McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park – Scottsdale, Arizona
The McCormick Stillman Railroad Park was built on land that originally was part of land owned by Anne and Fowler McCormick (grandson of John D. Rockefeller.)
when Anne died in 1969 the ranch covered nearly 7 squre miles. The horse operations of the ranch were located in Scottsdale. In 1967 the Fowler McCormick’s donated 100 acres of the ranch to the City of Scottsdale to be used as a park for everyone to enjoy. The orginal 50 acres that were to be the park was on the west side of Scottsdale Rd but with complaints from the town of Paradise Valley the park was moved across the street to be within the city limits of Scottsdale only. That meant that the park went from 50 acres to 30 acres.
The McCormick’s son, Guy Stillman, was the driving force behind the creation of the 5/12 Paradise and Pacific Railroad which he offered to the city in 1971. The locomotive and cars are replicas of the century Narrow Gauge Railway equipment over a 20 year time frame. To build the park out the U.S. Marine Corps and Senator Barry Goldwater became involved. the Marine’s contributed the labor which was not at all unusual for them since they often helped with labor on permanent civic projects. Some neighbors started to complain about the Marines being involve which lead Senator Goldwater to write a rather scathing letter about how the opposition was "one of the damnest, uncalled-for bits of action I have ever run in to." He continued by stating that "The armed services has historically given help to communities wherever they could and whenever it was asked for. There is nothing wrong with the Marines doing this kind of work if the Marines have the time. If they don’t have the time, I am sure we can call on the Air Force or the Army or the Navy and they will be glad to step in." That pretty much was the end of that and the Marines laid the track!
The park opened for the public on October 4, 1975. It was the goal of the park to provide the ultimate family fun and education through the preservation of Arizona’s Railroad Heritage. The park contains the railroad, carousel, museum displays, arboretum, has concerts and special events each year.
The Paradise and Pacific Railroad reproduction carries passengers througout the park on a mile long track. There are three steam locomotives, 2 diesel engines, several cars, a turntable, water tank, trestles, and a 32 x 200 train shed. The shed also contains a complete machine ship for building and maintaining the railroad. It takes 2 tickets per rider with Children under 3 free as long as they are with a paying adult. Rides run every half hour during the weekdays and continuously on the weekends. The park is open every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Tickets cost $1 each.
The Scottsdale Charro Carousel was restored and purchased by the Scottsdale Railroad and Mechanical Society to be part of the park. It has 30 horses and 2 wheelchair chariots. It costs one ticket per rider with children under 3 free with paying adult. Rides run every half hour during hte week and continously on weekends. Tickets cost $1 each. You can buy a book of tickets for $10 for 12 tickets and although the books are non-refundable they never expire.
Exhibits at the Park include the Magma Arizona Railroad Engine No. 6 which is the only Arizona & New Mexico engine remaining in AZ. The Roald Amundsen Pullman Car was used b every president from Herbert Hoover through Dwight Eisenhower. The car, in 1940, was the site of the signing of the Ogdensberg Declaration by President Franklin Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister W.L. McKenzie King wich provided for the joint defense of North America. Visit the Baggage CAre which was built by the Pullman Company for the Atchison, topeka, and Santa Fe Railway which is now the Railroad Museum.
The park is also the site of two Navajo Hogans. There are only three that exist off the Northern Arizona Navajo Indian Reservation and two of them are located at the park.
The Xeriscape Arboretum contains as many as 100 plants from arid regions with each plant being identified by name, origin, growth characteristics, and blooming season(s). You can learn what will be a great addition to your garden to learn about these plants.
Location: The southeast corner of Scottsdale Rd. and Indian Bend Rd, 1.7 miles west of the 101 Loop, exit Indian Bend.
Address: 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale, Arizona 85250
Hours: January Weekdays: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; weekends: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
February: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
March 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
April 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
May 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
June 9 a.m. – 1 p.m./4 – 9 p.m. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
July 9 a.m. – 1 p.m./4 – 9 p.m. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
August 9 a.m. – 1 p.m./4 – 9 p.m. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
September 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
October 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
November 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; weekends: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
December 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; weekends: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Admission to the Park is FREE
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