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Nut Tree legacy began 100 years ago, bringing forth a world-famous roadside destination
VACAVILLE When Helen Power opened her fruit stand in Vacaville on July 3, 1921, under the famed “Nut Tree” that Sallie Fox once planted in 1859, her husband Edwin I. “Bunny” Power told her, “If you’re going to do it, you better do it right.”
She did.
That simple stop for weary travelers rose over decades under the leadership of the entire Power family into the iconic, must-see California roadside destination.
The Nut Tree would become famous worldwide, and though it closed its original doors in 1996, it still conjures up nostalgic memories for those of a certain age who remember it so fondly.
VACAVILLE Employees of the original Nut Tree are invited to a reunion June 19 at the Vacaville Museum to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the famed roadside stop.
The Nut Tree for years was among the leading employers in Solano County. The anniversary celebration will be an opportunity to share
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Items from the Vacaville landmark Nut Tree are on display in the Vacaville Museum s new exhibit. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)
Vacaville Museum honors century of Nut Tree history
And the Nut Tree was born.
The Power family started a roadside fruit stand in July 1921 that would become one of California’s favorite road stops and put Solano County on the map for travelers all over the country.
Luminaries such as President Ronald Reagan, President Richard Nixon, Queen Elizabeth, Bing Crosby and even Bozo the Clown made the Nut Tree part of their holiday plans.
Vacaville Museum Curator Heidi Casebolt began two years ago with planning the exhibit to honor the landmark.
Sactown Magazine
The Rebirth of Cool
The late, great Nut Tree restaurant in Vacaville is one of the most storied restaurants in Northern California history. And, as it turns out, it was designed by a bunch of Sacramentans. Let’s bring it back.
March 10, 2021
The Idea
If you grew up anywhere around here and you’re over the age of, say, 40-ish, there’s a decent chance you harbor warm and fuzzy feelings for the Nut Tree restaurant in Vacaville. Redesigned in 1958 during the height of mid-century modernism, the space was a design triumph. Patrons passed through a glass-encased aviary with exotic birds and plants, which opened into a spacious room filled with Eames chairs (designed by Sacramento native Ray Eames and her husband Charles), California-themed art (including a piece featuring the State Capitol) and model planes hanging from the ceiling (the Nut Tree complex housed a small airport). The cuisine also soared, attracting culinary stars like Julia Child and Martin Ya