Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Construction At the Disneyland Hotel

The Disneyland Hotel was operated under the same pretense as Disneyland...it would never be complete. These two shots show some of the construction that took place at the Hotel in the 1960's. The first shows construction of the fantastic miniature golf course with the Peter Pan themed hole in the foreground and the Matterhorn themed hole in the background. I wonder what happened to the Mr. Smee and Crocodile when the mini golf course was removed?

Here is a close up of the smaller version of the TWA Rocket. Too bad it is slightly obscured by the tree.

The next shot is of construction of one of the Hotel towers. I believe this is the Bonita tower which opened in 1961 in conjunction with the expanding of the Monorail track. The sign in front of the building is unreadable with the exception of Disneyland Hotel.

And thanks to anonymous for setting me straight, the Sierra Tower was constructed first and then the Bonita Tower came later.

13 comments:

Major Pepperidge said...

I'd love to play a miniature golf course like that one...imagine what they could build today!

TommyTsunami said...

Great photos. Would love to see more of the mini golf course.

tikiranch said...

I want to know where that mini moonliner went to .You can see it on the left in the first shot. Anyone have a better picture of that part of the course?

Anonymous said...

Played that course many times. It was the b-e-s-t miniature golf course ever! Also, believe that's the Sierra Tower under construction. Bonita Tower came along later.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoy your site. I feel like I get a trip in the Disneyland time machine every day!

Excellent photos - keep 'em coming~

:) Pixiegirltink

walterworld said...

The construction shot is for the first half of the Sierra Tower, then known as the Tower Building. The second half was built (I think) in 1965 or 66.

Great shots of the late great DHotel---THX

Anonymous said...

It is the first half of the Sierra Tower which was just named the Tower Annext until it was enlarged in 1966. I have some great shots of the mini-golf course if you would all like to see them.

Anonymous said...

Bonita Tower came in 1978.

Anonymous said...

BTW-the Tower Annex (Sierra Tower) opened in June of 1962 not in 1961.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Don Ballard!
Sounds the way I remember it, timeline-wise. Would LOVE to see your Miniature Golf shots! Where can we find them?

Anonymous said...

... except I think you meant Bonita Tower came along in 1968 not 1978. Not sure when Marina Tower went in - maybe that's from late 1970s. Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Marina Tower was 1969/1970. Bonita Tower was 1978. Check out my book www.magicalhotel.com.

Unknown said...

I think that being across the road from the prominent playground and sharing its name would be all it takes to make this hotel a trendy lay for vacationers and have an enormous time,especially if your definition of a great time includes golf. I feel affection to see your miniature.