Historic Katy Depot in Denison, Texas
Historic rail siteFreeRestored 1911 Katy station with the free Red River Railroad Museum, shops, lofts and a venue
The Katy Depot has stood at the head of Main Street in Denison since the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad built it in 1911. Restored and busy again, the old station is home to the free Red River Railroad Museum, local shops and restaurants, lofts and a grand ballroom.
- Built by the Katy in 1911
- Free Red River Railroad Museum inside
- Christmas at the Depot, December 5
- Shops, dining and a coffeehouse
- Ballroom for up to 300 guests
- Stay overnight in the lofts
Historic Katy Depot at a glance
- Hours
- Red River Railroad Museum: Thursday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. Shops and restaurants keep their own hours
- Admission
- Free museum (donations welcome); free to walk the depot
- Seasonal events
- Christmas at the Depot (December 5, 2026), Depot After Dark, last Thursday monthly, Social Stitching on Wednesdays, Concerts and makers' markets
- Plan for
- 1 to 2 hours, longer with a meal
- Best for
- Train history fans, families and shoppers
- Best ages
- All ages; Christmas at the Depot is a hit with little ones
- Parking
- Parking next to the depot and on nearby downtown streets
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address101 E Main St, Denison, TX 75021(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(903) 463-7729
- Emailinfo@katydepottx.com
- Websitekatydepottx.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Historic Katy Depot
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Historic Katy Depot? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Denison.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
From Katy railroad station to Denison's front porch
Denison was a railroad town from the start: the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway established its railhead just south of the Red River in 1872, and the Katy, as everyone called it, gave the town a series of stations. According to the Katy Railroad Historical Society, a larger brick depot went up after a fire on March 14, 1873 destroyed the one before it.
The building that stands today opened in 1911 as Denison's Union Passenger Station. San Antonio architect Henry T. Phelps designed it in the Beaux-Arts classical style, in reddish-brown brick with dark red terra-cotta trim, and the flanking wings held railroad offices on the second floor. For decades it was where Denison came to catch the train, at a time when the Katy ran almost 1,500 miles of track in Texas.
The current chapter began in 2020. The restoration team started on the first floor, rebuilding the retail hallway and the grand ballroom and hanging new chandeliers. The work was not easy: the crew dealt with flooding and with the strain of building through a pandemic, and hauled away about 40 dumpsters of debris along the way. The owners have publicly thanked the people who put in long hours on the job, including Mike, Kristi and Ricky.
Once the ground floor was done, the team turned the second floor into loft residences and the third floor into offices and commercial space, keeping the depot's historic character while giving it modern uses. The owners describe their goal as a community hub that mixes local shops, dining and cultural events with the charm of a landmark building.
The Red River Railroad Museum, right inside the depot
Train fans have a real museum to visit here. The Red River Railroad Museum is in Suite 106 on the depot's first floor, and admission is free. It is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm, with a small gift shop, and the museum gladly accepts donations.
Inside, display cases and walls of photographs tell the story of the golden era of the railroads in Denison and beyond, with thousands of rail artifacts and collections of books and maps on local railroad history. Outside, look for the green Katy locomotive with its big yellow MKT letters, one of the most popular photo spots at the depot.
Take a quick video tour of the Katy Depot
Get a feel for the restored station before you go with this short video of the depot.
What you find inside the old station today
Start with the Red River Railroad Museum in Suite 106, then walk the first-floor retail hallway. The depot's directory lists the Katy Cup Coffeehouse & Bakery, Chloe's at the Depot, Stafford House Provisions, The George Tavern for brunch, craft beer and live music, Ray's Mercantile for Texas gifts and western wear, Quixotic Fibers yarn shop, the Loft Art Gallery & Studio and Vertigogh Art Co, with more shops, salons and The Sugared Cookie on the upper floors.
The grand ballroom is the showpiece of the restoration, with crystal chandeliers under a white coffered ceiling, a mezzanine overlooking the floor and the Bluebonnet Room as a bridal suite. It seats about 200 guests for dinner or up to 300 for a reception, and it fills with candlelit concerts and holiday gatherings as well as weddings.
Upstairs, the depot's lofts keep the old station's character, with exposed brick, original plaster walls, big picture windows and views of the tracks. They range from studios to two bedrooms, and two of them, The Park View Loft and The Conductor's View, can be booked on Airbnb for a night inside a 1911 railroad station.
Don’t miss
- The Red River Railroad MuseumFree railroad museum in Suite 106, open Thursday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm, with artifacts, photographs and a small gift shop.
- The green Katy locomotiveAn MKT locomotive in the Katy's green and yellow colors, just outside the depot and perfect for photos.
- The ballroom and its chandeliersThe first big piece of the restoration, with crystal chandeliers, a coffered ceiling and a mezzanine.
- The retail hallwayA coffeehouse, a mercantile, a yarn shop, art galleries and places to eat line the old station's ground floor.
- Christmas at the DepotMrs. Claus reads to children, Santa arrives by train, and the Lil' Katy barrel train gives free rides.
Photos from the Katy Depot
Photos shared by the Katy Depot.
Tap any photo to see it larger, with the story behind it.
Bringing young train fans to the depot
Start at the free Red River Railroad Museum (Thursday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm) for railroad artifacts and old photos, then head outside to see the green Katy locomotive up close. A treat from the coffeehouse or The Sugared Cookie makes a good reward for little legs.
The best day of the year for kids is Christmas at the Depot. Mrs. Claus reads to children all day, Santa rolls in by train around 5 pm, photos with Santa are free, and the Lil' Katy, a small barrel train, gives kids free rides in the back parking lot.
Upcoming events at the Katy Depot
Dates and details come straight from the Katy Depot. Check katydepottx.com or the depot’s Facebook page for updates before you go.
Christmas at the Depot
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11 am to 6 pm
The depot's 4th annual Christmas celebration. Mrs. Claus reads to children all day, leaves around 4:30 pm and returns with Santa by train around 5 pm. Pictures with Santa are free (the depot's photographer takes them and posts a link, which keeps the line moving), vendors fill the depot inside and out, and the Lil' Katy barrel train gives kids free rides in the back parking lot.
Free photos with Santa and free Lil’ Katy rides for kids
Depot After Dark
The last Thursday of every month, in the evening
The depot's shops stay open late for an evening of shopping, dining and browsing in the old station.
Free to browse
Social Stitching at Quixotic Fibers
Every Wednesday, 6 to 8 pm
Bring a knitting or crochet project to Quixotic Fibers in Suite 103 for a weekly evening of stitching and conversation.
Ask Quixotic Fibers for details
Plan your visit: tips for Historic Katy Depot
- Visit Thursday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm, when the Red River Railroad Museum is open.
- Bring a camera for the green Katy locomotive outside.
- Each shop and restaurant keeps its own hours, so check before you go.
- Save December 5, 2026 for Christmas at the Depot, when Santa arrives by train.
- Stay overnight in one of the depot's lofts, booked through Airbnb.
The biggest family day is Christmas at the Depot on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11 am to 6 pm, with Mrs. Claus, Santa's arrival by train around 5 pm, free Santa photos and free Lil' Katy train rides. Downtown Denison's Fall Festival also takes over Main Street each October. Compare more seasonal options in our guides to Christmas train rides in Texas and Halloween and fall train rides in Texas.
The team that brought the depot back
The Katy Depot is privately restored and operated, and its owners credit a small core team for seeing the project through floods and a pandemic. The best ways to support the building are to visit and donate to the Red River Railroad Museum, shop at the depot's local businesses, eat at its restaurants, come to its community events or book its venue and lofts. Follow the depot on Facebook and Instagram for news.
More railroad history within an hour or so of Denison
For a museum with real rolling stock, the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco is about 46 miles south. The Interurban Railway Museum in Plano is about 52 miles away, and across the Red River the Frisco Depot Museum in Hugo, Oklahoma is about 61 miles. See all the Texas train museums and depots for more ideas.
- Museum of the American RailroadFrisco, TX · about 46 mi
- Texas Electric Railway historic collectionPlano / Dallas area, TX · about 52 mi
- Interurban Railway MuseumPlano, TX · about 52 mi
- Dallas Railway & Terminal Museum historic collectionDallas area, TX · about 54 mi
- Frisco Depot MuseumHugo, OK · about 61 mi
- Frisco Depot MuseumAntlers, OK · about 62 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The Katy Depot has lofts upstairs where you can actually spend the night in an old train station, and that made me think of packing day in our book. Rally fills his bag with his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, because a corgi needs his things for a trip with Mom and Dad. My kids would ask what he would pack for a night in a depot.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Texas: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Texas
- Halloween train rides in Texas
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Historic Katy Depot?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Historic Katy Depot official website(opens in a new tab)
- Historic Katy Depot on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Historic Katy Depot on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Historic Katy Depot on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Katy Depot in Denison: 20 questions visitors ask
What is the Historic Katy Depot in Denison?
The Historic Katy Depot is the 1911 Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad station in downtown Denison, Texas. After a restoration that began in 2020, it holds the free Red River Railroad Museum, local shops and restaurants, offices, loft residences and Airbnb rentals, plus a wedding and event venue.
Is the Historic Katy Depot in Frontier Park?
The Katy Depot covered on this page is not in a park. It sits downtown at 101 E Main St in Denison, Texas. If you were searching for a Katy depot in a park, you may be thinking of a different historic depot, so check the address of the site you have in mind before you drive there.
Where is the Katy Depot in Denison, Texas?
The Katy Depot is at 101 E Main St, Denison, TX 75021, right in the heart of downtown. Its central location puts it within walking distance of other Main Street restaurants, shops and lodging. For directions or questions, call (903) 463-7729 or email info@katydepottx.com.
When was the Katy Depot in Denison built?
The current Katy Depot was built in 1911 by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. It was not Denison's first station: the Katy Railroad Historical Society notes that a larger brick depot was built after a fire destroyed an earlier one on March 14, 1873. The 1911 building is the one that survives downtown today.
What railroad built the Denison Katy Depot?
The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad built the station, and that railroad's nickname, the Katy, gives the depot its name. Denison was an important town on the Katy line, and for decades the depot was where local travelers came to catch the train. The depot's website has a history page on the railroad.
Is there a train museum in the Denison Katy Depot?
Yes. The Red River Railroad Museum is in Suite 106 on the depot's first floor. It is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm, admission is free, and it has a small gift shop and accepts donations. A green Katy locomotive is on display just outside.
What are the Katy Depot Denison hours?
The Red River Railroad Museum inside the depot is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. The depot's shops, restaurants and offices each keep their own hours, so check the directory at katydepottx.com or the depot's Facebook page for the places you want to visit.
Does it cost anything to visit the Katy Depot?
No. It is free to walk the depot, and the Red River Railroad Museum inside has free admission, though donations are welcome. Venue rentals and loft stays are priced separately, and Christmas at the Depot includes free photos with Santa and free Lil' Katy rides for kids.
What shops and restaurants are inside the Katy Depot?
The depot's directory lists the Katy Cup Coffeehouse & Bakery, Chloe's at the Depot, Stafford House Provisions, The George Tavern, Ray's Mercantile, Quixotic Fibers, the Loft Art Gallery & Studio, Vertigogh Art Co, Studio 111 and The Sugared Cookie, among others. Tenants change over time, so check the current directory on katydepottx.com.
Can you have a wedding at the Katy Depot in Denison?
Yes. The ballroom has crystal chandeliers, a coffered ceiling and a mezzanine, and seats about 200 guests for dinner or up to 300 for a reception. The Bluebonnet Room serves as a bridal suite, and couples may bring licensed caterers and vendors. Contact the depot at (903) 463-7729 or info@katydepottx.com about dates and pricing.
Can you stay overnight at the Katy Depot?
Yes. The second floor holds lofts ranging from studios to two bedrooms, with exposed brick, big windows and track views. The Park View Loft and The Conductor's View can be booked on Airbnb, and longer-term leases are also available through the depot. It is a rare chance to sleep inside a 1911 railroad station.
What events happen at the Katy Depot in Denison?
The depot hosts Christmas at the Depot each December, Depot After Dark on the last Thursday of every month, Social Stitching at Quixotic Fibers on Wednesday evenings, plus concerts, makers' markets and art shows. Check the events page at katydepottx.com and the depot's Facebook page for upcoming dates.
Is the Katy Depot good for kids?
Yes, especially Thursday to Saturday when the free Red River Railroad Museum is open, and kids love posing with the green Katy locomotive outside. Christmas at the Depot is the highlight, with Mrs. Claus reading stories, Santa arriving by train and free rides on the Lil' Katy barrel train.
How was the Denison Katy Depot restored?
Restoration began in 2020 on the first floor, with the retail hallway and grand ballroom, including new chandeliers. The team then turned the second floor into lofts and the third floor into offices and commercial space. Along the way the crew handled flooding and pandemic delays and filled about 40 dumpsters with debris.
Is there parking at the Katy Depot?
Yes. The depot has parking adjacent to the building, and more parking is available on nearby downtown streets. On busy event days such as Christmas at the Depot, arrive early or plan to walk a block or two.
Is the Katy Depot wheelchair accessible?
The depot does not post accessibility details online. The building has three floors, with shops on the first floor and lofts and offices above. If you need step-free access or elevator information, call (903) 463-7729 or email info@katydepottx.com before your visit.
Does the Katy Depot do anything for Christmas?
Yes. The 4th annual Christmas at the Depot is Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11 am to 6 pm. Mrs. Claus reads to children all day, Santa arrives by train around 5 pm, photos with Santa are free, vendors set up inside and out, and the Lil' Katy barrel train gives kids free rides.
How do I contact the Historic Katy Depot?
Call (903) 463-7729 or email info@katydepottx.com. The depot's website, katydepottx.com, covers the venue, shops and lofts, and you can also message the depot through its Facebook page, which is the quickest place to see current news and events.
How long should I spend at the Katy Depot?
Plan on one to two hours to see the Red River Railroad Museum, walk the building and browse the shops, and longer if you stay for a meal or an evening event. Christmas at the Depot and other event days can easily fill an afternoon in downtown Denison.
What train museums are near Denison, Texas?
The Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco is about 46 miles away, and the Interurban Railway Museum in Plano is about 52 miles. Across the Red River in Oklahoma, the Frisco Depot Museum in Hugo is about 61 miles and the one in Antlers about 62 miles. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad is roughly 65 miles away.
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