Generations of Walt Disney Imagineers who conceived, designed and built the attractions and lands at Disneyland and Disney theme parks around the world lost their homes in the Eaton Fire that destroyed large swaths of Altadena.
Former Imagineer Joe Rohde took to Instagram on Wednesday, Jan. 8 to remember his time in the Altadena neighborhood and mourn the loss of countless homes owned by his fellow Imagineers.
“Most of the places where we all lived burnt to ashes last night,” Rohde wrote on Instagram. “The homes of many Imagineers who worked on many of the parks and attractions that Disney fans know and love are gone. Homes filled with memories, care, love and the expression of the same creative talent that went into the parks and films. Fire, when it comes, comes so fast that we must leave that all behind.”
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Rohde is best known for his work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Florida park’s Pandora — World of Avatar themed land, the Aulani resort hotel in Hawaii and the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attraction at Disney California Adventure.
“Pacific Palisades and Malibu are more famous and their equally devastating situation easily captures the nation’s eye,” Rohde wrote on Instagram. “But Altadena was our home and home base. And as of this evening much of my old neighborhood of Altadena has vanished and with it the homes of many of my dear friends and colleagues. Send a prayer.”
Rohde was born in California in 1955 — just two months after Disneyland opened in Anaheim.
The son of a Hollywood cameraman, he spent his spare time as a kid hanging out at studio backlots and movie ranches. After high school in Northridge, he studied art at Occidental College where he met his wife before landing a job at Walt Disney Imagineering in 1980 working on the upcoming Epcot theme park.
The couple soon settled in Altadena where they raised two sons.
“Way back when Imagineering was hiring for Epcot, one of the few places we young Imagineers could afford to get a house was Altadena, a sleepy, little foothill community full of wonderful old houses that needed some love and attention,” Rohde wrote on Instagram.
Rohde and his wife Mel both worked at Imagineering — headquartered in Glendale about 15 miles from their Altadena home. Many of their neighbors were fellow Imagineers making the same short commute.
“First, a few of us moved up there, and then more, until there was quite a population of Imagineers living in the Altadena foothills,” Rohde wrote on Instagram. “Over the decades new generations joined us. Our children grew up there, went to school, learned to drive, even got married where the palms and pines came together.”
Rohde retired from Imagineering in 2021, left Altadena and relocated further north to explore other passions. The family owns a cabin in Ojai.
Disney CEO Bob Iger also took to Instagram to document the wildfire devastation while driving through the Pacific Palisades.
“My heart goes out to everyone who has lost homes and businesses, and to all whose lives have been impacted, including thousands of Disney employees,” Iger wrote on Instagram.
Disney has closed offices in Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Friday, Jan. 10 to all nonessential employees due to the wildfires.