Such a cute park to play, explore, and take picture. Yes I said take pictures! Lol. My friends and I decided to come here for our photoshoot, and you seriously get a wide variety of backgrounds. You have the cute railroad tracks, an old caboose, trees, a huge old tree stomp, the list can go on. I'm not sure what time it opens and closes, but there's a train that you can actually ride around the whole park... you go around the whole park twice! And I'm also not sure how much the tickets are to go on the train, but I'm sure they're about $5-$10. Such a neat and unique place to take the whole family! read more

See all

We went on a beautiful day during COVID so the commerce, train ride, and museum area were closed. We had a beautiful walk with our son and grandson through the park. It is definitely worth visiting even with the closures. There is plenty of shade, picnic spots, and even a creek flowing through. read more

Great family park, real steam Trane twice a month, we love this place specially that we live right by it:) read more

See all

ATTENTION ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS!!! THIS PLACE IS A MUST TO SHOOT! If you are an avid photographer, professional photographer or aspiring photographer like myself, this place is a definite MUST SHOOT! The park is HUGE and has a variety of areas to shoot families, individuals, pets, macros, landscapes, etc. I dare you to not find a place here that is not photo-worthy! I really enjoy the winter time cause the colors of the leaves with the grass and the old wooden buildings is a great backdrop for any photographer and TRUST me, you will be able to take AMAZING photos from here! I suggest you go early, like 9am cause at 10am the train station opens that provides rides around the park and that means more people walking around! Check this place out cause you won't be disappointed!! read more

Nice Park in Poway that offers a lot fun for the family. There's a lot do at Old Poway park on Weekends including craft markets, farmers markets, museums, The Hamburger Factory restaurant, and my personal favorite the Poway-Midland Railroad. You can book rooms here too for events and weddings, but you might want to think twice before doing that. * See end of this review for details. Across the street are some stores but they seem to close early on weekends. Lot's of Birthday parties here so you get the feeling it's a safe place. Troubles with booking rooms here. After visiting here one weekend, we noticed that there are rooms available to rent for parties. We inquired at the office in the park and the lady was very friendly. She told us that it wouldn't be a problem, we just have to go to city hall and fill out a form and pay the fee. She mentioned that if you were not Poway residents we would have to pay a nonresident penalty ( About 20 bucks additional an hour). However, she said that as long as a member of party lived in the city of Poway and was wiling to put their name on the form it would be okay..Not a problem. Great, a perfect place to have a train themed party. One problem.. City Hall. Long-Story-Short the nice women *COUGH* at city hall said the Park representative was completely wrong, and we had to pay the penalty. She also made sure that we were aware of other "city rules" like nonresidents are prohibited from renting a bouncer. That right is apparently reserved to Poway residence only. If we have alcohol we will be required to hire two security guards..On and on.. I just wanted to rent a small room for a birthday party. Clearly the city of Poway snubs its nose at nonresidents. The nice lady *COUGH COUGH* also gave me the wrong form to fill out. Passive Aggressive nice lady.. read more

It's a park. Nothing more and nothing less. It's free (unless you want to ride the train). It has beautiful old trees, grassy areas, wooden bridges, picnic areas, and a few interesting historic buildings. Lots of great spots for taking pictures. That's all folks. Good for kids and families. What's not to like? read more

The park was nice, we went here for a group picnic on a Saturday. Aside from my son accidentally stepping in dog poop (come on, people, pick up after your dogs!) we had a good time. Then about 3:00, all the photographers started showing up. ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHERS! The park was the set for every engagement, wedding, pregnancy, new baby, family photo in the county, it seems. They took over the paths, the bridges, the train tracks, the dog poop. It was a nice afternoon, and the light was good, but the number of photographers was overwhelming. read more

This is THE place to be with your family on Saturday morning. The farmers market is full of fresh fruits and veg and has a good selection of hot and ready items. Some of our favorite vendors from other San Diego farmers markets are there (I mean the Jamaican food guy and the coffee woman). After you pick up your market purchases, buy some tickets for the train ($1.50 for adults and $.50 for kids) which will give you two trips around the track and the park itself. Poway park is a gorgeous tree filled park waiting for a good picnic, birthday party, barbecue, etc. I absolutely love this park and love that parking is easy, the pace is family friendly and the overall small town atmosphere. read more

"Take time to smell the flowers" With that said I found ourselves remorse in this gem located within suburbia where the old meets the modern but any day at the park this park excels with their quaint country style town and functioning railroad tracks which chugs around it the Old Poway train. With s small fee all ages get to experience this train ride that loops 2x around the park. Here you can picnic and grill, hold a function from baptismal to wedding (check out their park office for rules and regulations) . Hamburger Factory is located within so a must try another time as well as museums to know more of this cities' old history. My keiki and I came here to take a look where our upcoming "Mommy & Daughter" photo shoot will be and fell in love. Here you can be a kid again. We are yet to explore further this gem and this won't be our first time or last. So look out for further updates on this Old Poway Park 's amenities. read more

See all

This place kind of wigged me out. I felt like I was on a movie set. Perhaps "Old Pleasantville" would be a more fitting name. It didn't have that old town vibe that all of the "old towns" I'm used to have (Placerville, Folsom, Sacramento, etc), but looked like it was all brand new and just made in an old fashioned way. Perhaps it was, I really don't know. Walking around I noticed I didn't see a speck of litter. There is a little creek that winds through the park and people were actually wading in it - no trash or sludge or anything. There is a train, an historic house, a burger place, a blacksmith, and lots of other touristy things to do. The people working as well as recreating there were very pleasant. While taking my kid on a train ride my hat blew off. They stopped the train and grabbed it for me. How embarrassing! Still, nice to know they would care enough to do that. This isn't someplace I would venture to on my own, but it's a great place for families with little kids who want more than just a generic playground type of park. read more

See all

We had a wonderful day at Old Poway Park. This park is so well-maintained and just exudes charm. Certain parts of it make you really feel like you're walking into the past. There are several re-creations of old buildings that look great. Some of them are functioning, such as the one with a blacksmith in it. If you have someone with you who loves trains they are going to lose their mind here. There are real railroad tracks that circle the park and they're put to use on Saturdays. Depending on what Saturday it is there could either be a trolley, a steam train, or a small speedster on the tracks. We rode on the speedster, which allowed several adults and children to ride together. You get to make two full laps around the park. As we were enjoying our ride it occurred to me that this was way better than what we experienced on our trip to Legoland. Not only could adults not ride many of the rides there, but neither could children who were very young. The train here let all of us ride together and we had a great time for a tiny fraction of the cost of just one person's admission to Legoland. We went on a Saturday when the farmers market was taking place. There were lots of food vendors and vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables. I ended up getting a delicious pork sandwich from Corbin's Q. We sat at a picnic table and watched trains go by while we were eating. When we were done eating we went and looked inside the museum. They have a model train that will operate when you are pressing a button by the case. Kids were getting a kick out of doing that. One of the volunteers inside of the museum told us that they are constantly hearing comments from people that live in Poway saying that the never knew this park existed. That is such a shame because they are so lucky to have this as part of their community. read more

One Dec 18 we enjoyed the holiday train ride. Great event. Thanks

no wonder everyone comes here for their photo shoots...wedding, engagement, family, etc. this park is quite charming and as a historically preserved railroad depot, school room and the most gorgeous gazebo. I never knee there was a restaurant there called the Hamburger factory there that is still running and serving guest. Theres also a museum that is only opened on the weekends by volunteers. its beautiful trees, old town buildings and lovely bridges gives this park a unique character and charm. read more

Old Poway Park - a lone red balloon in the middle of the school/event room...you'll float too - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Poway, California

See all

I'm just going to rate the speeder car since that's all we did. My 3 year old went crazy.! He loves a good train ride. The conductors are so nice. It goes around the park twice. Tickets are 1.50 for adults and .50 for kids (I think 5 and under?). Come for the farmers market, eat, ride the train, go home, take a nap. Easy Saturday! read more

The most charming park in Poway area. You won't need to watch your clock or, by default, your phone as seems like the time has stopped there in some decades ago. Colorful and picturesque, it has that old train that is perfect background for family pics, plus grassy areas for picnics and beautiful little boutiques and stores that would make you feel inside a western movie with some Caribbean colors. I like to go from time to time to meditate or just go to have a coffee or get some cute little something at one of the stores. This is must for families with kids. They adore this park. read more

See all

I've lived in San Diego, most of my life, and I never knew this place existed until this past weekend. My friend lives in Poway, and I wanted to go to the lake, but we stopped by here first. It's a small old town with historical buildings. I really like the old railroad station and the train tracks. And there's a good sized park for family get togethers and picnics. And some places to eat, and random stores to buy gifts. It was quite empty on a Sunday, and personally, I thought it was kind of boring. Just somewhere to go for some fresh air, and a walk in the park. read more

We decided to visit the "train park"! I'm am so happy we did! It is seriously so laid back and chill here that I felt like I wasn't in San Diego. Its nice to slow down and just take your time. My son and I walked around the farmers market first (Saturday only) and tasted a few samples, purchased some stuff, then went for a ride in the train! It was a nice time for us to get out and enjoy the weather and the Poway vibes! I recommend for great photos and if you have young children! read more

If you're looking for a great place in Poway for a picnic, you've found it! This is a beautiful open space with park benches and bbq pits, they also have a gazebo and a train that operates on the weekends. There is not playset for the kids unfortunately -1pt. The area is beautiful though and worth a visit. read more

Cool place with old trains, a farmers market on weekends, crafts, and food. Good place to bring the kids for a different day trip and train ride. read more

Cute, peaceful, quaint little park. Kind of Makes you feel like you're in the old west. They have a little train that the kids love and a nice farmers market on the weekends. read more

I absolutely adore this place and I have since I was just a peanut in a diaper. It's beautiful and has a vintage western feel. The park is full of trees and green grass and nice places to sit and picnic. There's a small creek, incidentally I used to catch my crawfish there. On Saturdays they have a pretty large farmer's market, the people who go are very friendly and there's plenty of canines who also attend. It's a great family atmosphere. read more

This Old Poway Village business? Grotesquely quaint. It's horrifying, really. I loathe these sort brightly hued, Disney-fied developments, even if they're historic. It all feels so hokey and contrived. This review is solely for the Old Poway Park, which is situated in the midst of aforementioned atrocities. Old Poway Park is an oasis. It's not very big, but it packs a lot of punch. Gorgeous trees, lush grass, a train track, and a plethora of interesting backdrops for picture-taking. We encountered dads playing catch with their sons, a horse, and an entire gymnastics team in blue spandex. I want to bring it home with me. read more

Im here every weekend to ride the train with my two sons age 4 and 1. Train is open only on Saturday and Sunday. Every weekend the train rotates from steam engine, boxer car or speeder. Perfect place to take toddlers and little kids. This park has a grassy area for picnicking, The hamburger factory restaurant, and the number one reason people go here is the train rides! The train rides are 50cents -$2 per person depending on which engine is running. Kids cheaper price. It's cheaper than the mall train! You can also buy a family pass for $35 which means, parents and family (all your kids) have unlimited rides for the whole year. Great deal if you're here as often as I am. Saturday mornings there is a farmers market from 9am-noon I think. Nice place to buy your organic veges, eat lunch, buy something unique. read more

I love this peaceful tranquil park and my boys love it too because of the trains. It's not a very big park but it's amenities are great: * Wooden bridges * Old historical buildings with history attached to them * Train shop * Train rides with actual old vintage trains * Big trees * A big Gazebo * Water fountain * Little koi pond * Playground (across the street) Other amenities within or nearby the park: * Weekly Farmers Market (Every Saturday) * The Hamburger Factory Restaurant * Veterans Memorial * Old Poway shopping (there is a coffee shop) * Yearly festivals or events * Small museum * Children's classes The trains can get a little crowded since they only run on the weekends. The grounds are pristine. I come here weekly, walk around with my kids and then go to the playground. I love that we have something so cool like this in Poway. read more

My husband and I got married at Old Poway Park. It was the best possible wedding venue for us. Sarah in the office is so friendly and helpful. We had a ton of questions for her, we made appointments with her 2 or 3 times, and we called her and/or showed up at the park to ask her questions multiple times. Since it's a public park and not a commercial venue, there is no day-of coordinator or anything, so being able to communicate extensively with the park staff was crucial in planning our wedding on our own. They are so accommodating and offered great advice on the logistics and possibilities of the event. And you couldn't ask for a better setting. The park is BEAUTIFUL! Every photographer in the SD area knows about this park, because it photographs so beautifully. Therefore, your wedding photos will turn out beautifully (Well, a good photographer is also necessary-- may I recommend Next To Me Studios?) There are so many different backgrounds packed into this one, adorable park. In case you're curious about how to set up a wedding here, we rented the Rose Room, Porter Room, and Great Room to get ready in before the ceremony. We also rented to the kitchen for food storage(drinks and the homemade cake), but not for the caterers as it is not big enough for a catering company. (Our caterer was SD Taco Comany-t hey are also awesome and didn't need a kitchen to deliver a delicious meal.) We got married on the ceremony lawn and I walked across one of the bridges then down the aisle- so picturesque and romantic! We used all of the cute white benches with heart-shaped cutouts as our "pews," which saved us the cost of renting chairs. We had cocktail hour on the lawns in front of the gazebo and Templars Hall, and dinner was around the fountain in the Carriage Turn. The gazebo?!? A ready-made dance floor! We also had a kid-friendly wedding, which was easy with such a fun and interesting park as the venue. Kids don't generally want to sit nicely in a ball room through dinner, but if dinner is being served around the fountain in the carriage turn, kids can play around the fountain while parents get to enjoy their meal. Kids hate cocktail hour, but not if they can play on the train tracks and bridges while their parents get to sip on a drink. (Don't worry, the train doesn't run after 4pm, so it's safe for kids to play around the tracks after then.) We had our rehearsal dinner here too (we called it a rehearsal picnic) and everyone loved it! Our families and wedding party got to rehearse in the same spot we got married the next day (the Ceremony Lawn) and then, without having to worry about driving to a new location, our guests got to feast on roasted chicken and sides and everyone brought lawn chairs and blankets and got to know one another. We were also able to serve beer and wine (we stayed away from glass bottles though). Our wedding was amazing- Old Poway Park was the first venue I thought of, and after we spent an entire day driving around SD County searching for a better venue, we realized it just didn't get any better. Our families loved it, we loved it, and we go back occasionally to have a picnic and reminisce. If you're getting married on a budget but you're not willing to compromise atmosphere, this might be the venue for you. Make an appt with Sarah ;) read more

I just held my wedding here and it was WONDERFUL! It was beautiful and simple decorations was all that was needed to make it into a rustic elegant wedding. I chose here because I thought it would give me lots of room for my do-it-myself stuff. (like using whatever caterer I wanted, and my unorthodox ceremony including my dog ring bearer and sister officiant.) It wasn't as cheap as I had imagined considering it is a public park, but I understand maintenance is needed on a place like this. And there were lots of rules that had to be followed such as no candles, glass, or hard alcohol, and hiring my own security. But it was worth it. My wedding was spectacular and all I kept hearing was how gorgeous it was there. My photographer was in heaven! read more

The boyfriend had to take photos for a class assignment and wanted to head over to this place. We went on MLK Jr. day early afternoon and I have to say this place is quite lovely. The train does not run during the week so it's perfect time to take photos on the tracks. Many picturesque moments over there. I saw other photo shoots going on. Definitely that small town rustic feel. LOVE IT! I wish the river had more water but it was still a pretty area. Walk around and even cross the street to check out the Veteran's Park. read more

Old Poway Park - No trains active during the weekdays. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Poway, California

I love this park. I have brought my kids here to play and ride the train. LOTS of fun! I am also a photographer and I LOVE shooting here. There are soooo many different backdrops to use. Awesome. I usually go during the week and there are maybe one or two other photographers. However I recently went on a Saturday. I will NEVER do that again. There had to be 20+ photographers, all trying to shoot in the same spot. I ended up having to edit so many photographers out of my shots because even after standing at a spot for 15 minutes and waiting for it to open, I would still end up with a photographer walking right into my shot. Luckily I didn't have a new client with me and this time I had a good friend who I was taking photos for. It would have been hard to stay on schedule (and just unprofessional) if I had multiple shoots lined up and had to stand around waiting. Maybe it was just the Christmas photo rush, but either way, photographers make sure you scout out this place before hand on the day of the week you're aiming for. read more

The Old Poway Park is a Poway classic that I grew up with, and the best compliment I can pay it is that nothing's changed since then. It's still the same respectful nod to the history of Poway, same great Hamburger Factory. The park is encircled by the Poway-Midland Railroad, an all-volunteer group that maintains and operates true articles of locomotive history. This attraction is an absolute must for children! I just held my son's third birthday party out in the grassy field, and it was the perfect site for a summer party and cookout. The park tables and grill pits are free to use on a first-come, first-served basis, so show up early to stake a claim! If you aren't able to find a spot covered by one of the many gigantic trees, I'd strongly recommend bringing shelters with you to cover your tables. Overall the park is very well-maintained, it's clean, and the park's office staff are always pleasant and happy to help if you wanted to rent out one of the historic buildings for an indoors event. read more

This place is beautiful, went here recently to do a photo shoot with my daughter and we had no idea they have a farmers market on saturdays, there were people there but it wasn't too crowded. Beautiful place and will be returning read more

Old Poway Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Poway, California

I love old poway park. I think having a kid has definitely helped me appreciate these types of places more. It's a great pose to just let your is roam around and explore. The old trains are incredible and we are lucky to have such a devoted staff of people who maintain these beasts for our enjoyment. They have built a mini train depot too that sells some toys and train stuff. read more

This park has a rustic, serene beauty that's perfect for photo ops! A friend suggested this place for my product photo shoot and what a great suggestion! I've lived in San Diego for 8 years and never knew about this place, but it's most certainly become one of my favorite spots. The 30 minute drive is totally worth it! read more

It was fun but we thought there was going to be more then just the train. Maybe i should have read more reviews.

I could barely enjoy the place. Too many photographers. I must of counted 20+ every 3-4ft. Historic buildings were closed when we went. It was about 3pm. Only good thing was the burger restaurant. Ill come again on a week day when the photographers are at their real jobs. read more

Love this PlACE! There is so much to do! FARMERS MARKET, train ride, Hamburger Factory, musician gatherings, weddings, family gatherings, Christmas decorations and celebrations. ..and and and :) read more

Old Poway Park - Biggun and I doing a tent limbo at the Farmers Market :) - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Poway, California

Great park with a lot of fun options for kids, including the playground across the street. Visit on a Saturday to take advantage of the park amenties while enjoying solid eats offered weekly by Farmer's Market vendors. read more

I just love the Old Poway Park! From it's old time charm with wooden buildings, lush trees and green grass. We like to go on Saturdays during the Farmers Market! Take a ride in the train around the park, such fun for little ones! Also a museum with a fun little push button train and done cool pencil sharpeners! We even had my son's birthday party there one year when he was crazy for trains. Also many photoshoots are done here because of the lush ground and cool wooden backgrounds! read more

BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. My family hasn't taken a family portrait in more than 20 years so as part of a Christmas gift to my entire family, I hired a photographer :) and she suggested Old Poway Park. I wasn't sure about choosing a venue I've never been to, BUT I trusted my photographer. I am so happy we did. The park is beyond gorgeous. Our pictures were scheduled for the day after Christmas at around 11am and the lighting/weather was perfect. Not too hot and not cold at all. The grass and colors of the leaves, fountain, gazebo, train tracks, train station... altogether made a perfect setting for our portraits. I can't wait to go back to just enjoy a picnic with the family at Old Poway Park. I was told that there is a train ride that circles the park on the weekends (50 cents for kids and about $2 for adults... not bad!) and Old West gun fights. Cute!! Also love love love Farmers Markets so I will be back on a Saturday morning to enjoy that. read more

Old Poway Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Poway, California

See all

I love Old Poway Park. Although it is small, there are plenty of things to keep people of all ages occupied. The Heritage Museum has a good handful of artifacts and old photographs illustrating the history of Poway and the nearby areas. I really enjoyed the player piano and the schoolhouse setup. The main attraction of Old Poway Park is the train ride. It's a steam engine that takes 2 laps around the park. Because it was my 35-year-old friend's birthday, my friends and I got an extra lap on our trip plus the whole car sang happy birthday. I'm glad the employees have a sense of humor. Beyond the buildings is the "park-park" with picnic tables and plenty of trees for shade. It's a great place to have outdoor birthday parties, especially a train-themed one. The little creek is gross and disgusting by my perspective, so of course all the kids were playing in it. Expect to wash pond scum out of your kids' clothes when they go. In addition to the park itself the farmer's marker on Saturdays is great fun. Parking gets hectic on Saturdays but it's a good family outing. The Hamburger Factory is the go-to lunch spot. Overall, Old Poway Park provides a good variety of attractions for a day out. If you ever need a photo shoot for an occasion, this is a great place to go. I'm a bit sad my husband and I didn't do our engagement photo shoot here. You can also hold events in Templars Hall and in the gazebo, which makes it a great wedding and reception location. By far one of my favorite spots in the county. read more

Such a cool part of Poway. This park has been here for a LONG time. Even so, it is quaint, yet large enough to spread out and has so much history. Oh yeah, and a real working train the kiddos and parents can ride on around the park. A real old steam engine. So cool. On Saturdays there's a farmers market, so it can get crowded, but it's well worth a visit. There are several places to explore through the park, there's a gazebo for shade and special occasions and even a small koi fish well and fruit trees. Theres a bridge that leads to the park area with several old trains scattered throughout. It's a great spot for pictures, you will see people taking professional pics here on the regular. There's also a restaurant right there called the Hamburger Factory if the kids get hungry. Definitely check it out. read more