#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.