The Polar Express train ride at the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer did more than delight kids and parents in 2025, it helped turn a beloved holiday outing into a serious moneymaker. Nearly 93,000 passengers climbed aboard, helping push the museum’s annual economic impact to a record $31.1 million. The mix of steam, story readings and Santa sightings pulls visitors from across the Carolinas and keeps hotels and restaurants humming on winter weekends. Local business owners say Polar Express nights rank among their busiest of the year.
According to Axios, the museum’s $31.1 million impact was driven heavily by The Polar Express, which alone logged nearly 93,000 riders in 2025. The outlet noted that museum leaders expect ticket sales to resume in early June each year as demand stays high and parents circle dates on the calendar months in advance.
Tickets, timing and demand
The museum’s event page lays out a tight timeline for snagging a seat. Member presales are listed for June 3 and 4, with tickets opening to the general public on June 5, 2025, and multiple weekend runs scheduled through November and December. The museum warns that premium cabins and earlier time slots tend to sell out fast, a pattern regulars already know all too well.
The same event page highlights hotel-package deals that bundle overnight stays with free standard Polar Express tickets. That arrangement channels visitor spending straight into local lodging and hospitality businesses, giving Rowan County a focused jolt of tourism dollars during the holiday rush…