The Irvine Park Railroad and Pumpkin patch has been a Southern California staple for years. It’s an amazing pumpkin patch with gourds of every size, color and shape. The park boasts great activities for the whole family in and around the Pumpkin Patch.  The Pumpkin Patch itself and surrounding Irvine Regional Park offers some of the best photo ops in the area along with  a quaint railroad that winds its way through the park.

But all of the fun came to a screeching halt this past Monday, October 9th. Irvine Regional Park and its amenities were threatened by the Canyon Fire 2. As fire ravaged through the Anaheim Hills, up and through the brush covered chaparral,  it encroached on the Irvine Regional Park. 

Unfortunately the pictures tell the heartbreaking story.

The fire moved fast and furious as volunteers walked horses out of the park and evacuated the zoo animals at a frenzied pace.  It is nothing short of a miracle that all of the livestock and other animals made it out safely. 

The Orange County Zoo which houses many exotic animals, is still standing and the zoo inhabitants are making their way back to their exhibits after their successful evacuation. 

Thankfully the Train Station is intact but will remain closed until further notice. The beloved Pumpkin Patch is also closed until further notice. 

Unfortunately, Peacock Hill Equestrian Center located in Irvine Regional Park has sustained major damage during the fire and has a go-fund me for donations to get their barn and stables rebuilt. 

You can follow the Irvine Park Railroad on Facebook and check their website for more information