Saturday at Walt’s Barn

Summary

The author recounts a visit to Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn during a Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) event, highlighting the historical significance of the barn and the personal connection Walt Disney had with trains.

Abstract

The article describes a memorable Saturday spent at Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn, a historical site now located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The barn, once part of Disney's Holmby Hills estate, was saved from demolition and moved to its current location through the efforts of the Carolwood Foundation. The author, a themed entertainment writer, emphasizes the importance of TEA events for networking and industry insights, and shares the emotional and historical significance of the barn, which showcases Walt Disney's deep passion for trains. The barn, open to the public on the third Sunday of each month, features original artifacts, including a Disneyland train car, and is brought to life by knowledgeable guides like Art, whose storytelling captivates visitors with tales of Disney's railroad legacy.

Opinions

The author values TEA events as a means to connect with industry professionals and gain behind-the-scenes knowledge of the themed entertainment industry.
The Carolwood Barn is portrayed as a treasure trove of Disney history, with meticulously cared for photos and artifacts that reflect Walt Disney's imagination and attention to detail.
The author expresses admiration for the barn's authenticity, from the engineered slope of the roof to mimic an aged barn, to the historical accuracy of the train car's preservation.
Art, a guide at the barn, is highlighted as an exceptional storyteller and a living resource of Disney's train history, enhancing the visitor experience with his personal anecdotes and insights.
The author encourages readers to visit the barn and meet guides like Art, suggesting that the stories and historical context they provide are invaluable and enrich the understanding of Walt Disney's legacy.

A TEA event at Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn

Photo by author

I spent a really beautiful fall Saturday at Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn as part of the TEA -Themed Entertainment Association.

I always try to attend TEA events when I can, it’s a great way to meet people and learn more about the industry. They have great events that I hope to share with you more here. An inside peek into the somewhat mysterious industry.

My apartment is right down the street from Griffith Park and I have run past the barn on many occasions while training for marathons but have never gotten a chance to go in.

Photo by Author

The red barn sat in Walt’s backyard at his Holmby Hills property. When Lillian Disney passed away in 1997 the estate was set to be sold but the new owners had plans to demolish everything on the property. Diane Disney Miller, Walt’s eldest daughter, knew how much time and joy Walt had in that barn and couldn’t stand to see it torn down and worked to establish the Carolwood Foundation to get it moved to Griffith Park.

Carolwood Foundation had to get special permission from the mayor because no wood structures were allowed in Griffith Park because of the fire hazard.

The barn is there and you can explore inside. The guides are great and able to answer any questions you can come up with. Walt Disney’s love of trains was deep and you could just imagine the joy he had tinkering in the barn with his friends. They have some original benches and even a broomstick cut down to make a rack for his overalls.

Photo by Author

You can tell the photos and artifacts were put together with care and thought. They even had a wonderful diorama train set that highlighted some of Walt’s dreams for trains. His imagination was full of depth and big dreams.

The slope of the barn roof was engineered to mimic the classic slope of an old barn that would sag over time.

Photo by Author

They also have an original train car from Disneyland that was preserved beautifully. It was interesting to see that the original Disneyland train was more like a regular train than the ride it is now with the benches facing out.

The original train was owned by Walt Disney personally and leased back to Disneyland. So if you worked on the train you would have gotten a paycheck signed by Walt Disney himself.

But as I walked over to take a peek I found the real treasure of the day, Art, one of the amazing guides at Walt’s Barn. I kept circling back as he had endless stories to tell about Walt and his trains and all the people at Disney who contributed to the legacy of trains. He was a fantastic storyteller and I spent the majority of my experience listening to him. He pointed out some fun facts about the Disneyland trains past and present. Unlike real trains, they have a steel base and don’t need the turnbuckles to tighten for support under the carriage, but Disney instituted adding them because details matter. It was clear that Art enjoyed trains and sharing the legacy of Walt Disney. He was wonderful to listen to and I hope if you’re in Los Angeles at the right time and happen to get a chance to go you’ll get to see Art and get to hear some of his amazing stories.

Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn is open every 3rd Sunday of the month from 11 am — 3 p.m. You can find the latest updates on their Facebook account.

I’m a Themed entertainment writer living in Los Angeles, CA. Bringing you all things theme parks, creativity, and life. Follow for more articles and subscribe.