Pine Whistle Railroad

Step into a fantasy woodland world of miniature trains.

This winter, visit The Morton Arboretum to explore Pine Whistle Railroad, a family-friendly model train exhibit located inside the Firefly Pavilion.

Follow nearly 1,000 feet of miniature train track winding through detailed woodland and fairytale scenes, with model trains traveling along elevated sections that weave above the landscape.

Pine Whistle Railroad will open with Illumination, the Arboretum’s annual holiday lights show, on Friday, November 13, and will be on display through Monday, February 15, 2027. Pine Whistle Railroad is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Tickets

Add Pine Whistle Railroad member tickets to your Illumination purchase.

Purchase Pine Whistle Railroad daytime member tickets.

Pine Whistle Railroad tickets will be available to all on Thursday, October 15.

Cost
Adult or child (4 and older): $9
Infant (3 and younger): Free

Member Cost
Adult or child (4 and older): $7
Infant (3 and younger): Free

Please note that the last ticket time for daytime visits is 3:00 p.m. Pine Whistle Railroad will close at 4:00 p.m. before reopening for Illumination visits. The last ticket time for Illumination visits is 7:30 p.m.

Pine Whistle Railroad admission on opening day (Friday, November 13) is available for daytime visits only (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Already booked your Illumination tickets? Contact the ticket line at tickets@mortonarb.org or call 630-725-2066 (Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to add Pine Whistle Railroad to your Illumination purchase.

Save $2 per ticket when you buy Arboretum general admission tickets online. Become a member to visit without general admission and save on event tickets.

Your ticket purchase helps support the Arboretum’s vision of a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.

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Tickets

Lea en español.

Add Pine Whistle Railroad member tickets to your Illumination purchase.

Purchase Pine Whistle Railroad daytime member tickets.

Pine Whistle Railroad tickets will be available to all on Thursday, October 15.

Cost
Adult or child (4 and older): $9
Infant (3 and younger): Free

Member Cost
Adult or child (4 and older): $7
Infant (3 and younger): Free

Save $2 per ticket when you buy Arboretum general admission tickets online. Become a member to visit without general admission and save on event tickets.

Food and Drinks

Lea en español.

Coffee, hot chocolate, decorated train cookies, and handmade “Choo-Choo” cherry pie will be available to purchase from a concession stand on weekends and during the holidays. A schedule will be available closer to the opening date.

Ginkgo Restaurant and Café

Food and beverages are available at the Ginkgo Restaurant and the Ginkgo Café, both located in the Visitor Center.

The Ginkgo Restaurant is a sit-down restaurant that offers a full dinner and beverage menu, including freshly made sandwiches, salads, burgers, and assorted alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

The restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. The restaurant is open until 8:00 p.m. during all Illumination dates. Ticketholders can enter the restaurant as early as the entry time listed on their Illumination ticket.

Freshly made packaged salads and sandwiches, bakery items, espresso beverages, hot tea, and drip coffee are available at the Ginkgo Café, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.