What started on a dining room table has grown into a backyard Disneyland years in the making.
David Sheegog, an architect in Anaheim, California, has spent 27 years building a Disney-themed miniature railroad and park at his home, a project that began as a homeschooling idea for his children and turned into what he describes as “something special,” almost like a “living laboratory” to explore science and nature.
About 30 years ago, Sheegog and his wife Frances were homeschooling their children on their property when he also “stumbled” into garden railroading, a hobby that combines landscaping with model trains. He thought it would help develop his kids into smart, problem-solving adults.
At first, Frances was not convinced. “For about two years, between ‘97 and ‘99, we had a model of our backyard on our dining room table,” David says. “It was made out of clay and I used my computer program I used for architecture to do the track layout.”
After that, Sheegog said he still needed a theme. “You can’t just pile up rocks. Although some people have done that, you know? But I didn’t want mine to be that way,” he says.
He said the idea clicked after a family trip to Disney World around the turn of the century, along with his past employment and living close to Disneyland in California.
“In the home videos of that trip, I’m videotaping the kids as they’re pulling their little suitcases through the garage to load up into the car,” he remembers. “In the background, I can see Snow White’s cottage being built… So somewhere in that period, I decided that the theme would be Disney and so I started making the landmarks.”
His display, called Castle Peak & Thunder Railroad, includes miniature versions of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, the Haunted Mansion, the Disneyland Railroad and Casey Jr. Circus Train. It also features Beast’s Castle, Prince Eric’s Seaside Villa from The Little Mermaid, Carl Fredricksen’s house from Up, and a functioning aerial skyway.
The Sheegogs open their property for a small series of free open houses each spring and fall, and demand is high.
“Last fall, all 2,000 spots were gone in 56 seconds,” David says of his Eventbrite reservation system.
The couple started holding the open houses around 2014. Sheegog continues adding new features each year.
This year, a new attraction called Pixie Hollow is set to debut on May 9. Sheegog describes it as “a water and light show that has 350 LED pixel lights that are all independently programmed.”
“It’s the most complicated thing I’ve ever done,” he explains.
He said he worked with around 13 consultants, including animators, music arrangers and contractors, to design and build the show.
Sheegog said he also has plans ahead, including multiple structural additions to his house.
“I’d like to run this for at least 10 years,” he says. “So if I can build it between [ages] 60 and 70 and run it from 70 to 80, then I will have gotten a good run out of it.”
He said seeing families enjoy the display keeps him going.
“It just brings joy to my heart to see the families interacting and having fun, and smiling and giggling, and you know, if you can be a part of why that’s happening, then that’s enough reason to do it again.”
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