Kansas Belle Dinner Train

11/10/2023

We are sad that Bill, from our murder mystery team The Likely Suspects, has passed away. He was a funny, kind, amazing man. He will be missed.

05/28/2022

Three short years ago today we hosted 166 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots for a 5 course dinner and train ride. They were created by local law enforcement and first responders as they came to town. Other locals lined up along the tracks to show their respects to these amazing Veterans. It was a wonderful evening on the train. We cannot wait to be about to do events like this again!!

04/18/2022

04/07/2022

One of the more unique shows which we have had on the Kansas Belle Dinner Train is the World War II USO show. When we started the Fremont Dinner Train (as it was called) in October 1988 it quickly became very obvious to us that more than a train ride and dinner was going to be necessary to attract people on board. Initially murder mystery events were scheduled, but an alternate show was sought. We concluded that a 1940’s era performance might be a logical choice as we have always wanted to honor that period with our on board decor and music.

Beginning on Pearl Harbor Day (December 7) 1990, we implemented our first World War II USO show with a troupe of performers featuring songs of the WWII period (including sing alongs), skits (complete with a Betty Grable legs contest), and other comedy routines. An individual recognition of all veterans has always been a treasured part of the USO shows.

In 2012 it became imperative for us to relocate and we (obviously) moved to Baldwin City, beginning operations in mid-January 2013. We scheduled our first USO show on Memorial Day weekend 2013, with a set of performances utilizing talent from Theatre Lawrence. Most of that original group still performs with us on our scheduled shows around the Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day weekend periods.

Perhaps one of the audience favorites has been our “canteen” area, where we display period uniforms, advertisements, newspapers, and other memorabilia of the WWII era. With the April 23, 2022, event at the Lumberyard Arts Center (718 High Street, Baldwin City, KS), we will have ample room to display much of our collection.

Tickets for the April 23rd event are available at www.lumberyardartscenter.org. This is a fundraiser for both the Kansas Belle Dinner Train (who remains unable to run), and the Lumberyard Arts Center. The event is at 7:00 pm, and is $58.00 per person, which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and the show. Tax is also included in that amount.

We hope you are able to attend and enjoy this treasure from the “Greatest Generation” era.

03/22/2022

Remember to get your tickets for our USO show, which is Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at www.lumberyardartscenter.org

What is a USO show?

USO is an acronym for United Services Organization, and is a non-profit entity founded February 4, 1942, following a request by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide morale and recreational services to uniformed military personnel.

* The first national chairman of the USO was Thomas Dewey (Future governor of New York, and 1940 and 1944 presidential candidate.
* Another notable USO chairman was the future Senator Prescott Bush (Father of President George H.W. Bush and grandfather of President George W. Bush).
* USO centers were quickly established in churches, barns, museums, castles, beach clubs, log cabins, and even railroad cars!
* There were 293,738 performers in 208,178 separate visits during World War II, entertaining an estimated 161 million service men and women. There were 720 different USO troupes that toured the world.
* Twenty eight performers died during the WWII period.
* Bob Hope, longtime USO performer, was honored by the U.S. Congress in 1997, declaring him the “first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces.”

02/23/2022

Tickets may be ordered online at https://www.lumberyardartscenter.org/product/a-world-war-ii-uso-show/

11/09/2021

Today is the deadline to sign up!

11/03/2021

Tickets are going fast. If you are fixin' to get a ticket, you need to get 'er done! We would love to see you an' your kinfolk! Deadline to get tickets is November 9th.

10/25/2021

We are thrilled to welcome In Transit Players performing THE CATFIELDS AND MCHOYS: A HILLBILLY WEDDING, Friday, November 12, 2021, at The Bullpen Sports Bar, Baldwin City, KS. Call 785-594-2526 for reservations, tickets are going fast!

In Transit Players has been cracking up and entertaining hundreds of audiences on the historic Kansas Belle Dinner Train and other locales for over the last eight years, creating a unique synergy and esprit de corps not found in most other traveling theatre companies. Their unique brand of one-of-a-kind theater combines scripted material, off-the-cuff improvised comedy, music, and audience interaction to make this event one you’ll talking about for years to come!

THE CATFIELDS AND MCHOYS: A HILLBILLY WEDDING: It's time to put feuds and grudges aside as the famous warring families attempt to bury the hatchet, as their least educated, but most outspoken, children come together in holy matrimony! Unfortunately, not everyone is excited for this union to take place, and certain parties conspire to ruin this happy, if goofy, event.... Who is behind the evil plot? What secrets do the families have to reveal? And where did all that moonshine go?

08/27/2021

Thanks to all who came out to our event at Stony Point Hall! Here are a few pictures from that evening.

07/30/2021

In 2019, the last full year we ran, people from 25 states visited Baldwin City, Kansas, to ride the Kansas Belle!

07/28/2021

We are excited to welcome Jim and Bill, otherwise known as The Likely Suspect, to perform Marriage is Murder at our fundraiser on August 7. Tickets are on sale for just a few more days, so get yours now! This event is at Stony Point Hall and the link to get tickets is on the event listing. We hope to see you there!

07/15/2021

Space is Limited! Purchase your tickets today before they sell out!

03/31/2020

The Kansas Belle Dinner Train wants to personally thank each and everyone of you that have opted to take advantage of our credit file offer, as you are helping us stay in business during these uncertain times. We will see you (hopefully) soon.

Here is our Erin Fox with Intransit Players (our talented acting group) and her parody to a "South Pacific" song. Without further ado....ENJOY ❤

Erin Fox sings "My Quarantined Loves, Don't You Cry" Coronavirus Parody of "I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy" March 30, 2020

03/19/2020

Since everyone will miss our entertainment car, how about this awesome parody from In Transit Players (our talented acting group onboard) own talented and Beautiful Erin Fox!

Coronavirus Parody of Please Don't Touch Me from Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks, track by Michael Uselmann

03/19/2020

Due to Douglas County mandate that gatherings of 10 or more be prohibited, the dinner train has temporarily suspended our dinner runs until April the 1st. We are in the process of contacting all of our passengers for the weekend of March 28th and March 29th. We have already notified our passengers for this coming weekend.

Nearly all our passengers have opted to be placed in our Credit File. What this means:

1. Your rate you've paid, is PROTECTED from our soon to be coming rate increase.

2. We are offering a BONUS, for those in our credit file, that upon their return trip, they will have "Free Money", which may be utilized toward bar, gratuity, or souvenirs on the dinner train!!!!

3. How about a gift certificate for the payment value, which you may use (no real expiration date) or gift to a loved one!

In conclusion, the Kansaa Belle, strives for the safety of all passengers, staff, and partners, and look forward to offering our unique venue, once these uncertain times pass....

We will maintain office hours, M-F 9a-4p. We may be reached by calling 785.594.8505. Thanks for your understanding!

03/01/2020

Call us for reservations, so you too may experience this beauty....photo credit goes to Erin Fox, with our talented In Transit Players!

02/26/2020

We still have limited room available for our Annual Wine tasting aboard the Kansas Belle, complete with a 5-course dinner and train ride on Saturday, March 14th!

Call us for information, pricing, and reservations at 785.594.8505!

02/19/2020

Yay! Our phone and internet should be back up today!!! We ask for your patience, as we get through essentially, 2 days of work in 1 day, as we do our best to return the volume of phone calls and emails we did not have access to while our phones/internet were down yesterday. Our provider was able to locate the problem (a cut fiber from another entity) and provide a fix around midnight of last night!

02/18/2020

Our apologies folks! We have been without internet and phone service since approximately 11:30 a.m. today. Please note that if you have left us an email or voice mail, we will ne getting back with you, as soon as our service comes back on. It more than likely (hopefully) will be tomorrow, Wednesday 2/19.

We apologize for this inconvenience!

02/15/2020

These here, ladies and gents, are some smart men, who know how to treat their beautiful ladies on Valentine's evening, onboard the Kansas Belle ❤ Thanks for sharing your photos!

02/15/2020

A few of our esteemed guests aboard the Kansas Belle this evening. Hope everyone has a wonderful time!

As always, thanks to everyone, for their continued support!

02/11/2020

Hey folks! We still have room for the date we added on Sunday March 29th for the 3 course dinner at an intimate table for 2, as well as in the Murder Mystery option! Don't delay in making your reservations at 785.594.8505

02/03/2020

Two of our hardworking servers Apryl and Caroline, this past Saturday Feb. 1st showing support for their team and now, SUPERBOWL LIV CHAMPS, the Kansas City Chief's!

01/29/2020

Sign up to be on the Romantic's Red Carpet list and be among the first to hear about Jacquée T.'s events and upcoming e-books, and also receive exclusive special offers.

01/25/2020

All the crew of the Kansas Belle, want to wish Melissa Phelps and Cody Poster, our congratulations and our sincere well wishes, on their recent engagement, which occurred Saturday January 18, 2020 while onboard the Dinner Train!

Kudos to Cody and our thanks for choosing our venue for his proposal, to the beautiful Melissa!!! Many blessings to you both ❤

01/25/2020

With Valentine's Day around the corner, thought this would be neat to share!

Don't forget, we have a dinner run with live music, ( a jazz trio and a keyboardist) on Friday 2/14, the date itself! We have limited seating left, so don't delay!

Sign up to be on the Romantic's Red Carpet list and be among the first to hear about Jacquée T.'s events and upcoming e-books, and also receive exclusive special offers.

01/24/2020

Just wanted to let everyone know, we ARE a go for this weekends dinner runs! I'd you don't get a call from us, no news is GOOD news 😊

If you are running behind, please call the office 785.594.8505, as we do have an emergency contact on our voice mailbox!