We’re happy to answer all these questions because we like distinguishing ourselves as unique among Florida dinner train and dinner theaters. Once you learn more about us, we’re sure you’ll agree that your experience with the Murder Mystery Dinner Train will be one you’ll never forget. And to learn more specific information about various aspects of our business, visit the category pages at the top of our site. There’s a lot to learn, especially about our holiday dinner trains in Lee County. We thank you for your interest!
Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”)
Security Directive 1582/84-21-01
Dated January 31, 2021
The TSA has issued the above referenced COVID-19 related directive applying to all surface transportation carriers including railroads. This directive requires that Seminole Gulf Railway issue this Notice to all customers informing them of their obligations regarding mask wearing and of the requirement that the carrier (railroad) is obligated to enforce the mask wearing requirements.
Mandatory Mask Wearing:
- Any person while in a railroad car, in a station, while boarding or disembarking MUST wear a mask (face shields are not acceptable)
- Masks may be removed BRIEFLY while eating or drinking,
(“The CDC has stated that brief periods of close contact without a mask should not exceed 15 minutes.”)
Direct employees and contractor employees must wear a mask at all times. Our actors are required to wear masks which we regret may at times result in less desirable audio distribution of their spoken lines and loss of ability to see facial reactions which are a normal part of a performance.
The railroad is required to enforce the Security Directive. The railroad asks cooperation from its customers to avoid implementation of the legal enforcement attributes of the Security Directive. A complete copy of the Security Directive is available upon request while on board the train or at the station prior to boarding.
***COVID-19***OPERATING PLAN***
For our 2021 Reopening, the Murder Mystery Dinner Train will implement the following enhancements to our existing procedures to do its part to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
SEATING
Seating will be limtied as will the number of guests in each dining section of the train.
- Foregoing our long-time tradition of seating couples together at tables of 4; couples will be seated at their own table for 2 each facing inward toward the middle of each dining section (theater style).
- Parties of 3 or more will be grouped together in the middle of each dining section, and such parties will be spread throughout the train as much as possible.
- Guests will be encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines when receiving tickets, seating assignments, and materials at the passenger station. While lining up and during the boarding of the train, remember to maintain six feet apart from other parties.
- The number of guests allowed inside the passenger station at any one time will be limited. Only one person per party will be allowed in the station to pick up the tickets.
- The Unisex restroom inside the passenger station will remain open when the passenger station / gift shop is open.
- The dining cars and passenger station will be sanitized before each evening’s trip.
- Unisex and single sex restrooms will be cleaned and sanitized on a scheduled basis.
- Doorknobs, railings, and handles will be cleaned and sanitized on a scheduled basis.
- Enhanced cleaning procedures will be conducted after each trip and once the guests have departed.
- New clean pens will be distributed to all guests to use for the murder mystery clue sheet. Guests may of course use their own pens.
- We will continue the use of our souvenir “take home” one-time use menus for each party.
- Guests are ENCOURAGED to use credit cards instead of cash for payment in the passenger station and on the train for all purchases and gratuity.
- ALL staff, including our actors, will be given a daily health screening.
- ALL reservation staff will wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”).
- ALL food service staff will wear appropriate PPE.
- ALL guests will be asked to wear a face mask when they are not eating or drinking.
- Guests are asked to monitor their symptoms leading up to their arrival on the train. If you or anyone in your party are ill or have been showing symptoms two weeks before you plan to board, please contact our reservations team so that we may reschedule you trip. Guests may cancel their reservation up to as late as 30 hours before their trip (around noon the day before they plan to board) so that we can accommodate our seating arrangements for other passengers.
- Due to limited kitchen space and carrying capacity, Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Special Request Allergen Free Options are NOT available. Passengers are not permitted to bring their own food or beverages aboard the train.
- We ask guests to dress as they would for any other fine dining restaurant and theater performance. Our dining cars are fully air conditioned and we recommend you bring a light jacket or sweater.
- We ask that you arrive at the Station by 5:45 PM on Wednesday through Saturday, and 4:45 PM on Sundays.
Our COVID-19 procedures are based on appropriate guidance for our unique venue and experience to keep our passengers and staff safe. We will continue to monitor the situation and will communicate further information as appropriate.
- Foregoing our long-time tradition of seating couples together at tables of 4; couples will be seated at their own table for 2 each facing inward toward the middle of each dining section (theater style).
- Parties of 3 or more will be grouped together in the middle of each dining section, and such parties will be spread throughout the train as much as possible.
Special events and other trips may have different pricing.
*Per Person, NOT including Taxes or Gratuituies. Coffee (regular or decaffeinated), Tea (regular only), and Iced Tea (regular only) are included with ticket price. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks (from our selections of beer, wine, drink specials and cocktails) may be purchased on board the train with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express). Prices, train and show schedules are subject to changes without notice. Certain holidays or special events may have different pricing. Please check the Events page, or ask our Reservationists. All prices, schedules, menus, hotel offerings and promotions are subject to change without notice and at the sole discretion of Seminole Gulf Railway. Certain holidays or special events may have different pricing. Please confirm the up to date price for your specific date through our secure online booking system or by calling our reservations staff at 239-275-8487.
Passengers are not permitted to bring their own food or beverages aboard the train.
- milk
- peanuts
- tree nuts/seeds
- fish
- shellfish
- wheat
- soy
- eggs
A service animal is defined as follows: It must be trained to perform a specific task for its owner to assist with his or her disability, e.g., a seeing eye dog. Emotional support or comfort dogs are NOT service animals and therefore will not be permitted on the train.
Passengers must be aware that there are several factors to consider before deciding to ride with their service animal:
- The motion of the train, and the unnatural, high-pitched metallic sounds that the train makes as it goes over joints in the tracks may make some animals very uncomfortable.
- The train is narrow, and a walkway runs through it. Animals that are not accustomed to heavy and frequent foot traffic may be very uncomfortable. Service animals must not sit or lay down in a walkway as this presents a hazard to other guests and the animal. The service animal will not be permitted to sit on any of the seats but will be required to sit under the passenger’s seat or at his or her feet.
- Murder Mystery Dinner Train staff have been directed not to touch the service animal, but other customers may not understand the role of a service animal and may want to touch the service animal.
- Any food or water which the animal requires, and appropriate containers for serving food and water to the animal, should be provided by the owner. Sanitary toilet arrangements must also be made by the owner of the animal, and, in the interest of the health and safety of our guests, the staff of the train will not handle or dispose of animal droppings or urine for the owner. Remember that our train trips are three and one half hours or more in duration when deciding to bring a service animal on board.
- Should the service animal make a mess, urinate, defecate, or vomit on board the train, the owner will be subject to a cleaning fee of $300.00.
- Should the service animal damage or destroy property of the railroad, or of other passengers, the owner of the animal is fully liable and will bear the sole cost and expense of replacement.
Seminole Gulf Railway asks for and collects a nominal amount of information from the person who books a reservation on one of its dinner/excursion trains. This information such as name, address, telephone number, and email address is used to facilitate further contact with the individual about the upcoming reservation and for follow-up communication, including on-going marketing, directly or through third-party marketing firms, of future events and trains on Seminole Gulf Railway. At no time does Seminole Gulf Railway sell its customer information. All customer information is maintained on secure, proprietary database. Any customer wishing to have their information removed, or to opt out of on-going marketing communications, should notify Seminole Gulf Railway at [email protected]
At no time does Seminole Gulf Railway keep physically or store electronically its customers' credit card information. Any credit card information collected for the purposes of conducting the approved by the customer transaction is immediately destroyed. Any online transactions made directly by the customer are processed immediately by our secure online processor, Authorize.net. Only the record of the transaction, and not the full credit card data is transmitted to Seminole Gulf Railway.
Passengers are not permitted to bring their own food or beverages aboard the train.
Passengers are not permitted to bring their own food or beverages aboard the train.
All passengers should be aware of the following information BEFORE PURCHASING THEIR TICKETS:
- The passenger cars in use were constructed before disability accessibility regulations came into existence. Vestibules, stairs, step-boxes, seating, and especially doorways, passageways, aisles, and onboard restrooms may not accommodate all passengers in all dining cars.
- Seating for passengers with wheelchairs are available on a first come first serve basis. Due to the nature of the vintage railcars used on the dinner train, we have only one (1) dining car that can accommodate a standard size wheelchair. That one dining cars has one (1) wheelchair accessible restroom.
- Although one ramp is available at the Fort Myers Colonial Station, some passengers may have to ascend/descend up to ten (10) steps in order to ride the Murder Mystery Dinner Train. Some special events, such as the Christmas Rail-Boat Trips will require ALL passenger to be able to ascend/descend not only the stairs on the train, but also those of the buses used to transport passengers to the boats, and possibly the at the boats themselves. Seminole Gulf Railway will provide step boxes and trained employees to assist with boarding/deboarding. However, passengers assume all liability and risk associated with boarding/deboarding the train, buses, boats, or other modes. Do not purchase tickets for these trips if you are unable to safely climb stairs or walk extended distances up to five hundred (500) ft (walkers may be used).
We ask guests to refrain from wearing ripped and torn clothing, "cut-offs", or beach attire.
From US-41 (Cleveland Ave) From US-41, head East on Colonial Boulevard about three quarters of mile. Immediately after crossing the railroad tracks, turn left into the entrance for the Lee County Public Education Center. Then drive left back towards the railroad tracks to our coral colored station.
From Daniels Parkway heading north along Metro Parkway. Take Metro Parkway North approximately 6 miles from Daniels. Using the right left turn lane, turn left onto Colonial Boulevard (heading west), then turn right immediately after passing McDonalds, at the entrance to the Lee County Public Education Center. Then drive left back towards the railroad tracks to our coral colored station.
From Downtown Fort Myers heading south along Metro Parkway. Proceed South on Metro Parkway to Winkler Avenue. After crossing Winkler, continue south on Metro Parkway approximately ¼ of a mile and turn right onto the entrance road of the Lee County Education Center. At the stop sign, turn left and proceed left around the parking lot loop road past the McDonalds, 5/3 Bank, and the used car dealer until you reach our coral colored passenger station. You will see signs for Murder Mystery Dinner Train parking.
Please allow an extra 20-30 minutes of travel time due to seasonal or construction traffic.