The Brew Bridge has transformed its trolley into a polar express, taking patrons on a family-friendly adventure to see some of the best Christmas Lights the community has to offer.
On Fridays and Saturdays leading up to Christmas, up to 22 guests can experience the magic of the Stonegate subdivision, downtown Owensboro, Panther Creek, and more for $5 per person.
Brew Bridge General Manager Palmer Dempsey drew inspiration for the concept from the Polar Express train ride offered seasonally in French Lick, Indiana.
“I’ve taken my daughter to the Polar Express the last several years,” Palmer said. “This would have been the first year my daughter with special needs would have been able to get on the train, but after researching tickets 4 months ago, I discovered they were primarily sold out.”
Puzzled and determined to provide “that special moment” for his family, he turned to his partners at Brew Bridge with the idea for the trolley. Even offering two trips each day, nearly every tour is sold out, except for a few private trolley rental opportunities.
The trolley departs from Brew Bridge at 5:30 p.m. and stops downtown before venturing to KY 54. It then returns to the brewery for a short break, where patrons can tag along for round two, which makes the trek to Panther Creek.
“This is just a chance for us to spread the holiday cheer here locally,” he said. “Hopefully, it will boost the community’s knowledge about Brew Bridge and bring more people into our family-friendly brewery. We really want to promote that message.”
Next to the brewery and restaurant is Escape Room Owensboro, which features a new murder mystery room for the holidays. They’ve also updated the axe throwing lanes and boasts an arcade that’s certain to spark several childhood memories.
As for the trolley tours, Dempsey and his team said their primary goal is to “create smiles on dozens of families’ faces.”
