Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Blowing Rock, North Carolina · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesDaytime season April to October; Ghost Train in fall and Tweetsie Christmas evenings Nov. 27 to Dec. 30

Tweetsie Railroad brought an East Tennessee and Western North Carolina steam locomotive home to the Blue Ridge in 1957 and built North Carolina's first theme park around it, a Wild West town circled by a 3-mile narrow gauge loop.

  • 3-mile narrow gauge steam loop
  • First train ran July 4, 1957
  • Baldwin engines No. 12 and No. 190
  • North Carolina's first theme park
  • Working steam locomotive shop
  • Ghost Train and Tweetsie Christmas

Tweetsie Railroad at a glance

Hours
As of October 2026: Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 6 pm, plus Ghost Train Friday and Saturday 7 pm to 10:30 pm through Oct. 31; Tweetsie Christmas select evenings Nov. 27 to Dec. 30
Admission
Daily admission: adults (13+) $65, children 3 to 12 $45, 2 and under free; tax included. Groups of 15+ get $55 and $35.
Train rides
3-mile narrow gauge steam train ride included with admission, plus the Mouse Mine Train and classic amusement rides
Seasonal events
Ghost Train, Tweetsie Christmas, Day Out With Thomas, Railroad Heritage Weekend, Fourth of July fireworks, Letterland Days
Plan for
A full day
Best for
Families with kids up to about 12
Best ages
Ages 2 to 12
Accessibility
A handicapped-accessible bus runs between the Tweetsie Palace and the top of Miners Mountain; see the park's Accessibility Info page.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Tweetsie Railroad? 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 Blowing Rock.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

How the mountains got their Tweetsie back

Late in the 1800s, narrow gauge railroads began reaching into the remote Blue Ridge. The East Tennessee and Western North Carolina ran 66 miles between Johnson City, Tennessee and Boone, and mountain residents nicknamed it Tweetsie, a play on its ET&WNC initials and on the tweet of its whistles echoing through the hills. Baldwin built 4-6-0 No. 12 for the line in 1917, and it hauled passengers and freight from 1918 to 1940. It is the only surviving ET&WNC narrow gauge engine.

After the narrow gauge closed in 1950, rail fans bought No. 12 to run the Shenandoah Central in Virginia, until Hurricane Hazel washed that line out in 1954. Cowboy star Gene Autry took an option to buy the train for movie work but let it go. Blowing Rock entrepreneur Grover Robbins bought the option for one dollar, paid the $17,000 price in 1955, had the engine restored at the Southern Railway shops in Hickory, and trucked it up the mountain.

No. 12 made its first public run on July 4, 1957, and the next year the track grew into a 3-mile loop around the mountain. A western town, saloon and train robbery show followed, and singing cowboy Fred Kirby of Charlotte's WBTV became a regular. In 1960 the park added No. 190, the Yukon Queen, a 1943 Baldwin 2-8-2 that served the White Pass and Yukon Route in Alaska. A chairlift and ride area came in 1961, and the Robbins family still runs the park.

Behind the scenes, the Steam Locomotive Shop started by master mechanic Frank Coffey, who helped bring No. 12 home, is now in its third generation. Its machinists make their own parts and repair steam engines for other attractions. No. 12 was taken out of service in August 2024 for a major rebuild, with a return expected for the 2027 season.

Steam, a Wild West town and a mountain full of rides

The centerpiece is the Wild West Adventure Train, a 3-mile ride around the mountain behind one of the park's historic narrow gauge steam locomotives, with Wild West action along the way. The locomotives burn about four tons of coal and 5,000 gallons of water a day. Back in the western town are the Tweetsie Palace, live shows including Diamond Lil's Can-Can Revue, shops, food stands and an arcade.

Inside the rail loop, Miners Mountain holds kiddie rides, gold panning and gem mining, and the Deer Park Zoo, where families can feed animals. You reach it by chairlift, by walking trail, or on a handicapped-accessible bus that runs between the Tweetsie Palace and the top. Tweetsie Junction and Country Fair have more classic rides, from the carousel and Ferris wheel to the Tilt-A-Whirl, Barrels of Fun and the Buckaroo Drop. The Mouse Mine Train, a small narrow gauge loop through a tunnel with an animated show, is a favorite with little ones.

Don’t miss

  1. Locomotive No. 12The 1917 Baldwin 4-6-0 is the last surviving narrow gauge engine of the original Tweetsie, the ET&WNC; it is in the shop for a rebuild and expected back in 2027.
  2. No. 190, the Yukon QueenA 1943 Baldwin 2-8-2 built for the U.S. Army and later run on Alaska's White Pass and Yukon Route, it joined Tweetsie in 1960.
  3. The Wild West Adventure TrainThe 3-mile loop around the mountain has run since 1958 and is included with daily admission.
  4. Mouse Mine TrainA child-size narrow gauge train that loops through a tunnel with an animated show, and one of only two rides with no restrictions.
  5. Deer Park ZooUp on Miners Mountain, it lets kids feed and meet animals between train rides.
  6. Steam Locomotive ShopFew guests see it, but this 5,000-square-foot shop, opened in 1997, keeps the park's steam engines running and repairs locomotives for other attractions.

A full day for young cowpokes

Tweetsie is built for families. Little ones can ride Bikes and Buggies, Planes and Helicopters, Kiddie Boats, F-80 Jet Planes and the Mini Swing, most for riders between about 32 and 54 inches, while the carousel and Mouse Mine Train have no restrictions at all. Gold panning, gem mining, the Deer Park Zoo and live shows fill the rest of the day, and the steam train ride is the big event.

Toddlers 2 and under get in free. The park is in the mountains, so weather can affect operations, and the chairlift, trail or accessible bus all lead up to Miners Mountain.

Plan your visit: tips for Tweetsie Railroad

  • Check the Hours and Dates calendar; the park is closed on many weekdays outside summer.
  • Group rates are not valid for Day Out With Thomas, Ghost Train or Tweetsie Christmas.
  • Some thrill rides are not recommended for pregnant guests or people with heart, back or neck problems.
  • Sign up for park updates, since weather in the mountains can change operations.
  • A season pass covers unlimited daytime admission if you plan to come back.

Tweetsie's evening events are as popular as its summer days. Ghost Train runs Friday and Saturday nights from late September through Halloween with safe, spooky fun for the whole family, and Tweetsie Christmas turns the park into a Wild West holiday adventure on select evenings from November 27 to December 30. Both need their own tickets. For more seasonal ideas, see our guides to Halloween train rides in North Carolina and North Carolina Christmas train rides.

A family park with a craftsman's shop

Tweetsie Railroad has been controlled and operated by the Robbins family since Grover Robbins brought No. 12 home. Its third-generation locomotive shop crew keeps the steam engines running and is training the next generation of mechanics. Visitors support the park by buying tickets or season passes, booking group outings, and shopping the park's stores; the park also takes donation requests through its website.

More railroading in the High Country and beyond

Across the state line, the Johnson City Railroad Experience is about 41 miles away, fitting since the original Tweetsie ran to Johnson City. The Old Fort Railroad Museum is about 48 miles south, and the Craggy Mountain Line near Asheville is about 64 miles. Find more at North Carolina train museums.

Every train museum in North Carolina

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Tweetsie's whistle gave a whole railroad its nickname, and I love that. In our book, Rally meets Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform, who holds out a hand as if a corgi passenger is the most normal thing in the world. My mom imagined that kindness before she died in 2021. A train ride that has welcomed families on board since 1957 feels like it shares that spirit. The full story is on our story page.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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

Work or volunteer at Tweetsie Railroad?

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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Tweetsie Railroad: 20 questions families ask

What is Tweetsie Railroad?

Tweetsie Railroad is a family Wild West theme park between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina, built around a 3-mile ride on a train pulled by historic narrow gauge steam locomotives. It also has live shows, classic amusement rides, gold panning, the Deer Park Zoo and shops. It opened in 1957 and is considered North Carolina's first theme park.

Where is Tweetsie Railroad in North Carolina?

Tweetsie Railroad is at 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane, Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605, on US 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock in the High Country. The park's website has a Directions page and an Area Info and Lodging page for planning a longer stay in the mountains.

What are Tweetsie Railroad's hours?

As of October 2026, the park is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Friday and Saturday nights from 7 pm to 10:30 pm for Ghost Train. Hours vary by season and weather can affect operations, so check the Hours and Dates calendar on the website the day before you go.

What is the Tweetsie Railroad schedule for 2026?

Tweetsie's daytime season generally runs April to October, open weekends in spring and fall and Thursday through Monday from Memorial Day weekend to mid-August. Ghost Train runs Friday and Saturday nights from September 25 to October 31, 2026, and Tweetsie Christmas runs select evenings from November 27 to December 30. The online calendar shows each day's hours.

What are Tweetsie Railroad's summer hours?

During summer, the park is typically open Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from Memorial Day weekend until mid-August, with daytime hours of 10 am to 6 pm on the calendar. Some summer days run later, such as fireworks on the Fourth of July. Check the Hours and Dates page for exact days.

How much are Tweetsie Railroad tickets?

As of October 2026, regular daily admission is $65 for adults 13 and up and $45 for children 3 to 12, with toddlers 2 and under free. Prices include the 6.75% North Carolina admission tax. Ghost Train and Tweetsie Christmas are separately ticketed events, so check those pages for their prices.

Are there Tweetsie Railroad discount tickets?

Groups of 15 or more paying guests who book at least a week ahead pay $55 for adults and $35 for children, as of October 2026. Group rates do not apply to Day Out With Thomas, Ghost Train or Tweetsie Christmas. A season pass covers unlimited daytime admission for frequent visitors. The park does not post other discounts online.

Does Tweetsie Railroad have senior ticket prices?

Tweetsie does not list a separate senior price online. The posted daily admission tiers are adult (13 and up), child (3 to 12) and toddler (2 and under, free). For questions about senior pricing or refunds, call the ticket office at 1-877-893-3874 before you buy.

What is Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad?

Ghost Train is Tweetsie's Halloween event, billed as safe, spooky fun for the whole family. It runs Friday and Saturday nights, September 25 to October 31 in 2026, from 7 pm to 10:30 pm, with rides open in Country Fair and Tweetsie Junction. Tickets are sold separately from daytime admission, and the park posts a parent-friendly guide online.

When is Tweetsie Christmas?

Tweetsie Christmas, a Wild West holiday adventure, runs on select evenings from November 27 to December 30, 2026, with the calendar showing hours of 5 pm to 9:30 pm on event nights. Rides operate in Tweetsie Junction and the Hacienda, including the Little Drummer Boy teacups. Buy tickets through the Tweetsie Christmas page.

Is there a Christmas train at Tweetsie Railroad?

Yes. Tweetsie Christmas is an evening event built around the park's railroad and its holiday decorations, with seasonal rides and attractions. It runs on select nights from late November through December 30. Group discounts do not apply, so buy event tickets online or through the ticket office at 1-877-893-3874.

What rides are at Tweetsie Railroad?

Besides the 3-mile steam train, rides include the Carousel, Ferris wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, Himalaya, Tornado, Barrels of Fun, the Bullwhip, Tweetsie Twister, Buckaroo Drop, Turnpike Cruisers and the chairlift. Kids' rides include Bikes and Buggies, Planes and Helicopters, Kiddie Boats, F-80 Jet Planes, the Mini Swing and the Mouse Mine Train.

What steam locomotives run at Tweetsie Railroad?

Tweetsie has two Baldwin narrow gauge steam locomotives: No. 12, a 1917 4-6-0 from the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, and No. 190, the Yukon Queen, a 1943 2-8-2 from Alaska's White Pass and Yukon Route. No. 12 went into the shop in August 2024 for a major rebuild, with a return expected in 2027.

Why is it called Tweetsie Railroad?

Mountain residents gave the original East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad the nickname Tweetsie, as a spoken version of its ET&WNC initials and for the tweet of its whistles echoing through the hills. The name stuck to its trains, and the park took it when No. 12 came home in 1957.

When did Tweetsie Railroad open?

Locomotive No. 12 made its first public trip at Tweetsie on July 4, 1957, after Grover Robbins bought it in 1955 and brought it back to the Blue Ridge. The track was extended to a 3-mile loop in 1958, and the chairlift and ride area were added in 1961. The Robbins family still operates the park.

Is Tweetsie Railroad good for toddlers?

Yes. Children 2 and under get in free, and the park has several rides sized for small kids, plus the carousel and Mouse Mine Train with no restrictions. The train ride, zoo and gold panning are easy wins for toddlers. Plan rest breaks, since a full day in the mountain air can be a lot for little ones.

Is Tweetsie Railroad wheelchair accessible?

Tweetsie posts an Accessibility Info page on its website. A handicapped-accessible bus runs continuously between the Tweetsie Palace and the top of Miners Mountain, as an alternative to the chairlift or walking trail. Call guest information at 1-828-264-9061 with specific questions before your visit.

Does Tweetsie Railroad host Day Out With Thomas?

Yes. Tweetsie hosts a week-long Day Out With Thomas event in June featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, with special park hours on those days. Group discount tickets are not valid for it. Watch the park's Special Events page for the next year's dates and tickets.

What other events does Tweetsie Railroad hold?

Beyond Ghost Train, Tweetsie Christmas and Day Out With Thomas, the park holds Letterland Days for school groups in May, a large Fourth of July fireworks show, and Railroad Heritage Weekend in August, which focuses on the history of its narrow gauge locomotives. Concerts and other one-time events appear on the Special Events page.

What train museums are near Tweetsie Railroad?

The Johnson City Railroad Experience and the Piedmont Railroad Museum are each about 41 miles away, Historic Bristol Train Station is about 42 miles, and the Old Fort Railroad Museum is about 48 miles. The Craggy Mountain Line near Asheville is about 64 miles from Blowing Rock.

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