June 1956 – September 1978
LOCATION
Frontierland – The Oaks Tavern sat adjacent to a wilder restaurant – the Golden Horseshoe. Guests walking along the main path from Main Street USA toward the waterfront would find the Tavern on the left, next to a patio shared with the River Belle Terrace.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Service Type – quick service
- Seating – adjacent patio
- Entertainment – none
The Oaks Tavern was a quick service dining spot along the waterfront. Guests looking for comfort food in the sunshine found the tavern’s deep fried menu the perfect choice for lunch or dinner. Diners sat along the raised patio, with sweeping views of Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, and Frontierland’s main square serving as mealtime entertainment.
CLOSURE
This restaurant never technically closed; it just took on a new name and slightly updated look. Since the Tavern shared a building and kitchen with the Golden Horseshoe, it made sense to tie the two together. The restaurant’s location is along the side of the building, a common location for a “stage door” in a theater, so the Tavern became the Stage Door Café in 1978. The new Café also got a fresh look, giving it a saloon feel to match its neighbor.
TRIVIA
Despite being a “tavern”, Oaks never served alcohol, since Disneyland is a dry park.
Haha. Worked there from 1974 to 1977.
You can’t call it a tavern if it’s not a tavern. There’s no booze in Disneyland so it doesn’t make any sense. Glad it closed.
Haha, it’s definitely misleading. I hear you on that one!