The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad is one of the best-known tourist trains in Iowa. The views are incredible, especially when crossing the 156-foot-tall Bass Point Creek High Bridge. From luxurious dining on the move to a rare visit from Thomas the Tank Engine, this railroad sports a lot of fun options all year long! In the autumn, there’s nothing better than the Pumpkin Express train ride, a seasonal excursion aboard this railroad in Iowa.
One of the highlights this fall is the Pumpkin Express. This ride is geared toward the whole family and takes in some of the best aspects of the normal scenic route, including the Bass Point Creek High Bridge and the Des Moines River Bridge.
These amazing attractions are just perks along the way to the final destination for the Pumpkin Express, though: Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad has its own pumpkin patch!
Once the large orange gourd is selected, the loot is hauled back aboard for the return trip. To keep things interesting for any flagging children, an activity booklet and a treat are provided for the return journey.
Typically the train runs for multiple weekends in October. Tickets must be purchased beforehand, and since there are only so many seats you might have to plan well ahead to secure your spot.
The train depot is located in Boone, Iowa, and the tracks run parallel the Des Moines River until the town of Fraser, and then terminate at the town of Wolf. One beauty of rail traffic is that you get a good high vantage point of places that aren’t accessible by any other vehicle, which heightens the sense of discovery.
