Nut Tree, Vacaville, CA

The Nut Tree, Vacaville, California

The postcards and other images below provide a great visual look back at the history of the Nut Tree. It was a popular stop for those traveling between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento and points farther, such as Reno, along U.S. Highway 40, which became interstate 80 in 1964.

The Nut Tree started as a fruit stand. The first permanent restaurant building opened in 1921. The Toy Shop and the Nut Tree Railroad opened in 1952. The railroad had a quarter-mile track running through the Nut Tree orchards and gardens. The Nut Tree Airport opened in 1955. A new Dining Room opened in 1958. In 1962 the U.S. Post Office designated the area Nut Tree, California. The Nut Tree Coffee Shop opened across interstate 80 in 1965. In 1970-71 a new bake shop and merchandise area opened. In 1970 the Nut Tree Airport was donated to Solano County. In 1976 a Nut Tree store opened in San Francisco at 655 Beach Street.

The famous black walnut tree that the Nut Tree was named after was planted in 1859 and died in 1952. "The Nut Tree is a large black walnut standing on the State Highway, near Vacaville, California. It grew from a nut picked up on the Gila River, in Arizona, in 1859, by one of a party crossing the plains to California. It was planted where it now stands, by Josiah Allison in 1859."¹ Back of Nut Tree souvenir plate produced by Vernon Kilns, USA.

The Nut Tree was closed from about 1996 until 2006 when the new Nut Tree opened. For more information about the Nut Tree today you can see http://www.nuttreeusa.com/

Thanks to Kathy Elwell for contributing scans from her collection to this site.

The Nut Tree Vacaville, California	The Nut Tree Vacaville, California 1937	The Nut Tree Vacaville, California 1937	Spanish Room Nut Tree Vacaville, California
Nut Tree Acme on Tap Vacaville, Calif.	A Garden at the Nut Tree Vacaville, California	Mexican Room at the Nut Tree Vacaville, California	Patio - Nut Tree Highway 40 Vacaville, Calif.
Nut Tree Patio U.S. 40 Vacaville, California	Nut Tree Patio Highway U.S. 40 Vacaville, California	Nut Tree, CA Highway U.S. 40 Vacaville, California	Nut Tree Flower Shop Highway U.S. 40 Vacaville, California
Nut Tree Kitchen Vacaville, California mailed 1951	Nut Tree Bakery Vacaville, California	Nut Tree Candy Kitchen Vacaville, California	A Summer Day in the Nut Tree Plaza Nut Tree, California
Evening View of the Nut Tree Plaza mailed 1959	Nut Tree Plaza "In a park-like setting self-service food."	Nut Tree Plaza Self Service Food Nut Tree, California	Nut Tree Plaza "Eating area serving unusual hot dog plates."
Arriving at The Nut Tree By Air Vacaville, CA	Arriving By Air Nut Tree Airport Nut Tree, California	Arriving at the Nut Tree By Air. Airport and Train mailed 1960	Nut Tree Railroad Train leaving the Toy Shop
The Nut Tree Toy Shop and Railroad mailed 1957	The Nut Tree Railroad near Toy Terminal mailed 1956	The Nut Tree Railroad Toy Shop Terminal mailed 1964	The Nut Tree Railroad Train on the trestle Nut Tree, California
Nut Tree Railroad leaving Toy Shop The Nut Tree Vacaville, California	Nut Tree Railroad Nut Tree, California mailed 1975	Nut Tree Playwall Nut Tree, California	Playhouse The Nut Tree Vacaville, California
Rocking Horses Covered Entrance mailed 1962	Dining Room Nut Tree Vacaville, California mailed 1955	Western Dining at the Nut Tree Dining Room	Western Dining at the Nut Tree Dining Room
Nut Tree Dining Room mailed 1984	Nut Tree Fresh Fruit Plate	Fresh Fruits Nut Tree, California	Fresh Fruit Plate Served at Nut Tree Daily
Nut Tree Shop Interior Vacaville, California	Tree Trunk Apartment Stuffed Animals Nut Tree Toy Shop Vacaville, California	Nut Tree Airport Show Aircraft Yearly Display	Dining at the Nut Tree Vacaville, California
Nut Tree Plaza Vacaville, California	The Nut Tree Pied Piper Vacaville, California
Nut Tree History Brochure
Nut Tree "From Tree to Thee" matches	Nut Tree California matches	Nut Tree California matches	Nut Tree California matches

Coffee Tree
The Coffee Tree established March 1965 Nut Tree, CA	The Coffee Tree at Interstate 80 and 505 Nut Tree, CA	Coffee Tree Nut Tree, California inside of match cover
Vacaville, California
Vacaville, California on Hiway 80	Vacaville, California	Vacaville, California	The Travelers Pancake House Vacaville, California
Vacaville Inn on the Highway Vacaville, California	La Paloma Motel Highway 40 1 1/2 miles South of Vacaville, California	Monte Vista Motel Highway 40 Vacaville, California	Monte Vista Motel Highway 40 at Merchant Street
Brigadoon Lodge Next to Nut Tree Monte Vista Exit	Brigadoon Lodge Wine & Cheese Tasting Restaurant & Lounge Vacaville, Calif.	Brigadoon Motel Next to Nut Tree Interstate 80 Monte Vista Exit Vacaville, Calif.	Ranchotel Highway 40 Vacaville, California
Va-Capri Motel 1420 E. Monte Vista Ave. Hwy. 40 Midway between San Francisco and Sacramento	Wykoff's Dairy Vacaville, Calif.
Other on U.S. Highway 40 (became interstate 80 in 1964)
The Milk Farm On U.S. 40 Dixon, California	The Milk Farm On U.S. 40 Dixon, California	The Milk Farm Gift Annex Dixon, California
The Ground Cow On U.S. 40 1.5 miles east of Auburn, California