Disney’s America ~ Disney’s Most Controversial Park That Never Existed

Disney has had many projects that never saw the light of day. Attractions, parades, shows, lands, even entire theme parks. From Disneyland’s original Mickey Mouse Park concept, to Walt Disney’s dream of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT); there is an endless treasure trove of forgotten ideas that have emerged from Walt Disney Imagineering over the decades. Walt Disney also had a love for American values, culture, and history, and often immortalised some parts in his parks, including his admiration for Abraham Lincoln, and the American Frontier.

(C) Disney

But, not many people may be aware that Disney once planned on building an entire theme park based around celebrating the history of the United States of America. A park that came with its out collection of controversies. Disney’s America was to have been built on a 3000-acre park in Haymarket, Virginia, actually announced as a planned project in 1993. But, the park was never built due to a number of reasons. We’ll go through the history of the doomed park, and explore what was too have been featured in Disney’s own tribute to the star spangled nation.

The park’s roots likely extend from Walt’s own love for Americana. This is evident across the early resorts. Disneyland has Main Street (based on Walt’s hometown of Marceline Missouri), and more historical-based settings like Frontierland and New Orleans Square. Walt Disney World as the colonial Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, and the similar American Pavilion over in Epcot. Critter Country could also be seen as a tribute to the Deep South. There are also attractions like Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln, The Hall of Presidents, and the American Adventure, all animatronic shows celebrating the independence and liberties of the USA. You get the picture.

When Disney’s America was conceived, Michael Eisner, then-CEO of The Walt Disney Company, instantly fell in love with it. It appeared to become his pet project, since he was very much involved in its progress to the green light. It was right up Walt’s alley. The park was conceived as a way to honour America’s past, and be educational as well. What sort of attractions and themed lands could have been found at the park? Let’s take a closer look.

(C) Disney

Disney’s America would have been split into nine or so areas, each depicting different parts of American history and culture across time. There was Crossroads America, set around the 1840s, based around a village in the Civil War. There was an appreciated section dedicated to Native Americans, representing Mid-Atlantic tribes, with exhibitions showing the traditions of the peoples. There was also going to be a river rapids ride based on the historic expedition of Lewis and Clark. This ride eventually inspired Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, and Grizzly River Run at Disney’s California Adventure.

Another land, President’s Square, would have featured The Hall of Presidents, though it is uncertain if it would’ve been a new iteration of the theatre show, or the one from the Magic Kingdom simply moved to the site. Next up was a Civil War fort, featuring re-enactments of battles, and water battles between the Monitor and the Merrimac would occur. One of the most interesting lands is Enterprise, set during the Industrial Revolution. A 19^th century factory town, Enterprise highlighted American ingenuity and innovation. A major attraction would have been a high-flying, steel mill themed rollercoaster.

Other areas included a land inspired by Ellis Island with theme on immigration; Victory Field, dedicated to the heroism and duty of Americans in the World Wars, and based on an air strip; a state fair featuring a baseball field and folk art exhibits; and a recreation of an authentic farmyard where guests could see what it was like to work a busy life on a farm.

So what happened? Why didn’t it come to fruition?

Well, while Virginia’s governors and politicians were onboard with the project, Haymarket’s citizens were not. They didn’t want their neighbourhood to be urbanized and destroyed by an armada of tourists. There was also the concern that Disney would put their own, romanticized spin on American history, rubbing out the rougher edges of American history in favour of their family-friendly, squeaky clean ideals. This was also when Disney became a bit more aware of certain historical stereotypes and controversial portrayals of ethnic groups, which were now considered racist and offensive. This led to Song of the South being swept under the rug. An entire theme park based around Disney’s own take on America may have been too much.

On the other hand, Walt had always favoured the better aspects of American history, but always tried to maintain an educational level for his parks. The park invited guests to get to grips with what it was like to be a Civil War soldier, an explorer, or even, oddly, a slave on the run. Michael Eisner denied that last statement. People were worried that a theme park would trivialise American history, including some of the darker, more tragic periods, like slavery and the extermination of Native Americans.

Disney’s America was postponed, but revived in 1997. Disneyland’s neighbouring theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm, was up for sale by its owners. Disney got the idea to potentially buy the “other Walt’s” park and transform it into Disney’s America. It already had an identical replica to Independence Hall, and a resident ghost town. A number of attractions from the original concept would have been brought up to Knott’s. But, it was not meant to be. Knott’s family rejected Disney’s bid, concerned they would erase their park’s own history, and what their parents had originally built. Knott’s Berry Farm was bought by Cedar Fair, and Disney’s America was shelved for life.

But, like a lot of these stories, ideas from the park were borrowed and incorporated elsewhere. Disney’s California Adventure, in its initial incarnation, took a lot of inspiration from the all-American park. The river rapids, the farming area, the state fair, and a plane-based air strip, where Soarin’ would eventually be introduced.

Some things are not meant to be, but Disney’s America was a well-intentioned idea, with perhaps one too many issues. More information on why the park was never constructed can be found on its Wikipedia article.

All images are copyrights of The Walt Disney Company.