An Anaheim Lumberyard Has Supplied Disneyland for Six Decades

Since 1954, when Walt Disney began construction on Disneyland, the theme park has relied on a local supplier for its structural and decorative wood. That supplier is Ganahl Lumber, an Anaheim-based company that has maintained this relationship for more than 60 years.

Ganahl, which has been in business for 142 years, provides the Douglas fir, white oak, and mahogany used to maintain, renovate, and repair the park's themed lands. Peter Ganahl, the company's chairman, stated that the firm helps meet the needs of what he described as a visual artist.

The collaboration typically begins with a joint walkthrough. Disneyland's engineering services department and Ganahl's industrial sales team inspect an attraction or land together to determine the necessary materials. Ganahl Industrial Sales Manager Kevin Johnson noted that he sees Ganahl materials everywhere in the park, from Fantasyland to Main Street U.S.A.

Specific woods are chosen for specific applications. The horse-drawn streetcars on Main Street U.S.A. require Douglas fir and white oak for seats and running boards due to constant wear and tear. The new Emporium balcony and the windows along Main Street, including a tribute window for former Disney CEO Bob Iger, are constructed from mahogany.

In Fantasyland, mahogany is used for the interiors of Snow White's Enchanted Wish, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. The Jungle Cruise dock requires a Douglas fir plank with a specific vertical grain, while the boathouse uses cedar siding.

For the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disneyland sandblasts large Douglas fir timbers framing the lift hill to create a weathered mine shaft appearance. Tony Alvarado, Disneyland Engineering Service Manager, explained that Douglas fir is the only material that can be themed in that specific way. He added that it is easy to stain and work with.

Smaller details also require precise materials. The miniature buildings lining the banks of the Storybook Land Canal Boats feature doors, windows, and roofing shingles made from Ganahl wood. Alvarado noted that the doors are approximately two inches by four inches tall. He said Douglas fir is preferred for such small parts because it is the easiest to theme.

Ganahl maintains a 20-acre lumberyard in Anaheim and 13 other locations in Southern California. The company stocks additional mahogany, cumaru, and ipe specifically for Disneyland. It has also built custom milling knives to cut specific profiles and shapes for the park's projects.

The company was founded in 1884 and has been based in Anaheim since 1904. It is the oldest continuously operating lumberyard in California. Ganahl employs 1,200 workers in Southern California, with about a quarter of that workforce located in Anaheim. It is one of 8,500 small businesses that Disney partners with across the country.

According to an Oxford Economics report commissioned by Disney, the Disneyland resort had an annual economic impact of $16.1 billion in Southern California in 2023. The resort directly and indirectly supported more than 102,000 jobs in the region that year. Nearly 75 percent of those jobs were in Orange County, where Disneyland is the largest employer with 36,000 workers.