It’s an unusual story and the dream of thousands of visitors that the site relays. Allocinated. Between 1955 and 1971, an American couple lived full time in Disneyland, California.
Owen and Dolly Pope had a house in the area then dedicated to the Wild West. When Disney fans left at the end of the day, the Popes stayed behind and slept in the park!
Horse specialists
According to some American media like the KTLA channel, affiliated with CNN, the couple was first hired by Disney in 1951, as horse specialists. Owen and Dolly had to monitor the use of equines on different attractions. They spoke regularly with Walt and Roy Disney.
But ultimately, the need to provide daily care for the animals led the park to install the Popes day and night at Disneyland. They had the right to choose their accommodation and opted for a 120 m2 ranch, located just behind an area called “Pony Farm” at the time. For several years, they cared for the animals and made equipment to help other members of the park.
A house never destroyed
In 1971, the couple migrated to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, to take care of the Tri-Circle-D horses. The accommodation was initially transformed into offices but the creation of “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” in 2016 forced the park to move the Pope’s house.
Without a video posted on Facebook, we can see the transfer of the home to an area reserved for staff. Disneyland management decided not to demolish the ranch and paid $20,000 to move it. The couple retired shortly after arriving at Disney World: Dolly in 1975 and Owen in 1976.