On the third Sunday of every month, from 11 am to 3 pm, the public is welcome to visit the Walt Disney Carolwood Barn. This barn came from Walt Disney’s very own backyard. It was a place for him to work on things and to spend time with friends. When Disney’s home was sold his daughter Diane saved the barn. The barn is currently located at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Entry and parking are free.
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2024 Dates to Visit Walt Disney’s Barn
7/21 – for this date advanced reservations are required due to it being the 25th anniversary. Details are located at the bottom of this post.
8/18
9/22
10/20
11/17
12/15
Walt Disney Carolwood Barn in Griffith Park
Walt Disney’s Barn is supported by the Carolwood Society. Walt used to have a small railroad in his backyard which he named after the street they lived on which was Carolwood Drive. When Diane saved the barn she reached out to the founders of the Carolwood Society. Thanks to their efforts and care the Walt Disney Carolwood Barn, a piece of Disney history, is available for everyone to see for free. Donations are gladly accepted to help keep the barn open.
Address: 5202 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
If you enjoy Disney history Walt Disney’s Barn is worth visiting. The barn is not very big but it is full of special and unique pictures and memorabilia. As a former Tour Guide at The Disneyland Resort, this place has a lot of meaning for me. I spoke about this very barn and of Walt’s love for trains on guided tours. It was exciting for me to get to see this place in person.
All of the fascinating things inside Walt Disney’s Barn remind me of the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. There are items in here that you would not be able to see anywhere else. The volunteers are very happy to share their knowledge and answer any questions that you might have. It can get crowded inside the barn and it does become very warm. However, I stayed in the barn for quite a while so that I could read about some of the items I was looking at.
Another great reason to check out Walt Disney’s Barn is to see Imagineers. What’s an Imagineer? They are the Disney engineers who create the beloved attractions for the Disney parks. A lot of retired imagineers can be found at the barn for events. You never know who you might see here.
Surrounding Walt Disney’s Barn is a 1/4 scale railroad just like the one Walt had in his backyard. Rides are complimentary. All you need to do is walk down the street to the Los Angeles Railroad spot. This closes at 3 pm as well so plan accordingly.
Just a reminder that both admission and parking are free. Do you know what else is in Griffith Park only a few miles away? The Griffith Park merry-go-round. Walt used to bring his daughters Diane & Sharon here. He sat on a bench while watching them ride the merry-go-round. It was here that he came up with the idea for Disneyland!
Looking for other Disney places to check out in LA? Read my Guide to LA for Disney Fans.
Events at Walt Disney’s Barn
Throughout the year there are special events like book signings held at the barn. On July 21st you are invited to join in on the 25th Anniversary of the barn being at Griffith Park. For the anniversary there will be carnival-themed activities. For this day reservations are required for entry. You can reserve your free tickets here. Donations are accepted at the time of booking your tickets or onsite.
