All Aboard! A Visit to the Fairplex Garden Railroad

The LA County Fair is back! Yup, that SoCal tradition is currently running through the end of the month. And before you start thinking of rides and games and exhibits I want to tell you about a hidden feature of the fair. It’s a tradition that’s been around since 1924 and truly is something special – the Fairplex Garden Railroad.

This miniature railroad has been chugging along for almost 90 years. It’s cared for by a group of loving volunteers who trim the grass and trees, repair the buildings and trains, build the dioramas and run the whole shebang. Just looking at the many intricacies of the layout shows one the care that has been put into this special exhibit all these years.

The official them of the railway is California Discovered: The Role the Railroads Played. As a result you’ll find California history depicted throughout. From missions to Mid Century Modern, from teepees to towns, from oil wells to Art Deco you’ll see it all here.