LEWISTON, Idaho – Six acres on the Lewiston Hill that proudly display the big, white letter ‘L’ are for sale.
Jake DeMeerleer, a Moscow, ID native and Amherst Madison realtor in Boise, listed the property for $179,000.
The property is zoned as residential, although there is no water or power currently on the property, but there are two well logs and power is nearby, according to DeMeerleer.
The property caught our attention because of the Lewiston ‘L.’ It would have to remain, and the property owners would have to allow access to seniors at Lewiston High School, who maintain the staple.
“It’s definitely a unique opportunity. It’s awesome to say that you live right above the Lewiston ‘L’. You won’t have someone obstructing your view if they build a property below,” DeMeerleer said.
But the view you could have just may be historical.
“The cool part is that a lot of people have told me is the view from this property is actually somewhat tied to the intro of all the Disney movies,” DeMeeleer said.
Here’s an image of the opening of a Disney movie:
Here’s an image of the LC Valley:
So we set out to find if there is a connection between the opening of Disney movies and the LC Valley.
“The opening of any Disney movie shows a river valley and bridge across it,” Garry Bush, local historian and former history teacher for the Lewiston school district said.
The winding Disney river and the Snake River, which borders the States of Idaho and Washington, look nearly identical, according to residents here.
Fitting since Walt Disney had deep connections to the LC Valley.
Lillian Disney, who’d become Walt’s wife, grew up in Lapwai, ID, and later went to a business college in Lewiston. Her aspirations weren’t set on regular business, but rather the show business.
Lillian and her sister moved to L.A., according to Bush, which is where Lillian met Walt.
The two would fall in love.
“He says ‘I love you and will you marry me?’ And she said ‘yes, but I want to go back to Lewiston, ID to get married,” Bush said, referring to a conversation between Walt and Lillian.
Walt and Lillian would get married in July of 1925 in, you guessed it, Lewiston.
Lillian, we’re told, was very involved with her hometown. Over the years, she has donated money to the Lapwai community. Mrs. Disney was also very involved with the Disney product.
“Walt says ‘It’s Mortimer’ and she goes ‘That sounds like a funeral, that’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard in my life. You have to give him a happy name. You have to give him the name – Mickey,'” Bush said, referring to a conversation between Walt and Lillian.
Okay, so she came up with the name of Mickey Mouse. Maybe Lillian encouraged Walt to design the Disney opening based on her home – the Snake River.
“It was just a put-together composite of all the stories,” Bush said.
Unfortunately, there’s no castle or any scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean or Cinderella in the LC Valley.
“So it’s not true then,” NonStop Local’s John Webb asked. “Not according to the research, but like I said it makes a good story,” Bush said.
It certainly does and it could be your story to tell with the acreage for sale that has a direct view of what looks like the opening of a Disney movie.
“I could definitely see it. It’s hard to beat that view even without that story, but with this story, it makes it even cooler,” DeMeerleer said.
“I’ve never listed a property this unique. I’ve listed some land for my same clients on the Lewiston Hill, but none with this view and easy access to the highway,” DeMeerleer said.
You can view the property here and contact DeMeerleer on the Amherst Madison website.
