Walt’s Barn

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.

Walt’s Barn is open generally open every 3rd Sunday of the month from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, subject to change without notice, where our members serve as volunteer hosts. Please check out the Walt’s Barn Facebook page for the most up to date information on operating days and special guests. We invite you to visit Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn to learn more about Walt Disney and his railroad legacy. We look forward to seeing you there.