I Did Not Know That There Was A Mini-Train That Ran Through An Austin, TX Park But Best Believe We're Excited To Take A Ride On It Soon.

I'm a huge advocate for train travel as someone who used to regularly take the AMTRAK from here in East Texas to Central Texas as I've covered before.

But if you find yourself in Austin with the little ones or just wanted to do something fun and different with the family, get ready to head over to Zilker Park for something special that's making a comeback.

After a nearly five-year absence, Austin’s most popular and missed train is planning for a return.

An Austin staple for many decades, the Zilker Zephyr train originally shut down after a 2019 storm caused the ground below the tracks to erode. The family that previously operated the train decided they no longer wanted to be involved.

But thanks to the hard work and contributions from the community and the Austin Parks Foundation, the train is back under new ownership as the “Zilker Eagle” and will be running on a slightly altered route around Austin’s premier park.

Last week the locomotive arrived in Austin From Lufkin, TX.

The brand new locomotive is now being kept with the passenger cars under lock and key in a tunnel beneath the park. The train will now undergo testing before taking on passengers.

The path the train follows has been rerouted, so that it now starts near Barton Springs Pool and turns around at Lou Neff Point, a scenic spot along Lady Bird Lake.

The plan to start is to charge $6 for tickets regardless of a rider’s age. However, there will also be a community day once per month where rides are free. Make sure you add this to your spring and summer travel plans!