This past holiday season, Pensacola Winterfest brought its “Winterfest Express” miniature train to downtown Pensacola's historic streets. Visitors and locals immediately fell in love with the mini-train, and thus, the idea for an after-Christmas train experience—Winterfest’s Orange Blossom Special—was born.

The conductor pulls up to the Pensacola Children’s Museum in downtown Pensacola every Saturday from May-Nov., with rides departing every 30 minutes beginning at 10am. Tickets are $5 each for children and include one free adult ride. 

Back in 1925, the life-sized original Orange Blossom Special was the brainchild of S. Davis Warfield, who wanted to capitalize on booming development in Florida at the time. Warfield believed Florida was a land of opportunity, and that with fast, luxurious trains he could lure influential business leaders to the Sunshine State. Spurred by the success of Henry Flagler and his rival Florida East Coast Railway in attracting travelers, Warfield launched his train, and the Orange Blossom Special became famous in its own right, renowned for its speed and luxury. 

While Winterfest’s Orange Blossom Special isn’t quite as fast as the original, the train ride is sure to cool you down from the summer’s heat and bring a smile to your little one’s face!