Town Square Realty

 Source: Matterhorn 1959

July 1955 – Summer 1960

LOCATION

Main Street USA – The Town Square Realty office was part of the Main Street Opera House building, in the town square by the train station. Visitors arriving on Main Street from the park gates saw the Opera House on the right, across from the Town Square’s central garden and flag pole.

EXPERIENCE

Details:

• Merchandise – Disneyland maps, bags of authentic California dirt
• Unique Features – Window display promoting Apple Valley, CA that included an antique carriage

It’s hard to believe there was ever a time that Disneyland allowed a store selling something that had nothing to do with the park. But then again, shouldn’t an authentic turn-of-the-century town have some kind of real estate office? Town Square Realty accomplished two goals: adding to the “real town” feel of Main Street, and promoting Apple Valley with the hope of building it up into a vibrant hotspot in Southern California. Visitors to the office were given genuine real estate info about Apple Valley (located roughly 80 miles northeast of Anaheim), park maps, and collectible vinyl pouches containing “authentic California dirt” as a memento.

CLOSURE

The novelty of a real estate office on Main Street wore off pretty quickly, and the only draw to this shop after a while was collecting some dirt in a souvenir pouch. I’ve never been to Apple Valley, but I don’t get the impression it ever became the bustling suburb Disneyland hoped it would be!

After a few years, the shop closed its doors, and the space was absorbed into the Babes in Toyland Exhibit in 1961.

TRIVIA

Bags of dirt in the shop’s original pouches periodically go up for auction. Keep an eye out (especially at Van Eaton Galleries) if you’re hoping to find one.

Note: I have never been able to find a reliable source naming the realtor or real estate company that operated within the shop. If anyone has any leads, let me know!