by Elizabeth Connolly
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Nestled deep in the Needham Town Forest, it sits like a secret, waiting to be found. You’ll know you’re close when you start seeing items one doesn’t normally find among 200 acres of thickly wooded trails: things like fairy houses, pint-sized paintings and toy cars. All of these treasures, placed throughout the years, each one with its own unique but mysterious origin story, leads you to a most unexpected main attraction, the “it” of this story: Martini Junction.
Rumor is that this impressive, 120-foot model railroad was built by a local named Jim Metcalf. According to lore, Mr. Metcalf began building sometime in the early 2000’s, after discovering the spot on a walk with his wife. Apparently the name came from the thought that it would be a lovely spot to enjoy a martini, though water bottles and juice boxes have most likely dominated the beverage preferences of its visitors over the years.
Though there’s no model train on it’s tracks, there are plenty of toy ones for young conductors to take for a ride. A nearby box is filled with play items, and there are numerous village-type areas to explore, such as a tiny birdhouse workshop, a toy farm, and a lovely little waterfall.
If you’d like to visit, the main parking area for the Needham Town Forest is located right off of Central Avenue, near Claxton Field. A map (that includes Martini Junction) can be found at the trailhead, and each trail is marked with a color-coded miniature birdhouse. A snack and a water bottle or two are always a good idea for a hike, and you may want to consider bringing along some bug spray, as there are several adjacent ponds. If you want to download a map before you go, you can find one at needhamma.gov.
It is truly an enchanting spot. It is a perfect place to wander into this summer.
