A Local’s Guide to the Fort Myers Mystery Train

If you are looking for a unique experience while visiting the Fort Myers, Florida area, look no further than the Fort Myers Mystery Train. This is a local's guide to everything you should know before booking your tickets.

Fort Myers is quickly becoming a popular travel destination in Southwest Florida. If you are anything like me, finding unique and one-of-a-kind experiences during a vacation is just as important as visiting all of the "must-see" places. As a Fort Myers local, I am giving you the top things you must know before booking your Fort Myers Mystery Train tickets.

This post will give you all of the details from the history of the Fort Myers Mystery Train, what you should know before boarding, what to expect during the performance, and how you can become a "Super Sleuth."

After reading all about the dinner train experience, you will be ready to book this unique dining experience for you, your family, and your friends.

This post is all about a local's guide to the Fort Myers Mystery Train.

Fort Myers Mystery Train "Must Knows"

History

The Seminole Gulf Railway began operating in 1987 and was utilized to transport freight between North Naples and Arcadia. In 1991, the railway began hosting dinners aboard its 1930's vintage rail cars (some of which were previously used by the Ringling Bros. and the Barnum and Bailey Circus).

The attraction is owned and operated by the Fay family. The Fay's started the company running lobster bakes, trips to the Arcadia rodeo, and even jazz train rides. But once they started the murder mystery dinners, they became so popular they transitioned to the only production held by the company. The first murder mystery dinner production was named "Murder on the Seminole Express." Since the start of their productions, they have hosted over 200 murder mystery shows on the railway.

That’s right! The murder mystery dinner train has been running for over 30 years!

Schedule

The Murder Mystery Dinner Train runs five nights a week (Wednesday through Sunday) with the exception of special events or holidays. The train departs promptly at 6:30 pm Wednesday - Saturday and 5:30 pm on Sundays. All guests are expected to arrive at least forty-five minutes before the departure time. 

Click here to view the current schedule.

Route

The train begins and ends at the Colonial Station depot in Fort Myers. During the 40-mile round trip, the train goes through some North Fort Myers residential areas, over the Caloosahatchee River on a 75-foot drawbridge, and all the way up to Punta Gorda. 

Important Note: The purpose of this post is to give you a local's guide to the Fort Myers Mystery Train. That includes giving you great (and not-so-great) must-knows before you book your tickets. For the beginning portion of the train ride, you will be going through typical "train track" neighborhoods which may not be very pleasing to the eye. It is a very small portion of the train ride so just sit tight. Once you go over the Caloosahatchee River, the views are marvelous.

Price

As of October 2024, the price per person for the Murder Mystery Dinner Train experience is between $129 to $135 per person depending on the day of the week (Saturdays are the most expensive).

I know what you may be thinking, the price seems a little steep but just think about everything you get out of the experience: a 5-course meal, a 3.5-hour train ride, and an interactive theatrical performance. When you look at everything that is included in this unique experience, the price seems pretty fair.

Group Tickets: Planning on attending with a large group? Click Here to learn more about opportunities for groups larger than 10 people.

Gift Certificates: If you are looking to purchase this experience as a gift for a friend or family member, you can click here to purchase a gift certificate.

Getaway Packages: Is the Murder Mystery Dinner Train just one of your stops during your Fort Myers vacation? If so, the Seminole Railway has partnered with Marriott to create getaway packages for those passengers who will be staying in the area. Click Here for more information.

"All Aboard!"

As stated above, guests are expected to arrive a least forty-five minutes before the posted departure time. This allows all guests ample time to park, check in, and find their assigned seats.

There are four passenger train cars named after the area's barrier islands (Sanibel, Pine Island, Gasparilla & Captiva). Each seating up to 50 guests, allowing for 200 people per ride at full capacity.

Important to know: Each table seats up to four people. Groups of three or four will be seated together while groups of 5 or more will be split up to join smaller parties. Parties that are split up will be sat at adjacent tables. They cannot move tables to accommodate any larger groups. 

Dress Code: It is requested that passengers dress as they would for any other fine dining or theater performance HOWEVER remember that you are still in Southwest Florida. For a lot of us, fine dining attire can be shorts and a nice fishing shirt so don't hesitate to dress more casually. They do ask that guests refrain from wearing any ripped or torn clothing, cut-offs, or beach attire.They also recommend bringing a light jacket or sweater just in case the air-conditioned cars get a little chilly.

What's on the Menu?

During this 3.5-hour experience, passengers are served a 5-course meal starting with a handcrafted cheese, cracker & fruit plate and ending with a delicious seasonal dessert.

When you board the train, the cheese plates will be waiting for you at your assigned table along with the menu for the evening. The rest of the experience will include the soup du jour, salad, a main entree, and dessert. I have been on the train a few times and they typically feature prime rib, a salmon plate, and a chicken plate (I always opt for the prime rib, IT IS DELICIOUS!).

Drink Options: Tea, coffee, and water are included in the price of each ticket while the bar service is separate and is not included in the ticket price. There are several wine, beer, and cocktail options available for purchase while onboard. The featured cocktails always have fun names that fit the theme of the evening. Two of my favorites are listed below.

Choo Choo Shuffle- Baileys, butterscotch, and vodka (Yum!)

Lil' Red Caboose- A wildberry pina colada (available without alcohol as well).

Click Here to see what is currently on the menu.

The ride can be a bit wobbly at times during the dinner service but the train does stop at some points to prevent spilling during the experience.

Important Note (Dietary Restrictions): Due to having a fixed menu and limited kitchen space, unfortunately, they are unable to accommodate dietary restrictions (allergies, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, etc.). Please check ahead of time before making reservations if you have any questions regarding dietary restrictions. Passengers are not permitted to bring their own food or beverages aboard the train. 

Gratuity: Since the meal is included in the ticket price, the suggested gratuity on each meal is $10 per person and then a 15-20% additional for any drinks ordered. All reservations of 9 or more are required to prepay their gratuity.

Fort Myers Mystery Train Performance

Each passenger is provided a "clue sheet" at the beginning of the trip. Throughout the performance, each person plays "detective" by writing down clues and ideas that they think will help solve the crime. The goal is to not only figure out who committed the murder but their motive as well. Once you have made your decision, the cast members will collect your papers near the end of the trip and whoever guesses correctly will be named "Super Sleuth" of the train car. If more than one person selects correctly, a tie-breaker question will be asked. I have never had the experience of winning the "Super Sleuth" award but if you do win, you will be given a souvenir prize at the end.

At the end of the evening, the train returns to the Colonial Depot in Fort Myers to drop you off at the same place where the adventure began.

Important Note: I think it is important to know before you go that this is not a Broadway performance. The actors are always great but the performance can be a little cheesy at times. So just sit back, relax, and have fun with it.

Thank you for reading all about the Fort Myers Murder Mystery Dinner Train. If you are anything like me, you enjoy the hidden gems just as much as the main attractions when visiting a new place (or revisiting an old place). The dinner train is a unique experience and the perfect spot for an evening out for a date night, get together with friends, or a night out with the family. If you choose to embark on this unique adventure, I would love to hear about your experience!