Act Fast To Board The Dry Gulch Christmas Train

By Craig Day, The News On 6

DRY GULCH, OK -- Tens of thousands of people go to ride the train at Dry Gulch in Mayes County each year, but if you want tickets this year - act fast!

 At Dry Gulch, crews are getting ready for another season of the Christmas Train. Workers are building a new pavilion for hay and wagon rides, finishing up a new restaurant, and doing all the last minute work before the season starts November 27th.

 "This year, we've added a lot of activities and restaurants for people," said Ethan Vanse, assistant pastor.

The Christmas Train is a Church on the Move ministry that takes 50,000 people a year back in time on old steam engines to an old west town full of the Christmas spirit.

"Especially with the Christmas Train we want people to be able to come out and have a bonding experience," Vanse said.

If you want to take in all of the sights and sounds and fun of the Christmas season, you need to get tickets fast.  After a three year break, the Christmas train reopened last year and tickets went fast.

 "Typically we'll sell out before November is over," said Ethan Vanse an assistant pastor at Church on the Move.

This year, they'll likely be sold out by Thanksgiving. Tickets went on sale four days early, and sales are already 10% higher than at this point last year.

Because demand is so high, additional days were added, and 200 more tickets a night are on sale. But with 60,000 people expected this year, it's still the hottest holiday ticket around.

So the best advice is get tickets early, so your holiday plans aren't derailed.

The Christmas Train opens November 27th and runs Thursday through Sunday nights through December.