Disney's America: Whose Patrimony, Whose Profits, Whose Past?

Abstract

ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1994, the American flag before Haymarket, Virginia's town hall was flown at half staff, following the previous day's announcement by The Walt Disney Company of Burbank, California, that it was relocating its proposed theme park from this small community, located four miles west of the Bull Run/Manassas battlefields and thirty-five miles west of Washington, D.C. Twice Mayor Jack R. Kapp had to re-raise the flag, all the while feeling that the $650 million project's cancellation was like funeral. The hopes of Haymarket's 483 people had soared in November 1993, when The Walt Disney Company had chosen it for the project, after two years of careful and secretive consideration of thirty sites. They had welcomed Disney's America for the estimated 3,000 direct and 16,000 indirect jobs that it would bring to Haymarket and Prince William County. Learning from two top Disney officials of the relocation decision and possible loss of an estimated $47 million a year for the state's economy, Virginia's Republican Governor George F. Allen was reportedly ashen; he subsequently promised to assist Disney's America in finding another Virginia location. However, Maryland and West Virginia are now also interested suitors.'