This Colorado town inspired Disneyland’s Main Street

When Walt Disney commissioned Harper Goff to help design Disneyland’s Main Street, Goff didn’t have to look far for inspiration. He found it in the brick facades and towers of his childhood hometown, Fort Collins, Colorado, with the buildings’ late Victorian era architectural details making their way into his 1951 sketches for Walt Disney. Goff poured his nostalgia for the simpler days of his childhood into every detail of Disneyland, ensuring that each child who visited could feel the same magic.

Fort Collins still embodies the charm of an ideal American town. Frequently ranked among the nation’s best places to live, it’s a reputation locals proudly affirm. The city takes that honor seriously, carefully preserving its historic architecture and walkable downtown at the foot of the Rocky Mountains—qualities that make life here feel truly idyllic.

Ghost towns

Fort Collins began in 1862 as Camp Collins, a modest military post that quickly transformed into a thriving settlement after its relocation in 1864 due to flooding. Just months after opening to homesteaders, surveyors laid out Old Town along the river, and elegant Victorian buildings soon followed—structures that would later inspire Disney artist Harper Goff.

As the community grew, so did its thirst for water. To meet the demand, engineers built Horsetooth Reservoir, today the city’s largest playground for boating, swimming and fishing. But creating the reservoir came at a cost: the flooding of the old mining town of Stout. Whispers persist of a ghost town beneath the waves, where a long-lost school bell still tolls underwater. The truth is less eerie—the bell survives, safely housed in The Archive at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, and many of the town’s buildings were demolished before the reservoir was built. 

Perfect views of the reservoir and the surrounding foothills can be attained through a moderate 1.4 mile hike along the Well Gulch Nature Trail at Lory State Park. Be sure to pick up a trail guide, as it corresponds with numbered interpretative signs to give more details on what you’re viewing as you meander through a canyon and up towards the overlook. On foggy mornings, the reservoir has an eerie appearance, perfect for scanning for signs of the ghost town. Those looking for a longer hike can head to the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, where a five-mile hard hike along Horsetooth Rock Loop Trail comes with the reward of a view of Longs Peak and Mount Meeker in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Bricks and blooms

Any Fort Collins experience would be incomplete without a stroll down Walnut Street. The 1882 city hall and firehouse—one of the very buildings later recreated, in miniature, on Disneyland’s Main Street—now houses two local gathering spaces: Old Firehouse Books, an independent bookstore, and Happy Lucky’s Tea House, home of Colorado’s largest tea selection. Pick your favorite from the Great Wall of Tea. In addition, the original fire pole still stands near the register, a reminder of the building’s past. Just a few blocks away, around a corner, the former Linden Hotel opened in 1898 with its turret and arched windows. Now, the lower floor houses Nature’s Own, a geology and souvenir shop, while the two upper floors are a private residence. It was here, amid these streets and storefronts, that young Harper Goff roamed. The son of the advertising manager for the Fort Collins Express Courier, Goff grew up surrounded by architecture that would later spark his imagination.

It’s worth exploring the alleyways in Old Town, as they frequently house hidden gems such as shops and bright murals. The city has made a conscious effort to bring splashes of color, with the FC Mural Project recently celebrating the completion of its 100th mural by local artists. Not to be missed is Jazz Alley, with a double decker mural painted by artist Terry McNerney over several years, featuring the famous musical faces of Fort Collins. Painted pianos also dot the outdoor spaces, and passersby are encouraged to play them.

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Old Town Square sits at the beating heart of downtown Fort Collins, providing a gathering space with seating, a stage and a splashpad for children and dogs. Large planters spill over with vibrant blooms, many first tested at Colorado State University’s Flower Trial Gardens, about a 10-minute drive away. Here, plant breeders from around the world send new varieties to prove they can withstand Colorado’s tough climate. Locals vote on their favorites, and the winners often make their way to garden centers nationwide. Open to the public, the trial garden has become a community treasure—its paver and mulch paths are popular with walkers, joggers and plenty of four-legged companions.

Where to eat and drink

Keep savoring the town’s history at restaurants that pay homage to its past. Founded in 1933, Silver Grill Cafe serves its beloved, giant cinnamon rolls alongside classic breakfast favorites in a historic 1800’s building. Get a refreshing break at the retro-inspired Edison’s Ice Cream, located in the old Northern Hotel building, where the smell of the cinnamon waffle cones handrolled and baked throughout the day permeates the air. And for a true local favorite, step into Town Pump, the oldest bar in town, known as much for the characters who frequent it as for what just might be the smallest historic bathrooms around. 

Have afternoon tea at the Duchess Tea Room, stop by for a casual diner experience at Big Al’s Burgers and Dogs, indulge in handmade pasta at RARE Italian, grab a cup of local, fair trade coffee at Mugs, or take a cooking class outdoors, discovering locally-grown flavors as geese fly overhead The Gardens on Spring Creek with their Garden to Fork program.

Where to stay in Fort Collins

Two hotels place visitors in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins. History lovers will appreciate a stay at The Armstrong Hotel, a 1923 landmark carefully renovated to preserve its historic charm. Rooms feature views of some of most iconic streets and a speakeasy in the basement completes the step back in time. The Elizabeth Hotel caters to music lovers, with an instrument lending library and turntables in every room. Carrying on this theme, one of the suites features its own baby grand piano. Each hotel is within easy walking distance of Old Town shops and restaurants.

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