Disney and Merrick

- Dreamers, Writers, Builders and Castle Makers

Walt Disney and George Merrick. Two boyhood dreamers with unbridled enthusiasm who relentlessly pursued their creative ideals. There are fascinating similarities between the two pioneers.

Walt and George were both born in the north and would eventually develop their visions on difficult terrains in Florida. Walt was from the midwest, primarily Illinois and Missouri. Merrick moved to Miami from Duxbury, MA. They both would first build on orange groves, Walt in Anaheim, California and George in Miami, Florida.

Trains played a critical role in both of their imaginations and sense of adventure. It is hard not to notice the steam locomotive trains at Disney World. Walt said! "I just want Disney to look like nothing in the world. And it should be surrounded by a train." Merrick created the Coral Gables Rapid Transit System to connect the City of Miami with Coral Gables by train in 1925.

With artists, architects and touch of magic they planned their new projects complete with castles. Disney built the Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. Merrick built the Biltmore Hotel and by 1927 more than 3,000 residential castles were constructed with the Mediterranean Revival architectural style throughout Coral Gables.

They were both showmen, innovators, motivators and entertainers. Both were kind to American Indians and nature. Walt was awarded by the National Audubon Society its highest honor, the Audubon Medal in 1955 for promoting the "appreciation and understanding" of nature. Respected landscape designer Frank Button was brought to Coral Gables. His master plan and design for the Mediterranean-influenced garden city included plans for parkways, canals, gardens and recreational facilities. Merrick was also director of Fairchild Tropical Garden.

Both created golf courses on their properties. Walt Disney World has four courses. While Merrick built the Biltmore Golf Club, Granada Golf Club and Riviera Golf Club. Scottish golf course architect Donald Ross designed the three golf courses in Coral Gables.

Disney and Merrick were both Congregationalists. Walt's father Elias Disney built St. Paul's Congregational in Chicago in 1900. Merrick's father was a minister at Plymouth Congregational Church in Coconut Grove. Years after his passing, George constructed the Mission style Coral Gables Congregational Church across from the Biltmore Hotel in 1923.

Long after Walt's passing, a long desired master-planned community by Disney Imagineering called Celebration was completed near Walt Disney World in 1992. Walt Disney always had a dream to build a model town. Merrick is known for combining the "City Beautiful" movement of the late 1800's in America with the Mediterranean Revival architecture to produce his master-planned city of Coral Gables. Village neighborhood communities known for their beautiful homes, rich landscaping, strict building codes and being family oriented.

Dreamers. Walt is known for the quote, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." Merrick's plaque at the base of his statue in front of the Coral Gables Courthouse starts off, "Dreamer, Writer, Poet Philosopher, Lover of the Beautiful - He Made His Dream Become A Reality In The Creation of Coral Gables, City Beautiful."

Disney and Merrick both started in the 1920's. Walt and his brother Roy launched Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in 1923. Merrick laid the first streets of the city in 1921 and Coral Gables was incorporated in 1925.

It is difficult to fully compare the two. Disney was younger and obviously went on to develop his vision on a much larger global scale. A major hurricane and the Great Depression were not so kind to Merrick. Walt had more time to continue realizing his dreams and lived 24 more years than George.

The vision, adherence to quality, attention to detail and pursuit of excellence lives on long after these two men passed away. Disney World opened in 1971 and EPCOT in 1982. Walt Disney World continues to flourish around the world and next year will mark 50 years since Walt died. George Merrick died in 1942 and his ideals for Coral Gables are alive and vibrant today. The city is known as the "City Beautiful" and the Old Spanish homes, the tree-lined streets, fountains are as
beautiful as ever.

Richard C. Welch

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