Hollister, California: Casa de Fruta

Roadside stand famous for its signage and wandering "cup flipper" guy.

Casa de Fruita

I saw the Famous Cup Flipper years ago when we stopped at Casa De Restaurant for breakfast after passing up the attraction for many years. The Cup Flipper was actually there, walking up and down the cafe aisles, stopping at tables, and flipping cups for the diners. He would start with the cup upside down on the saucer, and in a smooth motion, flip the cup in the air and it would always land bowl up, ready for the coffee. I plan to stop there this summer to see all the additional "Casa de whatevers" that have been added.

[Sherry White, 05/19/2006]

Casa de Fruta

Stopped by Casa de Fruta ... many changes since our last stop. This is roadside rest stop that turned into a mini city on Pacheco Pass. Casa de Restaurant has been remodeled (the "Cup Flipper" retired...but there is a painting of him flipping cups on the Dave Letterman show in 1986!), Casa de Fruit Stand is unbelievable, and the Chevron station is the most beautiful station I have ever seen (brick pavers instead of yucky asphalt). We enjoyed the freshest cherries and watermelon in all our California travels. The kids loved the animal area including the 3 generations of American Bison (buffalo). Our friends have an RV and we are considering staying at their RV park with the kids for the weekend. We're sending the kids to the playground and heading over to the Casa de Vino for wine tasting.

[anne belden, 07/05/2005]

Casa de Fruita - World Famous Cup Flipper

Drive through Pacheco Pass and you'll see billboards touting Casa de Fruita's "World Famous Cup Flipper." When we visited late one night, we asked about him at the cafe. The waitress replied curtly that he wasn't there. "But what does he do, when he is here?" we asked her. "Nothing special." she replied. "He's just a man." Since then, he's been very dear to our hearts, whoever he is and whatever he does, and we can't think of him without bursting into song (from Jesus Christ Superstar), "He's a man -- he's just a man!"

[K. Fatooh, 11/02/2000]

Casa De Fruta - World Famous Cup Flipper

Casa De Fruta, between Los Banos and Gilroy, on Highway 152: This is the mother of all fruit stands, it cover some 30 acres right off casa De Fruita parkway exit.

Buy fruit at Casa De Fruita, the fruit stand, fuel at Casa De Gas, or breakfast at Casa De Diner, (home of the "World famous cup flipper"). Did I mention the Casa De Cow, Casa De Buffalo and the Casa De Camel at the Casa De Petting Zoo? Right next to the entrance to the kiddie train ride, Casa De Choo Choo. Adults can tempt the tasebuds at the Casa De Vino , and a stay over night at the Casa De Rv Park.

Lots of old farming equipment, rusted machinery and the like about, as well as a rather shabby muffler person -- hard to tell, it's unpainted" -- next to the Casa De Gift shop. But of course, the real reason to stop is the Casa De Bathrooms.....

[SamuelMooseHunter, 05/03/1999]

Casa de Fruta - World Famous Cup Flipper

The "world famous cup flipper" hangs out at Casa de Fruta on highway 152, in Hollister, CA. At some point on 152 headed southeast towards CDF, there is a roadside billboard urging you to stop in and see the "world famous" cup flipper. The sign features a coffee cup being spun continuously by a motor. The cup-filpping referrers to a process whereby he would turn over an inverted coffee cup on it's saucer in one hand, while getting ready to pour with other. It is not so much a "flipping" as it is a "bashing". Makes a lot of racket.

[Larry Mollica, 10/26/1998]