Greetings family, friends, neighbors and Theme Park buddies!  Today's vignette is about a nearby 100 year old roadside attraction complete with a train ride....Casa de Choo Choo!  

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MUSINGS OF A THEME PARK FAN

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CASA de CHOO CHOO

Casa de Fruita is a genuine modern day roadside attraction located on Highway 152 at the western end of Pacheco Pass between Gilroy and the Central Valley. Established as a cherry orchard by the Bisceglia brothers in 1908, it wasn’t until 1943 when the Bisceglia’s three enterprising teen aged grand-nephews, George, Joseph, and Eugene Zanger, opened a small seasonal roadside cherry stand that eventually began selling local fruits, nuts and produce year round. The Zanger family expanded the increasingly popular roadside stop in 1967 to include a restaurant, gas station, RV park, gift shop, small zoo, and children’ playground with the “Casa” (Casa de Restaurant, Casa de Diesel, Casa de Gifts...you get it!). To help lure travelers off the busy highway the Zanger family also introduced the Casa de Choo Choo miniature steam railroad to the family enterprise, featuring 2 miles of 16” track meandering through the grounds and along scenic Pacheco Creek. Casa de Fruita continues to be a busy year round stopping place between South Bay, Central Valley and Southern California destinations with an ever increasing number of “Casa’” attractions as well as hosting of the Northern California Renaissance Faire. The sound of steam no longer echos in the Pacheco Valley while Casa de Choo Choo has evolved into a modern diesel style locomotive and comfortable open passenger car consist traveling over the original roadbed, along the shady creek, through a tunnel and past the Casa de Fruita’s large eclectic collection of antique farm implements, rusting vehicles...and a host of Tesla charging stations. 

From the postcard collection of Bill Ralph