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An Indiana Christmas Train Ride In La Porte!

Published: November 14, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Nestled in rural northern Indiana, just south of the Michigan border and about an hour east of Chicago, the Hesston Steam Museum sits on 155 scenic acres and offers a timeless rail-and-steam powered retreat.

For railroad and steam-equipment enthusiasts, and for families looking for a special seasonal outing, the museum offers a superb blend of vintage machines, live demonstrations, rolling stock, and charming event programming. Among its standout events each year is the seasonal Santa’s Candy Cane Express, a holiday-themed train ride and festive morning-to-afternoon experience that turns the museum grounds into a winter wonderland of steam, nostalgia and fun for all ages.

In the following article we’ll explore the museum’s heritage, what to expect on the grounds throughout the year, and then take a deep dive into this Christmas-season event, including tips for timing your visit, ticketing, and making the most of the festive atmosphere.

Museum Origins & Heritage

The Hesston Steam Museum is operated by the La Porte County Historical Steam Society, Inc., a volunteer-run non-profit.

Its focus is preserving steam-powered motion: traction engines, sawmills, vintage farm equipment, and four different gauge railroads running across the grounds.

The museum dates back to the 1950s when local steam buffs began collecting engines and equipment, organizing shows, and gradually building the site into what it is today. According to its Wikipedia page, the main site evolved with significant land purchase between 1965 and 1968, and the society was formally chartered in 1968.

Visitors stepping into Hesston will often say it’s “not your typical stuffy museum”—instead, it invites you to walk into an era long past, where giant machines powered factories, moved mountains, fed the countryside or entertained folks via rail.

The Grounds & Main Attractions

The museum is located at 1201 E 1000 N, La Porte, Indiana. The site is expansive and includes:

• Multiple railroads of different track gauge (narrow gauge and standard) allowing steam locomotives to run for rider experiences.
• Historic steam-traction engines, a sawmill powered by a Uniflow steam engine, and other stationary exhibits.
• On-site amenities such as Doc’s Soda Fountain (a nostalgic soda-shop café) and a gift shop; visitors can enjoy lunch or snacks while watching the trains.
• Seasonal events throughout the year: the major summer “Steam & Power Show,” Halloween-themed ghost train rides, and in winter the holiday train event. The calendar lists “Santa’s Candy Cane Express” in early December. 

Because the museum is mostly outdoors and built around large vintage equipment, it’s best visited in good weather, though the holiday event does still run in colder months (weather permitting). It’s ideal for families, railfans, and folks seeking something a little off the beaten path.

Enter the Holiday Season: Santa’s Candy Cane Express

When the calendar turns to December, Hesston switches gears from summer steam roars to holiday cheer. The Santa’s Candy Cane Express is the marquee event of the season.

What the Event Offers

• Train rides: The museum runs their railroad trains on frequent departures between noon and 4 p.m. (Central Time) on the event days.

• No general admission fee: Entry to the grounds is free, though train rides require tickets. Parking is also free. 

• Santa in the caboose: One of the special touches is the opportunity to visit Santa Claus aboard a real railroad caboose—a memorable photo-op and part of the ride program.

• Festive extras: Hot cocoa at Doc’s Soda Fountain, snacks and meals starting earlier in the day, holiday ambiance—all designed to capture a “nostalgic children’s Christmas” feel.

• Toy donation incentive: Some event listings note that bringing a toy (worth $5 or more) for donation (e.g., to Toys for Tots) will get you a free train ticket.

• The event typically runs on select weekends in early December—often the first two weekends or similar.

• Example: Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hesston Steam Museum. 

• Trains depart at frequent intervals (weather permitting). Check the museum site for schedule updates. 

• Because it’s winter, dress warmly. The rails run outdoors; though the caboose and indoor spaces offer brief relief, much of the experience is in the elements.

What distinguishes Santa’s Candy Cane Express from generic holiday train rides:

• The setting is authentic: steam locomotives, historic rail equipment, vintage ride experience.
• It’s run by volunteers with genuine steam- and railroad-enthusiast roots, giving the event a lived-in authenticity rather than purely commercial glitz.
• Because entry is free and parking free, it’s accessible; the main cost is ride tickets, making it family-friendly.
• The environment is relaxed: frequent departures, no rigid seating assignments, which helps for families with young children.
• The toy donation drive adds a community/service angle, helping take the event beyond just ride fun.

Final Thoughts

For families, rail-fans and anyone looking for a holiday outing with a twist of authenticity, the Hesston Steam Museum’s Santa’s Candy Cane Express delivers. It blends the wonder of historic steam-railroading, the joy of a festive seasonal event, and the charm of a volunteer-powered, lesser-known attraction that doesn’t feel over-commercialized.

Whether you ride the train with Santa, sip cocoa in the soda fountain, pop into the caboose for a photo, or simply wander among the steam engines and historic equipment, you’ll find a visit that’s more than the sum of its parts. It’s an experience where the past and the holiday spirit converge—on steel rails, in crisp winter air, surrounded by machinery that once powered farms and factories and now powers memories.

If you’re planning a trip, check the museum’s website for the current year’s dates, departure times, and any special offers. And if you go, dress warm, bring your camera, and perhaps a toy donation—then you’ll be ready for the ride of the season.