Nut Tree facts for kids

Nut Tree is a special place in Vacaville, California. It's a big area with shops, restaurants, and fun activities. You can find it close to where two major highways, I-80 and I-505, meet.

The Original Nut Tree

A Bit of History

The first Nut Tree opened way back in 1921. It started as a small fruit stand by the side of the road, on what was then the Lincoln Highway. A couple named Helen and Ed "Bunny" Power created it. They built it near Helen's childhood home, which was called 'Harbison House'. The Nut Tree got its name from a black walnut tree that grew there. This tree came from a walnut picked up by a pioneer named Sallie Fox way back in 1859!

As more people traveled on the highways, the Nut Tree grew bigger and bigger. It became a famous stop for travelers between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. At its busiest, it had a restaurant, an outdoor eating area, a bakery, and a gift shop. There was even a fun toy shop! Kids especially loved the Nut Tree Railroad, which took them on rides from the toy shop all the way to the Nut Tree Airport. The airport is now run by Solano County.

Many famous people visited the Nut Tree over the years. These included Ronald Reagan when he was California's governor, Richard Nixon, and even Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip from England!

Every October, the Nut Tree held a month-long event called 'Pumpkin Patch'. It was a big hit with fun things like a scarecrow contest, a giant pumpkin display, and pumpkin carving.

Tasty Food and Design

The Nut Tree Restaurant was known for its fresh and delicious food. It was one of the first places to serve what's now called "California cuisine." This means using lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in the recipes. They even baked fresh wheat and rye bread every day! The restaurant also had a cool indoor bird area with glass walls, so you could watch birds while you ate.

A person named Don Birrell was in charge of the Nut Tree's design for many years. He helped make the place look special. They even hired a famous designer, Charles Eames, to create some of the furniture. The outdoor patio area was designed to look like the beautiful Tivoli Gardens in Denmark, with special lights and little kiosks.

The Coffee Tree

The Coffee Tree was another restaurant that belonged to the Nut Tree. It opened in 1965, just across the highway from the main Nut Tree restaurant. The building had a unique curved roof and was designed by famous architects.

The Coffee Tree was known for some fun and tasty items. They had a long hamburger called the "Buddy Burger" and a cute "Ice Cream Clown" (which was a scoop of ice cream with a cone for a hat and a candy face!). The gift shop there sold Nut Tree gingerbread cookies and jars of colorful sugar crystals.

Why the Original Nut Tree Closed

Sadly, the original Nut Tree closed in 1996 because of disagreements among the family who owned it. The main buildings were taken down in 2003. The Coffee Tree building was also taken down a few years later in 2005. Luckily, the old 'Harbison House' was saved and moved to a new spot to be restored.

Nut Tree Reopens!

The Nut Tree reopened in 2006 as a brand new place! It's now a "mixed-use development," which means it has many different things in one area.

The new Nut Tree includes:

• Nut Tree Family Park: A fun amusement park for kids.
• Nut Tree Bocce Grove: A place to play bocce ball.
• Nut Tree Village: With restaurants and stores.
• Nut Tree Complex: More shops, a hotel, offices, and homes.

The restored Harbison House is a central part of the new development.

The Nut Tree Family Park closed for a short time in 2009. But on August 22, 2009, the Nut Tree had a grand reopening under new owners! They brought back some of the original fun, like the Nut Tree Railroad, and added new attractions, such as a carousel.