Charlotte Trolley, Inc. offers a curriculum-aligned "Live & Learn" program at your school or at the Atherton Mill Trolley Barn. This program has several units and can be modified to fit children from ages Pre-K to third grade. In addition, we offer kid-friendly guided tours of the historic streetcar neighborhood of Dilworth.

At this time, the vintage trolley service from South End to the Center City is suspended, until construction for the light rail/trolley service is completed in 2007. Our education programs are still in full swing though and we are eager to work with you to create the best programs at our facility or yours! Charlotte Trolley can still arrange Gold Rush shuttle buses from Atherton Mill through Center City, in conjunction with our "Live & Learn" program.

At Charlotte Trolley, we know how challenging it can be to schedule a field trip, so we'll work with you every step of the way! Start by contacting our community coordinator, Sheila Causieestko at [email protected] or 704-375-0871. She can answer all your questions and schedule your educational programs.

Here are some guidelines and suggestions that other teachers and parents have found helpful when bringing school groups to Charlotte Trolley.


Scheduling Your Visit

Timing Your Visit

• Find directions to the Trolley Barn here on our website.
• Unload your bus just in front of the Trolley Barn, then park your bus at the "top" of our parking lot, near South Boulevard.
• Gold Rush shuttles leave Atherton Mill Trolley Barn on the hour and half-hour. Be on time - they cannot wait for you! If you are late, call Sheila to determine whether there is availability on a later shuttle bus. The Live & Learn program, if conducted at the Trolley Barn on the day of your visit, lasts 30-45 minutes (depending on the age of your students).
• A round-trip shuttle bus ride lasts 50 minutes. You and your students may disembark at any of the Bus Stops, or you may ride round-trip and return to Atherton Mill. Find a map of the Trolley Corridor here on our website.

What Works Best

• Students should wear nametags.
• The Trolley Barn is cool in the winter, hot in the summer. Please make sure your students dress appropriately!
• A Gold Rush shuttle bus accommodates 28 students + chaperones. If your group is larger than 28, it may be possible to split them into groups to ride on multiple shuttle buses.
• We recommend 2 adults for every group of 20 children.
• No food/beverages are allowed on the Trolley.
• There are bathrooms and water fountains at the Trolley Museum.
• Sheila can recommend nearby lunch options for you.

Fares & Payment

• If we bring "Live & Learn" programs to your school, the cost is $60 for the first presentation and $15 for additional presentations on the same day. We recommend no more than two classrooms of students be combined for each presentation (1-55 students). Presentations are approximately 45 minutes long.
• Student groups pay $4 per person (adult or child) for "Live & Learn" programs at Atherton Mill. This fee includes the program and the shuttle bus ride.
• Dilworth walking tours can be scheduled Monday-Friday throughout the day. Each tour is 45-60 minutes. $60 each group. Multiple tours can be arranged to accommodate larger numbers of students. Students can off-load and eat lunch at Latta Park.
• You may pay for educational program fees on the day they are delivered or we can invoice your school.