Historic Jefferson Railway

I have some great news! The Historic Jefferson Railway is back up and running!!! The boiler has been repaired and the train is as good as new. Here is more information directly from the good folks at the Historic Jefferson Railway.

The Historic Jefferson Railway recreates the Golden Era of Steam railroading with day trains each Saturday at 2:30 and 4:30 through Labor Day weekend. Steam hissing, whistle blowing and pistons chuggin, Old Engine #7 will take you on a scenic trip along the Big Cypress Bayou. As you roll through the history laden Piney Woods, you’ll view a Confederate Power Magazine and traverse the site of one of the oldest, historical towns in Texas.

Friday and Saturday evenings features the infamous Ghost Train at 9:00 which carries you deep into the dark woods along the Bayou, sharing tales that will make you reach for your loved ones!

Start the evening with free Jefferson Ghost Stories at the historic “haunted” train depot. Our story-teller will keep you at the edge of your seat as we tell stories about famous and not-so-famous Ghosts of Jefferson and Northeast Texas.

The Railway has become a part of the thriving community of Jefferson sponsoring major events throughout the year that bring over 20,000 visitors to Jefferson. Riders look forward all year to Terror on the Bayou Fright Train, Rail of Lights Christmas & New Year’s Train as well as Diamond Don’s Riverport National Vintage Motocross and the Trammel’s Trace Rendezvous.

The train was built in 1964 for Six Guns Territory in Florida and moved to Jefferson in 1986. It is a Crown Metals reproduction of the 1870’s American class 4-4-0 steam locomotive christened the Robert E. Lee. The open car coach seats still carry the custom medallions cast into them designed especially for the Six Guns amusement park.

Historic Jefferson Railway is located at 400 E. Austin in Downtown Jefferson, Texas. For information on pricing, schedule and events, please visit www.JeffersonRailway.com or call 866-398-2038.

Friday
8:00 p.m. FREE Jefferson Ghost Stories
9:00 p.m. Ghost Train

Saturday
Narrated Day Train 2:30, 4:30
8:00 p.m. FREE Jefferson Ghost Stories
9:00 p.m. Ghost Train

$12 plus tax, lap children free
(Senior and active military discounts)

Things to do the weekend of July 17th

It is going to be another action packed weekend this Saturday and Sunday. There is so much to do and something for everyone.

This Sunday is the the 22nd annual Jefferson Heritage Triathlon sponsored by the Krewe of Hebe. The race will be in and around beautiful Lake o' the Pines which is only about 12 mile to the east of Jefferson. The Race will be a 1/2 mile swim - out & back on a triangular course, then a 25K bike ride ("dam road" takes on a whole new meaning) which will be on a closed course on rolling rural roads and finally a 5K run on a flat & shady park road to the finish. On Saturday before the race, Race packet pickup/registration, carbo feed & pre-race entertainment will all be at the Russell Building on Austin St.

If you would rather be shopping then running, biking, swimming, then just go 12 miles south of Jefferson to Marshall. The Marshall Downtown Merchants Association will be celebrating Christmas in July this Saturday with sales, discounts, special restaurant menus. I am sure that this will be a great way to get an early start on all of that Christmas shopping.

My good friends at the THE blue frog GRILL on the square in Marshall will be hosting the Saturday Supper Club. A special menu on a special day with a special cause. $15.00 of every check will go directly to aid hospitality workers in the Gulf Region.

We still have a couple of rooms left for this weekend, so please call us at 903-665-9511 to book your stay or if you need any assistance.

Things to Do in Jefferson in July

We had a fantastic July 4th weekend here in Jefferson. There is no better place to experience Independence Day in small town America then here in Jefferson. We had a children's' bicycle parade, a pie and cake auction, a duck race, bands, and of course fireworks...lots of fireworks. If you would like to see some fantastic pictures of the celebration, then please go to our Facebook page.

Now that the holiday is behind us, we can look forward to some other fun stuff happening in July.

The Graceful Ghost Steamboat is back in the water after passing it's Coast Guard inspection. Now you can enjoy the ethereal beauty of Caddo Lake from the majesty of an old fashioned steamboat. Tours are Tuesday through Saturday at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.

The 22nd annual Jefferson Heritage Triathlon is Sunday, July 18th. Packet pick-up, carbo feed and the pre-race entertainment will be on Saturday July 17th in the Russell building on Austin Street. The race will be ran at the beautiful Lake O' the Pines, just 10 miles west of historic downtown Jefferson, Texas and the Carriage House. The Race is a 1/2 mile swim - out & back on a triangular course, then...25K bike ride -("dam road" takes on a whole new meaning) closed course on some rolling rural roads and a 5K run on a flat & shady park road to the finish.

If you are a talented performer then Auntie Skinners is the place to be in July. The Auntie Skinners Has Talent Amateur Singing Contest will be taking place July 8th and 15th with the semi-finals on July 23rd and the finals on July 30th. Even if you cannot sing this contest will be a ton of fun to watch. For more information call Auntie Skinners at 903-665-71721.

Another cool thing going on at Auntie Skinners is the Toga party on August 7th. The band 8-Track will be playing that night and I am certain that it will be a huge time. I will post more information on the Toga Party as I get it.

If you have any questions about any of the activities in Jefferson, please call me at 903-665-9511 or email me at info@carriagehousejefferson.com.

More July 4th Activities in Jefferson, Texas

Here are a few more fun activities that you can enjoy while visiting Jefferson this weekend.

• Riverport Ambassadors of Jefferson, Texas will introduce “persons in character” at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, 2010 in downtown Jefferson. The members in period costumes will recreate the atmosphere of Jefferson during the Civil War as guides interpret the mid-1800’s to bring history to life.
  
  The gathering will take place under the trees at the First National Bank located at 202 N. Polk. A band of merry characters will be on hand for this inaugural experience. You could see Civil War heroes, scalawags, railroad tycoons, clerks, church ladies or steam boat captains. This is a great opportunity to put history in your children’s eyes as the Riverport Ambassadors take you through a stroll of Jefferson history.
  
  Jefferson is a showcase of the Golden Era with many people still living in restored nineteenth-century homes. It is a town of warm hospitality with a rich past.

• July 1, 2010 - July 3, 2010: "The Boyfriend" Summer Musical -An East Texas version of an American Parody of an English Spoof on the 1920's!. July 1, 2 & 3 at the Russell Building, 121 W. Austin St. Tickets available at Blessings Gift Shop, 119 N. Polk St. Adults - $15 -- Child under 12 - $10. Limited Seating. Info: 903-665-3895. Any tickets left for purchase may be sold at door but there is limited seating--less than 70 this time, so hurry! Young people shine in this one! And it's ridiculously silly and lots of fun for the whole family!

Historical Jefferson

There was a wonderful quote in today's Jefferson Jimplecute that I just had to share. A contractor that the city of Jefferson is working with on a water project said that "archaeologists eyes light up when they hear the word Jefferson." I couldn't help myself from giggling a little. When you live in an old town like Jefferson, you get used to living in and around history. You are persistently reminded that many others have walked and lived here before you.

The Carriage House is considered to be new construction even though the house is 100 years old. As we have been restoring the gardens we have found many old foundations, boundary lines, rusted chains, large pieces of window glass, etc. Old pictures from the Civil War show either a church or a house on this lot. I have no idea what was here before this old house was built but I intend to find out. One of my projects for the winter is to begin to research the history of this house and this lot. There are many questions that I have and no answers yet.

Hopefully my research project will allow another page to be written in the history book that is Jefferson, Texas. Who knows what I will turn up.

Historic Jefferson Railway

I have some good news to report!!

A few days before the busy Memorial Day Weekend, the Ghost Train had an unfortunate incident. They boiler on the steam locomotive blew out. The Historic Jefferson Railway is one of the main draws to Jefferson. People come here from iles around to ride on ths amaxing train. Many folks have wonderful memories of the evening ghost ride and the daytime bayou tours.

Well, the summer is not lost. Although the train is not running, you will still be able to have a spooky time. How about a haunted hay ride for fun!!!

Take a ride on the tractor-drawn people-movers through the dark and spooky woods. This narrated ride will take you through a graveyard filled with eerie creatures and ghostly haunts! Keep a wary eye toward the cypress-filled woods and swamps. The backwoods atmosphere, combined with the haunted effects, blend seamlessly to fully submerse riders into a world of ghostly haunts.

You never know what lurks in the shadows on the Forest Ride. Something sinister is hiding there. You know something is going to reach out and touch you -- you just don't know where or when. You’ll be spooked by more than ghosts!

The Haunted Forest Ride will depart Firday and Saturday evening at 8:00 and 9:00 and is priced at $10.

Things to Do in Jefferson for the weekend of June 18th.

We have an action packed weekend coming up this. So if you are looking for a weekend getaway, look no further than Jefferson.

This weekend is the T-Bone Walker Blues Festival in Linden, Texas. The weekend long event in the birthplace of blues greats, Scott Joplin, T-Bone Walker, and Don Henley will bring music lovers in from all over the country. The festival starts Friday afternoon and rocks on until Saturday evening.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has several activities going on this weekend. Collins Academy will be hosting the "Growing Up Wild" program for children between the ages of 3 and 7 on June 15th. This three hour long program will allow the children to explore wildlife and the world around them. Daingerfield State Park will be teaching the basics of the fine art of historic camp cooking with cast iron in the Dutch Oven Cooking class on June 19th.

If you are looking for nightlife then we have just the ticket for you. The Voodudes will be playing at Auntie Skinners Saturday night. This classic rock band out of Shreveport, LA will start playing at 9pm.

In addition to all of this, we will have all of our usual fun things such as boat rides both out on Caddo Lake and the Big Cypress Bayou, carriage rides, mule drawn wagon rides, shopping, antiquing, musuems and tours.

So come on down. We are going to have some big fun on the bayou.