There are several elements of Disneyland that fans have grown to recognize and cherish over the years, from iconic landmarks like the Sleeping Beauty Castle to famous attractions like the Disneyland Railroad. However, some Disneyland fans have not heard of an incredibly impressive backyard garden railroad themed to Disney that exists right in Anaheim, California.
Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad, designed and constructed by architect David Sheegog, has been a hobby over the course of the past 25 years and offers Open Houses free of charge for visitors to enjoy. For enthusiastic Disney fans who want to appreciate every detail, there is even a “Scavenger Hunt” flyer offered for them to see if they can find all of the Disney films showcased on the railroad.
We will take you through a photo tour of some of the highlights of Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad! There are simply too many beautiful details to include in one article, but we will share some of our favorites below.
Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad Highlights
The background garden railroad was initially created as a gift for Sheegog's children but has evolved over the years as fans eagerly admire this backyard creation during the Open Houses hosted throughout the year. The Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad is home to miniature models of iconic Disneyland landmarks like the Sleeping Beauty Castle and even some attractions that no longer exist at the park like Splash Mountain and the Skyway. You'll also find several characters from Disney Animated films and Pixar throughout, adding fun touches at every turn. Even though Sheegog's masterpiece has been in the works for over two decades, he has big plans for the future and is working on a new section inspired by Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
In a feature article printed in Garden Railways Magazine, Sheegog said that he knew this was going to be a long-term project and initially built a scale model on the dining room table: “It completely consumed our dining room table for about a year being pushed and pulled until I was happy with it. This model was the tool by which I worked out topography, sight lines for photography, track layout and major plantings.”
Below, we will share highlights of Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad that give a glimpse into this impressive Disney-themed backyard world.
The Sleeping Beauty Castle at Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad is a beautiful recreation of the iconic landmark from Disneyland Park, crafted in meticulous detail. In front, you can see a miniature model of the Partners Statue of Walt and Mickey surrounded by flowers.
You'll likely recognize the below sight if you are a fan of Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland. See the stunning detail of the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom:
David Sheegog shared commentary for the below photo on the Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad gallery that when Tangled was first released, he was transfixed by the opening scene of this tower and knew it needed to be a part of Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad. See the beautiful waterfall in the background!
While Splash Mountain no longer exists at Disneyland as it's being transformed into Tiana's Bayou Adventure, you can still visit it as part of Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad:
One of Disneyland's old attractions, the Skyway, is also brought to life here as well. See the Skyway Launching Station below:
The Haunted Mansion is extra spooky at nighttime. You can hardly tell this replication from the real thing!
See Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs below at The Cottage of the 7 Dwarfs:
The Disneyland Railroad locomotives are replicated in stunning detail. See the C.K. Holliday below decorated with flags for opening day!
Here is a look at the Casey Junior train going over a bridge. The Casey Junior has been built twice, and the version 2.0 is battery-powered with a sound system to play the Casey Junior song.
The mural that wraps around the backyard display contains multiple Disney references. See the Matterhorn portrayed on the mural below!
A gorgeous nighttime sky portion of the mural portrays characters including EVE and WALL-E, Aladdin and Jasmine on the flying carpet, and Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins.
Characters from Disney and Pixar Animated Films
There is a host of Disney Animated film characters that you will find around Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad. As previously mentioned, visitors can take a “Scavenger Hunt” flyer to see if they can find all of the Disney films showcased on the railroad. Here are some fun character highlights below that are just a few of the multiple characters featured!
See Pooh climbing a honey tree, a miniature Chinese Elm bonsai that according to the Los Angeles Times is 105 years old.
See the Darling children in flight over a beautiful waterfall!
See this adorable tableau of Alice and the Cheshire Cat.
There are also characters from Pixar films displayed as well! See the Toy Story friends posing for a photo in front of the Main Street Station below:
You'll spot Marlin and Dory peeking out of the water!
Several other Disney and Pixar characters make delightful appearances throughout Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad as well!
Those who want to visit the Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad can sign up for one of the Open Houses, which are free for visitors. Attendance is limited, and reservations are required, with spots typically filling up in less than an hour. You can see the Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad website for more information on the Open House dates and to see more photos of this beautiful backyard garden railroad. If your next Disneyland trip coincides with the Open House dates, be sure to check out out this destination and fully appreciate it in person!
All of the above photos are from the Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad website used with permission.
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