Casa de Fruta

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The "Casa de Fruta" sign on the outside wall of the building
The "Casa de Fruta" sign on the outside wall of the building

Casa de Fruta is a large roadside attraction located in Hollister, California, USA in the Pacheco Valley of Northern California, along State Route 152. Casa de Fruta was founded as an orchard by the Bisceglia brothers, who were Italian immigrants, in 1908. [1] Three teenaged grand-nephews of the first owner of the orchard opened a roadside cherry stand in 1943, and eventually sold other fruits. In 1967 the remaining two grand-nephews opened a restaurant, Casa de Coffee, gas station, Casa de Diesel, children's playground (including Casa de Choo-Choo, a miniature train for children to ride), and gift shop. Casa de Fruta today includes an RV resort, inn, and wine shop. It is also the current home of the Northern California Renaissance Faire, which takes place in September and October each year.

The locale was known to American Indians and was first written about when Spanish missionaries discovered the artesian well here in the 1790s. The water source was popular during the Gold Rush. [2]

One reference says the nearby intersection of State Route 156 and SR152 may be called "The Don Pacheco Y."[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Myer, Chuck, report: Pacheco Past: A History of the Gateway to Santa Clara County, (San Jose, California: Pioneers of Santa Clara County, 1992), page 13. Name of first owner is from this source.
  2. ^ Myer, Chuck, report: Pacheco Past: A History of the Gateway to Santa Clara County, (San Jose, California: Pioneers of Santa Clara County, 1992), page 3. This information is repeated in other sources.
  3. ^ The History of Pacheco Pass retrieved January 19, 2007.

[edit] External links

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