The Polar Express at Dennison: Where to Stay and What to Do in Tuscarawas County

Every November and December, the Dennison Depot runs its Polar Express train, and it pulls families from all over the state to this corner of eastern Ohio. We host a restored family cottage a few minutes away in Uhrichsville, and every year the same question comes up: how do we plan it, and where do we stay when the hotels are thin? Here is the local answer.

The Polar Express at the Dennison Depot

The ride is based out of the historic Dennison Railroad Depot, a real World War Two era landmark, about five minutes from the cottage. It sells out. Tickets go on sale well ahead of the season and the popular evening slots go first, so book the train before you book anything else, then plan the trip around your ride time. Dress the kids in pajamas, it is part of the fun.

Make a weekend of it

The depot ride is a couple of hours, so build the rest of the weekend around Tuscarawas County:

• Dennison Railroad Depot Museum (5 min) is worth a daytime visit on its own for the WWII canteen history.
• Warther Museum in Dover (about 20 min) is a world-famous wood and ivory carving collection, genuinely one of a kind.
• Zoar Village (about 15 min) is a preserved historic German settlement, good for a walk and some local history, especially decorated for the holidays.
• Downtown Uhrichsville and Dover / New Philadelphia (2 to 15 min) cover the cafes, diners, groceries, and shops you will actually need.

Amish Country is close

Ohio's Amish Country around Berlin and Walnut Creek sits roughly thirty to forty-five minutes west, so a day trip for the bakeries, cheese houses, and furniture shops pairs naturally with a Tuscarawas County stay. It is a nice, slow contrast to a busy Polar Express evening.

Beyond the holidays

The area is not only a December trip. The Tuscarawas County Fair runs in the warmer months and is one of Ohio's good old-fashioned county fairs, minutes from the cottage. And because hotel options here are limited, the cottage is a steady base for wedding guests, contractors, and remote workers year round, with a desk, fast WiFi, and laundry for longer stays.

Getting here

Uhrichsville is about forty-five minutes from Canton and roughly an hour and a half from Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, so it is an easy drive for a weekend from any of them. Most visitors get around by car once they arrive.