Northlandz

Reviews 3

TH

Thomas Sulcer

(Note: my review is from my memory of visiting with my kids about 15 years ago) Im a model train enthusiast looking for cool stuff to show my kids. The ticket prices back then were about $17 -- a bit steep I thought, with not much reduction for kids prices. Upon first entering, its a model train buffs wonderland -- a well designed train exhibit with beautiful scenery, track routes, with a recurring motif of trains flanked by a usually steep mountainside and a river. My kids and I perhaps spent 15 to 20 minutes on the first few exhibits, marveling at trains emerging from tunnels, crossing bridges, crossing gates going down, lit up tiny houses, rocks and shrubberies and track yards -- the whole kit and kaboodle. It is a spectacle to behold, picture-worthy, fun, as if we wanted to drink in the beauty visually. But then you keep walking. And walking. And walking. And what had seemed so exciting at first gets old fast, with the same train-winding-around-the-hillside motif, same steep hillsides. There are a few exceptions: I remember one joke-oriented exhibit with a tiny house built atop a vertical rock-pylon, leaving us to wonder how the tiny imaginary inhabitant ever got into her house by climbing the cliffside; I remember a cityscape with a different gauge railroad. Yet the walkway keeps winding around the vast exhibit as a way of recycling previous exhibits, so that youre looking at essentially the same train layout but from a different angle, which isnt too bad. I remember doll exhibits, a large organ stage-area (how was this relevant to trains?) and different gauge trains later on. There were a few spectacular train bridges built which showed real craftsmanship, with trains going overhead. My kids, maybe ages 7 and 4, got bored quickly, and we found ourselves almost running through the rest of the display because there was not much new to see. The exhibit morphed into an exercise track. There were a few doors so tired visitors could exit the long (1-2 mile?) walkway but then I wasnt sure if there was something better up ahead, so we kept walking. Was there something better up ahead? No. So it turned into a workout-hike. It left me with the impression that the creator was a definite train buff but that he got carried away, repeating the same motifs, not creatively thinking up new exhibits or working to solve the problem of how to keep visitors interested. Why not have more interactive exhibits? How about a camera on top of a train? How about letting kids control the engines or raise/lower crossing gates? With computer technology and robotics, amazing types of exhibits are possible, but I felt Northlandz was rooted more in the 1950s or earlier. I can see how trying to keep the exhibits from getting dusty would have been a problem, so my guess is that other reviewers comments about dust and dirt may be accurate. How can a maintenance person vacuum up the displays without sucking up toy houses or shrubs or cabooses? If the price had been less -- maybe $8 or $10 -- I would have thought it was a bargain -- but $17? Good news -- theyve lowered prices (as of July 2016) to $14 for adults and $10 for kids -- but I would recommend an even lower price, or have a special rate for families, so that a parent with kids in tow could afford it better. Overall, good but not great. Three stars.

MR

MrMikebutkus

Feb. 2017: After many years living just miles from this place, I was on my own one day, so I stopped to check it out. This is a Tue in Feb, there were 4 cars parked outside. Not sure how long this has been here, but it won a business award in 1996, plus its in the Guinness Book of Records. There is ONE bathroom at the entrance, it could use a hosing down. I state ONE as this is a VERY LONG WALK to get to the end. There are train setups and small display setups. One: This is not cheap to get in. Two: the building was made for this display, so there was one big mortgage to pay. Three: There is a very short outdoor train ride for a few bucks more, rain or shine. Four: there is a weekend "real" train ride in Flemington, just a few miles away at the outlet mall (ladies, and a Brew Pub after 4pm at the outlet mall - Guys), your choice. I noticed there were a few light out, some in the "displays" which puts them in the dark. There were more then several florescent lights out/blinking. The blinking lights will make your digital camera display look weird, but the picture will come out OK. You go through a corral that is pretty slim at certain points. So wheel chairs could be a challenge at some points. Some of the displays show their 1990s age. Some displays have dead bugs in them the time I went through. A number of the train displays have no moving trains when I was there. Yes, the place is immense, bring your hiking shoes, really. Not kidding here. This could take more then an hour an a half depending on how long you stop and see the sights. Yes, some of the displays are massive, some bridges are 40+ feet long, hand made of thin wood sticks. The displays are creative, you even have a tomb stone cemetery to check out. Certain points have a step-up and grips for the younger. Almost all the trains are the small ones, there is one display of the much larger models. The displays are of various "train" items or painting of outdoors, again many had lights out. After walking and walking and walking, you get to the 25% finished sign. After many more displays, and some are deep, you get to the half way point. That is the glass on the second floor at the front of the building. Where you are greeted to a soda machine.. and no bathroom, no seats ! The music room has the only seats. If you are a train nut, as two 35 year old guys in front of me were, they were having a great time. Thank goodness digital "film" is free as Im sure the kids will take 100 photos. JUST a caution, as I said some of the displays are deep. Losing a phone/camera, hat or toy down there may be more then a hassle. The displays may have nothing to do with trains and have price tags. There is one painting of Rod Stewart and some girl, at least thats who I though it was. Again it had a price tag ? ? Getting to the end, finally, there is a "gift shop" of course. Train items and other stuff. There is a "food" area but only hot dog, pretzel, or drink. I did not check out the prices. Only one person was there for the whole place, but it was Feb. You can buy tickets to their train ride after the tour. You can find the "wall" of other places to at the exit.

AN

Angela cardamone

Dont know why this came up under Angela cardamone, I am John S. Smith While this place is very impressive, I dont believe we got what we paid for. We, along with several others visiting when we did complained that a lot of trains were not running. Their website says up to 100 trains. The day we went there were 65 running. Still impressive, but its like paying for 10 gallons of gas while getting only 6, buying a book with some chapters missing, a foot long hot dog and getting only six inches, or buying a music CD with 10 songs listed only to find 6 songs on the CD. I have no problem if a couple of trains are down for some kind of maintenance, but I would have given this a better rating if more trains had been running. I doubt Ill go back. I would definitely go back if more trains had been operating. I cant speak for everyone, but I doubt Im alone in this, as I heard others making the same complaint. There were not a lot of visitors when we were there. Maybe this is why. If they kept more trains running theyd get more visitors returning

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