The End of an Era

These 1999 photographs document the last days of the original Disneyland Hotel dating back to October 5th, 1955 when the Hotel first opened for business. I would like to credit Intercot West for these amazing shots that detail certainly a sad time for purists and history buffs of the original Disneyland Hotel. I'll say it again, I think it would have been no trouble at all for Disney to have left one original building standing as an historical site in remembrance of the beginnings of this wonderful facility. Especially considering there is only a grass field where these structures once stood. They could have decorated using 50's furniture and motif. They could have placed pictures on the walls depicting milestones from the Hotel's history. They could have used scale models showing the growth of the Disneyland Hotel. I know of many folks who would have loved to have seen this. I did hear that the original structures were in pretty bad shape though. Some retrofitting and they would have been fine. Now I hear they are talking about bringing down the Towers and building a brand-new Disneyland Hotel. The oldest building on the grounds now dates back to 1962 and what was the Sierra Tower.

4-19-1999 - THE LAST DAY OF ACTIVITY IN THE ORIGINAL FIVE STRUCTURES OF THE DISNEYLAND HOTEL. THE BUILDINGS CLOSED THE NEXT DAY AND DEMOLITION PLANS WERE TAKING SHAPE. SOON THESE BUILDINGS WOULD BE FENCED OFF FROM THE PUBLIC AND NEARLY 44 YEARS OF HAPPY MEMORIES OF WONDERFUL STAYS AT THE ORIGINAL DISNEYLAND HOTEL WOULD BE JUST THAT.....MEMORIES.

5-9-1999 - THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURES ARE STILL IN PLACE BUT THE END IS VERY NEAR. NO ACTIVITY IN ANY OF THE BUILDINGS ALTHOUGH THEIR LIGHTS STILL WORK.

6-13-1999 - The original structures are now fenced off and are awaiting destruction. They have but two short weeks of life left.

6-13-1999 - THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURES ARE NOW FENCED OFF WITH THEIR LUSH LANDSCAPING REMOVED.....AWAITING DEMOLITION. SOON, A MILLION MEMORIES WILL DISAPPEAR AND A VITAL PIECE OF ANAHEIM HISTORY WILL BE GONE. COULDN'T THEY HAVE LEFT ONE BUILDING UP FOR HISTORICAL SAKE?

6-30-1999 - Close-up showing the demolition in progress.

6-30-1999 - The demolition machines doing their duty.

6-30-1999 - The buildings have just been demolished with one last piece standing.

7-14-1999 - The buildings have been demolished and only one small piece remains. Wonder why they left this piece up?

8-19-1999 - The last remaining piece has been removed.

9-8-1999 - Now paved over and made into a parking lot. A little under 44 years later and no more original structures remaining from the Original Disneyland Hotel.