Rolly Crump dies: The legendary Disneyland designer turned 93

Rolly Crump, one of Disneyland’s leading designers who made key contributions to attractions including the Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World and the Enchanted Tiki Room, died Sunday at his home in Carlsbad, Calif., where he had been in hospice care. He turned 93.

His death was announced on his autobiography’s Facebook page It’s quite a nice story.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Roland ‘Rolly’ Fargo Crump passed away peacefully this morning at his home in Carlsbad, California,” the statement read. “He lived to be 93 years old.”

Crump, who worked as an assistant animator on Disney classics such as Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, And One hundred and one Dalmatiansjoined WED Enterprises in 1959 – the division that later became Walt Disney Imagineering. There he became the designer of some of Disneyland’s most popular and enduring attractions and businesses, including The Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Adventureland Bazaar.

“Rolly’s most notable work for The Walt Disney Company has had a profound impact on the theme park industry over the years,” reads the Facebook post. “He leaves a legacy that can never be matched and the magic he created for countless people around the world will never be forgotten.”

In addition to his work for Disney, Crump has made significant design contributions to Knott’s Berry Farm, Busch Gardens, the Sultan of Oman and many more. A lover and practitioner of 1960s pop art and psychedelic posters, Crump designed the packaging for Ernie Ball guitar strings, familiar images to guitarists around the world.

Born on February 27, 1930 in Alhambra, California, Crump, he later wrote in his autobiography, fell in love at an early age with Walt Disney’s Stupid Symphony cartoons and fulfilled his childhood dreams when he joined the company’s animation department in 1952, eventually taking on responsibilities such as filling in the dots on puppies from One hundred and one Dalmatians.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Crump was chosen by Walt Disney to design the famous It’s a Small World clock, based on the artwork of Disney’s Mary Blair. The attraction debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair before moving to Disneyland.

While some of his designs contributed to the Haunted Mansion, others became the stuff of Disneyland legend not make the final cut, including a talking chair and a cauldron with a fireplace.

Crump started out on his own in the 1970s, designing Knott’s Berry Farm’s Knott’s Bear-y Tales in 1975 and worked on designs for Busch Gardens, the ABC Wildlife Preserve in Maryland, as well as Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus World. He returned to Disney in 1976 to work on Walt Disney World’s Epcot, contributing to the Land and Wonders of Life pavilions at the Epcot Center.

He left Disney again in 1981 to design a proposed Cousteau Ocean Center in Norfolk, VA, then returned to Disney in 1992 as lead designer at Imagineering. In 1996 he retired from Disney.

Crump was declared a Disney Legend in 2004 and published his autobiography It’s quite a nice story in 2012.

He is survived by wife Marie Tocci, son Christopher, daughters Roxana and Theresa and three grandchildren.

Here is the full statement announcing his death:

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Roland “Rolly” Fargo Crump passed away peacefully yesterday morning at his home in Carlsbad, California. He was 93 years old.
A truly unique person, Rolly’s whimsical work has been featured around the world. Whether it was his numerous contributions to the Walt Disney films and theme parks, his work for various pop culture celebrities (such as Ernie Ball and Jacques Cousteau), or his own personal artwork, Rolly’s incredible style was unique and instantly recognizable to many. .
Rolly’s most notable work for The Walt Disney Company has had a major impact on the theme park industry over the years. His designs contributed to the company’s most iconic attractions such as The Enchanted Tiki Room, The Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World and more. His work also extended beyond Disney as he created iconic work for Knott’s Berry Farm, Busch Gardens, the Sultan of Oman and many more.
He leaves a legacy that can never be matched and the magic he created for countless people around the world will never be forgotten.
Rolly and his family would like to thank the fans for supporting his work over the years. His entire life was filled with one “sweet story” after another, and he will be fondly remembered.
Rolly Crump
February 27, 1930 – March 12, 20