Disneyland’s historic New Orleans Railroad Station damaged after fire breaks out overnight

The trains in the station were still functional and the cause of the fire is being ascertained

PUBLISHED DEC 31, 2022

The station was initially known as Frontierland Station when the park opened in 1955 (Disneyland News Today/Facebook)

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA: A fire broke out in the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, reportedly damaging the New Orleans Square train station in the old Frontierland. The incident took place overnight during a period between the night of December 28 and the early morning hours of December 29 when the theme park was closed.

The railroad station in the square situated in the old Frontierland near the popular wooden water tower was damaged by the fire breakout, according to the Disney blog WDW News Today and a picture posted on Reddit shows the building covered with a protective tarp and prohibited from entering the area.

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As per the outlet's report, the fire was contained and immediately doused. The trains in the station were still functional and the cause of the fire is being ascertained. No further details about the fire breakout have been revealed by Disney.

The currently scorched train station in the square was a set from the 1948 Disney film “So Dear To My Heart.” Walt Disney wanted to use the original movie set, however, a replica was built as Ward Kimball, the animator, did not wish to return the set given to him by Disney. The park was initially named Frontierland when it was opened in 1955 and in September 1996, it was renamed New Orleans Square Station, two months after the New Orleans Square was opened, according to WDW.

Named for the sponsor Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, the Disneyland Railroad was then named the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad. However, in 1974, the sponsorship ended, and the name was changed to the Disneyland Railroad.

The damaged building was also used as a set for the film “Two Brothers” for a part of the stage show “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” at Disneyland and The American Adventure at Epcot. The blog stated that the station's water tower is still operational and the steam trains are refilled using this water. “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,” says the opening day dedication of Walt Disney translated from the Morse code message that plays in the building and can be heard by guests when they visit the New Orleans train station.