Legendary Walt Disney Imagineer and icon of theme park design, Bob Gurr, is celebrating his 95th birthday!
In an Instagram post by Josh D’Amaro, the Disney CEO said –
Happy 95th birthday to a true Disney Legend @bobgurrofficial!
Bob worked alongside Walt himself and helped create some of our most iconic rides — Autopia, the Haunted Mansion “Doom Buggy,” and, of course, the Monorail.
Bob’s creativity and ingenuity helped shape @waltdisneyimagineering and the Disney experiences generations of fans have come to love.
What an incredible legacy. Happy birthday, Bob!
Bob Gurr’s list of beloved Disney projects also includes – Matterhorn Bobsleds, Main Street, U.S.A. vehicles including the fire engine, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. After retiring from The Walt Disney Company in 1981, Bob founded GurrDesign, Inc. and co-founded the firm Sequoia Creative. In collaboration with these creative groups, he also created the 30 foot King Kong animatronic in Universal Studios’ King Kong Encounter and did consulting work on both the T. rex for Jurassic Park and Godzilla in the 1998 film.
After a lifetime of incomparable work, Bob Gurr officially became a Disney Legend in 2004 and received a Main Street window in Disneyland in 2008. You can spot Bob’s window above Disney Clothiers with the inscription –
“Leading the Race to the Future – Meteor Cycle Co. – Our vehicles pass the test of time – Fast, Faultless, and Fadless – Bob Gurr – Design Impresario”
Bob remains very active in the Disney Community hosting The Bob Gurr Show podcast. He also has a selection autographed memorabilia for sale and numerous scheduled appearances for Disney fans to meet the legend himself. Bob will also be honored at the IAAPA Legends ceremony this November in Orlando.
A great way to learn more about Bob’s relationship with Walt Disney and what it was like building Disneyland, is to watch both Disneyland Handcrafted and The Imagineering Story on Disney+. You can also read his two memoirs – Design: Just for Fun and BOB GURR: Legendary Imagineer: Life and Times – Disney and Beyond. There’s also the PBS documentary Bob Gurr: Living By Design released this July.
Happy Birthday, Bob! We can’t imagine a world without your influence on the parks and attractions that mean so much to us. Here’s to a fun, creative genius and 95 years of Bob Gurr!
