Williston, FL
Kirby Family Farm
4.4· 777 Google reviews
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-14- TypeNonprofit seasonal event railroad and educational farm
- LocationWilliston, FL
- Rating4.4 ★777 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Sep 26
- Operating windowNo daily public ride. Public access is tied to selected themed events; separate field trips and group programs must be arranged in advance.
About Kirby Family Farm
Kirby Family Farm is a 501(c)(3) educational organization and museum that uses railroad, agricultural, mechanical, and historical resources in programs for at-risk, foster, medically needy, terminally ill, and special-needs children. Public train access is not a daily drop-in attraction: supporters are periodically invited to themed fundraising events, while schools and qualifying groups arrange separate visits. For the remaining 2026 season, the operator currently publishes ScaryTrain nights, a two-day Six Gun Territory Wild West Weekend, and fourteen Christmas Train nights. Each product includes more than a ride, so age suitability, noise, darkness, terrain, entertainment, food, and admission rules differ materially. The farm says its train can accommodate wheelchairs, but it also warns that the broader farm and haunt experiences use primitive, uneven terrain and may include crawling, narrow passages, darkness, loud effects, fog, fire, strobe lighting, and other limitations. This guide therefore treats access, dates, and ticket terms event by event instead of converting the nonprofit into a year-round scenic railroad. The current official railroad page is visibly under construction and contains a stale restoration sentence, so historical equipment is described conservatively and no locomotive is promised for a departure.
Choose the public event that fits your group
Choose the visit that fits your groupOlder teens and adults who want a Halloween train-and-haunt event and understand the published intensity warnings
ScaryTrain
An all-inclusive nighttime fundraiser built around a mild-to-moderate narrated train ride plus much more intense haunts. Review every sensory, terrain, age, costume, and safety warning before buying.
Families, Florida theme-park-history travelers, train enthusiasts, and Wild West show fans
Six Gun Territory Wild West Weekend
A daytime family fundraiser connecting the train with gunfights, robberies, reunion performers, live shows, a carousel, vendors, and other activities.
Families and multigenerational groups comfortable with an outdoor evening fundraiser
The Christmas Train
A roughly 20-minute nighttime train journey within a larger holiday event. December 26 has a reduced post-Christmas program and does not include every pre-Christmas activity.
Schools, youth organizations, foster and special-needs programs, camps, churches, and prearranged groups
Arrange a field trip or group visit
The farm’s year-round outreach and education work is not the same as public drop-in admission. Schools, organizations, and groups should arrange eligibility, activities, timing, and support directly.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- SeasonNo daily public ride. Public access is tied to selected themed events; separate field trips and group programs must be arranged in advance.
- ArriveEvent gates open before the first train. The operator encourages large groups to arrive before opening; follow the selected event’s current arrival and will-call instructions.
- ParkingWild West Weekend explicitly includes free day parking. The reviewed event pages do not publish a universal lot map, surface, lighting, or accessible-space count.
- AccessibilityThe operator says the train is wheelchair accessible. The farm terrain and other activities are not represented as fully accessible; ScaryTrain specifically warns about primitive terrain, crawling, narrow passages, and darkness.
- WeatherEvents run rain or shine. High winds may remove activities. Operator cancellations are posted online and on the 352-812-7435 recording; refunds or future tickets remain management-controlled.
- RestroomsThe reviewed pages do not publish onboard restrooms or a detailed restroom-access map. Contact the farm for a specific mobility, changing, or caregiver need.
- Current EventsRemaining published 2026 train events are ScaryTrain from September 26 through October 30, Wild West Weekend November 7–8, and Christmas Train on fourteen nights from November 27 through December 26.
- Train RideThe Christmas event describes a 20-minute train journey. Other event pages publish roughly half-hour departure cadence but not one universal trip duration.
- TicketsAdvance registration is recommended and dates can sell out. Use the chosen event page and its current ticket button; the generic ticket-information page says a new provider is still coming soon.
- PricingScaryTrain advance combo pass $20 plus fees; Wild West advance minimum contribution $19.99 age 10+ and $10.99 ages 3–9; Christmas advance $19.99 age 10+ and $12.99 ages 3–9, plus fees. Gate and Fast Pass terms differ.
- ChildrenChildren age 2 and under are generally admitted without a requested contribution and may need to sit on a parent or guardian’s lap aboard the train. ScaryTrain is not recommended for small children.
- SensoryScaryTrain can include darkness, sudden gunfire, strobe lights, fog, fire effects, live animals, loud sound, tight spaces, and possible water exposure. Wild West programs can include gunfire.
- FoodIndependent vendors sell snacks and meals. Some accept cash only; an ATM is published. Outside food, drinks, coolers, and alcohol are not permitted.
- RefundsThe event pages publish no ordinary refunds or exchanges and describe payments as donations supporting the nonprofit. Tickets are event/date/time specific.
- PetsNo pets are allowed. Contact the operator about a service-animal plan and event-specific constraints before travel.
- GroupsThe farm publishes bus access and custom arrangements for groups of 20 or more. Larger groups may be able to reserve a car or train; thresholds differ by event, so email info@kirbyfarm.com.
- ContactCall 352-812-7435 or email info@kirbyfarm.com for group, accessibility, event, ticket, or program questions.
Find the Depot
The Trains
The official railroad page currently names five locomotives and six open-air passenger cars, including Tracy Lynn No. 19, Elizabeth No. 3, Beatrice No. 4, Ernest, and Sarge. It also identifies previous amusement-park and military histories. That page is explicitly under construction and still says Beatrice was scheduled for restoration completion in 2017, so this guide does not treat its status language as a current operating roster. The field-trip page separately describes the relocated Six Gun Territory station, former military locomotives, No. 19, and late-nineteenth-century equipment. A 2026 news report says Kirby acquired the preserved Six Gun Territory train collection from Texas. These collection facts make the site significant, but only the operator can confirm which locomotive, coaches, station areas, or exhibits are ready for a particular event. The gallery’s lead image shows No. 4 before its Kirby acquisition and never guarantees current appearance or assignment.
History
Daryl and Tracy Kirby acquired the Williston property and began developing the farm.
The operator-published profile places the first train ride and first small Christmas Express in December.
Kirby Family Farm received recognition as a federal 501(c)(3) organization.
Former Ringling Bros. circus train cars reached the farm with donated CSX transportation support.
The foundation acquired the preserved Six Gun Territory train collection from Jefferson, Texas.
See full history
Daryl and Tracy Kirby acquired the Williston property in 2011 and began building an educational farm around a long-held railroad dream. An operator-published profile says the first train ride occurred in December 2012 and a small Christmas Express followed that month. Kirby Family Farm, Inc. received federal nonprofit recognition in 2014. The organization has since combined youth outreach with preservation, themed public fundraisers, field trips, and railroad interpretation. The collection connects multiple strands of visitor-rail history: amusement-park locomotives, an original Six Gun Territory station under restoration, military switchers, and former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus train cars delivered with support from CSX in 2018. Those acquisitions should not be confused with a daily museum schedule or an all-equipment-is-operational claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit Kirby Family Farm and ride a train any day?
No. Public train access is tied to selected themed events. Separate educational and group visits must be arranged in advance.
What train events remain in 2026?
The official site currently publishes ScaryTrain nights from September 26 through October 30, Wild West Weekend November 7–8, and fourteen Christmas Train nights from November 27 through December 26.
How long is the train ride?
The Christmas page publishes about 20 minutes. The other event pages publish departure cadence but not one universal ride duration.
Is Kirby Family Farm good for small children?
Wild West and Christmas are family-oriented, but ScaryTrain is explicitly not recommended for small children and includes intense sensory and terrain warnings.
Is the train wheelchair accessible?
The operator says the train is wheelchair accessible. It also warns that the farm terrain and some event activities are primitive, uneven, narrow, dark, or otherwise limiting. Contact the farm for a specific plan.
Do I need advance tickets?
Advance registration is recommended and events may sell out. Follow the chosen event page and its current ticket button.
Are tickets refundable?
The event pages publish no ordinary refunds or exchanges and describe payments as donations supporting the nonprofit. Operator cancellations may receive a future ticket or refund only at management’s discretion.
Can I bring food or a cooler?
No. The farm prohibits outside food, drinks, coolers, and alcohol. Independent food vendors operate during events, and some are cash-only.
Can I bring a pet?
No pets are allowed. Contact the operator before travel about service-animal handling and event-specific constraints.
Which locomotive will pull my train?
The operator controls assignment and availability. Its railroad page is partly stale, so this guide does not promise a named locomotive, steam power, coach, or station area.
Is the Six Gun Territory station restored?
The current field-trip page describes the relocated station as under restoration and pursuing landmark recognition. Do not assume the project or public interior access is complete.
What does admission support?
Kirby Family Farm says event contributions support its nonprofit educational organization, museum, and programs for at-risk and special-needs children.
Can groups arrange a visit?
Yes. The farm publishes bus and group arrangements, with special options at larger thresholds. Email info@kirbyfarm.com because rules differ by event and program.
Has the operator confirmed this USA Train Rides page?
Not yet. It was independently source-checked on August 14, 2026. The operator can request a correction or confirmation review through USA Train Rides.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 14, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official homepage for nonprofit identity, current ScaryTrain promotion, mission programs, and current navigation
- Official ticket-information page for the current replacement-provider status
- Official plan-a-visit page for event-only public access and arranged group model
- Official ScaryTrain page for 2026 dates, hours, price, attractions, warnings, accessibility, food, group, weather, pet, and refund terms
- Official Wild West Weekend page for November 7–8, 2026, hours, fares, train cadence, included activities, parking, and visitor policies
- Official Christmas Train page for all fourteen 2026 nights, 20-minute ride, cadence, fares, December 26 difference, and visitor policies
- Official field-trip page for arranged education programs, equipment interpretation, and the station restoration status
- Official railroad page for the five named locomotives, cars, and the page’s visible under-construction and stale-status limitations
- Official map and directions page for the visitor address, phone, and contact path
- Official organization history and mission page for the 2011 property acquisition and 2014 nonprofit recognition
- CSX report for the 2018 circus-train delivery and intended educational use
- KLTV report for the 2026 acquisition of the preserved Six Gun Territory train collection from Texas
- Williston Area Chamber visitor guide for the three locally endorsed trip-ecosystem selections
