Anaheim architect built backyard Disneyland; 27 years later, it has a railway
Architect David Sheegog spent 27 years transforming his backyard in Anaheim into a miniature Disney-themed world. The project features a complex garden railway, themed buildings, and a custom light show, serving as a creative educational space for his family.
Why it matters
This showcases the intersection of professional architectural skills and personal hobbyism, resulting in a unique community-recognized landmark.
For David Sheegog, Disneyland did not end at the park gates. The architect took the idea home, first to his dining room table and eventually across almost every corner of his Anaheim Hills backyard.What began as a garden railway project in the late 1990s has grown over 27 years into a miniature Disney world, complete with castles, trains, themed buildings and an aerial skyway. Its latest addition is Pixie Hollow, a water and light show featuring 350 LED pixel lights that can be programmed individually.Sheegog, now 70, began the project while he and his wife Frances were homeschooling their children at their Anaheim, California, home. He wanted the backyard to become a “living laboratory” where the children could explore science and nature.Garden railroading soon became part of that planBefore construction began, Sheegog spent about two years developing a miniature version of the backyard on the family’s dining room table.
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