Step back in time to an era when rail travel epitomized luxury! At the French Lick Scenic Railway, you’ll venture on a voyage aboard vintage rail cars, providing unmatched glimpses of charming scenery. Immerse yourself in the charm of small-town hospitality as you traverse scenic routes and create memories to last a lifetime.
During your excursion, the train will traverse sections of the Hoosier National Forest, pass through Indiana’s second longest train tunnel, the 2200-foot Burton Tunnel, and glide past striking limestone rock formations. In addition to our captivating scenic rides, the French Lick Scenic Railway hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, ensuring entertainment for the entire family!
Explore our Special Events tab to discover more about our 21+ events and family-friendly activities. Secure your tickets today! As our daily operating schedule varies, please consult our interactive calendar on the Schedule Page for details. Remember, all trains depart promptly on time!
*All times listed are EASTERN TIME. *
Depot & Gift Shop: The Depot and gift shop are open one hour prior to the train departure on scheduled operating days.
Depot Grounds: Feel free to explore the exterior of the depot and admire the equipment parked outside whenever you’d like. However, please exercise caution as this is an active rail line, and trains may be in motion at any time.
Weekly Gift Shop Hours: The gift shop is currently open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00AM-2:00PM regardless of the operating schedule.
Main Office: Our main office is open Monday–Friday from 8:30AM–4:30PM
French Lick & West Baden was once known as the home to “America’s Laxative”. The Pluto Water slogan was “When nature wont, Pluto will.” At one point in time, 40-50 train cars were used to ship Pluto Water across the country. This “healing” water naturally contained sodium, magnesium sulfate, and lithium which produced a foul odor. This odor prompted people to say that the underworld couldn’t be far away.
Pluto, the Roman God of the Underworld became a staple symbol in our area. Ultimately, Pluto Water sales were stopped in 1971 when lithium became a controlled substance and was no longer allowed to be sold publicly. However, the Pluto symbol remains and can still be found in many areas locally.
