HAYMARKET, an historic Virginia hamlet about 64 kilometres west of Washington DC, played host to two important Civil War battles before its secessionist folk were overrun by the Yankee troops of the Union.
Some 130 years later, Haymarket's residents are preparing themselves for another invasion, this time of troops led by a true 20th century general - Mickey Mouse.
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Donald have put a fistful of cartoon dollars down on some 1,200 hectares of land adjoining Haymarket, and like the true capitalist warriors they are, they smell money in the old Colonial hills. The locals like it, but politicians are jockeying for position on the other side of the battlefield, and another unholy clash is brewing.
Weapons in the battle are neither muskets nor water pistols, but blitzkrieg lobbying, political arm wrestling, and heavy monetary artillery fire.
The lines were drawn late last year, when Walt Disney announced plans to acquire the site to build Disney's America, its third American theme park, following the now legendary Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida.
The company, fresh from its disastrous, near-bankrupt EuroDisney venture near Paris, says Disney's America will be a change of tack from the usual Mickey and Minnie escapades. Although the visiting children (including grown-ups) will still enjoy the roller-coasters, big wheels and water rides, the park will be a celebration of every facet of American history.