As you wander downtown Toontown, it’s not hard to get lost in the chaos and not really take in every detail of your surroundings. But if you look up at the rolling hills behind Minnie’s House, you’ll notice a very special hidden gem.
This is Walt’s Carolwood Barn.
Originally standing in Walt’s back yard (on Carolwood Drive), the “real” Carolwood Barn was Walt’s model train workshop, where he stored and worked on his collection. I guess you could say it was the first Imagineering workspace!
In 1999, the barn moved from the family home to Griffith Park in Los Angeles, becoming a museum open to the public.
Source: Carolwood Foundation
From the Carolwood Foundation:
In 1950, Walt Disney built a 1/8th scale live-steam railroad at his residence in Holmby Hills, CA. He operated the “Carolwood Pacific Railroad” for family and friends until 1953 when he shifted his energies into creating a magical place where families could have fun together – Disneyland.
The CPRR center of operations was a quaint red barn that Walt built as a replica of one from the Disney farm in Marceline, MO. The Carolwood barn served as his workshop and he spent many hours here building miniatures and model trains. In 1999, Walt Disney’s family moved the barn he called his “happy place” from his home to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum, of which Walt was a founding member.
Today, Walt’s Barn is a living showcase of Walt’s passion for railroading. Operated by the non-profit Carolwood Foundation, Walt’s Barn is filled with trains of all scales, many of which were donated to the Foundation by his animators and friends that shared his hobby. Many of Walt’s personal items and tools are on display and he even hand-made all of the work benches.
Source: MetroLink
If you’re interested in visiting the barn, check out their Facebook page for the latest operating hours and events. Otherwise, you can visit the toon version on your next trip to Toontown.
Goodness, Carolwood Drive in Holmby Hills is where Michael Jackson’s last (rented) house is located (i.e. where he passed away), so I actually know that area… as it is now, of course. Obviously when Walt lived there it was far more rural and properties larger (and houses not so monstrous!)
Oh my gosh! I never noticed this before! I’ll have to look for it next time I visit Toontown! I loved visiting the Barn at Griffith Park, I just wish it was open more! But I also understand what a small organization they are.
It’s a new feature of Toontown 2.0!!! It wasn’t there before so don’t feel too bad 🙂 And same – it’s hard to plan a visit there with such limited hours.