My father Briton Jones fixed all the planes on the track so they all ran. He also built a full scale model of the Wright brothers first plane (not the Kiddie Hawk) which was hanging up in the bar. He was paid well for it lots of detail.
I dont know why I started to think of this place. I went there many times as a child with family and loved both versions of the restaurant. My 1st wife and I had our 1st anniversary dinner there. As always Laural & Hardy were there to greet us before going in, and Jan too behind desk who is one of the sweetest ladies. Also when Irv was around and was always happy to talk about his collecting. I remember on a couple of occasions being given a tour as a child. It was a wonderful place to go.
My ex and I spend a lot of time here during 80's it was our favorite place to dine. We walk around in the hanger where the old cars & planes were, we never got tired of walking around in there. I loved the gift shop, just a great restaurant and the nicest staff.
i worked at the original Flying Lady. It was about 50 yards south of this bigger building. Quite a few times Mr Perch (Perlitch) would send us over to the new restaurant (this one) to clean up, or what-not. That place was like a fort. You wouldn't believe all the little catwalks and hidden rooms there were above the dining area and kitchen, so that Mr Perch could spy on the staff and the patrons.
Worked at the Flying Lady in 1985, I worked in the lounge and would serve drinks . It was a really cool place to work. They made all of the uniforms that we would wear down stairs. Michael was the bartender and the owner's son. The had champagne brunch and a plane flight every Sunday. I could go on and on about all the different things. Was really cool. to bad it is not longer standing. I tell my kids about it and working there and all the people I meet working there.
My family spent many Sunday brunches at TFL in the 80's- my dad being very close friends of Mr. Irv Perch, owner/operator. Dinners were a special treat.. Irv gave me my 1st job pouring champagne on Mother's Day when I was 12. My favorite place at TFL was under the main restaurant in the fake town... Great memories at a wonderful place.. Oh! Love that Dixieland!!
Many thanks for this awesome video and all the cool comments from folks who have worked or been to the Flying Lady. I'm new to the area and live about 2 minutes from original site.
when i was fifteen (1982), i worked there as a bus boy. we used to stick butter patties under the model plane wings, take bets on where they'd land (going 'round the motorized track). that place was an institution; many a first job was there.
I used to fly down from Petaluma in my airplane to San Martin airport. The restaurant had a courtesy car to pick up pilots. Always a super fun place to take friends for Restaurant Flying! Day or night.
I remember my grandparents taking us there for dinner, what a great place to take a child for supper! The planes were always the main attraction, the food was always decent but not great. Makes me think back to when I was young watching this video.
I remember eating at The Flying Lady back in the early 80's, it was a big deal back in those days in Morgan HIll. I remember the scenery was great, but the food not so great. I forgot how huge that place was! Thank you for posting this video, brings back many great memories.
I went to high school in Morgan Hill, and a lot of classmates worked at the Flying Lady. The food wasn't good because they were all stoned, and putting crap into people's food thinking that was funny.
I miss that place so much. We used to eat dinner there once a year on New Year’s Day after leaving Carmel for the holidays. I always bought a really cool airplane from the shop.
I lived in south San Jose 1981-90. Made my way to the Flying Lady a number of times. Not only was the restaurant interesting, but so were the two barns you passed driving to the restaurant. The doors were always open when I was there - and no attendants. One was filled with antique horse drawn vehicles and other cool stuff - including a hearse. The other was considerably larger, housing quite a few vintage aircraft, war birds, and motor vehicles, including Mr. Perch's Ford Tri-Motor. I spent many hours just roaming freely through this wonderful collection. A friend of mine was part of the crew on the Tri-Motor when it would occasionally take to the air - including it's appearance in the Indiana Jones movie The Temple of Doom. I once saw it make an appearance at the nearby Watsonville Antique Fly-In. Unfortunately, this Fly-In is also now history.
Really like your photos. I have a mental image of what Morgan Hill was when I first saw it in 55' but have a hard time fitting it into the 87' pictures you took. Thanks for the post. B.C.
"Once the largest restaurant in the world - with the Guinness World Record title to prove it - the 187-seat restaurant featured a model airplane track overhanging the dining hall and was situated next to the Perlitches’ 18-hole golf course and an antique aircraft and car museum."
We usta fly our Cherokee from Heyward in to the little airport across the highway from the Flying Lady, would call the restaurant before we were to land and they would send their shuttle to pick us up and then bring us back to our plane after dinner, great place, very sorry when it closed.
Last of all I hope Mike and Bruce are doing well. I doubt you remember me, but you made my visits real fun on a couple of occasions. Your mom and dad were wonderful people... We need more like them.
I have so much fond memories there, I was a very avid model plane builder when I was little, but now that I have no money after my bills are paid, I can't do it anymore... this video was uploaded in 2008 but the video looks like 80s and the tables and chairs look like 60s lol, they need to update that restaurant...
The restaurant was closed after a patio collapsed from too many people getting on it. The lawsuits and money involved after the mishap closed the place permanently. It was demolished in 2006. gilroydispatch.com/2006/10/28/flying-lady-restaurant-grounded-for-future-math-castle/
Living in Morgan Hill and looking at this in 2021 makes it feel like a real time capsule.It’s being almost 3 decades since this place closed.I didn’t knew this even existed until now
I first flew into Morgan Hill in 1955 in my 7AC all the way from El Monte. Of course there was no restaurant there then. Actually not very much in Morgan Hill at all!
My Father, Marshall "Bud" Frack did all the woodcarving that lined the entrance to the Flying Lady Restaurant. I would sure like to know what ever happen to all the carving my Dad did for Irv Perch.
I recall reading that some of the wood carvings turned up at another amusement park nearby. Might have been Gilroy Gardens? I can confirm that there are some Flying Lady artifacts on display at the museum at San Martin airport.
Great video of the Flying Lady resturant and all its airplanes! You didn't say WHERE it was??? We know Morgan Hill from the keyword tags, and from your nice letter in July 2008 Pacific Flyer (thanks for the link!). Is this place still open, even though the owner lady died??? What's the address??
Dude... I've been there so many times, it was better than chucky cheese for me as a kid. I think it shut down when I was like 13 or something, does anybody remember the year it closed?
they hosted a large party some years ago and an outside deck collapsed resulting in some lawsuits, so the owner just tore the building down. gone forever!
Whats really sad is how lawyers destroyed it after a bunch of num nuts overloaded the balcony and caused it to fail, the new new owners destroyed the all the buildings to create a math institute. What a shame... Im all for higher learning but destroying the restaurant was not necessary. Irv, RIP. It was a special place...
I was there when it happened...actually it was a funeral for Doc Holiday who was killed when his plane went down in the Sierras. We all went out to the balcony to release balloons in his memory.
I always wanted to go here and never made it before it closed... too bad an accident happened there, and blood thirsty scum bag lawyers caused this place to shut down... Always heard they had the best breakfast around
My father Briton Jones fixed all the planes on the track so they all ran. He also built a full scale model of the Wright brothers first plane (not the Kiddie Hawk) which was hanging up in the bar. He was paid well for it lots of detail.
I dont know why I started to think of this place. I went there many times as a child with family and loved both versions of the restaurant. My 1st wife and I had our 1st anniversary dinner there. As always Laural & Hardy were there to greet us before going in, and Jan too behind desk who is one of the sweetest ladies. Also when Irv was around and was always happy to talk about his collecting. I remember on a couple of occasions being given a tour as a child. It was a wonderful place to go.
My ex and I spend a lot of time here during 80's it was our favorite place to dine. We walk around in the hanger where the old cars & planes were, we never got tired of walking around in there. I loved the gift shop, just a great restaurant and the nicest staff.
i guess it is still better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved before. thanks. B.C.
i worked at the original Flying Lady. It was about 50 yards south of this bigger building. Quite a few times Mr Perch (Perlitch) would send us over to the new restaurant (this one) to clean up, or what-not. That place was like a fort. You wouldn't believe all the little catwalks and hidden rooms there were above the dining area and kitchen, so that Mr Perch could spy on the staff and the patrons.
Terrific video of a place that should not be forgot...
Boy - this brings back memories. I remember going there back in the 80s when I lived in the San Jose area. Too bad it's closed.
Worked at the Flying Lady in 1985, I worked in the lounge and would serve drinks . It was a really cool place to work. They made all of the uniforms that we would wear down stairs. Michael was the bartender and the owner's son. The had champagne brunch and a plane flight every Sunday. I could go on and on about all the different things. Was really cool. to bad it is not longer standing. I tell my kids about it and working there and all the people I meet working there.
My family spent many Sunday brunches at TFL in the 80's- my dad being very close friends of Mr. Irv Perch, owner/operator. Dinners were a special treat.. Irv gave me my 1st job pouring champagne on Mother's Day when I was 12. My favorite place at TFL was under the main restaurant in the fake town... Great memories at a wonderful place.. Oh! Love that Dixieland!!
Many thanks for this awesome video and all the cool comments from folks who have worked or been to the Flying Lady. I'm new to the area and live about 2 minutes from original site.
This brings back so many memories from when I was a kid. I wish it was still open so I could now take my kids there...
My sister and I both worked there the summer of 1974 or 1975. Much was the same as in this guys video.
Thank you for having the foresight to video this before it was gone.
when i was fifteen (1982), i worked there as a bus boy. we used to stick butter patties under the model plane wings, take bets on where they'd land (going 'round the motorized track). that place was an institution; many a first job was there.
I used to fly down from Petaluma in my airplane to San Martin airport. The restaurant had a courtesy car to pick up pilots. Always a super fun place to take friends for Restaurant Flying! Day or night.
I remember my grandparents taking us there for dinner, what a great place to take a child for supper! The planes were always the main attraction, the food was always decent but not great. Makes me think back to when I was young watching this video.
I remember eating at The Flying Lady back in the early 80's, it was a big deal back in those days in Morgan HIll. I remember the scenery was great, but the food not so great. I forgot how huge that place was! Thank you for posting this video, brings back many great memories.
I went to high school in Morgan Hill, and a lot of classmates worked at the Flying Lady. The food wasn't good because they were all stoned, and putting crap into people's food thinking that was funny.
WOW!!! My first job ever - I was a bus boy :) GREAT MEMORIES AND GREAT VIDEO thanks!!!
This was one of a kind restaurant. A real treat to eat at . Cool Museums on the the grounds leading up to the restaurant too.
I miss that place so much. We used to eat dinner there once a year on New Year’s Day after leaving Carmel for the holidays. I always bought a really cool airplane from the shop.
I went here when I was 4-5 with my grandpa. By far the best restaurant I have ever been to.
I lived in south San Jose 1981-90. Made my way to the Flying Lady a number of times. Not only was the restaurant interesting, but so were the two barns you passed driving to the restaurant. The doors were always open when I was there - and no attendants. One was filled with antique horse drawn vehicles and other cool stuff - including a hearse. The other was considerably larger, housing quite a few vintage aircraft, war birds, and motor vehicles, including Mr. Perch's Ford Tri-Motor. I spent many hours just roaming freely through this wonderful collection.
A friend of mine was part of the crew on the Tri-Motor when it would occasionally take to the air - including it's appearance in the Indiana Jones movie The Temple of Doom. I once saw it make an appearance at the nearby Watsonville Antique Fly-In. Unfortunately, this Fly-In is also now history.
WOW Now that's a Blast from the Past !!!
Really like your photos. I have a mental image of what Morgan Hill was when I first saw it in 55' but have a hard time fitting it into the 87' pictures you took. Thanks for the post. B.C.
The best potato soup! Great memories of good times. Thank you.
"Once the largest restaurant in the world - with the Guinness World Record title to prove it - the 187-seat restaurant featured a model airplane track overhanging the dining hall and was situated next to the Perlitches’ 18-hole golf course and an antique aircraft and car museum."
That used to be my favorite restaurant ever!
We usta fly our Cherokee from Heyward in to the little airport across the highway from the Flying Lady, would call the restaurant before we were to land and they would send their shuttle to pick us up and then bring us back to our plane after dinner, great place, very sorry when it closed.
Last of all I hope Mike and Bruce are doing well. I doubt you remember me, but you made my visits real fun on a couple of occasions. Your mom and dad were wonderful people... We need more like them.
I have so much fond memories there, I was a very avid model plane builder when I was little, but now that I have no money after my bills are paid, I can't do it anymore... this video was uploaded in 2008 but the video looks like 80s and the tables and chairs look like 60s lol, they need to update that restaurant...
The restaurant was closed after a patio collapsed from too many people getting on it. The lawsuits and money involved after the mishap closed the place permanently. It was demolished in 2006. gilroydispatch.com/2006/10/28/flying-lady-restaurant-grounded-for-future-math-castle/
Living in Morgan Hill and looking at this in 2021 makes it feel like a real time capsule.It’s being almost 3 decades since this place closed.I didn’t knew this even existed until now
thanks for the info. it was a really cool place.
@bannerbob33 Actually bob, Irv did not tear it down. It was the new owners... The building was there for quite a while afterward.
I first flew into Morgan Hill in 1955 in my 7AC all the way from El Monte. Of course there was no restaurant there then. Actually not very much in Morgan Hill at all!
late 70's lots of HS kids/friends worked there.
i how ever never stepped foot on property.
cheers
My Father, Marshall "Bud" Frack did all the woodcarving that lined the entrance to the Flying Lady Restaurant. I would sure like to know what ever happen to all the carving my Dad did for Irv Perch.
I recall reading that some of the wood carvings turned up at another amusement park nearby. Might have been Gilroy Gardens? I can confirm that there are some Flying Lady artifacts on display at the museum at San Martin airport.
Great video of the Flying Lady resturant and all its airplanes! You didn't say WHERE it was??? We know Morgan Hill from the keyword tags, and from your nice letter in July 2008 Pacific Flyer (thanks for the link!).
Is this place still open, even though the owner lady died??? What's the address??
somewhere around 1994 after a balcony collapsed with a large group of people on it. Lawsuits.
Dude... I've been there so many times, it was better than chucky cheese for me as a kid. I think it shut down when I was like 13 or something, does anybody remember the year it closed?
1994
Bellisimo...ahi.sale.don MARIO.EL COCINERO....Y NOSOTROS.DENTRO.PREPARANDO.ENSALADAS Y TODO.LO QUE SE.NECESITARA
Address former location?
The video is obviously a lot older than the date (June 17, 2008) posted on UA-cam. Is the date mentioned here somewhere and I've overlooked?
I'm guessing I took the Vid with an antique camcorder sometime circa 1995.
they hosted a large party some years ago and an outside deck collapsed resulting in some lawsuits, so the owner just tore the building down. gone forever!
Whats really sad is how lawyers destroyed it after a bunch of num nuts overloaded the balcony and caused it to fail, the new new owners destroyed the all the buildings to create a math institute. What a shame... Im all for higher learning but destroying the restaurant was not necessary.
Irv, RIP. It was a special place...
Where was this at in Morgan H.?
14840 Foothill Ave Morgan Hill, CA 95037, John Fry's math institute currently resides there...
DOES ANYONE KNOW. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FLYING LADY RESTAURANT IN MORGAN HILL CALIFORNIA.
A balcony room collapsed during a party and it caused bad press.
A booked wedding party overloaded the balcony and collapsed. The lawsuit resulted in effectively forcing business to close.
thanks for the info. it was a really cool place.
I was there when it happened...actually it was a funeral for Doc Holiday who was killed when his plane went down in the Sierras. We all went out to the balcony to release balloons in his memory.
I used to fly into here for lunch. to see some aerial shots of the place go to rjaerial.smugmug.com and look under the gallery real estate.
懐かしい ホストファミリーに連れてって貰った事を思い出した 無くなったんだね 残念だなぁ
I always wanted to go here and never made it before it closed... too bad an accident happened there, and blood thirsty scum bag lawyers caused this place to shut down... Always heard they had the best breakfast around
thanks for the info. it was a really cool place.