Phoenix – Railroad Park and Ghost Town

April 21, 2026

Our first adventurer of the day was to explore McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.The 30-acre park, located in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona, is the most unique park of its kind in the country. We took a ride on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad and the 1950-vintage Allan Herschell carousel.

We explored the museum that brings to live over 200 years of railroad history through historic artifacts, exhibits and train cars.

We were amazed by the little trains are in the park’s 10,000 square foot Model Railroad building with it incredible attention to detail.

Of course we had to play in the playground with a stent in jail and a ride on a stagecoach!!!!!

Then we were off to Goldfield Ghost Town!! Back in the 1890′s Goldfield boasted 3 saloons, a boarding house, general store, blacksmith shop, brewery, meat market and a school house. Just when it looked like the town would outgrow Mesa, the vein faulted, the grade of ore dropped and the town died a slow painful death.

We had lunch in the Saloon that featured a ceiling filled with retired boots from the local rodeo circuit. The lunch stop included a local western singer that helped authenticate the experience. After lunch we strolled the abandoned town that includes panning for gold a trip down an abandoned gold mine and “The Last Dig” cemetery!!

Finally the heat got to us and we headed home. Traffic was really ugly and it took over two hours to get home.

Yet another fun day adventuring in Arizona!!

Tomorrow we begin the next leg of the adventure. First we return to the Maricopa Station for a trip back to New Orleans. We arrive there late Saturday night then leave early Sunday morning for the train to Mobile. Then we pick up Kim and Ernie’s car for our road trip through Florida!!! No blogs for a few days since I don’t have internet on the trains and trying to take pictures through dirty windows doesn’t work. So I will begin blogging again when the road trip begin. We have lots of fun adventures planned.

I appreciate you following along!!!