AUSTIN, Texas — A long saga is set to come to an end on Wednesday: The Zilker Eagle mini train finally opened to the public.
KVUE has been following the train's journey back to Zilker Park for years.
What happened to the Zilker Zephyr?
The beloved Zilker Zephyr train was closed in May 2019 due to storm damage, according to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). Then, in February 2020, the vendor that ran that train said it was closing, in part due to erosion of the tracks and in part due to issues with the PARD.
Shortly after, the PARD assured Austinites that the mini train would chug on, but under new management. A few days later, the city of Austin sued the former operator of the Zilker Zypher to keep it from pulling up the tracks the train sat on.
Later the same month, the Austin City Council approved a resolution to accept "charitable assistance" from anyone who wanted to help save the train.
Where did "Zilker Eagle" come from?
In September 2020, the Austin Parks Foundation (APF) announced a naming contest for the Zilker Zephyr's replacement. In April 2021, officials said the new train would be arriving in Zilker Park that summer and announced its new name would be the Zilker Eagle, a nod to Zilker Park's very first train of 1961.
But that summer 2021 window came and went. In April 2022, the APF said more safety testing needed to be done before the train would be safe for people to ride. In October 2022, crews discovered a braking problem with the train, pushing its progress back again.
In September of last year, brake testing was conducted on the train and the APF said plans to open the train were moving forward. In January of this year, three renovated cars were added to the train. In May, the APF said if upcoming testing went well, the train would be opening to the public very soon.
More than four years later, opening day arrives
On June 10, the APF announced that the Zilker Eagle would open to the public on Wednesday, June 12, departing from the Train Depot at 2131 1/2 William Barton Drive. The train will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Austin to the tracks of the new Zilker Eagle this summer," APF CEO Colin Wallis said. "Our team, many of whom have fond memories riding the train, know how special this attraction is to the city’s history and have worked hard to make sure it was brought back in a way that is accessible and safe. We’re grateful to our community for their patience while we worked to do just that and can’t wait to watch new generations of Austinites making memories on the Zilker Eagle."
Tara Morris and her two kids rode the train Wednesday.
"Aw it’s awesome. It is really good, love it, nostalgic," Morris said.
The train will still start at the depot near Barton Springs Pool and make its way along Barton Creek to Lady Bird Lake, but it will now turn around at Lou Neff Point, just about 100 yards short of where it used to circle back.
Renovations to the train depot and the surrounding site have been made to address accessibility issues and lighting, landscaping and functionality in the depot area. The Zilker Eagle train and its loading ramp are now wheelchair accessible.
Tickets to ride the train are $6, with a portion of the proceedings benefitting Austin parks. Every third Wednesday of each month, rides will be free to the public between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the exception of school groups, day care center groups and birthday parties.