It’s a star spangled observance of America’s 250th birthday on the Abilene and Smoky Valley’s dinner train, the Smoky Valley Limited. On Saturday, June 6, our nation’s 82nd observance of D-Day, we honor the brave men and women who fought in World War II under the command of Abilene’s favorite son, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. We’ll pay tribute to service men and women everywhere with our special reenactment of the United Service Organizations’ special USO shows. Erin Fox and John Robison of Lawrence, Kansas, who, along with pianist Mike Shurtz, will provide the songs, the laughter and the spirit of USO-style entertainment, made famous by Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and over 7,000 USO entertainers who over time have traveled to all corners of the world to inspire morale and give our soldiers a link to life back home. And on June 6, we help usher in the 2026 Great Plains Theater season’s matinee premier of “Guys and Dolls.” Theater goers can purchase a special theater and dinner train package on the A&SV’s Smoky Valley Limited. Call the GPT box office at 785-263-4574 to make your theater package reservations. We’ve reserved our Eveland Creek car for theater goers, while our general dinner guests will dine in the Chicago and Enterprise cars which can be purchased here online. Our menu for all three cars features another mid-American tradition, pan-fried chicken from the Brookville Hotel in Abilene. pan fried chicken from Abilene’s Brookville Hotel. Jeff and Veronica Higgins present Brookville’s classic chicken, with mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, and a cold plate featuring the traditional pickles, sweet and sour coleslaw, and peaches. And for dessert: Brookville’s classic homemade ice cream. Coffee, tea and water will accompany the meal, and popular soft drinks, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Our train trip begins at 6:00 p.m. as we depart Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot, for a two-hour journey across the Smoky Hill River Valley with a stop at the Hoffman Mill and General Store in Enterprise, Kansas. Join us for a great celebration of everything Abilene on the Abilene and Smoky Valley, the Kansas Heritage Railroad!
