Frisco Train Store, Valley Park

Location: 24 Front Street, Valley Park, MO 63088

Amenities: open train table play, toy store, birthday parties, fun nights

Website: http://friscotrainstore.com/

The Frisco Train Store (formerly the Whittle Shortline Railroad) is in Valley Park. It is more than a toy store, it's an indoor miniature train paradise for kids. There are several train tables for kids to try out the merchandise or just escape on a rainy day to play. The best time to visit is after 11:30 am, as the mornings get really crowded, especially on cold or wet days. The crowds clear out quite a bit at lunchtime. They have an electric train circling the room and if you're lucky, you might even get to catch a real train going past the building right across the street! There is no fee to play but please donate or buy something to keep this awesome place in business!

 

Electric train circling the room near the ceiling

Watching a train go by outside

Lots of merch!

Here is a great article by my friend Denise who did a story on Frisco since the quarantine of 2020. 

This is a great place to have a birthday party too! My son's 3rd was here and they open up the upstairs for it. It's on the smaller side but very reasonable compared to other venues in town. 

Buder Park, Valley Park

Location: 215 Valley Park Rd, Valley Park, MO 63026

Amenities: Picnic shelter, restroom, trails, playground, tennis court, archery range, and remote control airfield

Website: https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/buder-park/

Playground ground cover: Poured rubber

Buder Park is divided into 2 parts, a large portion is north of Hwy 44 (upper Buder), and part is south of 44 (apparently before the highway was built it was one big park). The playground is on the portion of the park which is south of Hwy 44 (lower Buder). The airfield for remote-controlled airplanes is on the other side, and that is really fun for kids as well.

The playground has a large play structure and a smaller structure for kids under 5. There are multiple slides, rock walls, a spider web climber, a seat that spins, and 2 things you stand on that bounce you up and down. There are 2 sling swings, 1 baby swing, and 1 adaptive swing. There are 2 ride on spring motorcycles

The playground was rebuilt in 2014, and it's a good thing because the old playground was awful. Too bad they didn't renovate the bathrooms as well! Every time we've been here it's been very quiet. It's set back from the street with plenty of parking and is a great little playground. 

The restrooms are next to the playground, and the pavilion is a bit further past this building. 

There is a large flat open field next to the playground. 

Map of the park showing the playground circled in red.