All Aboard For Summer Enjoyable At The Florida Railroad Museum

By Ella Baroni

Looking for a singular summer time journey near house? The Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish provides guests the chance to expertise Florida’s wealthy railroad heritage by historic prepare excursions, reveals and particular occasions.

Known because the museum “where you ride the exhibits,” the Florida Railroad Museum permits friends to board classic railcars and journey by the scenic countryside of rural Manatee County whereas studying in regards to the necessary position railroads performed in shaping Florida’s historical past.

Founded with the mission of preserving the state’s railroad heritage, the nonprofit museum operates on a six-mile stretch of observe between Parrish and Willow. The rail line, initially constructed by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad within the early 1900s, was the primary railroad route by Manatee County.

Each weekend, guests can take pleasure in diesel-powered excursions aboard a wide range of open-air, open-window and air-conditioned railcars. The trains are operated solely by museum volunteers who contribute 1000’s of hours yearly to take care of and protect the gathering.

In addition to common excursions, the museum hosts a wide range of particular occasions all year long. Summer choices embody themed prepare rides and the favored Murder Mystery Dinner Train, which mixes eating with interactive leisure. Seasonal favorites return later within the 12 months, together with the Pumpkin Patch Express within the fall and the extremely anticipated North Pole Express in the course of the vacation season. The Christmas-themed attraction has develop into a cherished custom for a lot of native households.

Visitors may discover the museum’s present store, mannequin railroad show and reveals showcasing railroad artifacts. In Willow, a reproduction Seaboard Air Line station offers passengers with a possibility to step off the prepare and expertise a chunk of Florida railroad historical past firsthand.

Named Tripadvisor’s high attraction in Parrish, the museum additionally provides annual memberships beginning at $45 and welcomes volunteers thinking about serving to protect railroad historical past. Opportunities vary from serving as a automotive host to aiding with prepare operations and restoration tasks.

The Florida Railroad Museum is positioned at 12210 83rd St. E. in Parrish. The ticket workplace, present store and mannequin railroad are open Wednesday by Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., whereas prepare excursions function on weekends. For schedules, ticket data and upcoming occasions, go to www.frrm.org or name 941-776-0906.