Greetings family, friends, and neighbors! Today's ramble is about a surprising little roadside attraction just a few miles from Disneyland and Knott's Berry farm that has been attracting guests with a cement "Bear Tree" stump for nearly seventy years. Here's more to the story.......... Bill
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Roadside Distractions
HOBBY CITY
Bea and Jay DeArmond created a family oriented hobby themed
roadside attraction on Beach Blvd. on the boarder of Anaheim and
Stanton in 1955 just two miles from Knott’s Berry Farm and five
miles from newly opened Disneyland. Their plan was to provide a
free alternative to the nearby parks with a collection of hobby
themed concession novelty shops connected by a miniature train
ride and featuring a classic 1946 carousel. Motorists on Beach
Blvd. were lured onto the six acre property by the large “Bear Tree”
housing over a thousand collectable bears, and by Bea’s
extensive doll collection contained in a half size reproduction of the
White House. A wide range of specialty businesses came and left
the popular park during the following four decades including a
model shop, cake decorating store, magic shop, rock and mineral
shop, slot car raceway, Indian store, gem and coin store, aquarium
supply, metal art and welding shop, glass shop, plant store, and a
cabbage patch shop complete with a doll hospital and birthing
center.
By the 1990’s the neighborhood had changed, most tourists
traveling between Knott’s and Disneyland were taking the freeway
unaware of the little park, and many of the original once busy
shops sat vacant. Bea’s doll collection was auctioned off and the
White House was available for occasional community events.
Rather than selling the prime six acre property for commercial or
residential development, the DeArmond family invested four million
dollars into the re-branding the former Hobby City as “Adventure
City” creating an affordable family oriented mini-amusement park.
The Adventure City Express, a14” gauge miniature train ride and
Hobby City attraction for twenty five years, circles the pocket size
park’s classic carousel and collection of three kiddie friendly roller
coasters, drop and spinning rides, shade trees, food service
options attractive gardens and cooling water features.
Thousands of people pass by Adventure City daily on busy Beach
Blvd. most unaware of the surprising gem behind the fence, or the
family birthday party underway in the seventy year old Bear Tree.
-Bill 6/24
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