Dinner on the Diner

Dinner on the Diner event is coming up on Friday and Saturday evening, July 11 & 12, 2025, in Jonesborough. Tennessee’s oldest town. Proceeds from ticket sales will help fund the restoration program of Watauga Valley’s historic rail passenger cars, and to fund new exhibits and educational experiences at the Chuckey Depot Museum.

The museum is housed in the former Southern Railway train depot, which the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum (WVRHS&M), the town of Jonesborough, and the Heritage Alliance partnered to relocate and preserve. The Moultrie Dining Car reflects the golden years of passenger train travel. Originally owned by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL), it operated between New York City and Miami until 1971. In 1971 Amtrak took over passenger train operations on the ACL and operated it until 1982. Purchased by the WVRHS&M in 1989, the Moultrie was mechanically upgraded and the interior restored.

Please note: the Moultrie Dining Car will be in the rail yard on static display and will not move. The Moultrie was built before the American with Disabilities Act, and due to their historic significance and age, they are exempt from ADA Compliance requirements. Please consider suitability when ordering tickets. Dinner will be served at 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Diners may choose a table for two or four. Parties with fewer than four will be seated with other diners. You must pick a seating time and an entrée option when purchasing tickets. Option 1: Oven Fried Chicken; Option 2: Spiral Sliced Ham; Option 3: Vegetarian Pasta Primavera. A Pasta Dish made with Corkscrew Pasta accompanied by Garden Fresh Vegetables Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Asparagus, Peppers, Tomatoes in a Butter Garlic Sauce Garnished with Parsley and Fresh Parmesan The chicken and ham entrees are served with rosemary roasted potatoes and green beans and served with salad. All meals include your dessert selection from an assortment of cakes.

Due to limited parking at the rail yard, all patrons will park at the Jonesborough Senior Center, 307 E. Main St., and be shuttled a short distance to and from the dining cars at no charge. Please dress casually for comfort while boarding, dining. Come enjoy this dining experience! You cannot find anything like it anywhere else in East Tennessee or Southwest Virginia.

All tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $57.00 per person and are available at the Jonesborough Visitors’ Center, located at 117 Boone St., or by calling [423] 753-1010, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.jonesboroughtn.org.