Choo Choo Barn facts for kids
The Choo Choo Barn is an amazing train display in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, USA. It's like a miniature world with over 177 tiny, moving figures and vehicles, plus 17 working trains! This special place is about 1,700 square feet, which is a lot of space for trains and tiny towns.
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How the Choo Choo Barn Started
The Beginning with George Groff
The Choo Choo Barn began in 1945. A man named George Groff started it in the basement of his family's home. He lived on Franklin Street in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. George had just come home from World War II, a very big war that involved many countries. He bought a Lionel train set for his two-year-old son, Gary, as a Christmas gift. It cost $12.50, which was a good amount of money back then!
Growing the Train Collection
Over just a few years, George's train collection grew much bigger. It started to take up a large part of the family's basement. In the 1950s, the Groff family decided to share their amazing train display. They opened it to the public and to local school groups, especially during the Christmas holidays. People loved seeing the trains and tiny scenes.
Moving to a New Home
In 1961, George and his wife, Florence Groff, moved their train display. They found a small building that used to be a maintenance facility. It was located along Route 741, close to the Strasburg Rail Road. The Choo Choo Barn officially opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1961.
What the New Display Included
The new Choo Choo Barn was much larger. It had over 600 square feet of detailed miniature landscapes. There were six trains running and six animated figures that moved. Over the next few years, the display kept getting bigger and better. They even added a gift shop at the front of the building. A picnic area was also built next to the parking lot for visitors to enjoy.
New Owners and Continued Growth
When George and Florence Groff retired in 1979, their youngest son, Thomas, and his wife, Linda, took over. They became the new owners and caretakers of the Choo Choo Barn. The display still opens every spring for visitors. It's updated every year with new details and scenes. The displays often show famous places from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. You can see miniature versions of The Willows Restaurant, Dutch Wonderland amusement park, and the Strasburg Railroad. There's even a tiny model of the Groff family's own home!
