You’re driving down Scottsdale Road, probably thinking about where to get a decent taco or trying to navigate the resort traffic, and suddenly there’s a massive steam engine just sitting on the corner of Indian Bend. It’s a bit jarring if you aren’t expecting it. This is McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, and honestly, it’s one of those rare places that actually lives up to the local hype without feeling like a tourist trap.
Most people think it's just a place to take a toddler on a Saturday morning. You’ve seen the photos—kids with ice cream all over their faces, sticky fingers on the train windows, the usual chaos. But there’s a weirdly deep history here that most visitors totally gloss over while they’re waiting in line for tickets. It’s basically the crown jewel of the Scottsdale parks system, spanning 30 acres of prime real estate that, quite frankly, developers would probably kill to turn into luxury condos if it wasn't protected.
The park exists because of a very specific kind of wealthy philanthropy that used to define Scottsdale. Back in the late 60s, Guy Stillman (the grandson of James Stillman) and the McCormick family decided the city needed something... different. They didn't just want a playground; they wanted a monument to the golden age of rail.
The Paradise & Pacific Railroad is the real deal
If you think this is a "mall train," you're wrong. The P&P is a 5/12th scale reproduction. It's serious business. The tracks loop around the park for about a mile, crossing bridges and ducking through a tunnel that smells exactly like grease and old Scottsdale dirt. It’s nostalgic. It’s loud. It’s perfect.
During the peak season, they run authentic steam locomotives. The 10th and 11th engines are the workhorses. You’ll see the engineers—real enthusiasts who know the mechanics inside and out—tinkering with the hardware. They aren't just pushing a button; they're managing pressure, heat, and timing. It’s a mechanical dance.
The ride takes maybe ten minutes. In those ten minutes, you pass the arboretum, the desert stretches, and the back of the model railroad building. It’s a slow-paced look at a fast-paced city. If you go during the "Holiday Lights" event in December, be prepared. It’s beautiful, sure, but the crowds are legendary. You have to book those tickets weeks in advance or you’re stuck standing outside the fence looking in like a Dickensian orphan.
That one train car that actually changed history
Most people hop off the P&P and head straight for the carousel or the snack bar. Don't do that. You need to walk over to the Roald Amundsen Pullman Coach.
It looks like just another old train car, but this thing is a beast of American political history. This specific car was used by every president from Herbert Hoover to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Imagine FDR sitting in there, or Harry Truman giving one of his "Give 'em Hell, Harry" speeches from the back platform. It’s heavy. It’s armored. It was basically the Air Force One of its day, but on tracks.
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It was donated to the park because Scottsdale used to be a place where these kinds of artifacts just... landed. The interior is cramped by modern standards, but the craftsmanship is insane. Mahogany. Velvet. A sense of permanence that we don't really build into things anymore. Standing next to it, you realize McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park isn't just a playground; it's a graveyard for giants.
The Model Railroad Building is a fever dream
Behind a relatively unassuming door lies a 10,000-square-foot universe. If you think model trains are just for retirees in basements, this place will change your mind. It’s home to several different clubs:
- The Scottsdale Model Railroad Historical Society (HO scale)
- The Paradise & Pacific Tinplate Club (O gauge)
- The Sun City Garden Railway Club (G scale)
The level of detail is obsessive. We’re talking tiny little people sitting at tiny little diners, miniature mountains with individual trees, and lighting systems that simulate day-to-night cycles. It’s a massive collaborative art project that never ends. Members are constantly updating the scenery, fixing the wiring, or adding new quirks. It’s quiet in there, save for the clicking of the tracks and the occasional "all aboard" whistle. It’s a great place to hide from the Arizona sun for twenty minutes when it’s 105 degrees outside.
The Scottsdale Magma Arizona Railroad No. 6
On the south side of the park sits a massive, full-sized locomotive. This is the Magma Arizona Railroad No. 6. It’s a 2-8-0 Consolidation type engine built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1907. This thing is a monster. It spent decades hauling copper and supplies between Superior and Magma, Arizona.
When you stand next to the wheels, which are nearly as tall as a grown man, you get a sense of the sheer industrial power that built the Southwest. It wasn't built for beauty. It was built to move mountains of ore through some of the harshest terrain on the planet. Seeing it sitting in a manicured park in Scottsdale is a bit ironic, but it’s an essential reminder that Arizona wasn't always golf courses and spas. It was mines, heat, and heavy iron.
Practicalities of visiting (What to actually do)
Let's talk logistics because nothing ruins a trip to the park like showing up unprepared.
First, the tickets. You buy them at the Stillman Station. Everything—the train, the carousel—requires a ticket. They used to be dirt cheap, and they're still reasonable, but the costs add up if you have a big family. Pro tip: if you live in the Valley, just buy the annual pass. It pays for itself in about three visits, and it lets you skip the ticket line most of the time.
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The carousel is a 1950 Allan Herschell creation. It’s colorful, loud, and fast enough to make you a little dizzy if you’ve just eaten a hot dog from the snack bar. Speaking of the snack bar, the food is exactly what you’d expect: concession stand classics. It’s not gourmet, but a soft serve cone on a hot day at the park is a core Scottsdale experience.
When to go
Winter is peak season. The weather is perfect, the grass is green (thanks to overseeding), and the events are nonstop.
Summer is a different beast. The park is still open, but you want to be there at 8:00 AM. By 11:00 AM, the metal on the train cars starts to get hot enough to fry an egg, and the kids start getting cranky. The park usually does "Sunday Night Concerts" in the spring and fall. These are free, and people bring blankets, chairs, and entire picnics. It’s the closest Scottsdale gets to a small-town vibe.
Is it actually worth it for adults?
Kinda, yeah. Even if you don't have kids, the museum aspect is top-tier. If you’re a history buff or a mechanical nerd, the Pullman car and the Magma No. 6 are worth the trip alone. Plus, it’s one of the best places in the city for people-watching. You’ve got everyone from wealthy Paradise Valley residents to tourists who took a wrong turn at the Fashion Square mall.
The park is also home to the Hartford General Store. It’s a bit of a throwback, selling wooden whistles and train-themed kitsch. It feels like a shop from 1975, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Beyond the tracks
While the trains are the main draw, don't sleep on the rest of the park. There are two huge playgrounds—one of which is shaded (praise be)—and plenty of space for a pickup soccer game. The desert arboretum is a nice, quiet stroll that showcases native plants without the entry fee of the Desert Botanical Garden.
One thing that people get wrong: they think the park is just a city-run playground. In reality, it’s a complex partnership between the City of Scottsdale and various non-profit organizations and clubs. This is why the quality remains so high. The people running the model railroad or maintaining the steam engines aren't just hourly employees; they’re devotees. That passion is palpable.
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Actionable steps for your visit
If you're planning a trip to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, don't just wing it.
Start by checking the official train schedule online. They occasionally pause steam operations for maintenance, and you don't want to show up expecting a steam engine and get a diesel-hydraulic instead (though the diesels are cool too).
Pack a cooler. While the snack bar is fine, the park has dozens of ramadas and picnic tables. It’s one of the few places in Scottsdale where you can spend an entire afternoon for the cost of a few train tickets and some gas.
Visit the Railroad Museum inside the engine house. It’s small, but it houses artifacts that tell the story of how the railroad literally mapped the Western United States.
Finally, if you have children, do the "Engine 10" birthday party at least once. It’s a rite of passage for Scottsdale parents. You get a private area, a bunch of tickets, and you don't have to clean up the mess in your own house.
The park represents a version of Scottsdale that is slowly disappearing—one that values public space, history, and slow-moving machinery over the latest "Instagrammable" pop-up. It’s authentic. It’s a bit dusty. And it’s arguably the best three dollars you can spend in the zip code.
Check the Scottsdale city website for the latest "Railfair" dates, usually held in the autumn. This is the big annual celebration where they bring out even more specialized equipment and the park feels like a massive neighborhood festival. If you can handle the crowds, it's the best time to see the park in full gear.