How Did the Colorado Wilderness End Up in Disney World

Colorado-based architect Peter Hoyt Dominick, Jr., FAIA became well-known for designing rustic buildings inspired by vernacular architecture of the American West. Although he designed hotels, office buildings, homes, and interiors throughout US, he may be best known as a Disney architect.   Dominicks massive and evocative Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World in Florida resembles an old wood-timber lodge. At the center is a vast lobby with six-story high log columns, enormous chandeliers topped with glowing teepees, two 55-foot hand carved totem poles, and an 82-foot-tall stone fireplace. The effect might be kitsch or comical if it werent so impressive—and so respectful of American history. Dominick drew his inspiration for the Disney Wilderness Lodge from several famous Western inns—the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park, the Ahwahnee Hotel at Yosemite, Lake McDonald Lodge at Glacier National Park, and Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood, Oregon. Outside the Disney Wilderness Lodge, Dominick created a striking landscape with a steep waterfall cascading into a steaming geyser. Dominick, the son of Colorado Senator Peter H. Dominick (1915-1981), died at age 67, after a cross-country skiing excursion in Aspen, Colorado. Both he and his father died of heart attacks while in their 60s. Background: Born: June 9, 1941 in New York City. From age 5, raised in Colorado. Died: January 1, 2009 Education: St. Mark’s School in Framingham, Massachusetts1963: Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, Yale University. Studied under architecture professor and historian Vincent Scully.1966:  University of Pennsylvania, studied with architect Louis Kahn 1966-1968: Traveled through the South Pacific, Asia, India, the Middle East and Africa1971: Master of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania Professional: 1971: Dominick Architects established1989: Merged with Urban Design Group1994: Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA)2003: 4240 Architecture established, combining the Denver and Chicago offices of the Urban Design Group, and named after the latitudes of both cities Selected Projects: 1982-2009: Involved in the redevelopment of Denvers Riverfront Park, reclaiming rail areas of the Central Platte River Valley, Colorado1990: Involved with the redevelopment of lower downtown (LoDo) Denver warehouse area, Colorado1994: Wilderness Lodge, Disney World, Orlando, Florida1998-2012: Revitalization of Vail, Colorado, including Lionshead Welcome and Transit Centers2000: Platte River Road Archway Monument, Kearney, Nebraska, a museum that is also a bridge across Interstate Highway 802001: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney World, Orlando, Florida2001: Disneys Grand Californian Hotel, Anaheim, California2008: Stowe Mountain Lodge Resort, Stowe, Vermont Tribute to Dominicks Design Philosophy: To Peter, regionalism was a universal concept available everywhere—enabling the firm to create places and spaces that harmonize with their particular site, community, use, and culture....Although much of Peter’s work entailed new structures, he focused equally on preservation, renovation, infill, and revitalization—a bona fide champion of the value in existing structures and urban fabric.—E. Randal Johnson, 4240 Principal Disney Years: No one was more surprised to work with the Walt Disney Company than Peter Dominick himself. During the Michael Eisner years of Disneys expansion, Dominick became what could only be described as one of the Chief Mousekitects at Disney. We poured a ton of energy into it  and found that a client like Disney had resources, questions, and demands that were bigger, deeper, and more thorough than we were used to on a smaller scale, Donimick told The Pennsylvania Gazette. I’ve never believed in a style at all; our work is about absorbing a philosophy and building something appropriate. Nevertheless, the Disney Company wanted Dominicks Colorado lodge style that today anyone can experience in Orlando, Florida—something appropriate for the Disney World theme park. Sources: Prominent Colorado Architect Dies Suddenly, New West, January 8, 2009 (content provided by Peter Dominick’s firm, 4240 Architecture); A Sense of Place by David Perrelli, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Last modified 08/31/06 [access October 11, 2016]