Tickets to the Polar Express tend to sell out quickly. Photo: Courtesy of N.C. Transportation Museum
One of North Carolina's most beloved holiday traditions is also an economic engine.
By the numbers: The N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer had a record $31.1 million economic impact last year, driven in large part by its annual Polar Express.
Nearly 93,000 passengers climbed aboard for the Polar Express in 2025, which was another record.
What we're watching: Tickets for the Polar Express will go on sale in early June, an N.C. Transportation Museum spokesperson tells Axios.
