Chowchilla, California - Mammoth Orange Stand

The Mammoth Orange Stand site has been closed due to highway construction, but the orange is hoped to be a restoration project. The orange itself is no longer on the side of Highway 99. It was moved on May 2, 2008 and is at a restoration yard in Chowchilla being repaired. It is hoped to be used as part of a new historical area that is in the works. [Tracy Hunter, 10/01/2008]

[RA: Dec. 2008: Photo added. We stopped by in mid-December, and yep, the orange is gone and the hamburger building was in rough shape...]

If you are traveling down Highway 99 in Central California, keep your eyes peeled for action at the site of the now-closed Mammoth Orange. The Fresno Bee reported that the city of Chowchilla is in negotiations to buy, restore, and re-open the famous orange restaurant "as soon as possible." It will become part of a new historical area east of downtown Chowchilla where it originated.

I can't wait for this to happen! I have been there several times just to savor the huge hamburgers, excellent fries, and out-of-the-world orange shakes. I hope they are also buying the recipes.

In the late '40's and 50's, California's roads were dotted with huge oranges, lemons, and limes. If all goes well, the Mammoth Orange will soon be beckoning the weary, hungry traveler once again. [Vicki Nodacker, 05/07/2008]

California's last giant orange shaped hambuger stand: Real lemonade, fresh orange juice and orange juice shakes, and great "Alaska-Sized" hamburgers... all sold out of a 20-foot orange. Owned and operated by an actual Little Old Lady...

What more could you ask for?

Well, better hurry -- the California Department of Transportation wants to tear the place down. Local efforts are underway to have it moved up the road to the nearest offramp... [sam gueydan, 05/15/2002]

[RA: The giant oranges still found in a few spots are the original Orange Julius stands built in the 1940s and '50s.]

Highway 99, just south of Chowchilla, better known for the schoolbus kidnappings in the 1970s, sits a 20-foot Orange shaped building from which are dispensed burgers, greasy fries and fix'ns. A good stop for those traveling from Fresno (Forestiere Gardens) and going on to Gilroy (The Garlic Capital of the World. The 152 offramp to Gilroy is only a few miles up the road).

Dont forget to stop at the RED TOP DINER and its WORLD FAMOUS FISH MUSEUM which is just between Chowchilla and Los Banos.

At the Fish Museum, look for the World Record Swordfish beak, and the rows and rows of stuffed fish. then go next door to the Red Top and have a nich fish n' chips or the 5 oclock chili. [sam, 12/19/1998]