Powerland Heritage Park in Brooks, Oregon

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Brooks, Oregon · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitTrain ridesGrounds open April to September; reopening to general visitors April 3, 2027

Powerland Heritage Park is a 62-acre campus of heritage museums in Brooks, Oregon, where volunteers preserve and run the trains, trolleys, steam engines, trucks and farm machines that once powered the state.

  • 62-acre campus off I-5 Exit 263
  • First Steam-Up in Brooks, 1970
  • Trolley and miniature train rides
  • Oregon Heritage Tradition event
  • Grounds open April to September

Powerland Heritage Park at a glance

Hours
Grounds Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, April to September; individual museums set their own hours
Admission
Regular grounds admission listed at $6; special events priced separately
Train rides
Trolley and miniature train rides on event days; trolley rides at S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids were $7 adults, $3 youth, $20 family
Seasonal events
The Great Oregon Steam-Up, S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids, Powerland Halloween, Holiday Sparkles, Trains at Powerland, Depot Day, Firehouse Fun
Plan for
Half a day; allow 2 or more hours for Powerland Halloween
Best for
Families, tractor and steam fans, trolley riders
Best ages
Preschool to age 12
Parking
Free parking for S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids; on-site lots

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Powerland Heritage Park? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Brooks.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From farm threshing bees to a permanent home for Oregon's machines

Powerland began with farmers. The early threshing bee gatherings were organized by people who had worked the fields with steam and wanted, now and then, to fire up their old engines again. The Mikkelsons hosted the first of those shows in 1954 and kept them going through 1966, Rodney Pitts held shows at his place from 1955 to 1959, and the Western Steam Fiends Association ran them in Woodburn from 1967 to 1969.

The people who had carried those shows then formed a corporation under Ed Currans and went looking for a permanent site. Western Antique Power Inc. leased land in Brooks from Frank Petzel, held the first Brooks Steam-Up in 1970 for about 3,000 visitors, signed the lease in 1971, and later bought the property. In 2001 the Antique Powerland Museum Association, an Oregon nonprofit, was formed to manage it, and in 2017 the grounds took the name Powerland Heritage Park.

Rail history arrived in a big way in 1995, when the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society, founded in 1957, moved its trolley museum here from Glenwood. Today the park describes itself as a community of 14 hands-on heritage museums covering antique equipment, steam machinery, trains, trolleys, logging gear and farm implements, each run by its own dedicated people and working together on the shared campus.

The Great Oregon Steam-Up has grown from those 3,000 first visitors to more than 14,000, has been named an Oregon Heritage Tradition, and was voted Best Annual Event in the Best of the Willamette Valley Awards five years running through 2026. The park also won Best Place to Volunteer two years in a row, a fair nod to the hundreds of volunteers it takes to put the show on.

Trolleys, miniature trains and a campus full of iron

Powerland is laid out as a campus, so a visit means walking from museum to museum across the grounds. For train families the rail side of the park is the draw: the Oregon Electric Railway Museum, which describes itself as the largest trolley museum in the Pacific Northwest, keeps electric railway equipment dating from the 1890s through 1977, and its trolleys carry riders on event days. There is also a miniature train ride, and the separate Willow Creek Railroad Museum sits on the same grounds.

Around the rail exhibits you will find steam traction engines, logging equipment, farm tractors and the Pacific Northwest Truck Museum's historic truck collection. The individual museums keep their own hours, which can differ from the grounds' hours, so check each one before you plan your route.

Don’t miss

  1. The double-decker trolley from EnglandFamilies ride this historic double-decker on event days, and it plays a starring role in the park's Halloween adventure.
  2. The former TriMet MAX light rail carA retired Portland MAX car now carries visitors along the park's railway, a fun bridge between old trolleys and today's light rail.
  3. Miniature Train RidesSmall trains give rides on event days such as the Great Oregon Steam-Up and S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids, weather permitting.
  4. Steam traction enginesThe machines that started it all; at S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids one pulls guests around in a wagon.
  5. The Parade of PowerHeld at 1:30 pm on Great Oregon Steam-Up days, it rolls vintage machines past the crowd.

Pedal tractors, gold panning and a trolley to ride

Powerland's event days are built with kids in mind. S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids each May adds miniature train rides, a scavenger hunt, hands-on crafts, a toy truck play area and wagon rides behind a steam traction engine, and in past years kids made ice cream and rope to take home. During the Great Oregon Steam-Up, children can follow a youth passport hunt and collect pins, pan for gold, try a firefighting challenge course and pull with pedal tractors.

Powerland Halloween is a no-scare mystery for families, with trolley and MAX rides and a white pumpkin to decorate. The park asks visitors to come rain or shine in good walking shoes, since there is a lot of ground to cover outdoors.

Plan your visit: tips for Powerland Heritage Park

  • Each museum on the campus keeps its own hours, so check the one you most want to see.
  • Wear walking shoes; events run rain or shine across a large outdoor campus.
  • Great Oregon Steam-Up tickets are sold at the gate on show days.
  • Outside the April to September season, the park is open by appointment and for private events; call 503-393-2424.
  • Children 12 and under are free at S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids.

October brings Powerland Halloween, a zero-scare mystery where families ride the double-decker trolley and the former MAX car, follow clues and decorate a white pumpkin; the 2026 theme is The Case of the Missing Fairy. In December the park lights up for Holiday Sparkles. For more ideas, see our guides to Halloween train rides in Oregon and Christmas train rides in Oregon.

Hundreds of volunteers and a museum association

The Antique Powerland Museum Association, an Oregon nonprofit, manages the park, and each museum on the grounds is run by its own group. Hundreds of volunteers make the Great Oregon Steam-Up happen each year. Visitors can help by coming to the events, joining the association as a member, volunteering, or donating through the park's PayPal Giving Fund link.

More rail stops near Brooks

Two rail museums share the Powerland grounds: the Oregon Electric Railway Museum and the Willow Creek Railroad Museum. About 22 miles away, Pacific Northwest Live Steamers runs small-scale trains in Molalla. See all of Oregon's train museums for a longer trip.

Every train museum in Oregon

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Powerland has a double-decker trolley from England, and the first thing I thought of was those stairs up to the top deck. In our book, Rally's short corgi legs cannot manage the big train steps, so Dad gives him a boost. My mom loved that kind of small, kind moment. If your little one wants to color Rally climbing aboard, there are free coloring pages to print.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Powerland Heritage Park?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Powerland Heritage Park: 20 questions families ask

Where is Powerland Heritage Park?

Powerland Heritage Park is at 3995 Brooklake Rd NE in Brooks, Oregon 97303, on a 62-acre campus right off I-5 at Exit 263. Some park materials list a Salem mailing address, since Brooks sits just north of Salem. The office phone is 503-393-2424 if you need directions.

What are Powerland Heritage Park hours?

As of October 2026, the grounds are open April through September, Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. The park closed to general visitors on October 1 and reopens Saturday, April 3, 2027, though special events still run in fall and winter. The individual museums keep their own hours, so check each one.

How much is admission to Powerland Heritage Park?

The park's site mentions a normal grounds admission of $6, as of October 2026. Special events are priced separately: Powerland Halloween is $19 for ages 13 and up and $15 for ages 2 to 12, and S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids was $10 for adults with kids 12 and under free. Confirm current prices with the office before you go.

Is Powerland Heritage Park open in winter?

Not for general visitors. The grounds close to drop-in visitors from October 1 until early April, but the park stays open for special events such as Powerland Halloween in October and Holiday Sparkles in December, and it is open by appointment and for private events off season. Call 503-393-2424 to arrange a visit.

What is Powerland Heritage Park?

Powerland Heritage Park, formerly known as Antique Powerland, is a collection of heritage museums on a shared campus in Brooks, Oregon. The park describes itself as a community of 14 hands-on museums preserving antique equipment, steam machinery, trains, trolleys, trucks, logging gear and farm implements. The Antique Powerland Museum Association manages it.

Can you ride a trolley at Powerland Heritage Park?

Yes, on event days. The Oregon Electric Railway Museum on the grounds runs trolley rides, including a historic double-decker trolley from England and a former TriMet MAX light rail car. At S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids, unlimited trolley rides were $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and military, $3 for youth and $20 per family.

Are there miniature train rides at Powerland Heritage Park?

Yes. Miniature Train Rides run during big events such as the Great Oregon Steam-Up, where rides operate from 10 am to 4 pm, and at S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids, weather permitting. They are not listed as running every open day, so check the park's event list or call 503-393-2424 before you plan around a ride.

When is the Great Oregon Steam-Up?

The 57th Great Oregon Steam-Up is scheduled for July 24 and 25 and July 31 and August 1, 2027, featuring the Western Steam Fiends 75th anniversary and Case equipment. The four-day show has been voted Best Annual Event in the Willamette Valley five years in a row and draws more than 14,000 visitors.

What is there to do at the Great Oregon Steam-Up?

At the 2026 show, grounds opened 7 am to 6 pm, with miniature train and trolley rides 10 am to 4 pm, museums open 9 am to 4:30 pm, a swap meet in the morning and the Parade of Power at 1:30 pm. Kids could follow a youth passport hunt, pan for gold and try pedal tractor pulling.

How do I buy Great Oregon Steam-Up tickets?

Tickets are sold at the gate on show days, and the park has also offered online tickets on the day of the show. A link for 2027 tickets is marked coming soon on the park's website. Watch antiquepowerland.com or the park's Facebook page for when 2027 sales open.

What is Powerland Halloween?

Powerland Halloween is a no-scare, kid-friendly Halloween mystery. The 2026 theme, The Case of the Missing Fairy, has families riding the double-decker trolley and former MAX train, hunting clues and decorating a white pumpkin. As of October 2026, remaining dates are October 24, 25 and 31, with entry 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.

What is S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids at Powerland?

It is a one-day spring event built for younger explorers, held May 16 in 2026. Kids get miniature train rides, a scavenger hunt, crafts, a toy truck play area and wagon rides pulled by a steam traction engine, and all museums are open. Admission was $10 for adults, free for children 12 and under, with free parking.

Does Powerland Heritage Park have a Christmas event?

Yes. Holiday Sparkles at Powerland runs in December and is one of the special events that keeps the park open after the regular season ends. The park's website posts details and tickets closer to the date, so check antiquepowerland.com or call the office at 503-393-2424 for the 2026 schedule.

Is Powerland Heritage Park good for toddlers?

Event days work well for little ones. Children 12 and under are free at S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids, which adds a toy truck play area and miniature train rides, and Powerland Halloween is designed to be zero-scare. Plenty of walking is involved, so bring a stroller or a carrier and dress for the weather.

How long should I spend at Powerland Heritage Park?

Plan on half a day for an event, and longer for the Great Oregon Steam-Up, when every museum is open and the grounds run from morning to evening. The park suggests allowing two or more hours for Powerland Halloween alone. A regular season visit depends on how many of the separate museums are open.

Is there parking at Powerland Heritage Park?

Yes, the park has parking on its grounds, including a front parking lot used during the Steam-Up. Parking was free for S.T.E.A.M.'d Up for Kids. The park is easy to reach from I-5 at Exit 263. For large events, arrive early, since the Steam-Up draws thousands of visitors each day.

When did Powerland Heritage Park start?

Western Antique Power Inc. held the first Steam-Up in Brooks in 1970, leased the land in 1971 and later bought it. The Antique Powerland Museum Association was formed in 2001 to manage the site, and the grounds took the name Powerland Heritage Park in 2017. The threshing shows behind it date to 1954.

Are military members free at the Great Oregon Steam-Up?

In 2026, current and prior service members were admitted free on the second weekend of the show with a military ID card, while family members paid regular admission. That weekend also featured the Military Vehicle Collectors Club of Oregon. Check the park's website to see if the same offer applies in 2027.

How can I volunteer at Powerland Heritage Park?

The park relies on hundreds of volunteers and was voted Best Place to Volunteer in the Willamette Valley two years running. Contact the office at 503-393-2424 or office@antiquepowerland.com, Monday through Friday 9 am to 1 pm, to ask how to help. Membership and PayPal donations are also welcome.

What train museums are near Powerland Heritage Park?

The Oregon Electric Railway Museum and the Willow Creek Railroad Museum are both on the Powerland grounds. Pacific Northwest Live Steamers in Molalla is about 22 miles away, the Albany Historic Carousel and Museum about 29 miles, and the Willamette Shore Trolley about 30 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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