Trabuco Oaks, Orange Co. Calif.

Our stop at O'Neill Park brings back memories from "back in the day". While working as an Orange Co. Sheriff in the "70's I often patrolled in the "Canyon Car" which included Trabuco Canyon. Things have changed a lot over the past 35+ years but I was surprised and pleased to find that one of our Code 7 (dinner) haunts was still open and operating.

Trabuco Oaks Steakhouse had the best steaks and hospitality in Orange Co. at the time, and they practiced a unique custom. If you were wearing a tie when you entered the restaurant they would reach out with large scissors and cut your tie off at the knot. It didn't matter what you were wearing . . . . . a suit or a Deputy's uniform. Your tie went, and was stapled to the ceiling or wall with your business card attached.


It was always great fun to take a new patrol deputy or academy trainee ride-along there for dinner. You would follow them in and pull your clip on tie off and stuff it in your pocket as they were loosing theirs by the hand of Noreen, the owner and her ever-ready scissors. They often stammered, stuttered and were flustered as we were not to be without a tie when in uniform.

I looked for my tie but due to the fact there were over 15,000 ties hanging I couldn't find it. I am sure it was there. Otherwise, the place looks pretty much as it did "back in the day". Dark, interesting items around every corner and tree trunk - yes, the building surrounds several tree trunks, just another of it's unique features.

Right next door is the General Store, an old-time style place to pick up a little of anything you might need, from beer to bunny food. All presided over by a jack-a-lope peering down from the wall.

Across the road, the granite cliff has been "engraved" so many times by visitors that it's beginning to resemble some of those desert petroglyhs.


The winter weather seems to be following us as we moved south and toward the coast, and it has poured pretty much all day. Time to go back to TX!
More pics in the album here.