A fire reportedly damaged a building in one of the most historic sections of the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, Calif.
New Orleans Railroad Station in the old Frontierland suffered damage after the blaze broke out overnight between Dec. 28 and the early hours of Dec. 29, according to Disney blog WDW News Today.
A photo posted to Reddit showed the building closest to the famed wooden water tower in the square blocked off and covered with a protective tarp.
The publication said the fire was contained and quickly extinguished, and the trains in the square were still operational. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The fire-damaged train station is based on a set from the 1948 Disney film “So Dear To My Heart.”
According to WDW, Walt Disney wanted to use the original movie set, but animator Ward Kimball did not want to return it after Disney had given it to him, so a replica was built.
When the park opened in 1955, it was known as Frontierland Station. It was renamed New Orleans Square Station in September 1966, two months after New Orleans Square opened, WDW said.
The scorched building was also used to film the “Two Brothers” section of the stage show “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” at Disneyland and The American Adventure at Epcot.
The water tower at the station is still functional and used to refill the steam trains, the blog said.
Guests who visit the New Orleans station can hear the clacking of a Morse code message playing in the building.
It is a translation of Walt Disney’s opening day dedication: “To all who come to Disneyland, welcome. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.”
[Written in collaboration with other media outlets with information from the following sources]
