Peacocks and Pit Stops at Casa De Fruta

Anyone roadtripping from the south valley along Pacheco Pass toward I-5 has stopped at Casa de Fruta, the farm stand-turned oasis hidden among the rolling California hills. Home to waving palm trees and colorful blue peacocks, Casa de Fruta was founded back in the early 1900s by a family of orchard farmers who evolved the property into a beloved local pit stop where everything is adorably named “Casa de (fill in the blank),” from the sweets counter and wine shop to the two-tier carousel and mini train.

Over the years, different attractions have come and gone based on their popularity with passing travelers. Amusements like Casa de Mini Golf, Casa de Cars (a showroom of antique vehicles and muscle cars), and Casa de Buffalo (a petting zoo) all spent some time entertaining tourists before quietly making room for new delights.

My family used to stop by Casa de Fruta all the time when I was a kid, so the place has great sentimental value for me. We would park our motorhome at Casa de RV Park and spend hours playing in the caboose. Click here to read more about my strange childhood as a carnie, living in a motorhome and traveling to new cities every week.

Casa de Fruta – the original farm stand, selling fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers, as well as dried fruits, seasoned nuts, candies, and jams.

Casa de Wine – provides award-winning wines including specialty fruit wines made from apricot, blackberry, pomegranate, plum, etc, as well as cheese tasting and a full-service deli counter for eat-in or take-away lunches.

Casa de Sweets – offers every kind of packaged candy and salt water taffy imaginable, and also homemade fudge, caramel apples, chocolate covered fruits and nuts, ice cream and fresh pastries.

Casa de Coffee – located within Casa de Sweets, steaming up specialty lattes and cappuccinos for any taste, sweet and strong.

Fun lollipops with crickets, ants, and worms suspended inside.

Bring your ice cream cone outside to warm yourself in the sun while admiring the rolling green California hills under a clear blue sky. It doesn’t get better than this.

The main farm stand building is right next to Casa de Restaurant – a 24-hour diner-style family eatery that serves up tradition American fare like sandwiches and fries, salads and steaks, with homemade pies and cheesecakes for dessert.

Casa de Carousel – a double decker carousel shipped over from Italy, intricately adorned with fourteen hundred lights that twinkle to festive organ music as children ride round and round.

Let your kids run off the rest of their road trip energy at the nearby playground and fish pond before grabbing lunch to go.

Casa de Choo Choo – take a seat on an adorable mini locomotive for a two-mile ride around the property, passing Casa de RV park and the abandoned petting zoo.

Vintage farm stand signs from the property’s rich history.

Casa de Sluice – pan for gold like an old-timey prospector in an authentic sluice and watermill, washing away the loose gravel to reveal hidden gems and fool’s gold.

Many antique vehicles and farm equipment are scattered around the property for guests to explore the machinery orchard farmers once used before modern agriculture, like this vintage John Deer tractor.

A mini caboose for children to play inside, then stick their heads out the window for a picture.

Before you go, top off your gas tank at Casa de Diesel and grab a burrito for the road. If you’re done traveling for the day and need a place to stay, there’s plenty of room at Casa de Inn, or park your motorhome at Casa de RV Park for a quiet night under the redwoods.

There’s a “Casa de” solution for all your needs at Casa de Fruta!