Nut Tree, Vacaville
by Joe Thompson

2007

We visited the Nut Tree Family Park & Village in Vacaville in September, 2007, for the first time since the Nut Tree had reopened in 2006. My wife and I had stopped at the old Nut Tree many times before it closed in 1996.

Replicas of the old Nut Tree freeway signs along the line of the new railroad. September, 2007.

We found a parking space and wandered past a Fenton's Creamery and a few other stores, then found the entrance to the Nut Tree Family Park between two sets of stores. Almost immediately, I saw the distinctive roof of the old ticket booth, and the train stopped at the depot behind it. It was the train I remember riding when I was a kid, and taking my daughter to ride when she was younger. When the engineer cranked the engine and started off, it sounded very familiar. We didn't get to ride, but I observed a nice route that wound around behind the merry-go-round and other rides. They had bumper cars, a roller coaster, the old hobby horses, and a nice garden. It was all centered around the Harbison House, which had been moved slightly from its old position. The whole area would be wonderful for kids up to 5 or 6 years old.

The Nut Tree Railroad's station sign. September, 2007.

The Nut Tree Railroad's locomotive waits at the station. The engineer prepares to collect fares. September, 2007.

A front view of the Nut Tree Railroad's locomotive at the station. September, 2007.

The Nut Tree Railroad's train leaves the station. September, 2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

The Nut Tree Railroad's train in motion. September, 2007.

The Nut Tree Railroad's train leaves the "tunnel". September, 2007. Click arrow button to play video. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)