GREG WILZBACH Making a Diamond in the Rough a Reality

Retired Disney Imagineer Greg Wilzbach used to be one of those people who passed Hart Park every day in his travels, wondering why nobody was working on the collection of historic buildings moved to the property.
“I’ve lived here since 1984 and passed by Heritage Junction countless times and I had the feeling ‘why don’t they do anything over there?’ he said. “I had so many questions”
When he retired in 2016, he decided he was going to see if there was something he could do for this park that he saw as a diamond in the rough. He joined the Society and offered his expertise to the developing History Center. He brought with him some impressive credentials.
After graduating from CSUN with a BFA in painting and drawing and from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena with a BS with honors in product design. Greg had a brief career in the movie industry as a prop and special effects designer for Paramount on ‘Star Trek – The Motion Picture.’
In 1980, Greg began his Walt Disney Imagineering career as an industrial designer, working on a number of attractions at EPCOT as an interactive exhibit and show designer as well as a field art director for Journey Into Imagination, The Living Seas, and Horizons. He was also the lead concept designer and art director for The Wonders of Life pavilion at EPCOT.
Starting in 1992, Greg was part of the team responsible for the master planning, design and production of Tokyo Disney Sea that opened in 2001. His accomplishments included concept and show designing the attraction, ’20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ and leading the concept design, production, and art direction for ‘Port Discovery’ (the ‘Tomorrowland’ of Tokyo Disney Sea).
In 2012, Greg finished his five-year role as lead show/concept designer and Executive Creative Director for Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. After 36 years, Greg retired from Walt Disney Imagineering and continues to be a part-time consultant for the theme park industry.
“I had a lot of ideas, but I didn’t want to come in like a bull in a china shop,” he said. “I did a lot of listening. In fact, I’m just now getting out of my shell.”
In the last few years, Wilzbach has created conceptual layouts of Heritage Junction for its rebranding as the Santa Clarita History Center. He’s also working with Leon Worden, the project manager for the renovation of the Saugus Train Station, designing counters and elements to bringing it back to its 1950’s design. And, following the recommendations of the museum consultant hired by the Historical Society, he is creating display space for the museum of local history planned for the Pardee House.
His involvement here proves that learning is lifelong, saying: “There is a fine, fine line between presenting history and historic preservation that I’m learning to navigate.”
Wilzbach is familiar with creating historic looks. As the designer and art director behind Cars Land, he had to design specific Western structures for Route 66 to create the nostalgic atmosphere of the Mother Road, while maintaining the entertainment factor.
“I’ve done a lot of themed architecture that makes you feel like you’re somewhere else in a different time (he was part of the team that designed Star Wars Land at Disneyland). What I don’t have experience in is working around actual artifacts and making them part of the display – what to preserve, what to replicate. But I’m learning.”a
When a historic building is to go on display, preservationists choose a specific year for its restoration. That’s been part of Wilzbach’s learning curve and he’s eager to work with the collective vision as part of the restoration team.
In the meantime, he works with the marketing team to promote the developing park and has designed some signage to help make the Center more visitor-friendly. When he’s not designing, planning, or creating, he and his wife live in Fair Oaks Ranch and enjoy spending time with their grandson.

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