TGIF-rontierland

Just because...a medley of previously posted Frontierland shots that were intended to get us to that 5 o’clock weekend bell...but as usual, I was running behind yesterday morning. All are from March 8, 1956.

Zooming in for a closeup of the Miniature Horse Corral sign:



And an early drinking fountain:



I wonder if trading was actually done at the Trading Post?





I love the way the lamp shadow was caught in this photo of the Assay Office exterior:



For those who want to weave a reproduction of the blanket, here’s a closeup:



In a pure case of nepotism, Walt put his father-in-law’s name as the Sheriff on the signage in Frontierland:



Sorry; no Pack Mules today!



Care to buy a trick rope?



I wonder who painted the art on this sign? Painted...as in brush and paint. Yes. It used to happen.



See more vintage Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.

Nature's Wonderland Railroad, 1966

All aboard the Disneyland Nature's Wonderland Railroad, circa 1966. This juicy vintage color shot shows the train pulling into Rainbow Ridge...or perhaps about to leave Rainbow Ridge. You pick.

An October 1967 view of the train crossing a trestle.



An April 1962 view of the train circling around Cascade Peak.



More Nature's Wonderland at my main website.

Wagon Repair at Disneyland

A beautiful overhead view of Rainbow Ridge in Frontierland from November 1967. Zooming in we get a closer look at the Wagon Repairing sign. By the time this photo was shot, the Wagon and Stage Coach ride attractions had been long gone.



These images might explain why they were eliminated.





More vintage Nature's Wonderland photos at my main website.

60th Anniversary Trip, Pt. 3: BTMRR

Before we board our runaway mine train, let's take a look at the 60th Anniversary Mark Twain. It sure looks putty with the celebratory bunting on it. Hard to believe it has been faithfully taking guests around the Rivers of America for so long!



And now back to today's topic: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Walking through the queue, I snapped a few shots of Rainbow Ridge.





I had never noticed this light fixture within the Saloon:





It may not be as dramatic as the original scene to which it tips its hat to, but the Rainbow Caverns at the beginning of the BTMRR journey is still beautiful.





I did my best to shield my camera from the mist:



This time, I skipped photographing the snakes and focused on the turtles:



I turned to get a look back behind me:



Finally, a decent shot of the billy goat with dynamite:



A few shots of the mine train zipping towards the explosive finale:













Two shots of Rainbow Ridge again as the train circles around to the exit:





NEXT UP: The Jungle Cruise!



On a follow-up to yesterday's post, devoted Daveland reader Fifthrider commented on the changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean exit. Here's a Then vs. Now comparison. Then:



and Now:



Which do you prefer?

More Big Thunder Mountain thrills at my main website.

Pack Mules and Red Jenkins

I am too busy in the kitchen this morning to do much with today's post, so you just have one July 1962 image to savor. Thankfully, a few detailed views can provide some interest, starting off with this Wanted poster for Red Jenkins.



You can see this same poster elsewhere in the town of Rainbow Ridge at Disneyland, as witnessed by this undated 1970s shot:



Back to the original 1962 shot; did you know that Rainbow Ridge also offered Wagon Repair service along with Blacksmithing?



No end to what you could get done in that town! Hope you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving!

See more Daveland Pack Mule photos at my main website.

Rainbow Ridge Train Station, November 1971

In this November 1971 color photo, we get a glorious view of the original Rainbow Ridge Mining Town. The town itself survived the changeover to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad thrill ride, but has undergone a few changes. It would appear that the building on the upper right has now become the Assay Office, seen in this recent comparison view:



The design of the El Dorado Hotel (barely visible on the far right in photo #1) with a barber shop on the side has remained fairly consistent over the years, minus the awning. With big beautiful shade trees around it, I guess there's no need for an awning.



The Miner's Hardware seems to have been a casualty of the change.

See more Daveland Nature's Wonderland photos at my main website.

The Franklyn Taylor Collection: Frontierland, Pt. 1

Chris Taylor has kindly allowed me to post some historic photos that his father, Franklyn, shot of the park during the early years. The photos posted today are from Frontierland, showing how it looked in 1956. Previously, you may have seen the amazing photo that Chris' father snapped of Walt outside of the Mickey Mouse circus. Here's the background in Chris' own words from that first trip to Disneyland:

In 1956 my father was transferred by his employer, Goodyear, from Akron to Los Angeles. We drove across the country on Route 66 in a Buick sedan with four kids, then spent the summer in a Long Beach motel right along the beach waiting for our new Anaheim house to be built. The weekend before we moved into the house, we splurged and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, which we had heard all about on the Disneyland TV show the previous year while still in Akron. While at the Disneyland Hotel, we, of course, visited Disneyland for the first time. Again, we had heard all about this wonderful place for the last year while watching the Disneyland TV Show.

Of course I had to zoom in on the silver mask hanging outside of the Frontier Trading Post:



A few shots of the Pack Mules, sauntering through Frontierland:







Nothing like riding the Mark Twain while being serenaded by live music:



Look at the lines in front of the Golden Horseshoe; almost looks like the crowds you'd find in front of Star Tours!



A few of the E.P. Ripley and the Cattle Cars, with the first shot showing some kind of construction crane in the background; for the Disneyland Hotel, perhaps?





Zooming in, I am assuming that these are "live" Native Americans sitting amongst the guests, and not statues.



Last one shows a Stagecoach making its route in the golden glow of sunset.





More gems to come from this fantastic collection. I would also be remiss if I didn't wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!

See more Franklyn Taylor Disneyland photos on my Taylor collection web page.