Review Highlights

    Location & Hours

    Mon

    • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Tue

    • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Wed

    • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Thu

    • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Closed now

    Fri

    • 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

    Sat

    • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Sun

    • 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

    Amenities and More

    About the Business

    The Texas State Railroad is the "Official Railroad of Texas" and is truly a "Texas Treasure". This historic
    tourist railroad offers steam train rides that travel through the scenic piney woods and hardwood creek
    bottoms of East Texas in 1920's passenger coaches. Steam excursions depart from the Victorian Style…

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    Start your review of Texas State Railroad Rusk Depot

    Overall rating

    19 reviews

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    • Photo of Ray F.
      Ray F.
      Dallas, TX
      453
      1322
      3438
      Dec 4, 2022

      This is the turn around/lunch break stop on the Texas State Railroad. Nice old timey railroad terminal turned into a gift shop, rest area, tourist photo op location, administration offices, and just a cool place to stretch your legs while they turn all around.

      The restaurant is kind of cool. It makes some great sandwiches/picnic food and serves using old rail cars no longer in service. The food is decent, but having a picnic overlooking a small lake full of all kinds of wildlife is pretty cool!

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    • Photo of Tapley S.
      Tapley S.
      Midlothian, TX
      0
      27
      32
      Jun 22, 2023

      We rented the caboose and I can't recommend that enough! Lane provided great service throughout the trip. The "snack" was a little box with grapes, blueberries, carrots, celery, ranch, cheese, sausage, and chocolate. The cheese tasted like fridge and the sausage was one slice cut in half. But it was a nice snack before we got to the Rusk Depot.
      We did not preorder lunch and it wasn't too big of a deal. The preorder line definitely moved faster and they were out of a few things by the time we got up there.

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    • Photo of Brandi A.
      Brandi A.
      Carrollton, TX
      39
      203
      166
      Dec 21, 2021

      Wow this place was pretty cool. We camped here before and after our ride on the polar express train at the Palestine depot. We enjoyed the playground and open area to see kids and let them roam while still feeling they were safe. The only challenge is the camper parking options are first come first serve and in the dark of night(6:45) it was very difficult to navigate our rig. We managed to find a primo spot when we saw it in the light, but know the trees and drive way options could be a real issue for bigger rv's. Be mindful of arrival times and be sure to stop at the office even if closed for the map and parking lengths recommended for your camper. The trees and area to trek around were amazing! Totally recommend!

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    • Photo of Jenny S.
      Jenny S.
      San Antonio, TX
      13
      126
      524
      Mar 11, 2022

      I wanted to do something special for my 31st anniversary celebration, and I am glad i got the perfect ride.
      As soon as we get there, we went to the stationmaster who gave us our printed tickets. A ticket print! When was the last time I saw something like that!!??
      All the facilities are super clean, all the attendants and people at the concession stands are very professional. They serve appetizers and they have the whole line of Miranda Lambert's Red 55 wines. Which are good and affordable.
      If you go from Palestine to Rusk, get off the train and see how they move the engine from the back to the front, and how the "signalman" (hope I got the right term) gives directions to the engineer how to and when the cars to "couple".
      Our ticket collector Payton was also our porter, she is the best!
      They also have a Pumpkin Patch, Easter one, Wine one for the wine connoisseurs/ enthusiastic, and the famous Polar Express that runs from November through December.
      I would recommend that you get reservations for The Dome, which is the best.

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    • Jul 30, 2017

      For my full review, see the Palestine Depot posting. Rusk was the halfway layover point on our trip. Inside is air conditioned and has a gift shop and a little train history. A converted train car sales some small lunches which are overpriced and "acceptable ". Outside it was so hot! See the train website. This is something you want to do!

      On the engine!
      All aboard!
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    • Photo of Meriem B.
      Meriem B.
      Colorado Springs, CO
      96
      573
      471
      Oct 16, 2016

      My family just got done doing the Pumpkin Patch Express. We paid extra for air-conditioned seating only to find out later that the A/C was broken. Online it says the duration of the trip is 2.5 hours. The reality is that it was like 20-30 min. Of train ride to the pumpkin patch. An hour there, then another 20-30 min. back. The pumpkin patch itself was pretty lame. If you have really young kids, they may enjoy it. I just honestly felt it wasn't worth the money. The ride was very short and not very scenic at all.

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    • Photo of Cindy N.
      Cindy N.
      Arlington, TX
      6
      141
      129
      Nov 20, 2016

      I cannot say enough great things! It was perfect for our 2 year old! We did the pumpkin patch-and the ride was long enough for our toddler to stay engaged but not bored. The patch itself was PERFECT! It had so many activities for the kids and so well organized. It was extremely spacious for an independent toddler. I would say the age range would be good for 2-7, maybe 8 or 9. It was a great experience and we will definitely be doing it again next year!

      Our Minion at the Pumpkin Patch Express!
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    • Photo of Jen V.
      Jen V.
      Saratoga, CA
      55
      180
      221
      Apr 9, 2016

      We just completed the Texas State Railroad - Piney Woods ride.

      We were definitely disappointed. Let me start from the beginning. I called into the reservation line since I heard they had a AAA discount and I couldn't get the code to work online. I talked to the reservation agent about the different options and she told me that the diamond class was spectacular. She described the spectacular views and large windows, and that we should definitely take the diamond class car. So we booked.

      In looking at the confirmation - they certainly don't give you a lot of information, mostly because you don't need it, and I'll explain why.

      You don't really see anything other than woods. That's it. And a couple old beat up towns. Not worth it unless there is an attraction on the train. And no one told you anything about the woods, the area etc. So you don't even learn anything :(

      Here's how it goes:

      You arrive, pick up your paper tickets, get on the train in your assigned seat (even though no one is checking what car you are in) and then you sit. The snack and beverage service is extremely limited. Soft drinks and coffee. And let me clarify - coffee with powder sugar and creamer that's been sitting for god knows how long. The "snack" is Chex mix. You go for an hour and a half, get off in Palestine at which the stop has a bathroom and a couple pictures on the wall explaining the history and a tiny little gift shop that needs a lot of work. Not many selections.

      Whatever time the train arrives, you have until 1:30 pm in Palestine to eat. There are picnic tables. Get back on and repeat back to Rusk.

      Here are my gripes with our experience:
      1. No need to wear closed toe shoes. No reason.
      2. Our car was freezing in the front and comfortable in the back so even though the server tried turning it down it was absolutely freezing - so our half moved into empty seats at the back.
      3. For $85, don't waste your time in diamond class, just do adult lone star.
      4. Have real cream or milk and GET RID of STYROFOAM!!! Wtf?! You are advertising a nature ride and serving one of the worst contaminants for it!
      5. Paper table cloths in the $85 pp car? Cheap.
      6. The seats in our car were filthy old velvet seats. In the cheaper car it was pleather and much nicer looking. I get vintage is part of the attraction but it doesn't need to be filthy.
      7. Oh and if you are with anyone who is over 5'8, they can't stand up in the car at all. With a father in law that's 6'1 and a husband that's 6'5, that would have been helpful information.
      8. This is priced to include much more. They need to review their pricing strategy.

      Now, the one star is for the server Lauren bc she was sweet and definitely had a positive attitude and made she she provided as many drinks as we wanted. We made sure to tip her.

      Having done a similar trip in Napa, this one was more expensive and you received less for the $$. They need more to attract people or this will soon become an attraction of the past.

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    • Photo of Pamela B.
      Pamela B.
      Houston, TX
      0
      8
      17
      Oct 18, 2020

      Fun to be taken back in time aboard the train, even with social distancing measures. Our hostess, Joyce, in the Presidential 42 car was fantastic and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed the wine from Red 55 Winery in nearby Lindale which is owned by Miranda Lambert's parents. We had booked the other Presidential car which includes an outdoor platform for $10 more, but they switched our ticket without notification. Still trying to get a refund, but enjoyed the trip nonetheless.

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    • Photo of Angie S.
      Angie S.
      Denton, TX
      25
      17
      5
      Oct 28, 2018

      I want to commend Debbie and her boss (whose name I sadly don't remember) at the TSRR Rusk depot. I made special plans to take my mom for a trip on the TSRR. We came from the DFW area, booked an Airb&b, the whole nine yards. Somehow, we lost time and ended up missing the train's departure by, literally, about two minutes. It pulled out of the station before we could get parked and inside. I was so upset with myself that we'd made all the plans and drove all that way and gone through the expense just to miss the train. Debbie and her boss saved the day by offering to drive us from Rusk to Palestine so we could at least ride the train on its return trip. I was blown away at their offer. Debbie was kind and we had a pleasant conversation all the way there. They let us wait in the depot in Palestine until the train arrived. As for the train ride itself, it was my first train ride ever and I enjoyed it thoroughly! We were in one of the Presidential cars, which was lovely and the seating quite comfortable. The staff was friendly and attentive, offering cookies and champagne. (We'd missed the hors d'oeuvres offered on the first leg). Both depots are beautiful and have interesting history, friendly staff and cute gift shops. We pre-ordered our lunches, which were ready when the train arrived in Palestine. I had the veggie burger (yes, vegetarians, they have an option for us!) and thought it was very tasty. My mom said her lunch was good too. All in all, a wonderful and positive experience. I'd definitely recommend this trip on an historic train!

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