Anyone looking to trade crowded shopping mall Santa lines for a holiday outing the whole family will actually remember can step straight onto the tracks in eastern Nevada’s high desert.
Starting next weekend—on Saturday, November 21, and running on select dates through December 26—the historic Nevada Northern Railway in Ely transforms its century-old train cars into Santa’s Reindeer Flyer, a festive 90-minute excursion designed to bring small-town holiday nostalgia back to life.
Set at one of the best-preserved, least-altered steam railroad complexes remaining in the United States, the National Historic Landmark puts its own original twist on classic Christmas train lore.
Rather than replicating The Polar Express, the railway tells its own signature story: when Santa’s reindeer come down with the flu, the Nevada Northern Railway’s famous Ghost Train steps in to save Christmas and carry families straight to the North Pole.
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Passengers—who are encouraged to wear their coziest pajamas (paired with warm winter layers for chilly high-desert evenings)—climb aboard the decorated cars at the historic East Ely Depot.
Along the journey, cheerful elves lead holiday sing-alongs, help children write letters to Santa, and serve hot chocolate and cookies while reading the Santa’s Reindeer Flyer storybook aloud. When the train reaches the North Pole stop, Santa Claus himself steps on board to greet every passenger personally and hand out a special holiday keepsake.
The holiday ride also arrives at an exciting moment for the railway, which recently welcomed its vintage Locomotive No. 81 back to active service after two years out of commission, alongside a newly debuted 1930 Brill Model 55 “Doodlebug” railcar.
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For families planning a late-November or December getaway, tickets for the 2026 season are surprisingly budget-friendly compared with many major holiday attractions: $45 for adults, $38 for seniors ages 65 and older, $20 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for kids under 4.
Departures run on select weekends and holiday dates through December 26—and because peak December trains and local Ely hotel rooms frequently sell out, booking directly through the Nevada Northern Railway Museum website early is the smartest way to lock in seats.
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