Photos of Disneyland's periphery

Hotel Menage, 1221 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92805, (888) 462-7275

Holiday Inn at the Park became Casa Resort, then Hotel Menage (on 3-6-07).

Is it just me, or is this brown color really ugly?

For the most part, I don't like this hotel. I resent Trailerland being torn down, which had a wonderful, relaxed, warm, family feel, and in general this new hotel feels sterile to me. I also don't like the ugly brown and maroon colors, and I don't like various unimaginative details of their landscaping. That's not to say it's a poor hotel. According to one Internet site this is a 3-star hotel that sometimes gets rave reviews. It's just that, for my taste, it has no character or venerability compared to other Anaheim lodgings I remember from the old days.

The new k'ya restaurant also has an ugly color, in my opinion.

But this hotel does provide excellent views of TDAB and I-5, acceptable views of Disneyland and the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel, and they have a few interesting fountains and attractive plants.

Hotel Menage has an excellent view of TDAB from their top floor.

Fountains

In the "gimmicks" department, their fountain in front is no doubt intended to resemble a volcano, since at night it glows reddish-orange, and in back the spouts of water for kids to play in was first seen at EPCOT, I believe.

The "volcano fountain" by day.

The "volcano fountain" by night.

The "volcano fountain" viewed from the 5th floor, Harbor Boulevard beyond.

The Childrens Fountain is an idea taken from Disney resorts.

Lava lamp

Workers lift a covering into place for the new lava lamp, 4-29-07.

Red blobs float around in tubes of water.

Another gimmick. I'm not sure this is really a lava lamp, but it acts like one. Red blobs float around in cylindrical tubes of water, under the front portico. These tubes were being installed on Saturday 4-28-07 and Sunday 4-29-07, and began to function on Sunday.

Flowers

This beautiful Pink Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia impetiginosa) in back blooms in March.

Blood Red Trumpet Vine (Distictis buccinatoria) on the hotel fence along Harbor Boulevard.

California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica), the California state flower, outside the hotel's fence.

The now-gone Trailerland from this location had a relaxed, casual, homey feel. In the summer young people would be seen walking around in swimsuits, and families might be barbequeing outside their campers in the shade of the elm trees. I walked around the park once, but I don't remember if there was a pool there or not.

In addition to Trailerland, the immediate southwest corner of Harbor & Ball used to have a Mobil station with a block wall (I believe painted white) separating it from Trailerland, and I remember plants (bougainvillaea?) attractively draped over the wall onto the gas station side. I remember Trailerland and the Mobil station were in business from at least 1975-1981. According to the Internet, the current hotel was built in 1984 and renovated in 1998.

The way it used to be... Trailerland was a peaceful RV park where Hotel Menage now stands. Trailerland Park [1978] 1211 S. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92805 (714) 535-7674 Trailerland Park's sign, with Brian Mobil Service in the background. Photo courtesy of Yesterland [4-15-07]. Brian Mobil Service [1975] 1201 S. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92805 (714) 956-2970

Created: February 24, 2007
Updated: April 29, 2007