Anyone remember Japanese Tea Gardens in Buena Park (San Francisco, Orange: fences, eat)

[MuffinCups]

Back in the early 70's I remember visiting a place called Japanese Tea Gardens on Knott Ave. in Buena Park. We would visit Knotts Berry Farm, the Wax Museum & the Japanese Tea Gardens, all located in the city of Buena Park.

Did a search and only found the Japanese Tea Gardens in San Francisco/Gold Gate Park.

Does anybody remember or is this a figment of my imagination?

[MuffinCups]

I found it, I had the wrong name. It was Japanese Village and Deer Park. Can't say I remember the deer roaming freely, but do remember it as being a very peaceful place.


Japanese Village and Deer Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Fontucky]

I remember it well. It was pretty boring.

[nickdahammer]

LOL, yeah it was. My mother called it 'tip-toeing through the deer droppings.' Not like the Alligator Farm.

Alligator Farm in Buena Park | Orange County Memories

Originally Posted by Fontucky

I remember it well. It was pretty boring.

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by nickdahammer

Not like the Alligator Farm.

Which was a real adventure in True Nature what with all the gators that had a missing leg or foot or eye here and there.

I can remember my dad would laugh after we had a quake and wonder if the fences had fallen down at the Alligator Farm. I think he had visions of the beasts marching down La Palma Avenue to our house. (He'd had his fill of snakes and gators while training in the Okefanokee Swamp in the Army. The Alligator Farm wasn't his favoirte place.)

Remember the Pottery Shack next door?

[Curmudgeon]

I remember it and loved it after having spent three years in Japan. Of course, I also loved Knott's Berry Farm when that was just about all there was and the only "rides" were the stagecoach and train.

Back in the day I had a large, gorgeous, black pearl from an oyster I plucked in the Japanese Tea Garden. I don't even remember whom I had it set for and gave to.

[NeutralZone]

Wow, I hadn't thought of this place in years! It was never a serious competitor to Disneyland, but I have fond memories of visiting the Japanese Village and Deer Park as a boy. There was a large, enclosed area where the deer roamed free and you could wander around them and feed them. They also had a martial arts show, a bear enclosure, and if I remember correctly, some sort of show involving dolphins (or maybe it was seals). There were also some cultural activities, like tea ceremonies and kabuki dancers.

Nearby was the California Alligator Farm, which was more exciting to an 8 yr old boy. I remember the highlight was feeding time, when a guy went into the alligator enclosure and fed chickens to the 'gators.

Ah, simpler times!

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by MuffinCups

I found it, I had the wrong name. It was Japanese Village and Deer Park. Can't say I remember the deer roaming freely, but do remember it as being a very peaceful place.


Japanese Village and Deer Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I remember eating the crackers that were meant for the deer. They had cracker vending machines so that one could feed them.