Murder Mystery Dinners
Kansas Belle Dinner Train, Baldwin City, Kansas
Hop aboard the vintage cars of the Kansas Belle Dinner Train for the 22-mile round trip through the countryside. Murder mystery dinners are catered by the 23rd Street Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas. Four dining cars, each uniquely decorated, have been remodeled to resemble railroad cars from the 1940s era.
Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Help solve a 1920s Gilded Age whodunit aboard the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad. Murder on the Rails includes a dinner and mystery while experiencing how society’s elite once traveled to Newport for the summer. The route follows the west side of Aquidneck Island, often only a few feet from Narragansett Bay.
Newport’s Marley Bridges Theatre Company presents a fully interactive murder mystery during dinner. Different scripts and multiple endings for each play include twists, turns, red herrings and surprise suspects. Groups also can opt for the Murder Mystery Luncheon Charter, which includes a four-course meal.
Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Fort Myers, Florida
A five-course dinner and live murder mystery unfold on the Murder Mystery Dinner Train in Fort Myers. Since the early 1990s, the train has traveled along a working freight rail line for a 40-mile round trip and crosses the Caloosahatchee River.
Guests are seated at tables of four in refurbished vintage cars. The interactive journey takes place throughout the five-course dinner, with clue sheets collected before the final act so that everyone can discover the culprit. One prize is awarded to a supersleuth in each dining car. The railway employs its own actors, and there’s a variety of new shows to choose from — including special themed plays around the holidays.
Holiday Happenings
Secret City Scenic Excursion Train, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
For Valentine’s Day, the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train offers dinner with fresh flowers, china and white tablecloths. Take a leisurely 90-minute trip in former Southern Railway Pullman Dining Car No. 3164, restored to its 1960s splendor. The train winds along Poplar Creek and Highway 327 in the hills and valleys of eastern Tennessee; the northern portion of the route was featured in the movie “October Sky.”
Polar Express Train, Chicago
Board Amtrak’s Chicago The Polar Express Ride at Chicago’s Union Station, and step into the classic children’s story. While the motion picture soundtrack plays in the background, the festively decorated train speeds though tunnels, rail yards and neighborhoods along the Chicago River. Guests are served hot chocolate and a treat by dancing chefs and enjoy a reading of the book. Everyone receives a silver sleigh bell after Santa boards the train to greet passengers. Attendants lead caroling on the return trip to Union Station. Passengers also receive a souvenir tumbler with their hot chocolate to take home.
www.chicagothepolarexpressride.com
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, Bryson City, North Carolina
Celebrate Independence Day onboard the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad’s Freedom Train. Passengers will enjoy American classics like a barbecue picnic-style dinner, a slice of apple pie, sunset views on the Fontana Trestle and a visit from Uncle Sam himself. The train will depart the Bryson City Depot on July 4 at 7 p.m. and follows the Nantahala Gorge route, returning in time for the Bryson City Freedom Fest fireworks show.
