and three states?
For a few bucks you can ride up and down this landmark. So much fun for everyone and very scenic views.

It’s mostly about getting a chance to experience a blast from the past. Very cute way to see how people got around before cars became abundant. It isn’t really a super exciting experience, but it really is a nice way to get a great view of Dubuque. There isn’t too much of a history lesson from the operators, but you can always grab a brochure that pretty much sums it up.

When in Dubuque, I recommend taking the historic elevator. It is a cheap thrill going up the side of a steep hill on an ancient lift. I imagined businesspeople crowded in during rush hour back in the day. I bought a postcard, took a video, enjoyed the view and the breeze: there’s not much else like the Fourth Street Elevator.

If your thing is to crowd into a creaky box with a bunch of confused old people who wandered over from the casino, then you will probably enjoy it here. If not, you will be especially turned off when you get to the top and encounter the super rude woman who takes your money.
Hop in the box and ring the bell — the operator is at the top — no workers below.
The street at the bottom has adorable architecture, which is why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.
Make sure you bring cash. They won’t take debit. It’s cheap, good thing. If you want to walk down, head over to 3^rd St., the hill is not too steep to head down safely and comfortably.

Sit in the car, ring the bell and you’re on your way to some great views of Dubuque. It costs $ 3.00 round trip which is a good deal for the history and views. It’s a nice relaxing place to spend a little time.

I blundered into this place the first time I visited Dubuque while staying at the nearby Redstone Inn.
I saw a small building at the end of the street and we went over to investigate. What the heck? It’s a train that goes up the bluff. It’s like. A train I rode at Royal Gorge Colorado only on a smaller scale.
You just hop on and ring the bell. You pay at the top. The upper level gives a panoramic view of the river valley.
The price is now $ 3 round trip.
It’s a must ride when visiting Dubuque.

It is a nice piece of Dubuque history to learn about and an ok ride up to the observation deck, but honestly it was just ok. My kids thought the elevator was the most interesting part because they are 11 and 8.
NOT A MUST SEE thing to do there. It will be ok if you didn’t make it.

The Fenelon Place Elevator claims to be the shortest, and steepest, scenic railroad in the world. The funicular railroad is 296′ long and rises 189′ from the lower level to the higher level. It is one of less than a handful of funiculars left in the United States.
«Funicular» is from Latin «funiculus,» meaning «rope.» The term has come to mean two cars that counterbalance each other. There are three rails on the right of way, a center rail is common for both cars. A spot in the center of the right of way, at the midpoint, has four rails so the counterbalanced cars can pass each other.
There has been an elevator here since 1882, when a local banker, J. K, Graves, wanted to shorten his commute time from his home, on top of the bluff, to his bank in downtown Dubuque. His home and the bank were only a couple of blocks apart, but it took Mr. Graves half an hour to navigate his horse and buggy up or down the bluff. He built the elevator so he could go home for lunch, take a nap, and return to the bank in a timely fashion. He found that neighbors were asking for rides, as well!
The railroad has been damaged, or totally destroyed, by fire three different times. In 1884, a fire in the boiler that provided power for the cable car, burned the entire operation. Mr. Graves rebuilt it, opening the new cable car to the public and charging for rides. In 1893, the operation burned again, but in a recession, Mr. Graves was unable to rebuild the railroad himself. Neighbors, now dependent on the elevator, banded together to form a company that rebuilt the railroad as today’s familiar funicular. After visiting the Worlds Fair in Chicago, the group returned with an electric streetcar motor, the turnstile and they replaced the old hemp rope with a steel cable. (The old hemp rope burned in the fire, causing the car to crash into the bottom of the railroad.)
The 1978 Sylvester Stallone film, «F.I.S.T.» was shot with Dubuque as a stand-​in for Cleveland, with a scene shot on the Fenelon Place Elevator. In 1984, the funicular underwent a major restoration, including rebuilding the cars and switching out the ancient tug with a modern DC motor and gearbox.
Still privately owned and operated today, the Fenelon Place Elevator is open April 1 through November 30 from 8:00 AM to 10:00PM. The fare is $ 1.50 per ride (75¢ for children) with an extra 50¢ for a bicycle.
The neighborhood at the top of the elevator is still residential, but there is an observation deck with impressive views of Dubuque, the Mississippi RIver, and you can see Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois from the deck.

It’s a really cool little ride– It doesn’t look like much, but when you start the ride you can help but to stop in mid-​sentence and take a picture. The view from the top is amazing! One can see Illinois, and Wisconsin on a clear day. The little ice cream/​candy shop at the base makes a great stop after. My kids are 9 and 12 and they thoroughly enjoyed the ride up and back. More so, knowing this is only one of a few in the states!

Look. It’s not a big deal. It’s pretty fun, but I think older folks will enjoy it more than their kids based on my own 6 year old’s reaction and those of other kids. It’s pretty cool, since it’s really unique and the views are amazing from the top, but it’s not like it’s a special event in and of itself. It’s a good thing to tack on to any Dubuque trip, but don’t expect to spend an hour doing it. There is a really nice little candy shop at the bottom with some ice cream, and that seems like the way to go. I started on top, rode it down, ate ice cream, and rode it back up. $ 3 bucks for the round trip.

Great ride. In case it is not obvious, you get in at the bottom and pay at the top where the ticket window is. Scenic view and cool technology. $ 2 round trip for adults, $ 1 for 7 or 8 and under.

A must do when ever visiting the Dubuque area. It only takes about 30 minutes so you can stop here even you’re just passing through. The cable cars are a piece of history, unchanged for decades and only $ 1 to ride it each way. Great view from the top and quaint little shops at the bottom of the bluff.

Not to be missed, there are only a small handful of these elevator lifts around the world. Excellent view, neat experience, good for people of all ages. Include this destination when you are in the downtown, as it will only fill 15 – 30 minutes of your time. $ 2 round trip per person. You can see 3 states and the Mississippi River from the top.

This was the second stop on our visit to Dubuque. If you’re visiting the downtown area, it’s definitely worth it. We walked up to the elevator (which is actually more like a small tram car) and it was immediately an interesting scene. There are two cars, both of which sit at the bottom of a very steep hill. As we approached the base of the hill I didn’t see anyone around so I kind of ushered out a «hello» but then realized that they don’t have a shop at the base. There’s a sign advertising the prices, $ 1 one-​way, $ 2 round-​trip. So my girlfriend and I hopped on and pulled the bell to get it going. For $ 2 it was actually pretty fun; the ride only lasts a few minutes, but it’s old school and unique, not to mention you get an absolutely killer view of Dubuque + the Iowa countryside. At the top you go through a turnstyle and pay the worker, which is also where we learned that there is unfortunately nothing at the top for tourists (it’s all residential housing). Still, there was an even better place to get a view at the top, and especially so if you happen to have a panoramic camera.
For the money, the Fenelon Place Elevator Co. is worth stopping at.

Very nice view

The Fourth Street Elevator, historically known as the Fenelon Place Elevator as found in the National Historic Registrar, is truly the best way to see downtown, riverside Dubuque. With this in mind, it’s probably the first thing to do when you arrive to Dubuque since it can give you an idea of how the town is laid out. They have several maps up at the top too and a pleasant neighborhood to explore. Also it’s a bit west of most of the historical and popular sites. I have to admit that Dubuque doesn’t have too much to offer but the Elevator is not to be missed.
The elevator is open April 1^st thru November 30^th from 8:00 A.M. until 10:00 P.M. A round trip is $ 2 for adults and $ 1 for children 5 to 12 (for one way it’s half that price). Cash only! Check out the photos I’ve added.