#Disneyland60....Today in Disneyland History.......September 2, 1979

The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Opens

September 2, 1979

On September 2, 1979, The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction opened in Disneyland's Frontierland. The "wildest ride in the wilderness" takes guests careening through dark caverns and abandoned mines. Imagineer Tony Baxter modeled the attraction after the scenery of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. The exciting Big Thunder Mountain replaced the more sedate Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland.  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was designed by Imagineer Tony Baxter and ride design engineer Bill Watkins. The concept came from Baxter's work on fellow Imagineer Marc Davis's concept for the Western River Expedition, a western-themed pavilion at the Magic Kingdom, designed to look like an enormous plateau and contain many rides, including a runaway mine train roller coaster. However, because the pavilion as a whole, was deemed too expensive in light of the 1973 construction and opening of Pirates of the Caribbean, Baxter proposed severing the mine train and building it as a separate attraction. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad project was put on hold again in 1974 as resources and personnel were being diverted to work on constructing Space Mountain over in Tomorrowland, but this delay may have ultimately produced a smoother ride as the use of computers in attraction design was just beginning when the project was resumed.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was one of the first Disney rides to utilize computer-aided design.  Several tributes to the Mine Train Through Natures Wonderland are present at the Disneyland version. A scaled-down western town sits adjacent to the queuing lines and tracks returning to station. A Western saloon, hotel, assayer's office and mercantile appear among the buildings. This is the village of Rainbow Ridge, which used to overlook the loading platform of the sedate Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland. Disneyland's version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was built on the land the Mine Train used to occupy. Many of the animal animatronics throughout the attraction are animatronic animals from the previous attraction. Other allusions to the Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland include:

·        The Rainbow Caverns (glowing pools of water by the first lift hill)

·        Precariously balanced rocks in the third lift hill

·        The name of the ride itself, "Big Thunder", was originally the name of an enormous waterfall the train passed on the tour. "Little Thunder" was located nearby.

On January 7, 2013, Disneyland closed the ride for an extensive refurbishment that included a new track, trains, scenery, and new ending featuring special effects such as projection mapping and smoke effects. The attraction reopened on March 17, 2014. The new track was fabricated by Dynamic Structures, the company that had previously revalued the coaster track in Space Mountain.  Today, the only question that remains is “Are you ready for the wildest, ride in the wilderness?”   And that’s what happened today in Disneyland history. 

#Disneyland60.....Today In Disneyland History........August 19, 1955

Case de Fritos Opens

August 19, 1955

On August 19, 1955 Casa de Fritos, located next door to Aunt Jemima's Pancake Restaurant invited its first hungry guest in month   after Disneyland’s opening. In addition to great food, the Mexican eatery featured a unique Frito Kid chip-dispensing machine that gave you a bag of Fritos Corn Chips for only a nickel. The Frito Kid stood just inside the door as you walked to the counter. Guests would put a nickel in the cash box on the fence and the Frito Kid came to life. While rolling his eyes, licking his lips, and turning his head, his recorded voice would holler back to his unseen partner Klondike inside the mountain to send down some more of those “golden chips of corn,” and then a wax-paper bag of Fritos Corn Chips would slide down the chute.  Park visitors loved this Mexican restaurant that served favorites such as the Frito Chile Pie - a bag of corn chips sliced open and topped with chile and melted cheese as well as the popular“Ta-cup” which was made up of ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and sauce in a fried corn dough cup.

Originally located in the corridor known as “New Orleans Street” this restaurant favorite soon outgrew its space, and was replaced by Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo BBQ. When the Casa de Fritos moved next to the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland attraction on July 1, 1957 the Frito Kid also went to the new location, but was moved from the right to the left of the chute, minus the booth with the racks of potato chips, etc. The mountain mine set was also redesigned to accommodate the different angle of the chute.

Photo Credit Imagineering Disney

Today in the original location of the Casa de Fritos is the ever-popular Rancho del Zocalo Mexican Restaurant. A few architectural remnants still remain and the archway with broken adobe and exposed brick that was once the main Casa de Fritos entrance, now serves as an entrance to a dining area of Rancho del Zocalo.  In addition, the adobe/brick oven is still there today but with tables and chairs in front.  The days of the Casa de Fritos and the Frito Kid may be a distant memory, put the tradition of top notch Mexican food for reasonable prices still lives on today at the Rancho del Zocalo.  And that’s what happened today in Disneyland history.

#Disneyland60.....Today In Disneyland History.....July 30, 1956

The Mineral Hall

July 30, 1956

July 30, 1956 marked the opening day for The Mineral Hall, located in Frontierland.  Operated by Ultra-Violet Products, the Mineral Hall featured a free exhibit, which includes a mineral display lit by black light. The Mineral Hall shop was located next door to the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train/Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland ride.  Rainbow Caverns Mine Train was a narrow gauge mine train ride through the  then new Living Desert. After the scenery was again redone in 1960, it was also upgraded and became 1960–1977, Mine Train Through Natures Wonderland. 

The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad  attraction replaced this sedate train ride with the “wildest ride in the wilderness”, The only attraction that remains from the scenic vistas is the mighty waterfall tumbling from Cascade Peak into the Rivers of America, visible only from various boat rides around the Rivers. The structure that formed Cascade Peak and its waterfalls was demolished in 1998 after it was found to be suffering structurally from the decades of water that flowed over it. 

Back in the day, before closing in 1963, The Mineral Shop sold related gifts and mineral samples. Selling anywhere between 10 & 50 cents, the Disneyland-themed mineral samples were labeled Walt Disney's Mineral Land - Rocks & Minerals. An inscribed window reminds guests of one of Disneyland's attractions of a time gone by. The window and former Mineral Hall location are currently part of the Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante dining area. While you're in Frontierland, be sure to check out the new The Legends of Frontierland Interactive Game And that’s what happened today in Disneyland history.

Are You Ready to be a Part of "The Legends of Frontierland: Gold Rush"

Howdy Partners! Mosey on over as I tell you the tale of the Legend of Frontierland. It seems that there’s a trouble a brewing in them there hills.  Frontierland and its neighbor, Rainbow Ridge, are in the midst of a good, ol’ fashioned land feud. Rainbow Ridge – a once-booming mining town – has dried up, and they have their eyes set on Frontierland. The steady, hardworking folk in Frontierland want to keep the town safe and free of rougharound-the-edges, opportunistic types. Rumors are spreading that gold has been discovered in mines belonging to Frontierland, and there is even a rumor that Frontierland itself sits on the motherlode! Whether or not the rumors are true, the folk in Rainbow Ridge have one thing on their minds: take over Frontierland! Thus, the struggle begins-now the only question that remains-will you be a friend of #MyFrontierland or #MyRainbowRidge. 

Welcome to the Legend of Frontierland-a new interactive game where you are immersed into the feud between the people of Frontierland and the gang from over the hill at Rainbow Ridge as you create your own persona and frontier story.  

How to Play:

   

1)    Your first stop is at any of the game locale situated in the heart of Frontierland in Disneyland where you will of course need to create your Western name and persona.  Will you be a peacekeeper or outlaw, or someone in between? It’s all up to you. 

    2)   Like any feud, you gotta pick a side partner.  Will you be either the "peaceful citizens of Frontierland" or the "opportunistic Rainbow Ridge townsfolk"?

    3)  Look up on the walls to answer a Want Ad.  The ads will let you know who needs help and who is hiring.  

   
     4)  Earn Bits-think of them as currency or points that you can redeem for more game play and of course, the ultimate, buying land.

    5)  Will you be a Deputy at the jail, or possibly making signs or working as a performer for Miss Rose at her Talent Agency located inside the Golden Horseshoe or perhaps we will find you in a high stakes game of cards-the choices are yours to make.

    6)  Once you have earned enough bits, turn them in at the Trading Depot to purchase your land or maybe even a mine.

    7)  Once you have your deed, it’s time to take it over to the Telegraph Office to file claim to you stake.

From 11:00 – 6:00 each day interactive stations located throughout Frontierland enable guests to become a part of the story-line for "Legends of Frontierland: Gold Rush!” Locations include the Sheriff's Office and Jail, the Hideout, the Trading Post, a Telegraph Station, a Card Table inside the Golden Horseshoe, and a Talent Agency. Players can also participate in the various locations located throughout Frontierland, interact with other "fellow citizens" wearing your town's color, and earn "bits" which will aid participants in making "land purchases". 

No need to worry about how to get around town. The colorful cast of characters and good citizens of Frontierland and Rainbow Ridge will help guide you along the way. Among the places you’ll need to go include:

Trading Post – This is the meeting place and first stop for new Frontierland citizens. This is also where citizens can keep up with the latest Frontierland news and swap plans for fending off those Rainbow Ridge ruffians.

Hideout – Like the Trading Post, the Hideout is the first stop and central meeting place for citizens of Rainbow Ridge.

Telegraph Station – The information hub of Frontierland, this is the place to send and receive important messages.

Sheriff’s Office and Jail – This is where outlaws are brought to justice and where lawmakers work to keep the peace.

Talent Agency – Based in the Golden Horseshoe, this is where new talent is discovered and showcased in Frontierland.

Card Table – Also located in the Golden Horseshoe, this ongoing card game plays host to outlaws and heroes alike. Be careful what you say here! You never know who may be listening.

Just like a high stakes hand of poker, Disney is not showing their whole hand just yet, with little bits being revealed as the game continues to be rolled out throughout the summer.  Giddy up partner-don’t be left out of the Legends of Frontierland Gold Rush. Join in the fun everyday throughout the summer in Frontierland at the Disneyland Resort.