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See Old Poway Park
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The place
About Old Poway Park
Old Poway Park is the City-owned historic setting that hosts Poway-Midland Railroad. Paths, lawns, picnic areas, restored structures, rail facilities, community events, and markets share the same Midland Road site, so the park is an onsite companion rather than a second drive.
The City describes the Heritage Museum as a place to learn Poway history and the Nelson House as an early-20th-century domestic-history experience. Current 2026 public hours are Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for the museum and Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for the Nelson House. Staffing, exhibits, special events, and holidays can change access.
The Saturday farmers market runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The City directory lists the artisan market from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on first and third Saturdays January-August, then every Saturday from Labor Day weekend through Christmas. Vendors and inventory are never guaranteed.
Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset daily. The City publishes reservable picnic and gathering areas with different capacities, amenities, and rental windows. General park access does not include a train ride; railroad tickets, equipment, weather decisions, and boarding rules remain separate.
What stands out
Read Poway history
Use the Heritage Museum to place the park, valley, unrealized railroad plans, agriculture, and community growth in local context.
Enter the Nelson House
Compare the operational railroad collection with an early-20th-century domestic-history setting during its narrower Saturday window.
Shop the Saturday markets
Pair train hours with farm produce, artisan foods, and handmade work while allowing for seasonal vendor changes.
Keep the whole day onsite
Move between train, museum, house, lawn, picnic, and event spaces without treating shared geography as shared admission or hours.
Pair it with the train
Why it belongs in a Poway-Midland Railroad trip
The railroad, depot, museum, Nelson House, market spaces, picnic areas, and event grounds share Old Poway Park at 14134 Midland Road. Walk between them onsite, but treat each published window separately: park hours do not make the museum, house, market, or train continuously available.
Before you go
Plan your visit
- Park groundsSunrise to sunset daily
- Heritage MuseumSaturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Nelson HouseSaturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Farmers marketSaturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; vendor participation varies
- Artisan marketFirst and third Saturdays January-August, then every Saturday Labor Day weekend through Christmas, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Picnic and rentalsMultiple reservable areas have separate capacities, amenities, hours, and charges
- Railroad boundaryTrain tickets, equipment, boarding, weather, and operating dates are controlled separately by the railroad
Return to the onsite railway
Add Poway-Midland Railroad
Use the railroad guide for exact equipment dates, fares, 10-15-minute ride, heat policy, wheelchair boundary, stroller and pet rules, and depot-only ticket sales.
Useful answers
Frequently asked questions
Is Old Poway Park the same as the railroad?
No. The City owns and operates the park; Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers operate the historic equipment onsite under a City partnership.
When are the museum and Nelson House open?
The City lists the Heritage Museum Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and the Nelson House Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Recheck special events and holidays.
When is the farmers market?
Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with changing vendors and inventory.
Can I picnic in the park?
Yes. The park has picnic areas, while reservable spaces have separate capacity, amenity, schedule, and rental rules.
Does park admission include the train?
No shared admission contract is published. Buy railroad tickets at the depot on operating days.
How far is the park from the train?
It is onsite: the train operates inside Old Poway Park.
Trust and accuracy
Sources
Source checked 2026-08-24. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.