On August 9th, 1969, the Haunted Mansion first opened its creaking doors, welcoming guests to join its 999 happy haunts. 56 years later to the day, our caricature artist Kim welcomed Disney Legend Bob Gurr—the Imagineering mastermind behind many iconic attractions—to her chair.

At 93 years young, Bob Gurr is among the last living legends to have worked directly with Walt Disney. As a result, his fingerprints can be found all over Disneyland’s history. The Autopia cars, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Monorail, and Main Street Omnibus all rolled into the park thanks to Bob’s innovative mind. For Haunted Mansion fans, he’s especially beloved for creating the ride’s iconic Doom Buggies. These continuously moving omnimover vehicles were groundbreaking at the time, giving guests a perfectly framed view of each eerie scene. Today, they remain one of the most recognizable parts of the attraction’s identity.

For the Haunted Mansions’s 56th anniversary, Bob was joined at Disneyland by his manager, Ernie Alonzo. Kim decided the best way to honor the occasion was to paint them in one of the very Doom Buggies Bob helped bring to life.

Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. Every piece our artists create tells a story. But when the subject is a Disney Legend who helped build the magic itself, that story becomes something extraordinary.

Thank you, Bob, for inspiring generations of Imagineers and for letting us be part of such a memorable anniversary. Here’s to 56 years of the Haunted Mansion… and to all the dreamers, designers, and storytellers who keep the happy haunts materializing for generations to come.

Visit our artists daily in New Orleans Square at Disneyland and on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom to have your own story sketched into Disney history.