How St. Louis, MO, Lost A Disney Park

This obviously continues to be a folklore reported in at least a couple of books. It is how the city of St. Louis may have lost a Disney theme park due to one careless remark from August Busch.

At a cocktail party the night before signing the deal, however, a local business leader made a rather loud pronouncement: "Any man who thinks he can design an attraction that is going to be a success in this city and not serve beer or liquor ought to have his head examined."

Disney flew out of town the next morning without ever signing the papers that would make the attraction a reality.

"August (Gussie) Busch Jr.'s insulting remark had killed the deal - Disney World would not be in St. Louis," Richard Foglesong wrote in "Married to the Mouse."

Now, whether this is true, or whether Walt was simply making it a distraction away from central Florida, is still up for debate. But it makes for a great reading and idle speculation. :)

Zz.