Day Trip to Northlandz

The hustle and bustle of the holidays are long behind you and the long winter is stretching ahead. This is the time of year when adults often dream of escaping to diverse destinations and when children yearn to escape the perils of boredom while cooped up on cold days. Wouldn’t you love to just hop on a train and go off on a journey to take you away from it all, if only for a few hours? If that sounds appealing, then this day trip idea may put you on the right track. Climb aboard and head to Flemington, NJ, home of Northlandz, the Great American Railway, Doll Museum, & Art Gallery.

Boasting a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Model Railroad, and welcoming up to 2,100 guests a day, Northlandz offer a fascinating escape into a miniature world of wonders. It dates back to 1972, when the first home of Bruce Williams Zaccagnino, the creator and owner of Northlandz, was being built. As the builders would leave for the day, he would go to the basement each night and construct scenes for his model train passion, continually adding exhibits and ultimately creating, with his wife Jean, what is now a 16-acre, world-class attraction. Northlandz boasts up to 100 trains traveling more than eight miles of track, crossing 40-foot bridges that span huge (at least on a miniature scale) canyons, and passing through picturesque cities and villages populated with thousands of detailed buildings and figures. Venture beyond the boundaries of this indoor universe and, outdoors, you will find an 1890s replica narrow gauge steam train. Train rides, for an additional fee, are given through the surrounding woods.

The handcrafted vistas at Northlandz are tremendous, with dramatic lighting and a fine attention to detail throughout each of the seemingly endless maze of rooms. Forts, native villages, amusement parks, deserts, urban cities, and rural towns are all on display, to be viewed from various angles, with scenes and storylines – from the dramatic to the comedic – played out as you go along. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars and cameras with telephoto lenses in order to provide a close look at all the intricate detail. Strollers are advised for little legs that may tire easily, and a limited number of wheelchairs are also available.

More than just trains, the complex also feature a museum collection of over 200 dolls and the 94-room La Peep Doll House, plus a huge, 2,000-pipe theater pipe organ – played by the multi-talented Mr. Williams – and various art galleries. As a whole, Northlandz is truly a reflection of the couple’s lifelong, year-round passions and talents. Over the years, it has become a traditional favorite destination not only for model train enthusiasts, but for visitors of all ages who simply appreciate the kind of quaint, old-fashioned Americana attractions that are becoming increasingly rare. 

If you’d like to hop off the train tracks to have a bite to eat, Northlandz also offers the Club Car Café, where the menu includes hot dogs, personal pizzas, soft pretzels, ice cream, chips, and other treats, plus an assortment of cold and hot beverages. And, yes – there’s a gift shop, too!

In 2016, Northlandz is open every day except Tuesday; hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Admission is $13.75 for adults (ages 13 and up), $9.75 for children ages two to 12, and free under age two. Seniors, age 62+, pay $12.50. Making plans to take a trip with family, friends, scout troops, or other groups? Special rates are available for parties of 20 or more.

To find out more or to book your own train ticket for a journey through Northlandz, call (908) 782-4022 or visit www.northlandz.com. Northlandz is located at 495 U.S. Highway 202 in Flemington.