Aberdeen, SD
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-17- TypeStorybook Land miniature railway and depot museum
- LocationAberdeen, SD
- Rating4.8 ★1,392 Google reviews
- Tickets & faresTickets are sold onsite. No current online reservation, departure inventory, capacity or boarding cutoff is published.
About Storybook Land Express & Train Depot Museum
Storybook Land Express is the public miniature railway inside Aberdeen's Storybook Land at Wylie Park. The Aberdeen Sertoma Club and Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry sponsor the rides. The train circles more than a mile of storybook scenery and the park zoo; the train depot museum is the loading station, not a separate non-ride attraction.
Plan a Storybook Land Express ride
Choose the visit that fits your groupRide planners
Check late-season ride hours
Confirm the variable daily hours before traveling between August 18 and Labor Day.
Families
Review park FAQs
Check current fares, age rules, park policies and general mobility resources without assuming train-specific access.
Visitors with access questions
Request an accommodation
Contact Parks, Recreation and Forestry at least one week ahead for general accommodation planning; confirm train boarding separately.
Rail-history visitors
Visit the depot museum
Use the 1881 depot as the train loading point and museum context; do not treat it as a separate schedule.
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Storybook Land Express & Train Depot Museum. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- AccessibilityThe park publishes accessible visitor-center restrooms, three first-come manual wheelchairs and general accommodation requests one week ahead. It does not publish a train lift, transfer rule, securement or wheelchair space; call before riding.
- WeatherThe park's broader walk-through season is weather permitting, but no ride-specific cancellation or refund policy is published.
- ScheduleThe 2026 guide publishes daily service through Labor Day, September 7. Hours vary after August 10, so no fixed late-season opening or final departure is promised.
- FaresThe current official fare is $3 per person or $25 for a 10-ride punch card. Children under age two ride free with a paying adult; tickets never expire.
- Park EntryGeneral admission to Storybook Land is free. The Express is a separate paid ride.
- BoardingBoard at the train depot inside Storybook Land, 2300 24th Avenue NW. Do not use the wider Wylie Park campground as a substitute boarding point.
- RouteThe scale C. P. Huntington-style train travels more than one mile around Storybook Land and the zoo with narration. Exact late-season route condition and stops are not published.
- HoursOfficial sources give regular-season hours but explicitly say hours vary beginning in mid-August or after August 10. Check the live ride page or call before traveling.
- AgeThere is no published height limit for the Express. Children age two and under must ride with an adult.
- TicketsTickets are sold onsite. No current online reservation, departure inventory, capacity or boarding cutoff is published.
- AnimalsPark policy prohibits pets, allows trained service animals and excludes emotional-support animals. No separate train-car boarding contract is published; confirm before riding.
- FoodPicnics are allowed in the park. Alcohol, smoking and vaping are prohibited.
- ContactCall Wylie Park at (605) 626-3512 for day-of conditions or Parks, Recreation and Forestry at (605) 626-7015 for accommodation requests and discount ticket information.
Find the Depot
The Trains
The official ride page describes the Express as a scale replica of an 1863 C. P. Huntington locomotive. That description establishes the theme, not a historic 1863 artifact or a guaranteed 2026 locomotive assignment. No current consist, power source, car count or capacity is published.
History
The prototype C. P. Huntington locomotive inspired the scale styling of the Storybook Land Express.
The authentic depot now used as the loading station dates to 1881.
John Margolies documented multiple Storybook Land structures now used as dated historical gallery context.
The official guide published daily Express service through Labor Day with variable hours after August 10.
See full history
The train loads at an 1881 depot inside Storybook Land. The ride's C. P. Huntington styling recalls an 1863 locomotive, while the current public attraction is a modern miniature railway sponsored by the Aberdeen Sertoma Club and the city parks department. The licensed gallery is property-led and historical; none of the six works depicts a 2026 train.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Storybook Land Express run?
Daily through Labor Day, September 7, in the current 2026 guide. Hours vary after August 10, so confirm the day's operating window.
What are the remaining 2026 dates?
Every day from August 18 through September 7, inclusive: 21 dates. No fixed late-season departure times are published. Tickets are sold onsite; no current online reservation, departure inventory or capacity is published.
How much does the train cost?
$3 per person or $25 for a 10-ride punch card. Children under two ride free with a paying adult, and punch-card rides do not expire.
Is Storybook Land admission free?
General park admission is free, but the Express is a separate paid ride.
Where does the train board?
At the train depot inside Storybook Land, 2300 24th Avenue NW in Aberdeen.
How long is the route?
The official description says more than one mile around Storybook Land and the zoo. It does not publish a ride duration or current cadence.
Is there a height or age minimum?
No height limit is published. Children age two and under must ride with an adult.
Can a wheelchair board the train?
The park publishes general mobility resources but no train lift, securement, transfer or wheelchair-space contract. Call before riding.
Are pets allowed?
Park policy prohibits pets, permits trained service animals and excludes emotional-support animals. Confirm train-car boarding details separately.
Do the gallery photos show the 2026 train?
No. One property view dates to 2017 and five public-domain scenes date to 1987; none proves the current train, consist, route or access.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 17, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official current Storybook Land rides page
- Official 2026 Aberdeen Parks guide
- Official Storybook Land FAQs
- Exact licensed operator image 1
- Exact public-domain operator image 2
- Exact public-domain operator image 3
- Exact public-domain operator image 4
- Exact public-domain operator image 5
- Exact public-domain operator image 6
- Library of Congress item 8923
- Library of Congress item 8924
- Library of Congress item 8929
- Library of Congress item 8930
- Library of Congress item 8931
