Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Polar Express

    2.8 (45 reviews)

    The Polar Express Photos

    You might also consider

    More like The Polar Express

    Recommended Reviews - The Polar Express

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Bryson City Santa! Polar Express
    Kenyatta J.

    What an amazing experience! This is a holiday tradition for many. As a first timer, it was an exciting train ride. If you have children and want to share this experience with them, I 10/10 recommend. If you are curious w/o children, it's worth the trip if you haven't experienced. I love Bryson: it's a cute town just outside of Asheville. Grab your PJs, make your PE reservation as soon as they open reservations for 2024! They sell out quickly.

    April Y.

    I can't say enough great things about this experience. We purchased first class tickets over the summer and were scared the trip would be cancelled due to Covid. Our car was completely socially distanced and one of our "elves" was wiping down tables when we walked onto the train car. This checked all the boxes for our four year old: "Hot Chocolate" song while we were served hot chocolate, the conductor came and punched his ticket, friendly elves (thanks Miracle, Nutmeg, and Snow), and of course a visit from Santa who hand delivered his bell. I've read some reviews on here that were pretty harsh. Guess what? This experience is what you make it. We were impressed and plan on making a yearly trip of it.

    Awful Polar Express! Let my family's experience save you the drive and money. It's truly abysmal. My 8yo said with sad eyes after it was over, "It's just a boring, slow train to a fake North Pole." You board an old, junky amtrak that's been "decorated" with a few bows and some trash and boxes for napkins and stuff. Nothing has been updated or restored. The dumpy train grinds slowly through the most depressing scenes Trashville, NC can offer. It's nothing but trailers and busted cars for the entire trip. There's no magic portal or spectacle with the shades drawn to add to the show, just heaps of garbage right in your face. The actors are well-meaning high-school drama kids doing their best with almost nothing, but the theater is cringy terrible. They play a few excerpts from the Polar Express over the speakers while the teenagers walk around with an open book to show odd pages during the story. The rest is singalongs to Christmas songs, which is another way of saying that the audience must entertain itself. The grand finale is a paper mache/plastic "North Pole" hastily constructed in an open lot in Whittier. It's small and bizarre, with plastic reindeer and a few more actors waving at the train. But the nightmare doesn't end there! The train continues through Whittier, while people and cars and just normal life bump around the town that is supposed to be more of the North Pole because a few folks have placed Santa's Village signs in front of their very regular, snow-free homes. Santa eventually boards the train, gives the kids a bell, and that's it. You are left to ponder the vomit-inducing, Christmas Spirit-sucking disaster for 30 more minutes, while the train you've never left reverses itself through the Trashville tragedy. It's one thing to fleece people, of which these scumbags are guilty. It's another to ruin children's imagination before Christmas. May their shame follow them long after bankruptcy.

    Melodie E.

    We got on this ride every year since 2012. It is definitely a ride for kids or people who love the Polar Express. The staff has always been friendly and the hot chocolate is great. Our kids always enjoy it. The town is always light up and in the Christmas spirit with lots of people wearing PJs even adults!

    All Aboard!
    Joe P.

    Our family enjoyed this fun Christmastime experience in the North Carolina mountains -- it's a train ride back in time, complete with all the magic that makes the 'Polar Express' movie a holiday favorite. From warm cups of hot chocolate and golden tickets to music, sights and a surprise visit from Santa, young kids will eat this up from start to finish. Adults, though, will probably be as frustrated as we were by the chaotic boarding process, which kept us standing in a cold drizzle for nearly 20 minutes in a line of grumpy passengers that seemed to stretch as far as Terre Haute. Parents will also roll their eyes when the announcer identifies a nondescript mill house at the side of the tracks as 'the Elves' Workshop,' and a nearby home as 'the Claus's residence.' Nice try. Our 8:30 departure time meant the scenery outside was pitch black, until we reached the 'North Pole.' I'd recommend an earlier time, when you can at least watch the sun go down behind the mountains. Either way, be sure to arrive early enough to explore the adorable town of Bryson City, which is decked out in its holiday best. Beer lovers will find a great brewery (Nantahala) across from the depot, and there are some cute shops and restaurants within walking distance. I'm not sure we'll ever make a return trip on the Polar Express, but it made for a fun, one-time experience with our young kids. It should be on everyone's North Carolina bucket list.

    S J.

    This was a neat experience for our little ones. Unfortunately it was raining and very cold. We had to wait out in the rain for about 10 mins to board. It would have been nice if they let everyone stay in the station and then let us know once each car was cleared from the previous riders. They have a cute store and they were decorated for Christmas. The "North Pole" part wasn't what we were expecting. It's basically privately owned homes with Christmas lights on them. The experience inside the train was fun. They go through the Polar Express book, hand out cookies, and hot chocolate. Most of the guests were dressed in pajamas. You can sing along to Christmas songs on the way back. Its expensive but our children enjoyed it so it was well worth it. We made great memories.

    After the ride
    Jessica A.

    The idea of this is adorable, and Santa visiting the train is really nice. But the views outside while you're on the way to the North Pole are kind of - not great. I know they can't demolish houses in order to make it look believable or anything, but there are just lots of run down houses and trailers along the way that make it just not as exciting as your kid thinks it will be. My son looked at me halfway through and said, "I know this isn't really going to the North Pole." Once you get there, there is just a small area that is decorated and then you're on your way back to the station. However, Santa visiting the train was very cute and my son did love that. Also, the train museum at the station is really cool to see. Also, I thought Bryson City was a gorgeous town and all the locals at businesses were very hospitable.

    souvenir cup, bell & gold ticket

    Amazing experience!! Reading the reviews from the other night made me a little skeptical but I was definitely surprised!! The "elf" on our train was amazing and interacted with all the children. Hot chocolate was to die for, literally tasted like a melted chocolate bar! Definitely recommend this!

    See all

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J D.
    0
    1
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S J.
    0
    57
    80

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wesley D.
    160
    47
    4

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Manny N.
    97
    156
    30

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sue S.
    0
    29
    1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Susan j.
    46
    159
    65

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim M.
    5
    17
    3

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Polar Express

    Review Highlights - The Polar Express

    great pair with the Snak shak right down the road for quick bite before the ride so you can finish off with some hot coco on the train.

    Mentioned in 24 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Smoky Mountain Trains

    Smoky Mountain Trains

    4.3(8 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    BLUF: A very impressive collection of Lionel model trains including a train layout with a few…read moretrains running. Although I like to joke that I am an LGB G scale purist, I was impressed by this collection of model trains which are mostly O gauge trains from Lionel. The display cases are nicely displayed and labeled and the plexi-glass was super clean. Plus, this is a massive collection! While many people will enjoy watching the trains zip around the large layout and pushing the buttons for the interactive layout, my husband loved looking for items from the B&O railroad while I enjoyed looking at models of my favorite locomotives. It was really cool to see models in this collection of some of the greats like Norfolk and Western J-611 and Union Pacific "Big Boy." For kids the museum offers a scavenger hunt but I think my husband and I would have had fun doing that ourselves! Admission to the museum is included with a train ride on the GSMR. We were able to visit the museum the day before our train ride by showing our ticket to the staff at the gift shop. We appreciated their flexibility in letting us visit the museum a day ahead of our train ride so we weren't rushed.

    Very cool place especially if you love trains.. lots and lots of history in trains from different…read moreplaces and toy models you can see.. very interesting to learn and speak to employees.. I love watching the trains.. there is huge display you can walk around see something different from different angles..

    Photos
    Smoky Mountain Trains
    Smoky Mountain Trains
    Smoky Mountain Trains

    See all

    The Polar Express - arts - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...