The Chronicle: June 13, 2025

Lewis County’s historic railroad system has long been a beloved tourist attraction, but riders can now experience the tracks from a different perspective: in a pedal-powered open-air rail car.

In partnership with the Centralia-Chehalis Railroad and Museum, Joy Rails is now offering scenic rail bike excursions on five miles of track along the Chehalis River.

“We are so excited about Joy Rails coming here to Chehalis,” Joy Rails Marketing Manager Macie Hefron said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, June 10, to celebrate the start of its first season in Chehalis. “ … It is such a fun family activity, allowing all ages and all abilities to ride out here on the railroad tracks. It’s just going to be a super fun adventure, it’s going to be beautiful this summer, and it’s a perfect way to get out there.”

Joy Rails, a rail bike company, opened its first location in Coquille, Oregon, in the spring of 2024 and has been working with the Centralia-Chehalis Railroad and Museum over the last year to establish its second location in Chehalis.

Read more in the Chronicle’s article, “Joy Rails Welcomes Riders to New Chehalis Railroad Attraction.”