If it's your first time visiting Old Town Fort Collins and the architecture and charm seems familiar, you may be thinking of a certain Disneyland attraction - and it's no coincidence.

Fort Collins is known for its lively arts and culture scene, craft breweries, and opportunities for outdoor adventures. A lesser-known fact about Fort Collins, however, is that the city helped to inspire Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A area.

According to Visit Fort Collins, Harper Goff, a Fort Collins native, and Walt Disney were responsible for the creation of Main Street U.S.A. Goff was born in 1911 and raised in Fort Collins by his father, owner of the Fort Collins Express Courier newspaper.

While working on designs for Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A., Goff reflected on his memories of Old Town Fort Collins buildings. He drew inspiration from the Old Firehouse Bookstore, the Old Linden Hotel, the bank building, the city hall building, and more. Goff even returned to Fort Collins during the 1950s to photograph buildings for models for his drawings.

Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri also inspired the design of Main Street. According to the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, a walk down Main Street U.S.A. ''gives visitors the same feeling that Walt experienced as a boy.''

Old Town Square is considered one of the best 'town squares' in the country, taking fourth place on USA Today's 2024 list of America's ten best public squares. Old Town Square features more than 20 restored historical buildings. According to Downtown Fort Collins, Old Town Square was renovated in 2015. The area now includes a state-of-the-art performance stage, a kid and dog-friendly splash pad, a fireplace, a kids' play area, and locations for rotating public art installations.

Looking at Disney's Main Street U.S.A., the influence of Fort Collins' historic buildings and beautiful design is quite apparent