Birthdays
Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions
Download Party Fact Sheet
As if having a birthday wasn't cool enough already, having your birthday party here at the Valley Park (St. Louis) location of Whittle Shortline Railroad will make it even more memorable.
As the guest of honor, your little engineer will receive his or her very own birthday boxcar. Plus, you and 15 of your friends will have a mammoth train table and room all to yourselves.
For more information, keep reading. Or download our birthday party fact sheet and order form by clicking here.
You're also welcome to talk to our birthday party planners all week long during regular business hours by simply calling 636.861.3334.
The Basics
At Whittle, we do everything in our power to make your little engineer's day special for everyone! Our standard 90-minute party accommodates 16 children, includes:
- Dual rooms (festivity area and train table area)
- Whittle Shortline Conductor to guide your party
- Room for 16 children, including birthday child/guest of honor
- Game of "Steam Engine Piñata" or "Hot Engine" (similar to "Hot Potato")
- Personalized birthday boxcar for birthday child/guest of honor
- Party invitations (15)
- All adults welcome
To get started, simply:
- Select a date and time. 90-minute birthday parties take place exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays. Choose from 7 available time slots every weekend.
- Choose a birthday boxcar for the guest of honor. Personalized birthday boxcars come in green, blue or pink.
- Download a Birthday Party Fact Sheet & Order Form. Add lunch or cake to the festivities. Choose party favors. Even order food for the adults. Then, once you have all the information, give us a call and we do all the work.
- Call us 636.861.3334 to reserve your room with a deposit and ask any remaining questions. Once most of the details are finalized, we will send you a packet of blank party invitations.
What To Expect
Guests gather on the main level at The Frisco Hotel. Once you all or enough people are there to get going, let your Whittle Conductor know.
Then, the fun starts with a train whistle - of course - that lets everybody know it's time to go upstairs and begin.
Parties begin with whichever game you booked our rooms. Next, the conductor brings the children to the table for cake and lunch if that is something you selected.
From there, the conductor gathers the children into a circle for gift opening. By that time that is over, the natives are typically getting restless, and it's time to head over to the other room, where a 14-foot-long train table is waiting just for your party.
This is where everybody stays until the party is over, and where parents should expect to pick up their kids. At that point, your group is welcome to move the merriment down to the main level, home of even more train tables. However, at that point, birthday activities (cake/gifts/party games/etc.) are prohibited.
The Rules
- Birthday child/guest of honor must be between the ages of 1 and 6 years old.
- Rooms are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Birthday party times are not considered fully-booked until full payment is received.
- Party room fees are non-refundable. However, if you need to postpone within four weeks of your party date, we will make every attempt to accommodate your request.
- Decorative balloons in our facilities must be weighted.
- Parties are limited to a maximum of 16 guests, excluding adults.
- No alcoholic beverages are allowed.
