All Aboard

‘DK Express’ hits the rails at Dairy King

BY COLIN MERRY
Contributing Writer

The DK Express awaits its first passengers under the covered bridge through which it travels. According to Dairy King Co-owner Karen Walters, the train began booking passengers last weekend. Photo By Colin Merry

BEULAH - A local roadside destination for summer treats and fun will soon be adding train rides to the menu next to soft serve and ice-cream sundaes.

The Dairy King, located in Beulah along US-31, will be booking passengers on the “DK Express,” children’s ride featuring an electrically-operated train. According to Karen Walters, who owns the Dairy King with her husband, Dave, the new children’s ride will follow a small oval track behind their establishment, passing under a covered wooden bridge.

“The train is about 30 feet and features an engine, two passenger cars and a caboose,” she said. “It’s mainly for children, but we’ll say it’s for ‘children of all ages.’”

Tickets to ride the DK Express will cost travelers $1. Aside from getting a ride, children will also be able to ring the train’s bell (as opposed to a whistle).

As to why the Walters decided to get into the rail business, Karen said it was a decision made last year after a well-attended year-end celebration at the Dairy King featuring free pony rides for area children.

“We had an end-of-the-year celebration; kind of a thank you to the community,” Walters said. “We had free pony rides, which the kids really liked. On the way home, Dave said he would have to figure out what to do next to top it.”



Reviving history

Walters said her husband decided a train ride would be a safe bet. She also said some of her patrons have mentioned a similar train used to be on the Dairy King property in the past.

Passengers on the DK Express might be interested in the Dairy King’s menu, which according to Walters, features a wide variety of hand-dipped and soft serve ice cream selections, as well as sundaes, flurries, shakes and malts. Lunch items such as hot dogs, chicken strips, and hamburgers are also available.

According to Walters, she and her husband bought the business in April of last year. Since then, she said she has been delighted to learn how much area residents and visitors look forward to the Dairy King opening each summer.

“We’ve found out a lot of people remember coming here as kids, either as a resident of the area or on summer vacations,” Walters said. “They are glad to bring their kids and grandchildren here.”

Walter’s said she and her husband plan on keeping the tradition going.

“We want people to come down here with their families and come on down here for a good time,” she said.



For more information on the Dairy King, including hours of operation and a menu, visit the Web site at www.mydairyking.com.