Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad

We started building an HO scale railroad layout and thought it might be a good idea to do some research on railroads and older buildings. So off we went to Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad in Genesee County. We purchased our tickets in advance on line. Before entering we walked by 2 beautiful gardens. One was a Monarch way station and the other was by Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program. The day we went was the 43rd Annual Railfans weekend. What a fun place to visit 😃. All of the people working there were very friendly and helpful. We walked around and looked inside many of the buildings and were able to obtain lots of information for the model train layout. We also did a scavenger hunt and a little village tour. There were model railroad layout presented by several model railroad clubs. If you get an opportunity to visit, do it! We plan on going back and spending more time in the village and will definitely be taking another train ride on Engine #152.

The town is cute, but let’s be honest, we came for the train ride. We arrived over an hour early to get the caboose for the kids and were told the limit was 10 to 11 people. We even split our group so they could have that magical experience. But the conductor added 12 extra people, cramming the caboose so full that kids were sitting on the floor and standing while the train was moving. It didn’t feel safe, and it definitely wasn’t special anymore. The magic, the joy, and the excitement we came for were completely taken away. Our kids were heartbroken while the conductor focused only on the people he added. What’s the point of giving out caboose passes if they don’t mean anything? The magic was gone the moment that train left the station.

Beautiful day to spend here. My wife and kids had never been before. So many memories were made by them. The people working were friendly, courteous and very helping work information about the buildings and history. Loved being there.

The Halloween event was great! Only thing disappointing is the train was sold out. They said they only run roughly three trains a day. Other than this it was great.

I had a lot of fun here at Crossroads. It was cool and interesting to see all the different shops and exhibits scattered around the place. I espicaly enjoyed the school and the sawmill so I would definitely advise going there. In general, I found it really cool to explore some of the methods of doing things in the past that are just completely different nowadays.

Beautiful place. If you live history this is the place. Every single place inside has a lot of tell you, you will find a host waiting in each one and in a very kind way, They will give you a lot of details of everything there, the older that is the person the better that si the story and kindness. My favorites places were the barber shop, the school, lumber, doctor’s office … anyways you need to see by yourself everything there. People extremely kind.

Perfect size historical village. Train ride was great for everyone, most especially our 3 year old grandson. Wish they would bring back the old wild west show they had along the train route. It added a lot of fun and historical value to the ride.

What a beautiful place. The staff is incredibly kind and helpful. Their joy was infectious and my daughter and I really had such a great time that we want to return and bring others! Keep up the great work!

Ended up at Crossroads Village for a "Ladies Night Out" event. It was a fun evening of shopping, holiday lights, and raffles! They even had a few food trucks, kettle corn, and roasted nuts. Not being from around the area, I didn't realize that rideshares are very hard to get back to the "city" and had to call a cab, but it all worked out fine.

I got to stop by for the opening night of their Christmas program. They have a play in the theater which will be entertaining for little kids, not so much for the big kids over 5. You can walk to each building which are lit up in Christmas lights, to view the history behind each historical place.. Each one has something interesting going on. The school house has a few craft activities where you can sit and take a break from walking around. The bar shop has 3 really cool barber chair dating back to the 1800s. Don't forget to stop by and ride the fastest carousel in the world. There are small businesses vendor inside so don't forget to support them. They have a huge lit up ornament which was a popular attraction in which you can stand inside to get a nice family picture. The line was long so I didn't bother. There's so much to do and I was glad to be back. Around 7pm they sang songs and lit the Christmas tree, then directly after they have a fireworks show. Dress warm!!!! My toes and finger were freezing by the time we left after 3 hours. Winter boots and mittens are a must. It got very cold after the sun went down.

For the price, Huckleberry RR & Crossroads Village is fabulous. We have made it a family tradition to visit at the holidays. We love singing to carols as the train cycles past lights that coordinate. This is super for our six year old and his friends. Make sure to get hot cocoa, hot spiced nuts, etc. while wandering the village. The carousel is worth the walk.

Christmas Buffet was disappointing this year No plates, rolls or salad on arrival. Finally replaced rolls with hamburger buns. The pork was super tough! When it was time for dessert, they had nothing but ice cream. But no spoons! Horrible experience! We have been coming for years and never had any issues.

What can I say ... Thomas The Train, Thomas & Friends Wow. For all you lovers of Thomas & Friends, this is the place. Disneyland/Disneyworld is NOT for boys. Boy who love trains, LOVE Thomas the Train. Indeed. Thomas & Friends I never imagined any of my kids would love Thomas & Friends. Yet here I am. My grandchild loves Thomas. I recommend taking the train ride and visiting the town. You child will love it. This old town also reminds me of "The Walking Dead". LOL. Enjoy yourself, your child WILL. Bring the whole family. Highly Recommended

This is a hidden gem located off the beaten path north of Flint. We stopped in randomly on a Wednesday afternoon and there weren't many people there. We enjoyed a beautiful train ride while the conductor shared bits of history along the way. The village is rich with historical buildings, demonstrating commerce and living in the late 1800's. We have been here in the past to enjoy their Halloween event and my kids beg to come back each year. If you're looking for some screen free time to wander around outdoors, i recommend checking this place out.

Went for Halloween, so well done!! Highly recommend!! Every house was decorated so cute

Do not pass going to this place!! Super cute and super fun! The admission price is a great value, especially if you are comparing it to Greenfield Village. We came on a beautiful fall day and wow! I had no expectations going in and I was very happy by the end of the day! We do not have kids, so we were a little apprehensive about going and looking like the weirdos with no kiddos. However, we felt welcomed and were even given trick-or-treat bags without judgment. Ordering tickets online was easy and without hassle. The drive to Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad was a nice drive and finding the place was no problem. Parking is free. There were two lines - one for advanced tickets and one for needing tickets. You first see the train and it is an amazing site! You cross the tracks and head to the village. The place is decorated with tons of Halloween cut-outs and they do a great job with the village. You are also given a goodie bag to collect your trick-or-treats. Most every house gives candy but one place gives an apple. Took about two hours to get through the whole village but we took our time and enjoyed the sites. The historical buildings were great and if you are into architecture they do not disappoint. I was also surprised to get free cider and donuts! A donut and a cup of cider for each person and both were yummy. The train ride is a couple extra bucks with your ticket but it is worth the price. The higher numbered gates are closer to the front of the train and I suggest trying to sit as close as possible. I say this because the conductor narrates your train ride with the Halloween cut-outs along the journey. We got on the train at gate 4 and were 30-45 seconds behind with the narration and it was a lag. ADA access are lower gate numbers such as 1 and 2. I also suggest sitting in a train car that is enclosed because on a fall day it can get a bit crisp. The train car and the train is also historical and a beautiful thing to see. The train ride is about 40 minutes long and seeing the fall colors via train is great. The train loops, so everything that was on the other side of where you were sitting, you will see. However, I do suggest sitting on the right hand side of the train car as it seems there are more things especially with the conductor's narrating. Once you do the loop they play Halloween music for the ride back. The opera house is a great building but the show we saw was not the greatest. Definitely a kiddie show but hey, we are the ones there without kids so why should I talk? It was 15 minutes long and very Sesame Street with a Halloween theme. A couple songs were sang and that was about it. There is also a vintage style amusement park which is cute but seemed to be just for kids. I will say the 1912 carousel is gorgeous and it also went very fast! Do not skip out on visiting - you will not regret it!

Super fun for Christmas. Family friendly and can be a romantic date night with a significant other. I had fun on the carousel as a grown woman w my fiancé. Lovely train ride with all the Christmas lights. Only complaint is parking kinda blows and so does getting out after everyone gets off the train but overall I recommend this place for Christmas. I'll be back for other holidays and I'll have to check in on here after revisiting!

I've been coming here since I was about 4 years old for the ghost and goodies Halloween attraction and it never gets old. I'm 30 now with little ones of my own and they absolutely love it. Definitely great for family fun.

Fun place for a day trip. My bf is a big train fan and this weekend was the "railfans" weekend, so we went up there today to ride the train and so he could take pictures. It reminded me of a smaller version of Greenfield Village. We didn't get to ride the boat but that looked fun. Admission was very reasonable, $13 each with train ticket (I think $10 each without train ticket). Train was slow but I enjoyed riding it. I'd come back here again if ever in the area, there's not a lot of signage for it but you can use your GPS or whatnot and it should be easy to find.

Love going to this place. It's always fun. Lots to see, lots to do. I plan to go see the Christmas lights this year. I've heard they're spectacular.

Love this place. Staff is always friendly and helpful. The kids love how big it is and like the store. Halloween and Christmas are my favorites but the kids live any time in the summer so they can go on the rides and boat. Great family day.

Best place for the grandkids at Halloween & Christmas. Just get your train ride & village tickets ahead of time for those rides; they fill up FAST.

A nice look into the past with some fun rides. It's like an outside museum! I haven't been in quite a few years so I am not sure if much has changed. I remember a petting zoo and seeing llamas. The train ride was always the highlight. Walking through old schools. Watching butter be churned. It's it's own vibe.

Such a fun experience for the entire family. I have been many times and I never get tired of going. There is always something fun happening no matter what season. Summer and spring bring about nicer weather and you can easily spend the entire day walking around and enjoying the different buildings and exhibits. Make sure to check out the cider mill, theater and old mill. Many workers are demonstrating what life was like for them back in the 1800's. In the fall they have trick or treating available for kids of all ages, and don't forget the fresh doughnuts and hot apple cider. Christmas time is especially exciting with carolers singing classic Christmas music and the village lit up with lights. The Huckleberry Railroad train ride is an exiting trip you can take while you are visiting and available all year round. They also have rides on the Genesee Belle riverboat during the summer season that tour Genesee on Mott Lake. I cannot recommend a visit here enough! Seriously so much fun and activities for every age. A must see!

We love crossroads village, had a wonderful evening with my daughters on Ladies night out

We visited for Halloween and did the steam train ride with our kids then spent a good hour+ walking around doing trick or treating and various activities. We missed the magic show but there was a decent amount of activities. The train ride was ~35 minutes and showed some scenes along the tracks while someone narrated.

If you go make sure it's one of the special days of the year that the steam engine is running. Most days just a diesel. Could find no mention of a diesel engine on website, but their steam engines are heavily promoted. You can't even view the steam engines. Definitely not worth the drive to Flint.

Aren't we spoiled for choice when it comes to restored and preserved historical buildings? We can clamber up into Edison's labs or sit under an 18th century windmill at Greenfield Village. Raining? Oh, let's just traipse through 300 years in the Streets of Detroit at the historical museum. Then there's Crossroads Village, which gives a glimpse to city and rural life outside the Tri-County area. An hour north in an attractive parklike setting around Flint, Crossroads Village all but steps out of time in a forested setting around a lake. My first visit, I could hardly believe how close to the city we were. Park rangers and police direct traffic into the ample parking lots that fill up shockingly quick during any special event throughout the year. Visit on "Thomas the Tank Engine" Day or the spooky Hallowe'en train rides days to see how many people know about this lovely gem. Tickets in advance are essential for your peace of mind and guaranteed admission. The 1990s-era website processes tickets reasonably well and overcrowding is rarely a problem, but selling out on a beautiful autumn day frequently is. Leave plenty of time for parking and walking; as noted above, you might be in a long hike to the ticket booths and a line even for prepurchased tickets. Is it worth the trouble? Definitely. The Huckleberry Railroad is a scenic trip in an 1890s steam engine around the periphery of the park, offering great views in tiny seats comfortable only to our children. I hate to think how tiny my 19th-century counterpart had to be to wedge herself in there, let alone worry about her bustle. Nothing makes you want to diet faster than being squashed into a tiny seat with a wiggly toddler. The views and narration are fantastic, and the speed slow enough for little ones to really get excited about the next rattling bend on the rails. Strollers aren't permitted on the train. Conductors and staff help load everyone on and off quite efficiently, and a broad sweep of stroller parking helps everyone find their ride at the end. The village itself hosts several different buildings from 1800 to the 20th century, ranging from a functioning printing press that might distribute cards at given times of the year to a lovely theatre and a working blacksmith. Definitely wander out to the cider mill in apple season to purchase beverages made while you watch, and destroy any tween's perception that everything in the village can be found at the grocery store. The flour mill does a fine job reminding them how lucky we are for mechanized factories, too, and you can pick up flour ground on site for a neat souvenir. Farm animals are usually found in the paddock and placid cows accept friendly nose rubs and pats from overly enthusiastic little hands -- when supervised -- most of the year. A trip up the steep slope (keep the buggy at the bottom) into the barn reveals some really impressive old-fashioned cars, sleighs, and a "fire truck" that makes me grateful for any sort of modern trappings and conveniences. Imagine hauling that thing out at 3 AM in a Michigan winter. No thank you! A somewhat overpriced cafe hawks cocoa (usually hot) and coffee; sandwiches; and the occasional burger or ice cream if you didn't think to bring your own meals. Try to avoid purchasing anything here or in the white pavilion unless you are prepared for the high cost, given it's a captive market. Food quality is meh at the best of times. The back end of the village features a paddlewheeler that wanders around the lake, a ferris wheel suitable for bigger kids, and a vintage merry-go-round. The merry-go-round is gorgeous and sumptuously decorated, and operates at absolutely breakneck speeds that left my little one clinging to Daddy and a horse in terror, my husband clutching a horse for dear life, and my adult cousin practically thrown off her steed because her feet didn't reach to the stirrups. (She's 5'6".) Years of equestrian practice did not prepare me for those jaunty horses zooming around at 20 mph or whatever craziness ensued. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would my kiddo? Not on your life. (Not until he's 5'7" at least, probably.)

It's a very wknderful place to go to with the whole family. I also remember going to it when I was a kid and when I had my own kids got to be able to go on a field trip with my kids. Love that they also have it open for the special events and holidays.

Christmas time at Huckleberry Railroad and Crossroads Village is something that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. The beauty of the light displays, the atmosphere of people in the holiday spirit, and the joy walking in the Michigan outdoors in winter (better in years when there is snow). Tips: buy tickets ahead of time at their website so you can make sure a train ride time is available. Be sure to visit Santa, the Carousel, the Church, and the Schoolhouse to name just a few neat things to see. The coaches on the train when full tend to have fogged Windows during cold weather and busy nights so be aware of this. Check online or by calling ahead to see what attractions will be available for your visit. That's the best recommendation I can give.

We traveled an hour from Detroit to visit the railroad only to discover they were filming a movie and were closed to the public! I had spent weeks prior planning our trip to Detroit from Orlando. I visited Huckleberry Railroad's website numerous times and NO WHERE did it mention they would be closed. When we asked the gate attendant she said it was on the Genessee County website. Well, great, why wouldn't they have it on THEIR website?!?! It especially sucked because we drove all that way with our two year old and a car full of relatives. My son LOVES trains and we had even dressed him in his Halloween costume (he is going to be a train conductor). We were so sad and disappointed in Huckleberry Railroad and Genesse County. Two BIG thumbs down.

We had a great time here recently for the Halloween at Crossroads. It was just stunning to see the amount of Halloween specific hand made decorations all over the village and the train route. Just amazing. The people went out of their way to be friendly and we just had a really good day there, even with our two dogs that were allowed in the village (but not on the train or boat or inside buildings). During the paddle boat cruise on the Genesee Belle we were invited inside the heated cabin with the captain. He showed us the controls of the boat and allowed the young member of our group to sit up on the chair and "steer" the boat. Very friendly and accommodating. You can tell the people here love their jobs and believe in the park. The carousel ride was great, $1.25 to ride the authentic 1912 attraction, playing "Ghost Busters" on the old time band organ. The magic show was pretty good (for kids) in the old theater. I was more impressed with the theater itself. And even more impressed with the made on-site kettle corn (purchased on the main street). We were very happy with the value received on the entry price. $16 for entry to the village, a ride on the beautiful Huckleberry Railroad and a boat tour on the Genesee Belle, and a bag full of candy from the 20 or so trick or treating stops in the village. This is a great place to bring kids for Halloween, most we saw were dressed in costume (and this was on 10/30) All in all I highly recommend Crossroads as a great way to spend a day/night before Halloween. This is going to become our annual family tradition. Bring Cash!

This place is so fun! I recently went with my nephews and niece who are all under the age of 5 and they loved it! My one nephew is obsessed with trains, so the fact he could go on cute scenic train ride was just awesome to him. The train ride itself is good. The workers there are all dressed in character and are so nice. The ride was approximately 35 minutes long which was perfect for the little ones. They played music and had tons of pretty Christmas decorations and lights along the route. The village itself was also very cute. Lots of old style shops and train stores, general stores, and a carousel. They had kettle corn a brewing, and a pretty house with Santa taking pictures, a real live reindeer, and carolers! The kids, and even the adults loved it. What a great experience for the youngins, and just something different and fun to do on a weekend night.

The train ride was nice but the rest left more to be desired. We drove 70 miles to find out the boat ride was closed. It was not posted on website and has been down all summer

Pretty decent for family fun and young ones. The train ride is really awesome. We were charged for the boat ride even though they didn't even have it up and running and wouldnt refund us. I thought that was pretty wrong of them to do. Hopefully if I return again with my little one, they won't be charging us for extra things that they don't even have to offer that day.

When I was younger, I used to dread coming here. It was a touristy thing my family would do together whenever we wanted to show a visiting relative things to do around the Flint area. I may get a talking-to for saying this, but as a kid, I found this place to be incredibly dull. Take this quote from their website and it should sum it up for you: "In this peaceful setting, they have been preserved, furnished and put back into use, so you can experience first-hand what life was like in a small village in Michigan in the late 1800." This is where we would go on school field trips, as well. It was probably very informative, and I probably was taught a lot about Michigan history, but nothing sank in, I was bored out of my mind, and I'm sure I would have much rather been shown around some real gritty places. I feel like it would have made a more lasting impression on me if I talked to actual people who worked in the factories or were in picket lines, or experienced the riots in Detroit. That kind of stuff. This is a great place to visit if you are an anachronist or history buff, because they have people dressed up in full costume pretending they are from the 1800s and early 1900s. You can go up to them and ask them questions while they are in character. You can probably actually have a lot of fun with that if you ask the right questions, come to think of it. Huckleberery Junction isn't that great either, because it is the slowest train EVER. According to the site, it is called "huckleberry" because it goes so slow that you can jump off the train, pick some berries, and jump back on again. Whoopee. The only thing I would be remotely interested in now would be riding on their boat because I love the water.

What a lovely way to start the holiday season! We took a ride on Huckleberry Railroad to see the Christmas lights and then toured the village. My niece and a few other little ones on board the train were completely enchanted to see Santa waving to them from his workshop. Seriously? They make a dude in a Santa suit stand out in the cold in Michigan winters just to wave at a train that goes by every 10 minutes or so. Yes. Yes, they do. And it's pretty great. If you aren't a local, you'll want to take a GPS with you to find the Village, but it is well worth the trip. You guys. YOU GUYS.... I had my picture taken with a reindeer.

Not fun, really boring It could be fun if they put some real holiday decorations in. They look like they were donated by the local kindergarten. It's not for kids over 6years old.

Growing up 1 county over, Crossroads Village was a frequent stop for school field trips and the like. Fast forward 30 years I recently took a trip with family for the Halloween Train and experienced not just a historical step back in time with the period specific attractions, but also a step back into my own childhood as it seemed like nothing has changed since then. Walking the grounds with my own son during the Halloween Season and riding the old Huckleberry Railroad, I can only hope that he can one day say the same thing about this place as it is a timeless place where it seems that time slows down and you can enjoy time with family at your own pace.

I absolutely love this place! It's such a great environment for the entire family. A great learning experience for children and adults while having fun too. There are many interactive buildings and villagers that make this village seem like you are really a part of the early 1800's. I enjoy visiting the old carousal and the schoolhouse were my favorites. Also, we took a ride on the old fashioned train and recommend you do the same if you visit. This is one of the most enjoyable family fun places to visit in Genesee County!

This a very family-friendly place to just relaxe ride a steam train ride a paddle wheel boat see a steam sawmill a cider mill a grist mill for very lottle money

Very cool to for the family to check out. Takes you back to the olden days. The locomotive from 1920 is a sight to see.

We went to Thomas the train day. It was a toddler paradise! A full size Thomas engine pulled the train and my son thought it was amazing. He got a Thomas tattoo we enjoyed the bubbles and bounce house and he had a blast playing with the train sets. I would definitely come back for this or even for a more chill trip without all the extras. Beautiful park and great staff.

Genesee County Park Huckleberry Railroad in Crossroads Villa an amusement park in Genesee County year-round fun

This is a hidden gem in Flint. Great place to take the kids and learn some fun history. During Christmas the place in incredibly decorated.

We went to the Halloween special they had. Everyone was all dressed up and their were 20 spots where you could get candy and treats. Their gift shop was nice. The train ride was okay. There was a lot of decorations to see.

Waste of money! We just spent $45 to ride a train. All restaurants were closed so in order to feed the grandkids we had to leave. The place was overrun with school field trips and the staff was focused on them alone. If that is their priority, they should close to the general public or post a sign that restaurants are closed. We were very disappointed as we had fond memories of visiting with our kids. Don't waste time or money folks!

I've taken my family here half a dozen times over the past 15 years and we still enjoy it. We typically go during special seasonal occasions, such as Christmas, Fourth of July, Halloween, etc. We enjoy the train and boat ride, and the theater. Went on the train ride this past weekend, and enjoyed the Halloween theme. The train is an authentic antique steam powered locomotive, which is very cool. We also went to the magic show at the theater. The show was really too short, lasted about 15 minutes total. My 5 yo was loving it, but when it ended within 15 minutes he cried. Even just another 10 minutes would have been much better. This is not a high-energy theme park by any standard. We enjoy it for a few hours and leave. It's great for taking kids for some entertainment but there isn't enough for kids to spend a day there. The fireworks on the 4th are really nice, too. We go here once every 2 to 4 years. It really hasn't changed much over the years. We will probably go back for the Christmas train ride, since my 4 yo hasn't experienced it yet. He'll like that for sure.

We are from California and were in Michigan visiting family for the holidays. We wanted to do something fun with our 3 year old daughter and Grandma for Christmas. I found the Crossroads Village Christmas train online and thought it sounded fun. We had a blast! We took the 5:00 train and my daughter thought it was the best thing ever. It had just snowed and the lights and snow where magical! Such an amazing deal too! We loved seeing Santa in his house and the real life reindeer. Pic for free! We also enjoyed the little Christmas play they put on every hour at the Opera house. All the employees were dressing in period clothing and very friendly. We also bought the Christmas buffet dinner and it was ok. Some things were better than others. Very good deal though. They sold fresh kettle corn on the sidewalk and roasted almonds in one of the buildings. My only problem was how cold it was! Bring your snow clothes! Walking around at night between the beautiful buildings admiring the lights in the snow is hard when you are freezing. :) Wish we lived closer so I could go every year. I can't recommend this experience enough for the little ones. My daughter was on cloud nine!

We recently went here for the first time and were surprised at how nice this park is. It's clean, nicely kept, and the people working there are very friendly and know everything about the items in the park. We had a great time and learned a lot about the park. Many of the structures are original and you can tour them yourself at your own pace. Shops, houses, and other things make the town complete. There are demos going on mostly between 11-3 in the town, for various things like lumber cutting and cider making. There are also a preserved carousel and ferris wheel from the early 1900's. The train ride is excellent. The conductor was very informative and very friendly. We learned that the passenger cars are some of the few available today that are preserved as they were back when they were used. And by preserved I mean with the original hardware. We were able to get up close and the engineer also talked to us to tell us about the engine which was from 1903. All in all, the park is very well run, and we'll definitely be going back. You can spend an entire day there if you tour through the village and catch the rides.