Friday, October 14, 2011

A Day At The Park Circa 1958, Pt. 4



Frontierland is on the radar for today's journey back to September 1958. In this photo plagued by shadows, the Gonzalez Trio are serenading guests with their musical talents. Over at Nature's Wonderland, guests are waiting for their Mine Train to leave Rainbow Ridge so that they can see the amazing technicolor wonders of Rainbow Caverns.



Guests are working hard here to circle Tom Sawyer's Island in the canoes:



The cast member on the Columbia is hamming it up for our vintage photographer:



Ah, a Keel Boat. Could you think of a better way to spend a Friday than leisurely cruising on The Rivers of America in one of these rustic contraptions?



I couldn't resist zooming, just as much to see the guests as to see the details on The Keel Boat:



Frontierland, The Rivers of America, The Mark Twain, and signage. This post is now complete:




Zooming in to see the details of the signage for The Chicken Plantation Restaurant (aka The Plantation House), which was the design inspiration for the faux home located inside of The Blue Bayou Restaurant.



Swift Meats' other restaurant, The Plaza Inn (formerly The Red Wagon Inn), is still in business and still has a Rooster on its weather vane:



See more vintage & current Frontierland photos on my Disneyland Frontierland web page.

5 comments:

Jason Schultz said...

It's a beautiful day for a keel boat ride!

Major Pepperidge said...

Wow, love that shot of the Plaza Inn sign with the chicken on top!! What a fun detail.

Connie Moreno said...

I do miss the keel boats!!!

P.T. said...

I always wanted to ride in the keel boats! Maybe one day they'll bring it back!

JG said...

Any day is a good day for a keel boat ride.

I have no memory of the plantation house, although I must have seen it.

I am fascinated by the fact that the facade is reproduced in the Blue Bayou, which is such a "High concept" experience in itself. I am constantly amazed that there have been no high profile imitators of that type of experience in dining or even gaming.

Vegas has some immersive environments, but nothing to hold a candle to the Blue Bayou.