06/11/2025
🚂 Train Trivia Tuesday 🚂
We get it. We sound like a broken record but we want this to happen so much! SO SO MUCH! This expansion has been in the works for years. We've raised almost $1.4 million and we have just $3k left! Can you believe it?!!
This matching grant is critical to us completing the expansion. And that's why we need your help. We have 👐20 days👐 to raise $3k, which will not only finish our matching grant but our expansion goal all together. Between unforseen costs, adding ADA accommodations, tariffs & inflation it's been a massive effort to make this possible. But we are determined... thus the broken record. 🫣😅
Why does it matter?
Well, for a lot of reasons. Of course we want to preserve history. The current set up does that but the addition allows us to continue that and add more. We've been running our oval configuration for over 30 years! It's fun but it's time for an update.
The addition nearly doubles our current track 🛤 and takes advantage of a piece of land to the north that was gifted to us. 🎁 It means that instead of just going around our current oval we'll cross over a creek surrounded by woodlands. 🌳🌳 The train will curve around a new picnic grove creating the northern loop of our "lazy 8" layout. As the train travels back south, it will pass over a second bridge before criss-crossing a diamond junction and through our beloved tunnel. < everyone collectively screams with delight > We'll then loop around our existing oval, through the railroad crossing & over the present bridge as we return to the station. For the first time in 3 generations, we'll be new, different, exciting in ways we've not been able to be before and providing growth & opportunities within our community.
During this entire project we've worked hard to keep as much business local as possible. 📍 Supporting our local businesses is important to us because being part of a community means we all are looking out for eachother. It means one's success is everyone's success. It means we create relationships within our community that often turn into friendships.
📣📣📣We're not only adding onto our track... We're adding onto our fleet too!! We are thrilled to announce that we're in the process of restoring a STEAM ENGINE! 💨 We will still be operating our existing minature trains and adding this really unique steam powered train to the line-up.
🪵The picnic grove🌳 We mentioned it above but we'll be adding a special spot tucked beneath mature trees that will be a continuation of our park. We're looking forward to seeing friends and families enjoy picnics together and play among our new expansion on the other side of the creek.
💖RIDES FOR ALL!!💖 It's been far too long and we want to provide the opportunity for EVERYONE in our community to enjoy our attraction! ♾️ We are modifying our current trains to accommodate those in wheelchairs to easily shift from their chairs to our train via specially designed & engineered cars. With the addition of the Kansas City Parks and Recreation 's new ADA restrooms, we're looking forward to this new, inclusive chapter in our park's history.
It's important for all of these reasons AND MORE! Generations have enjoyed our train since the early 90s. We want this to be available for generations upon generations to come. We want to preserve this legacy, this history, this enjoyment for long after we're gone. It's our legacy.
🤟THREE individuals or businesses could come in and earn a spot on our "Conductor" level sponsor board. We will highlight your contribution with signage displayed at our park as well as in marketing through magazine, newspaper, social and televised methods, plus more! Sponsors will also be invited to "sponsor's only" events as we complete construction.
But even if you can't donate $1k+ don't think for a minute that your contribution isn't valued. First, it's immediately doubled. So no matter what you give - it's twice the amount! Second, we believe in community. Clearly. We believe in our little train. We believe that every single contribution matters. Because IT DOES! Without you, there wouldn't be us. It's that simple. We need you.
We hope that if you've been holding out, you'll finally be able to get involved. Or if you're the seeing our plea for the first time 🫠 & you feel led to help out. We also recognize that everyone can do something and sometimes something is simply sharing this post or getting involved. We are 100% run by volunteers. Every one of us. We're here because we're passionate about this train & seeing the happiness it brings to our community. Thank you for being part of this with us! 🫶🥰
https://gofund.me/4758ebfe
