Nut Tree

It welcomed several celebrities, including Ronald Reagan when he became California governor in 1967, Richard Nixon, Danny Kaye, Shirley Temple Black, Chuck Yeager,[5] Peter Marino, and Bing Crosby, among others.

On March 4, 1983, Nut Tree catered a luncheon hosted by (California) Governor George Deukmejian for Queen Elizabeth II[6] and Prince Philip at the State capitol.

The Nut Tree Restaurant was an early pioneer of California cuisine,[8] with fresh fruits and vegetables featured in the recipes.

A notable feature of the restaurant was its large indoor aviary, which had glass walls extending from floor to ceiling.

[12][13] A 1957 trip to Denmark gave Ed Power and Don Birell the idea of designing the Nut Tree's patio area to resemble the Tivoli Gardens with special lighting and kiosks.

[16] The Coffee Tree building with its distinctive curved roof line[17][18] was featured in the October 1966 issue of Architectural Record[19] and received an AIA Central Valley Merit Award in 1967.

The gift shop sold Nut Tree frosted gingerbread cookies featuring designs by Don Birrell.

[26] The Nut Tree ceased operations in 1996 due to financial issues brought about by a family feud that was taken to court.

[28] In 2004, the Vacaville City Council approved the Nut Tree Master Plan with retail, restaurants, offices, housing and an amusement park.

The restored Harbison House (which the Nut Tree had open for public tours during its final years of operation) is a major centerpiece of the development.

Between the time that the Nut Tree closed and its building was demolished, the Northern California Renaissance Fair was held on its grounds for several years running.