Circle D Corral Articles

before Walt Disney bought the property that would become Disneyland. Horses and other animals lived on a ranch north of the orange groves razed for the theme park. In fact, Disney used to saddle up on the ranches horses to tour the property he was considering buying. One day he told a ranch employee that the check was ready.

The Corral is actually considered Disneyland's first attraction starting in 1954, before the park opened. Although the corral was not open to the public back then, the ranch was more than ten acres.

Circle D Corral was moved offsite to Norco in 2016 as Circle D Ranch To make room for Star Wars The Galaxy's Edge.

Inn 1954 the ranch was more than 10 acres. In 2009 it is less than 5 acres.

In 1954 Walt Disney invited a couple, Dolly and Owen Pope, to live at the ranch to raise the horses. He moved a 1920s bungalow that used to sit where the old Disneyland marquee stood along Harbor Boulevard to the corral property. The Popes are the only people who have ever lived there.

The bungalow remains today, used for offices, a break room, tours and occasionally, a sleeping area when a horse is really sick. An original metal barn and harness room, including a 1900s sewing machine that was retrofitted for repairs, also stayed.

The ranch sits outside the park behind Mickey's Toontown and Frontierland.

In 1995 Snakes, spiders and lizards were housed when Indiana Jones Adventure opened.

In 2009 about 45 employees take care of about 50 permanent animals: horses, goats, donkeys, cockatoos, a sheep, a cow and a turkey .

Most of the aminals are for the petting zoo at Disneyland's Big Thunder Ranch, which the corral staff oversees.

In 1956: No horse is allowed to work more than 4 hours per day or six days a week

Moved to Norco in 2016 as Circle D Ranch