Close your eyes and think of the most detailed diorama you can remember seeing. Now multiply that 100 times. You might be getting a feel for what Tinkertown Museum is like. Every single nook and cranny is filled with something. Scratch that. Every nook or cranny is filled with at least 10 things.
Tinkertown is a showcase for Ross Ward’s imaginative collection of miniatures and memorabilia along with a lifetime of his wood carvings. Many have a circus theme as he worked as a show painter on the carnival circuit. Folk art was his lifelong hobby. There are creative dioramas everywhere you turn along with a few interactive amusements that will require a quarter, so make sure you get some before you enter. Esmerelda the fortune teller and Otto the one-man-band are two of my favorites! It was both an overwhelming and fascinating place, and I spent way longer than the 30 minutes that they suggest to allow.
Now the nitty-gritty for people who use mobility aids like wheelchairs. This is going to be a tricky place to visit. The hallways are very thin and curvy. The floors are uneven, possibly even tilted. I use a smaller-than-standard-size manual wheelchair and with assistance from family, I was able to make this work. All of it. If you can transition to arm crutches or walk for short distances, that may be a better option. If you need a large or power wheelchair, the honest truth is that you may be better off limiting yourself to checking out the portions visible from the outside. There is a wall of fantasy storefronts that are interesting and completely outside the building. If you are traveling through this area with family or friends, you may just want to enjoy the mountain air and the outdoor displays.
This attraction is open seasonally. They do have a placard reserved parking space near their main door, and offer free admission to those in wheelchairs. That will make it easy to splurge on chocolates or ice cream along the Turquoise Trail portion of your trip.