The Magical Christmas Journey

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Let your imagination take flight to the North Pole during Verde Canyon Railroad’s all original Magical Christmas Journey™. Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from December 3rd through the 12th, and nightly December 16th through the 24th, guests will enjoy a bird’s eye view of a magical holiday village and an illuminated adventure via a decorated train during very special nighttime runs.

The magical journey to the North Pole begins at the Verde Canyon Railroad depot in Clarkdale. Prior to boarding, families will be able to tour a miniature village featuring 10 tiny houses on a town square with a "flight path" for children's imagination. A walking path for adults offers an eagle’s eye-view of what these majestic birds see in flight. Children are asked to drop their “letters to Santa” in a mailbox which will be delivered to the North Pole.
Festive lights will be abundant, as will holiday treats available to enjoy while perusing the decorated depot grounds. Luminarias will light the Southwestern-style depot roofline and icicle lighting will adorn the depot’s wrap-around porch and pergola. The spirit of Christmas will be aglow and visible from afar, beckoning all to experience this dream.
Verde Canyon Railroad’s train cars and open-air viewing cars are festively ornamented and illuminated as the cheerful staff call ”All aboard!”.

A live bald eagle and a beautiful Christmas princess will greet the children as they board the train for an hour round-trip into the dark of night, through a magical tunnel to the North Pole and back. Along the route, silhouettes of resident canyon critters will be featured in three-dimensional brilliance, lighting the journey to the Santa’s special depot at the North Pole.

At the magical North Pole passengers will see 16 amusing and creatively decorated buildings featuring Santa’s Workshop, Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop, the "Naughty Kids' Coal Mine", the Reindeer Barn, Elf School and “the Ugly Sweater Factory” among others. Mrs. Claus and acrobatic elves will wave good-bye to Santa Claus as he boards the train for the return trip to Clarkdale. The man in the big red suit will interact with all the children and gift them with a little memento as a reminder of their Christmas Adventure aboard Verde Canyon Railroad.

With departures at 5:30pm and 7:00pm, Verde Canyon Railroad Magical Christmas Journey™ is 1-hour in length, an abbreviated trip from the train’s standard 4-hour excursion, making it a perfect Christmas trip for even the tiniest tot.

Admission: $40-$50 children, $10 lapchildren, $50-60 adults
Time: 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM