All aboard for ghost stories
The whole family can board a Ghost Story Trolley in South Elgin this month for some spooky fun in the Fox Valley.
The Fox River Trolley Museum runs the Halloween Haunted Ghost Story Trolley weekends throughout October.
Passengers aboard the trolley will board the ghost train in South Elgin for a 4-mile trip into the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve.
Once they arrive at their spooky destination at the south end of the line in the midst of the forest, a guide will take them by lantern down to the banks of the Fox River.
There, they’ll see a roaring bonfire, with places for all of the passengers to sit and enjoy the Halloween-themed event.
There will be s’mores by the campfire, as well as campfire songs and of course, ghost stories.
Many of the stories involve railroads, but not all. All though, are Halloween-themed, said museum volunteer Bob Bresse-Rodenkirk.
Although there are ghost stories, the event is appropriate for all ages, Bresse-Rodenkirk said.
“We do things very kid-centric,” he said. “It’s moderately spooky.”
Bresse-Rodenkirk said the later the train leaves, the spookier it can be.
As the sun sets, and it gets darks, the trolley — which will either be a vintage 1902 or 1925 car — rides along the rail line without any lights, he said.
“It’s not so scary the people are going to have heart attacks,” he said. “But there is something about the chill in the air, and it being at night without the lights that makes it spooky. Sitting around the campfire, and riding the train, it’s tailor-made for this type of thing.
“It’s not something you see every day or a lot of people do any more,” Bresse-Rodenkirk said. “A lot of parents tell us it remind them of when they were kids.”
The ride is an annual event for the museum. And many families come back year after year, he said.
“It’s always well-received. We think it’s a lot of fun,” he said.
While the event is for all ages, he asks parents to use discretion when deciding if their children can go. With the huge bonfire and the dark ride, he suggests children should be in grade school.
Tickets for the event are available online at www.foxtrolley.org. Once you get to the site, click on the reservations tab. Once there, you’ll need to click on the ghost to purchase tickets for your ride.
The ride costs $10 per person.
Costumes are welcome on the ride.
The Ghost Story Train will run at 5 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30.
It will depart from the Castlemuir Depot in South Elgin, along Route 31.
For details, call (847) 697-4676.
If you go
What: Halloween Haunted Ghost Story Train, featuring a trolley ride, ghost stories told around a campfire near the river and smores
When: 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30
Where: Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. LaFox St. (Route 31), South Elgin
How much? $10 per person; reservations required
Scare factor: Mild. Appropriate for grade schoolers and older
Details and tickets: foxtrolley.org; (847) 697-4676