Swift’s Red Wagon Inn was a table-service restaurant in Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A., operating from July 17, 1955, to October 1964. Sponsored by Swift & Company, a major meat producer, it was located at the hub near the Plaza, offering full-course meals with premium meats like steaks and chops. Known for its elegant 1890s decor, it was Disneyland’s largest restaurant at opening and featured a private VIP lounge, the Hideaway. It closed when Swift’s lease ended, reopening as the Plaza Inn in 1965 with a cafeteria-style format.
Below are 10 fun facts about Swift’s Red Wagon Inn (1955–1964) at Disneyland:
- Elegant 1890s Decor: The restaurant featured ornate woodwork, stained glass ceilings, and chandeliers from a Los Angeles mansion built in 1870, creating a glamorous Victorian ambiance.
- Swift’s Meat Focus: The menu showcased Swift’s premium meats, offering entrees like roast prime rib, Swiss steak, and grilled pork chops, with complete dinners starting at $1.65.
- Four Dining Rooms: Spanning 10,750 square feet, it had four dining rooms, including the Gold Room and Green Room for public use, serving up to 500 guests per hour.
- Private VIP Lounge: The Hideaway (or Hideout), accessed via an unmarked Main Street entrance, had a wet bar and private bathroom, serving alcohol, a rarity in Disneyland.
- Lillian Disney’s Design: Walt’s wife, Lillian, designed the interior, incorporating authentic 1890s furnishings, such as hand-carved paneling and leaded glass doors, for a cohesive theme.
- Full-Course Dining: It was the only Disneyland restaurant in 1955 offering full-course breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with dishes like chicken pot pie and chef’s salad.
- Holidayland Catering: From 1957 to 1961, Swift catered concessions for Holidayland, Disneyland’s picnic area behind Frontierland, extending the restaurant’s reach.
- Souvenir Matchbooks: Guests received complimentary matchbooks featuring the restaurant’s logo or patio imagery, reflecting the era’s common smoking culture.
- Swift’s Multi-Venue Role: Swift also operated Frontierland’s Chicken Plantation House and Main Street’s Market House, making them one of Disneyland’s largest food lessees.
- Conversion to Plaza Inn: Closed in October 1964 when Swift’s lease expired, it was redesigned by Imagineer John Hench and reopened as the cafeteria-style Plaza Inn on July 18, 1965.
