Lexington Park to Feature Vintage Boxcar Café

Lexington, Ky. – A unique dining experience is set to emerge at Gatton Park on the Town Branch with the introduction of a vintage boxcar café. This project, funded by a generous donation from the R.J. Corman Railroad Group, is currently under construction and is anticipated to be completed by late summer or early fall of 2025.

The café will occupy a 1,750-square-foot vintage boxcar, measuring 53 feet by 13 feet, positioned behind the park’s amphitheater. Visitors can expect a variety of seasonal grab-and-go options alongside quick-serve hot and cold food and beverages. Ed Quinn III, President and CEO of R.J. Corman, expressed the company’s desire to contribute to the park’s development, stating, “Our history is rooted in this land, and we wanted to be a part of the next exciting chapter being built on this space.”

Designed by NOMI Design, a firm known for its innovative transformations of unique spaces, the boxcar café aims to blend historical elements with modern artistic expressions. Allison Lankford, executive director of the park, remarked, “Returning the vintage boxcar back to this location is another way that Gatton Park on the Town Branch is celebrating the history of this site.” The café will serve as a central gathering point where community members can come together for meals and relaxation.

In a further step to enhance the café’s visual appeal and community engagement, Gatton Park is issuing a Call for Artists to create murals on all four sides of the boxcar. Interested artists can submit their qualifications until January 6, 2025, providing a platform for local craftsmanship to shine.

The combination of the boxcar’s original features, alongside a vibrant contemporary mural by a local artist, is expected to establish the café as a distinct destination within the park. With its emphasis on community connection, food, and creativity, Gatton Park aims to redefine how visitors experience dining in an outdoor setting.