Historic Cape Cod Mansion Where Walt Disney Wrote ‘Fantasia’ Listed for $2.2 Million—Complete With a Host of Hollywood History

A captivating Cape Cod home where Walt Disney is said to have penned his beloved musical animation “Fantasia” just landed on the market for $2,195,000.

Located in Centerville, MA, the shingle-style home was built around a historic water tower, which is where Disney hunkered down while working on his now-iconic 1941 movie, the listing notes, per Mansion Global which first reported the sale.

During the time that the visionary creative stayed in the residence, it was owned by his close friend, Herbert Kalmus, the mastermind behind the Technicolor—the process for adding vibrant color in Hollywood filmmaking. Since his ownership, the property has undergone a complete overhaul, having previously been part of a much larger estate known as Fernbrook.

Although the water tower turned writing room remains intact, the rest of the property was completely rebuilt in 1995, offering a much more modern home for any potential buyers. Still, plenty of history remains inside its walls.

In addition to Disney, Fernbrook played host to a number of notable figures, from Hollywood stars to political heavyweights, all of whom stayed at a historic inn on the property, which was converted into a family home and last sold off in 2022 for $2.4 million, according to Realtor.com®.

Towering home

“Nothing ordinary about this extraordinary house with a touch of Disney magic in the tower,” says listing agent Gene Orloff, of Sotheby’s International Realty–Cape Cod, Osterville Brokerage. “Three levels of comfortable living spaces, a beautiful parklike setting and within walking distance to Centerville village’s famous Craigville Beach, candy store, and Four Seas Ice Cream. This is a home for generations to enjoy.”

Storied estate

Fernbrook was built by its first owner, Howard Marston, who tapped Frederick Law Olmstead, famed designer of Central Park, to provide the idyllic landscaping.

After Marston’s death, ownership switched to Kalmus.

The MIT grad was both a scientist and an engineer, according to a history of Fernwood, from Cape Cod Life; and he reportedly collaborated with Disney on developing the coloring process for potential use in Disney films.

Kalmus apparently also donated four parcels of land to the town of Barnstable, MA, and the assemblage eventually became known as Kalmus Beach.

Other guests who are said to have visited the historic Fernwood Inn during the Kalmus era include John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, Gloria Swanson, and Audrey Hepburn. Kalmus is believed to have also hosted celebrities including actor Clark Gable and director Cecil B. DeMille.

Classic Cape Cod

As for the four-bedroom that’s now available, the three-floor abode includes a first-floor primary suite, an updated kitchen, a private guest suite, and a third-floor tower.

Other rooms include an office and a family room off the kitchen. There’s also a formal dining space inside and room for eating outside as well.

Outdoor decks and porches connect the 3,300-square-foot indoor space with the outdoors and offer easy pool access. The 1-acre lot is filled with the bucolic, Olmsted-designed green space, including a lily pond and remarkable gardens, all designed over a century ago.

Gene Orloff, of Sotheby’s International Realty–Cape Cod, Osterville Brokerage, holds the listing.