The Moonshine Train Ride In Kentucky Is Coming Up And It's Filled With History
By Andrea Limke|Published August 15, 2019
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
We share fun and unique train rides in Kentucky quite often because locals simply cannot get enough. This state loves its natural beauty and appreciates its history, which is why everyone is intrigued by the idea of riding the rails through the Bluegrass State. Another exciting excursion with the Big South Fork Scenic Railway is coming up, and if you’re a history buff or love a good story, this is the ride for you. The railway is offering a moonshine train ride in Kentucky on August 17th and this outing will be filled with entertaining history, story-telling, and of course plenty of stunning scenery.
Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns is arguably the most eye-catching train ride in Kentucky.
With opportunities to ride the rails all year long, there is always something exciting to experience here. The history of the area, the railway, and the stories that originated here are all reasons to pay it a visit.
As Kentucky's only mountain train, expect all rides to be incredibly scenic.
You'll ride through wooded mountainsides, along creeks, and near overlooks. They offer their standard rides from spring through fall, but there are also many special events throughout the year that make a trip extra special.
The Moonshine Limited train ride takes place Saturday, August 17th with rides at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. This themed ride is offered at other times throughout the season, just keep an eye on the schedule and calendar.
Arrive at the station early and check out the moonshine still of a legendary McCreary County moonshiner, on display in the Depot. Before you board, you'll also hear the "Prayer of a Moonshiner," told by a local storyteller who explains the challenges of making moonshine in the 1930s. You'll then climb aboard for more history and plenty of scenery.
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The ride itself is like others with the railway, as it chugs along the mountainside. Do keep in mind that due to weather conditions, the train will not stop at the Blue Heron Mine, shown below.
But also during the ride, you’ll hear a former McCreary County Sheriff and a moonshining storyteller share interesting facts, personal stories, and fascinating information about the art of moonshining. The history along with the beautiful surroundings make this a unique event in Kentucky.
Once you depart the moonshine train in Kentucky, stick around for more events that evening on August 17th.
Stories Beneath The Stars kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with live music and then storytelling begins at 7 p.m. Hear local stories that will make you laugh, perhaps cry, and maybe even get your heart racing. The story telling is family friendly at first, but the tales do get scarier as the sun goes down.
If you’re at all interested in this ride, look into tickets as soon as possible, because it may sell out. Does the history of moonshine intrigue you? Have you taken a ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway? Let us know in the comments!
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the railway’s website here. Also follow along on Facebook here for more fun on the rails.
Address: 66 Henderson Street, Stearns, KY 42647
And if you’d like to learn more about the history of moonshine and even taste it, check out our previous article here.
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