"This is my baby," he said while patting the refurbished locomotive. The train is one of several classic Nut Tree icons being revived in the new development's family amusement park.
Holtz performed maintenance work at the former Nut Tree - often relating to the train - and he's thrilled to be returning as one of its crew. In part, he said, because being a train conductor or engineer is every boy's dream come true. But mostly because he missed the Nut Tree.
"I just loved it," he said. Even on days when he wasn't working, he recalled, he often dropped what he was doing and took his daughter to ride the steam engine replica.
Starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20 - the park's official grand opening date - many locals will relive similar memories and bring along new generations to create them.
"We always talk about 'family-oriented,' but this place really is family-oriented," Holtz said, gesturing around the 3.7-acre Family Park.
The admission-free park is meant to appeal to multi-generations. At its center sits Harbison House, the Nut Tree founders' 1907 home; once its interior is fully restored it will serve as a museum of Nut Tree and California history. There are also gardens, hobby horses and a boat pond in addition to amusement rides.
Aside from the famous train, which will cost $3.40 per ride, there are six rides in the park, including a carousel, bumper cars and roller coaster. Each will cost between two and four tickets, which are 85 cents each. Packages of 10 and 20 tickets can be purchased for $8.50 and $17, respectively, or an unlimited ride wristband costs $16.95 per person. There's also a family special: $39.99 buys 50 ride tickets and 20 redemption game tokens for the games building. (Charter memberships, which include a season pass, are also available online or at Nugget Markets.)
Adjacent to the games building is a birthday building, where turnkey parties can be held. Nearby, children's tea parties can take place in the Compass Rose building.
Conveniently located along the heavily traveled corridor of Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento, the Nut Tree was literally right off the highway (according to Helen Power, "you still left two wheels on the road when you pulled up"). You simply couldn't miss it. If you were one of the millions of drivers passing by, you didn't.
Now the Nut Tree is back, and once again, it's making history with a bold new look, a unique mix of your favorite retail stores, restaurants and services, as well as the beloved and newly renovated Nut Tree Plaza, designed especially for kids. Today, just as many years ago, a visit to the Nut Tree is sure to be an enjoyable and memorable experience for the whole family!