Carlsbad has reason to celebrate: The long-anticipated Green Dragon Tavern and Museum is scheduled to open in late October or early November!
Sitting on three prime Carlsbad acres near the intersection of Palomar Airport Road and I-5 (and across from the Carlsbad Flower Fields), this newest attraction has been built on the old Hadley’s Fruit and Nuts site. Named after the historic tavern where angry colonists planned the Boston Tea Party, this Green Dragon Tavern will also be home to a museum showcasing historic documents and artifacts from the colonial period through the American Revolution. The museum is the brainchild of benefactor Bruce Bartlett of Rancho Santa Fe to whom the collection belongs.
Barlett is also hoping that an exchange of sorts might be set up with other collectors and museums on the East Coast–which would help to keep the material fresh.
The Green Dragon Tavern will be home to a 100-seat tavern that serves craft beer as well as a 115-seat restaurant serving traditional American fare with a distinct East Coast leaning. Among the offerings will be Maine lobster and seafood chowders. There will also be a 225-seat convention center and a themed gift shop.
I visited the site this morning–and was able to sneak inside the building–which is beautiful. The 30-foot ceilings, two-story fireplace and burnished wood touches (see photo) all combine to make this a must-visit as soon as it opens.
The Green Dragon Tavern & Museum will certainly add to Carlsbad’s appeal as a travel destination. This venue joins Legoland, Carlsbad beaches, the Carlsbad Village, the Flower Fields, Carlsbad Company Stores, La Costa Resort and Spa, the Chopra Center, the Museum of Making Music and the Gemological Institute of America as key points of interest.
And for starters, I would imagine that the first Thanksgiving Dinner here will be an occasion to remember!
The telephone number for the Green Dragon Tavern is 760-918-2421. It is located at 6115 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92011 off the Palomar Airport Road exit.