PLEASE NOTE: Filoli will be closed from January 12–14th as we pack up the tinsel, twinkle, and sparkle of Holidays at Filoli. We look forward to welcoming you back to experience the winter season on Thursday, January 15!
Railroad at the Redwoods
Filoli's magical trains continue in a new and wondrous way! Beginning in the new year, Thistlewyck transforms into Railroad in the Redwoods, an intimate, storybook train journey where imagination takes the lead and families share the joy of discovery together. Though the village now rests beyond view, little trains still weave through the redwoods, gliding along mossy paths, crossing tiny bridges, and disappearing into a world shaped by wonder.
Children and adults alike are invited to step closer, listen carefully, and follow each train’s adventure through the trees where curiosity is rewarded, imaginations run free, and small details spark big moments of delight.
Act fast! Catch the Railroad at the Redwoods throughout winter at Filoli before they too disappear back into the mist.
Access to Railroad at the Redwoods is included in General Admission.
The Lore of Thistlewyck Village
As the trains carry on the spirit of wonder and adventure, the story of Thistlewyck lives on!
Read more about the history of Filoli's enchanted village.
Long ago, the fair folk of the coast discovered that their world was too wide for whispers to travel alone. The owls carried news by night, and the deer passed messages along the forest floor, but still the stories of the snowy north reached the southern shores too late. So the fairies and woodland creatures dreamed up a shimmering train spun from mist and moonlight – swift as a hummingbird, unseen by human eyes – that could dart through mountain passes, race along ocean cliffs, and slip beneath the redwood canopy. Wherever the train paused, tiny villages sprang up, filled with laughter and song and the bustle of magical life. One of these hidden stops lay deep in the misty hills of Filoli, where towering redwoods and drifting fog provided the perfect veil. The creatures called it Thistlewyck.
For many years, Thistlewyck remained tucked away from human sight – except for the lucky few, like a child growing up at Filoli who heard a burst of giggles from behind the hedges, or glimpsed a flash of golden light zipping between the trees. But lately, something remarkable has happened: Thistlewyck has begun to shimmer into view. Drawn out by the wonder of children exploring Filoli, sparkle of holiday spirit, and curious questions that keep magic alive, the village is ready to be seen at last.