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Welcome!

We only live once so why not make the most of it?! Endeavor to discover something new everyday, no matter how big or small. I hope you enjoy my experiences off the beaten path and can use some of the info I’ve provided along the way!

Descanso Railroad

Descanso Railroad

Michael Choi
Arts & Entertainment, Nature, Seasonal & Periodic

DETAILS:

  • Location: 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

  • Hours: 9AM–5PM daily (members get entry at 8AM, but model trains do not start running until 8:30AM)

    • Train rides run from 9AM to 1PM.

  • Parking: Free parking lot.

  • Cost: Adults $15 / Seniors $11 / Students with ID $11 / Children (ages 5-12) $5 / Children under 4 are free.

    • Free Tuesdays: occurs on the third Tuesday of every month (released on the first day of the month at 10am).

    • Advance tickets are required! Tickets are not available at the door, and must be reserved in advance on our website.

    • Train rides cost $5 which can be purchased at guest services on the day of your visit.

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes (to view the railroad area), but please allow more time to enjoy the overall gardens.

  • MISC:

    • The train ride runs approximately 6 minutes throughout a small portion of the gardens. Riders must be at least 30 inches tall and be able to sit on their own.

Growing up, we used to go visit my Uncle John for one gathering or another. Godfather to my sister, we weren’t actually related, but I’ve never called him anything else. I always looked forward to those visits, not just because Uncle John and his family were always so welcoming (not to mention he made a killer summer sausage that I still crave for to this day), but also because he had an extensive model train setup in his basement that I was keenly fond of. We’re not just talking about a simple train track sitting on top of a table, Uncle John’s creation was a miniature world of its own that chugged across the entirety of the basement that would’ve made Mr. Rogers jealous. Its safe to say, that’s what started my lifelong fascination with trains, both model-sized as well as the real thing which have found their way into this website for numerous entries. So when I learned that the Descanso Gardens had model train exhibit of their own, a visit was inevitable.

The brainchild of a company called - Applied Imagination, the exhibit perfectly blends and compliments the natural surroundings of the garden. The entire landscape, which feels like you’ve been transported into a minute magical forrest thanks to its monolithic tree trunks, is completely constructed with natural materials including some that have been sourced from the garden itself. Talk about a great and creative way to recycle! The tracks span multiple levels and features famed American train depots like Los Angeles’ Union Station. Walking around this whimsical fantasyland as the trains circled around me, it felt like I was ten years old all over again in my Uncle John’s basement. Today was a good day.

In closing, I would be doing a great disservice if I didn’t mention that the model railroad was constructed, in part, to commemorate the re-opening of an actual train ride that takes you through a small portion of the garden. One-eighth the size of a diesel engine that riders straddle like a horse (similar to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum Ride in Griffith Park which I’ve written about here), the ride first appeared at Descanso Gardens as a seasonal attraction in the 80s and eventually became a permanent fixture in 1996. The ride closed for renovations in 2023 until its reopening this summer. Alas, due to some mechanical issues, the train ride wasn’t operating during our visit, but I suppose that just gives me another reason to go back!

 

RESOURCES:

COSM Los Angeles

COSM Los Angeles