the first section of i-drive was laid out in the 1960s by attorney finley hamilton to serve his hilton inn south, opened in may 1970. he imagined that once walt disney world opened in october 1971, tourists would spot the hotel when traveling to the park along interstate 4. "they called the hotel 'finley's folly' – everyone, all of my friends," hamilton said. "they said it was in the boondocks. ...but it turned out to be highly successful. ...i came up with international drive," he recalled, "because it sounded big and important." international drive was eventually extended to its current north point (where prime outlets is now) and southward past the beachline expressway.