Finding The FIRST Building at Walt Disney World - Property Caretaker House & Forgotten WDW History

The First Building at Disney World

[@GDS_Michelle]

This video brings me back to one of the most memorable phone calls I ever had with a Disney guest. He was an Urbex explorer and wanted to find the location of the “original haunted house” on Bay Lake. I was on the phone for about 20 minutes trying to figure out what in the world he was referring to. About died when I finally figured out what he was talking about. Thanks for this video, it brought back a fun memory for me. 👏🏻

[@gryptoh5456]

Aerial pics from 1969 at 28.37541:-81.51915 is the location. This is spot on. I am 100% certain this is the location. From 1969 and the runway, hangar and buildings match up perfectly. The lake looks diff but that is the post. It is in the middle of the Saratoga Springs/Buena Vista Golf club now! A little to the west of Black lake..

[@shaolincruz2891]

This is one off the reasons I started following you years ago…I’ve always been so fascinated with all your knowledge and research especially With WDW history .Not to mention all off your before and after photos filming locations etc..keep it up thank you for sharing 🤝🏻

[@MaxxDaily]

Love this mini series between road trips. Keep on rolling Woo!

[@TheDailyWoo]

Thank you

[@wingsovermikey]

This type of investigative documentary, similar to what you do on road trips is what drew me to this channel in the beginning. Love this one!

[@dfactoryrat653]

My Grandparents had a friend that worked for Walt Disney World in the early years. We have pictures of my grandparents visiting & lots of pictures of things there before the park. They had a Dune buggy to get around & pictures of very Large snakes & gators. 🐭👍

[@Bella1584]

Wow, so interesting Adam! I love when you dive into the history of places. We shouldn't forget the past. Thanks!

[@matthewgrear3260]

I remember when this was all swamp land as far as the eye could see!!! Old man Disney owned all of it

[@brianb2837]

Hey Adam, Happy Sunday! This is really cool! These WDW history video’s are really interesting on some hidden history of the very beginnings of Disney World. Thanks so much, have a great day!

[@traceyshoun1005]

Your next channel should be called “Adam The Woo Investigates.” You really make it interesting. Maybe you should have been a traveling history teacher investigating historical areas. Keep up the great content. Love it all.

[@miguelmed7878]

I agree!

[@janeclay9684]

So interesting.. love to hear all the WDW history. What a visionary Walt was; he could see the enormous potential and possibilities. I sometimes wonder what he would make of it all today? Thanks Adam. : )

[@brunswicksucks]

I’m thinking he wouldn’t be too happy with the cost for guests. Just my thought of course.

[@candarianpumpkin]

Very cool! First time I've heard about the house. I'm glad you're doin' more Disney history, again. :)

[@rver99]

Great video! Loved it! I went down this same rabbit hole (via Google Maps/Bing maps/Google Earth/old USGS photos) a while back. The D23 article states that the homestead was located on the west side of the lake, meaning the picture is also looking west. If you match up the angle in the water in the lower right with the lake in Google Maps, you'll see the remains of that same little angle on the northeast corner of the lake which has basically filled in with swamp/vegetation. On the left of the photo, the curve in the lake shore follows the curve on the south end of the Google Maps image. In other words, I think the majority of this homestead was sitting where the Hilton is sitting now, but I'm open to being proved wrong. Keep it up, Adam!

[@captainjohndee4680]

Currently on a 4 week road trip for work. Your daily videos keep me sane. Great stuff, Thanks Adam!

[@ryeinc]

Love seeing a PIBB cameo on TDW. I usually stock up on that when in Orlando.

[@TheGatlinburgHussey]

My late mom was a server in Haines city FL..near Disney...John's Restaurant.. Her fav guest was a man who owned a ton of swamp land that Disney bought from him..you imagine?

[@Teletran35]

Adam i thank you for this. I came across this info over a year ago and posted it to my Facebook group dedicated to WDW. Since its the first thing ever built on Disney property ot truly can be said Walt visited a structure on property and it shares thst Walt visited it.As we know Walt dies before 99 percent of the structures were built. Im sharing this to my group to remind them of this info.Again....Thank you..obtw I also found the picture of the updated house too

[@feemassey4587]

Love these history videos. Keep them coming. Fascinating doesn't even begin to describe it.

[@bridgetkorns8174]

Loved this video. The Husband and I went to OakGlen Preserve here in California. We were on a back road called Garnet St and there was a Muffler Man in someone's yard along with a huge chicken. We immediately commented it was like a Adam The Woo Road Trip.

[@mountainguru529]

AMAZING VIDEO LOTS OF MEMORIES THANKS ADAM

[@debbiezipoli3768]

According to a D23 article, Carl Bronson - a relative of Irlo Bronson - first lived at the Smith home. You might be able to find some tax & property records; there should have been a physical address for the Smith home.

[@NadaSurferTube]

I was about ready for Adam to say "Crikey!" the whole time he was walking along the lake fence there , had to keep pausing from all the cracking up. Officially lost it when Adam used his own finger as a puppet spitting Shining quotes, LOL! Informative and hilarious, I'm here for it! 👍

[@gregorymotta6628]

I just love your passion Adam. You try and leave no stone unturned all for our viewing pleasure.

[@tykong]

Adam would make a great Investigator. His attention to detail an knowledge is amazing. Loving this stuff.

[@TripNWithRed]

Your vast knowledge of the property history is incredible. I've never heard any of this before. It's fun to understand how things started and our dreams of Disney World were shaped. I always live your videos Adam.

[@cathpeterson1944]

awesome investigating the original beginnings Walt Disney World luv the hunt so fascinating, Adam you’re just like Dundee forging through the overgrowth, I luv old places and how WDW has evolved, it was WDW when we were kids ❤️

[@santana898989]

Excellent job. Fascinating and informative. Cheers.

[@jessicaderoche709]

I love this video! Thanks! WDW History is where it's at!

[@BrewCityGillz]

Love history and enjoy Disney things. Thanks for doing a deep dive on location of both! I’m sure more will come as you get more info from those library cabinets. 😁 🏰💫

[@AgentLCWonderWoman]

Love this!! Can never soak up enough Disney history. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.

[@McCracken257]

I am loving all the history of wdw videos! Thank you for posting your adventures !

[@mandysimmons2769]

40 years? That cannot be. I went the first year and I was 19 so that means I'm now older than dirt! LOL I was really smart back then and wore new shoes! Still got those blisters!

[@jojiepeczon02]

Disney World Security officer : "Hey! What are you doing there?" Adam : "Oh, Hi!, don't mind me. I'm just looking for my hula hoop...." xD

[@859whodey]

Should watch out for gators while standing close to the water next to black lake

[@MyBackyardScience]

Love seeing the photos of the past and how you match them up with locations of present day 🙂

[@darylturcott]

What a great deep research video. Back in october i drove around some of the back roads and service areas on property. Excellent research, as always.

[@PureHangout]

Great video Adam! Really enjoyed this. Just started your other video where you update your findings.

[@bethkelly9206]

Adam, are you allowed to fly a drone over the wooded areas that you were at?

[@BillySinnz]

I'm pretty sure the hanger was located in what is now the driveway of Reedy Creek Fire Station #4. From there you can draw an imaginary line to the house which looks like it was in the parking lot of a condo building at 1936 Union Ave.

[@josephhuffman6765]

Thanks for the great time and update. You always do great work take care and have a great day 😀. GOD BLESS

[@ejcTAB]

The picture of Black Lake with the hanger is looking closer to east-west rather than south to north. The airfield is Air-Lando Airpark. The eastern end of the runway is about where the Reedy Creek Fire Department sits. The house site would have been on the east side of Saratoga Springs.

[@deliverancetwo]

Absolutely amazing Adam!! You always bring the best vlogs ever. You have a deep knowledge of Disney properties and Disney world. Keep on doing what you doing because I am always intrigued. I’m going to use your ending to conclude this comment. The Vlog Is Over!!! 😊

[@MicheleKlinger]

I will never get sick of Disney history and trivia

[@rainaroden2942]

LOL. I love The Shining reference. I appreciate you showing us this. I never knew any of the story and I just love history.

[@michaelselman9885]

Good morning Adam the Woo. Great vlog. Thank you for letting us join you. Great history & stories. I love how you show those old photos. It has definitely changed in those 55 + years in those areas. One man's dream. Now millions visit yearly. Thank you 4 sharing your knowledge with us. Have a blessed Sunday.

[@abrown4green]

Very interesting! I consider myself to have some solid Disney knowledge. My mind is blown with some of the information you share! 🤯

[@greggseiter1412]

Adam the Explorer/Historian ! I get a real kick out of this stuff. The air strip reminds me of secret access to a project being kept from the public and media like in an Ian Fleming novel. The station wagon in the wall mural reminds me of the car my dad had for our family vacations, same color too. Adam, you will need to trade your Tampa Bay Rays sun hat for an explorer pith hat/helmet for more adventures like this. You maybe correct on that being the first house, but moving a cinder block house, not seeming feasible, seems to be more cost effective just to rebuild. Can’t wait to see what you uncover next. Thanks again !

[@DuhBeet]

Yes. The relocation of a concrete block house does seem unlikely. Go Woooo!

[@Norweeg]

This is super fascinating. As a pass holder, I had no idea about the house and the surrounding property of it. Thanks for sharing Adam!

[@EminenceFrontX5]

If you look at the image at @6:08, notice the lake feature far right, the lake makes a starlight line along the shore. This is not common in nature but does happen so I used that land/water feature to locate the air strip and the original building and shed using satellite view. Based off my thinking, I believe you were standing at the north shore of the retention pond, which you even commented in your video of seeing water @14:24. So you were much closer to the original building location. Cheers from Nevada and I friggen loved this awesome episode, more please. Lastly, interesting how conservation is taking care of this small part of land, as well as where the building ended up next to much the same?!?!

[@kevindill9748]

Adam, You are blowing my mind with your investigative skills! First you find a treasure trove of lost Disney artifacts and books and now you find this amazing piece of Disney history in which Walt spent some of his last time on this planet! You are the Man!

[@TheBioExplorer]

LOVE THIS kind of history and it (especially your Shining reference) led me to a question.😨 Did the couple of years in the Swamp doom Mr. Smith's first marriage?!?! 😨 I do genealogical research and your video sent me off to try to find burial info for you on Mr. Phil Nelson Smith (thanks for only saying Mr. Smith the whole time! *lol*) and I noted that the Gwen of 49 years of marriage (in 2016).... mentioned in the obituary wouldn't have been married to him until around 1967 or 68? The obituary mentioned he had 2 children by a previous marriage... so I think it may be the first wife and 2 toddlers that were with him in the swamp at first anyway. Sounds like he then met Gwen and married Gwen very soon after his arrival there in 65/66 ... Gwen DOES mention in an interview living there and the kids being 5 or 6... So perhaps she moved in there with him and the kids from the previous marriage as soon as they married. As for the burial... Even Find-A-Grave only mentions that his burial place is unknown. I checked for a burial for Gwen as she may have passed since then and found some Gwen Smiths but none that I think are her. I'll do more digging.

[@kalaoahaole]

So Awesome! LOVE this kinda thing: real knowledge and history. Aloha and Magic!

[@shannon3n8]

You were on the right path with the air sock at the helipad. ATC and FAA don't throw away coordinates for towers or old unmanned landing strips, (most small strips were reached by flying low in smaller planes and using visual aids to land - 0.5 mile East of water tower, etc..) and while Walt's planes were fixed wing craft, the helicopters now using the site would 99% be using old originally registered long/lat coordinates. dun Dun DUNNN!

[@ophthodoc]

I love these types of videos. Just the sort of thing I’d think about. 👍

[@michaelleblanc7974]

I really enjoyed this post. Very interesting and fun. I love this type of content. I’m glad you’re reconnecting with your love of WDW. I was scared you were done with it for a while there. I greatly appreciate all your fantastic work! Thank you!

[@jasonj8470]

I became a cast member in 1987 and I vaguely remember an S curve on Winter Garden Vineland Rd near Jacaranda (used to be a railroad crossing nearby) and at one of those curves there was a house off in the woods (may have been 2 houses) seemingly abandoned even back then. Every time I drive by there I look in that direction to see if I can make anything out but the woods are so thick now it makes it impossible to see very far. I wonder if anyone remembers seeing this?

[@com4420]

Just now have found this video. Great video Adam. I love this type of history investigation. We had some relatives in the area that took us to see the property when it was announced that Disney had bought it, but I was 6 or 7, so no way am I going to remember where they took us. I have chased this rabbit trail as well. The article says north, but the picture says west. If North, it was in the clump of woods Adam attempted to explore. If west, it was where the Hilton parking lot is now. I wonder if Disney archives or property taxes have a latitude and longitude where originally located? Way cool stuff!

[@pimmer]

Nothing better than Disney History. I love the stories about the beginning of Walt Disney World.

[@Sunny8888]

Good episode! I doubt people think much about the early days of WDW or EPCOT when everything was a vision. A lot of the land was being purchased for development before folks knew what was happening.

[@saguaro2231]

I really admire your tenacity, spirit of adventure, and just plain hard work...you've made something I've not even thought about, real, and fun history

[@mikedoran4763]

Fascinating. Good sleuthing Adam!

[@BillGreeneYon]

Love your videos! At the top of the article is says the house was North of Black Lake, but below the picture it says WEST of the lake, I think West is correct. If you line up the lake on Google maps it matches better assuming the picture is looking west. This puts the hanger about where Reedy Creek Fire Station #4 is and the air strip along the track looking thing. This would put the house just west of Buena Vista Drive. The shape of Willow Lake doesn't quite match up, but I bet the house was nearby that area.

[@BrettJeffries]

I was there last May and got a feel for many of the locations mentioned in previous videos. I must have covered a lot of territory; I even found "Cory Meets World" doing a livestream. Like the supplementals on a DVD, these videos are of greater interest than the usual entertainment content. I see the need for yet another trip.

[@NormFoss]

Love learning about the forgotten WDW history. Very interesting video - thank you!

[@nell3753]

Adam the great woo!! Super history facts! ❣️👍😅. Keep up the good work 😃

[@tracywhite859]

6:30 - you wondered if Walt flew into the airstrip Vs Orlando. MCO was an Air Force base until 1975 so we can say that he did not fly into MCO airport at least.

[@armandofragale9384]

Great work Adam! I'd love to explore the original house area and see what lies there.

[@ghelley]

Hey Adam. Where the house was is now Willow Lake. Just looked on Historical Aerials 😊😊You were looking north and the location was west .

[@nathanplatt5517]

The house and the shed are on the Grand Cypress property and I believe they are still there because I can actually see them on Google Maps. Using Google Maps the current Grand Cypress helicopter pad would be at the South end of the original Landing Strip. The airplane Hangar building would have been on Grand Cypress Boulevard just to the west of the current helicopter pad. The little red roof square building just to the west of the resort that shows up on Google Maps for building number 29 fits the location and size of the original shed and then the building just up from that that has the Red Roof some portion of that looks to be the original house but it looks like it has maybe been added on over the years. And the little Lagoon just on the north side of that house with the red roof you'll see fenced-in area that looks like an upside down triangle with some sort of elongated Barn on the north side that is actually in that old picture. If you follow the the white line down from where it says house and down to the house about halfway down you'll see that elongated Barn. Originally that Lagoon would not have gone between that elongated Barn Building and the house but obviously they have made it bigger to go over to the resort. When I click on top of the building that looks like it's the original shed this is the address that comes up. 29 Grand Cypress Blvd, Orlando, FL 32836

[@ElenaBobayna]

you totally found it!

[@csillafel8226]

Between his stacatto delivery, and the way he says "hot caffinated beverage" and "property," a very amusing channel

[@992001jeffr]

Walt Disney had a very good friend who lived in Medfield, Ma, where you visited the old state hospital last month. Walt would land his plane on a small airstrip/field in Medfield when he would visit his friend. Walt liked the name Medfield, which is/was the only town in the country with that name. Walt used that name for a town in one of his 1960’s movies. I can’t remember which one (possibly The Nutty Professor).

[@patsatterfield8412]

Thanks Adam for another awesome video. I love learning about the history of different attractions. I'm sure that is a lot of work and I really appreciate the effort. I was 5yrs old when my Dad took me to the opening in 1971. My grandparents lived in Daytona Beach, where I live now. That summer was one of my fondest memories, it truly was a magical experience,.

[@matthewfischer9983]

Without trying to sound too much like a conspiracy theorist it is interesting that the apparent location of the original house is not just a conservation area but is guarded by a rather strong fence. I don't recall a lot of barbed wire around WDW.

[@chrissycopeland8064]

I thought that too. I live in Georgia and around here conservation areas are open for people to enjoy nature, not all fenced off

[@caesaraugustus808]

Thank you for procuring this amazing Disney history video.

[@deborahannestarot6996]

Hey Adam. I was able to find out Mr. Smith was Phil Smith. His wife Gwen and their two toddlers lived there. Died Feb 23, 2016. Havent found where hes buried. Still looking. Great video and info. Ill let you know what else i find.

[@lindamemo5224]

Wow that’s amazing

[@coreymichaelsmovies6110]

Wonder if the Disney company took care of them anyway financially until his death

[@sidneyfox4625]

Excellent job Adam!

[@losttreasures73]

This is one of my favorite videos!! I hope you continue down this history road!!

[@TheCupiedoll]

Haven't had him in my feed for awhile. I thought he ditched the whole Disney theme for his videos.

[@mrkevinsarmiento]

😎To boldly go... Well done sir. I enjoyed watching this on a lazy Sunday.

[@trevorrandom]

Disney history is fascinating love this kind of stuff 👍

[@tschuler9923]

Look at the area off of westin way . I believe the smith house was moved there . 28°22'44"N 81°35'20.4"W It's part of the Environmental Services . But I could be mistaken

[@dianeritchey2775]

What a wonderful and interesting video. I loved it! Thanks for all the research you do. I can’t wait to see what you do with knowledge gained from your future library work. 👍😁

[@user-fx9jj2xh1n]

Interesting episode. You ought to try using a drone for flyovers of hard to reach areas.

[@robertbabcock7110]

We were roving around during our recent stay at Fort Wilderness. We came across an abandoned cabin right by the small dam that runs along the canals where the railroad used to be. It had the best view of the castle. Not sure if it was an old vacation cabin or not. Had trees crashed down all around it. Very creepy!!! We are going next weekend and I’ll take some pics.

[@jenniferp5996]

Woah!!! 😳

[@TheMouseandMore]

So glad you shared this. Really enjoyed watching. There might be more information about this in those filing cabinets you came across the other day.

[@anitacarl7263]

So cool how you are looking into DWD history! Can't wait to follow for more!

[@perky5874]

Some of the stuff you come up with and go into deep thoughts and research and you give us the best of resources and knowledge and the history behind it . It’s so nice so calm and clean it make you not worry about this messed up world 🌎 it’s so nice not to hear a bunch F Bombs in a video and not a bunch of violence . Gives us more please it’s so relaxing and interesting you do a lot of it on your little town journeys that I have watched . You take us back to the Walton’s TV style days God bless you and you have a great gift .

[@ExplorationMorrow]

Actually, maybe the road your standing on pointing into the woods is actually the property and the house would be almost where the hotel behind you is sitting, roughly

[@DianaLynne-27]

Love this history video! You make it so interesting. Looking forward to more of these type videos. You are a great teacher whether you know it or not! Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@MichelleBrown-cy2qu]

Great Disney History lesson! Pretty cool to see the photos from so long ago! Thanks for the tour!

[@FerchovRey]

Ohhh yeah Columbus research skills are back. AWESOME findings Adam. Thanks for sharing 😀👏👏!!

[@g2theis0]

My first thought was how cool it would be to have a Shining like story taking place on a future amusement park like DW. Swamps, woods, and the happiest place on Earth!

[@ericwalter6344]

Adam you needed to use the majestic to get a view over that fence and swamp

[@gc4644]

This was a treat, almost like the old Adam the Woo exploration vlogs from 10 years ago!

[@beng2427]

I used to cut hay for Admiral Fowler at his house in Maine in the late 1970s'

[@krkf8]

You're so funny, cracking Shining Jokes about the caretaker 😂

[@pappy4075]

Outstanding job with your Columbo like skills

[@claytonc3735]

And to think that when you found the house Walt's plane was only a few hundred yards to the south. Great video, Adam, documenting for posterity the history of WDW.

[@bobbyhand1]

HEY ATW...MAN, I LOVE TODAY'S EPISODE! EVERYTIME YOU GO ALL Sherlock Holmes it makes for an exciting, interesting and intense learning experience. Actually this vlog was pure detective. You didn't have screenshots or a movie to match things up to! I believe you found the piece of history you were hunting for! All you need is a huge magnifying glass and a tweed suit. Are you the only person to locate this building. Thanks for a learning experience this morning!

[@beautybyAmberG]

Wow! So much history that you have covered at the library and now this gem! Why I love watching your videos, I learn so much :)