California home with hidden miniature town and working railway sells for $415,000

Photo credit: compass.com A modest single-family home in East Hemet, California, carried a surprise that most buyers would never expect from the street. Behind the three-bedroom, two-bath house sat a fully built, covered miniature town complete with a functioning model train set, all tucked into a backyard that also includes an in-ground pool and an above-ground spa. The 1,460-square-foot property listed in December 2025 for $425,000 and sold on February 27, 2026, for $415,000, according to Zillow and Realtor.com.A pool home with a hidden railway cityThe house at 41011 Stetson Avenue sits on a corner lot in East Hemet, a community in Riverside County about 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Built in 1971, the home offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a circular front driveway with dual street access, providing extra parking space for vehicles or recreational toys. Inside, the primary suite features a private bath and French doors that open to the covered patio and backyard. The backyard is described in listings as a true oasis, with a gunite in-ground pool, an expansive concrete deck for lounging and entertaining, and charming storage sheds designed to resemble an Old West ghos...