Additional Coverage:
- Disneyland’s Famous Main Street U.S.A. Was Patterned On This Rocky Mountain Railroad Town (parade.com)
Nearly every Magic Kingdom park around the globe features Main Street, U.S.A.-Walt Disney’s nostalgic vision of a classic American small town at the dawn of the 20th century, inspired by his own childhood. While Marceline, Missouri, is often credited as the primary muse, another lesser-known town played a key role in shaping this iconic Disney landmark: Fort Collins, Colorado.
Harper Goff, a Disney artist and set designer, drew heavily from his own upbringing in Fort Collins when developing the concept art for Main Street, U.S.A. Meeting Walt Disney through a shared interest in model trains, Goff helped dream up the design for what was originally intended for a site in Burbank, California.
When that plan fell through, Disney and Goff expanded their vision. Main Street incorporated elements from both Disney’s hometown Marceline-like the Hotel Marceline and the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner-and from Fort Collins’ Old Town district, including the Disneyland Railroad, Fire Station, and City Hall.
Born in Fort Collins in 1911, just a few years after Disney’s family settled in Marceline, Goff shared a similar background. The son of a newspaperman (his father owned the Fort Collins Express-Courier) and a lifelong train enthusiast, Goff grew up near the city’s historic stone-and-brick commercial district.
His youth was marked by rides on town trolleys past beautiful Victorian and Romanesque buildings such as the Linden Hotel, Avery Block, and the Fort Collins Post Office, constructed the year he was born. Many of these architectural gems still thrive in Fort Collins today.
Visitors eager to experience this original Main Street charm can start in Old Town at the Armstrong Hotel, a 1923 establishment that once hosted the first chapter of the American Automobile Association (AAA). The early arrival of automobiles and the nearby first coast-to-coast highway may have influenced Disneyland attractions like the Horseless Carriages. Fort Collins also offers its own heritage streetcar, restored from 1919, running between City Park and Old Town on weekends and holidays from May through September.
Hungry visitors should stop by The Silver Grill, Old Town’s oldest restaurant, serving hearty breakfasts since 1933. Favorites include Colorado Trout and Eggs and generously sized cinnamon rolls. Nearby, Old Firehouse Books-a beloved independent bookstore housed in the historic firehouse and former City Hall since 2009-offers local history and Disney-themed literature for those wanting a deeper dive.
Choice City Drug, operating since the 1870s, is another must-see. Unlike the souvenir-packed Emporium on Main Street, this eclectic shop offers unique treats and even European groceries, giving it a slight Epcot-like flair. Its founder also co-established the Poudre Valley Bank in the Victorian Loomis Block, an architectural inspiration for Disneyland’s banking and civic buildings.
Goff once explained, “We had banks that looked like banks, you know, and there was a Victorian city hall. When I started working on Main Street U.S.A., I had photographs of Fort Collins taken.
I showed them to Walt, and he liked them very much. Disneyland’s City Hall was copied from Fort Collins… so was the Bank building and some of the others.”
Another Fort Collins landmark that influenced Disneyland was the old Union Pacific train station on Jefferson Street, built the year Goff was born. Today, its brick facade houses a Brazilian steakhouse, with nearby colorful murals adding contemporary vibrancy. The city’s thriving mural scene can be explored through the FC Mural Project, showcasing public art throughout Old Town and beyond.
The historic Aggie Theater, originally a 1906 furniture store turned movie house, now serves as a concert venue that has hosted major acts including John Mayer, String Cheese Incident, Imagine Dragons, and local electronic artist Pretty Lights.
While much of Old Town remains true to Goff’s time, the area also embraces modern creativity. Spaces like Petrichor Collective and the Center for Creativity offer workshops, art salons, and unique cultural events. Trimble Court, a co-op art gallery since the 1970s, features a diverse range of artworks, with monthly Art Walks connecting galleries across the district.
Public art abounds, from Robert Klose’s laser-cut metal sculptures in Old Town Square to an Andy Warhol-signed Campbell’s Tomato Soup Can on the Colorado State University campus, just a mile away.
Though Goff contributed to designing Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, none of Fort Collins’ historic homes inspired that attraction. However, Fort Collins offers its own haunted history tours, such as the family-friendly “Ghosts and Goodies” walk, blending local lore with sweet treats in Old Town.
For Disney fans and history buffs alike, Fort Collins stands as a living testament to the small-town Americana that helped shape the magic of Main Street, U.S.A.