Coming off our Jim Henson high, we boarded the tour bus and headed to Tam O’Shanter for lunch & along the way we passed the Disney Brother’s first office space- where the current shop owners pay homage to it’s history…
Tam O’Shanter opened in 1922 and is one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles. It was also one of Walt Disney’s favorite places to go to have lunch or dinner while he was working nearby. Inside, at Walt’s favorite table, Disney classics like It’s A Small World and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea were developed.
The food was delicious! Most of us had the prime rib, Tricia’s husband had the brisket. We all finished everything it was so good and can completely understand why Walt loved it here so much!
The decor is deeply Scottish themed- a lot of beams, a fireplace, and Scottish memorabilia dot the walls. The wait staff is dressed in plaid- very similar to the Disney Parks’ VIP guides. Walking by a Scottish plaid caught my eye, some of my father’s side of the family carry the last name of “Scott”…
We were given the chance to sit at Walt’s table and check out the carvings left behind by Imagineers in Walt’s honor…
Next up was a visit to Griffith Park to check out Walt’s Barn and train collections.
Walt Disney was a huge train enthusiast. He built a series of trains to 1/8 scale in his home’s yard. There he also had a barn where he would tinker with his mini trains and spend hours perfecting them. In 1999, his family moved all of his trains and his beloved barn to Griffith Park- a place Walt loved to spend the weekends with his daughters. Here everything is cared for, as Walt would have, by incredibly devoted volunteers.
Do yourself a favor while visiting, and ask to use the restroom- on the way you will see even more of the collection!
This was famed animator Ollie Johnston’s (He was one of Walt’s Nine Old Men):
Then it was our turn to take a spin on Griffith Park’s famed Carousel. It was here that Walt would watch his daughters for hours and where he decided there needed to be more places like that for families to spend time together having fun and making memories together. The actual carousel is in pristine condition and simply beautiful.
I have to say- with such a history filled afternoon, Lo and Michael kept the attention of all of the Adventurers- adults and children alike. We all eagerly anticipated each word they spoke with such enthusiasium, we couldn’t help but get wrapped up in their storytelling.
