Solvang’s Honen Thrives under the Care of the Orona Family.
As the decades unspool, new buildings crowd the streets of Solvang, sometimes obscuring local history under signboards and sale items. One family, however, celebrates the region’s past by plying those same streets in a remarkable Danish conveyance known as a Honen.
Pulled by two Belgian horses named Rita and Claire, the Honen, or trolley, slowly glides past Solvang’s landmarks as Sal Orona, clad in white shirt, red suspenders and a tasseled red cap, handles the leather reins. Behind him stands his costumed daughter, Claudia, who alternates with her brother, Sal Jr., and their mother, Lorena, in guiding the tours, each spicing the narrative with historical facts and local lore.
“The Honen is not only a great way to see Solvang,” Claudia declares, “but you notice many things you miss while driving or walking and looking in windows. In the Honen, it’s a completely different effect.
“It’s also a great way to learn about where we are,” she adds, “the history of the Valley and how it relates to the history of America.”
The Honen (which translates from Danish as “the hen,” after a trolly line in Denmark known b the same name) travels a similar route each day, depending on traffic and passenger requests.
Painted Danish flag red and white, its benches can seat 20 riders and its open-air construction affords a wrap-around view of the sights.
Enhancing the Old World feel, the Oronas dress in Danish-style clothing, much of it designed and stitched by Claudia, a theater major at Santa Barbara City College.
The Oronas operate the Honen five days a week from late May to early September and on weekends in winter. They have found their guests to be universally smitten with the unique experience.
“Most people, especially kids, go crazy over riding the Honen,” Claudia says. “They love to pet the horses and ask about them, and we welcome it, because we love to educate people about them.
“All my family loves horses, and we’re proud of how well we treat them,” she adds with a smile. “They get a manicure about twice a week, while I’m lucky to get one once a month!
“We keep them at a ranch on Roblar Avenue,” she continues, “so we can get them into open fields where they can do aerobic work and get away from the stress of working on the street.”
The Oronas recently acquired two more Belgians, Stella and Coco, which means they’ll have two teams to share the labor. Claudia is quick to explain that since the massive Belgians were bred to pull, they need to do so regularly to remain healthy.
Having ridden and trained horses most of their lives, Lorena and Sal Sr. bought the Honen, horses and all, in December 2007 as an ideal way to build a family business.
After sprucing up the aging Honen for comfort and safety, they set about writing a script that would both entertain and enlighten their riders. The family spent two weeks researching area literature, visiting museums and gleaning stories from long-time residents to come up with an engaging version of Solvang’s history.
“When we look at Copenhagen Drive,” Claudia says, “we tell riders how it looked 50, 60 years ago, then before there was pavement, before there were any cars even. We talk about the 90-year old Rasmussen building and they can imagine how it was.
“They love to see the residential area,” she adds, “because when we point out the homes from the trolley, they look like little fairy tale houses.”
Over 30 years old, the singular Honen is due for a makeover that includes reconstruction with new wood and a fresh coat of paint. To help defray the cost of restoration, the Oronas have initiated a modest fundraising campaign.
“My father will do the mechanical work,” Claudia explains, “and our friend offered to do the carpentry and painting. We’re asking for donations, and if you give more than $3, you get a little stuffed horse.
“The fundraiser is going well,” she continues. “Some people think it’s just a ride, but then they take a tour on the Honen and they want to support what we’re doing.”
Since moving to the Valley from Santa Barbara, the Oronas have animated Solvang’s colorful history in English, Spanish, French and even Japanese. They have proved themselves able ambassadors of Danish culture and made many friends along the way.
“My family loves the Valley,” Claudia says. “My brother and I are used to a more urban setting, but we do love that it’s a close knit community, the air is clean and we’re near our animals. We’ve had a very warm welcome and a lot of people really appreciate what we’ve done with the Honen.”
In addition to guiding tours on the Danish trolley, the Oronas offer excursions in their vis-a-vis carriage, a gleaming white six-seater that’s perfect for wedding parties, group getaways or any special event that warrants an equally special conveyance.
Their restored opera carriage, built in the early 1900s, is fully enclosed and holds four people in style for a winery visit, a trip across town or just for fun. They hitch the carriages to one or two of their gentle Belgian horses, taking riders on a memorable excursion, as well as a trip back in time. For booking information, call 805-794-8958.
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