Disney Theme Park in St. Louis? Well Almost!

Alright, Disney fans, store this in the back of your head for that Jeopardy Daily Double question.  Back in 1962, Walt Disney himself was in the process of negotiating a Disney Theme Park  in St. Louis, MO.  What could have been?

Walt Disney was approached by the organizers of the St. Louis Bicentennial.  Their request was that he produce a film about the city.  So impressed was Walt with the newly expanding downtown area and the almost complete Arch, he had a better idea.

With inspiration from his Missouri roots, Walt began plans for Riverfront Square.  The location was planned about two blocks from Busch stadium.  The five-story all indoor attraction would be topped off with an atrium ceiling.  Complete with simulated weather and time of day.  The project was on the table from 1963 to 1965 and Disney Imagineers got pretty far in their planning.

For Blueprints and Computer animations, watch the video in the St. Louis News (KSDK) article by clicking here.

The park was to be divided into two portions, Old St. Louis and Old New Orleans.  The building would have overlooked the Mississippi with concessions, lounges and dining.  The planned attractions included a Lewis and Clark Adventure ride, theaters, a Davey Crockett ride, an opera house and a pirate ship.

So where is Disney St. Louis?  Many blame a public feud between Walt Disney and Augustus Busch, Jr. , who mocked Disney for thinking he could attract guests without serving liquor.   More than likely the cost of acquiring the land was the major deterrent for Walt Disney.  Especially considering the vast tract of land available for so cheaply in Orlando, Florida.  I’m sure you know what happened there!

For an interview with Walt Disney on Augustus Busch, Jr. click here.

However, Disney fans can thank the St. Louis project for many of its most popular rides and attractions.  Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Haunted Mansion were all derived from early plans for Riverfront Park.  An all indoor park was later realized in Orlando’s DisneyQuest.

For More Details on Riverfront Park’s influence on Walt Disney World click here.

If you are ever in St. Louis, visit the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark.  That was the location originally planned for Disney St. Louis.  Then take the time to enjoy St. Louis’ many treasures, namely that pretty famous Arch.

For more information on St. Louis’ use of the Riverfront Square property, click here.

Mickey Mom is a friend to several Missourians, and thanks Christina P. for giving her the heads up to this hidden treasure of a story.

Related articles

• ABC Developing Show Based on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Roller Coaster (thedisneyblog.com)
• Disney Confidential – Dragons Coming To Walt Disney World??? (chipandco.com)

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.

Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel

Who is your Travel Agent?(Required)

Let us pick for youEric HilesStacy ReedAbbey JohnsonAlisa SullivanAlli WillisAmanda FolsomAmanda VannAmber BrillhartAmber FisherAmy SieburnAndrea SmithAngela AndersonAngie BaycuraAnna PetrilliAnnabelle DuboseApril StefanskiAshley RamseyBeth ParsonsBetsy SantoroBrandie McQueenBrian BuckleyBridget HatchBryan SchwartzCandice SneedCarrie ButlerCarson DockumCasey BoltCharleen HortonChelsea RoyChelsea WuebkerChris BoyerChristie GrubeChristina FratturaChristina SmithCourtney WhiteCraig YoderDan MercedDanielle NorcrossDarby MouritsenDavid ForrestDeborah AlvaradoEmilee BiegelEmily MorrisFaith HakesGail HatchGreg MatzkerHelen HummerHolly CurryJackie CavistonJaclyn PepitoneJamie SwansonJeanine JordanJeff CallahanJenni MaierJennifer BrownJennifer StephensonJennifer StoessnerJessica HatfieldJessica HuffJessica WunderJoe GuertinJon CarpentierJoseph SliwaJulie McCombJustin BrownKat AttridgeKathryn EberhartKathy AndersonKatie HarrellKatie PrevotKayla CookKelsey SullensKim HelmsKimberly HutchinsonKristi GallagherKyle RamsdenLauren DewlenLeanne MonterLinda DurhamLindsay AckermannLindsey VromanLissette BritoLori HardyMallory MorrisonMandi QuinnMaranda PerkinsMarisa AlvaradoMegan TeismannMeghan BlairMelissa ReedMichele KlineMike BeyerMissy McCormickMisty DickersonNancy CasteelNicole ThorntonPatrick O'ConnorPaul SulPeyton Ward-KubikRaylene CooganRegan OstranderRobbie BulusRobert ThomasSara SolbergSarah McCandlishShanna BrowningShelley BennettShelly MetzStacy CristStacy KrzyminskiStacy SmithStephanie DraganoStephanie FerencStephanie WalshSusannah McCordTara SlusserTerri MillerTiffany DobraskiTiffany DrenkhahnTina FarmerTonya LesiukTracy DaneTroy DuncanVeronica RenteriaVicki FesslerWendy CarllWendy HauserWendy KellehanWendy Shelley

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Destination(Required)

Walt Disney WorldDisneyland ResortDisney Cruise LineAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaUniversal FloridaUniversal HollywoodRoyal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian or other Cruise LineI don't know yet

# of Adults(Required)

# of Children(Required)

Check-in-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Check-out-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Comments, Questions or Special Requests

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!