Steve had work to do in Whittier so off we went, making the best out of it by playing tourists!
For me, all great outings begin with food. Since our path was going to take us right past Knott's Berry Farm, we decided that was where we would get lunch. Knott's is my second most favorite amusement park so we were happy to support it in anyway possible.
For those unaware, Knott's Berry Farm has been serving up delicious fried chicken for over 85 years.
The unmistakable smell of delicious fried chicken is often the first thing that hits you when you set foot on the Knott’s Berry Farm property. How could it not? Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant has been a staple of Buena Park since 1934 when it first opened its doors to the public. While we got our lunch from the Chicken-To-Go store, it still felt nostalgic and fun.When heading out, I always search for interesting sights/sites that a city might possess. I found a treasure at roadsideamerica.com with Whittier's Oceanic Arts.Described as the Tiki HQ, housed in a windowless industrial park building, this kind of Polynesian Home Depot is where tiki bars buy their puffer fish lamps, human skull mugs, Easter Island heads and way more.“The World’s Largest Supplier of Tropical and Polynesian Décor” started in Whittier, in 1956, when Robert Van Oosting and LeRoy Schmaltz met in college, where LeRoy was carving palm frond masks for an art project.Over time, Bob and LeRoy did a lot of carving which eventually included the Tahitian Support Posts for Trader Vic’s, and Don-the-Beachcomber’s (super famous Tiki Bars). Soon the duo had carved a good number of authentically-styled South Sea Island Paddles, Shields, and Mask Patterns, which they then reproduced in smaller quantities in hardwoods and sold to many Polynesian and Tropical-themed Restaurants.During this time, Oceanic Arts supplied all of the décor for Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort Hotel, including over 100 signs. Oceanic Arts also supplied many items for Disney World / EPCOT Center’s Norway, France, and Canada areas, including a 5’ diameter, 35’ tall authentically-designed Totem Pole. I just knew there had to be a Disney connection here, somewhere.According to their website, "From Oceanic Arts’ modest beginning in the mid-1950s, when Bob and LeRoy started working out of a family-owned garage, to their current combined 17,000 square feet of Showroom and Warehouse operations of today, it’s been an ongoing whirlwind of almost constant activity. But they will quickly add that they’ve been having so much fun that it seems incredible they’ve been going for over 60 years now."Our stop at Knott's was a trip down Memory Lane. Oceanic Arts was like an Island adventure. Tomorrow's post will share a bit of Whittier's history. Yes, playing tourists is a good thing.
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