Nature's Wonderland on a Friday

I’m a little late to the game today (hey, it's a holiday at work, so cut me some slack!), but figured I'd make up for it with a nice collection of 1960’s Nature's Wonderland images. The first one is from 1960, and I'm going to zoom in for a closer look at an area that guests were only able to see if they were on the Pack Mule attraction:



Wouldn't it be great to offer a hotel stay at the Rainbow Ridge Hotel? Guests are attempting to stay dry as they journey beneath the falls of Cascade Peak:



The rest of today's shots are from September 1964, presented (of course) in the order that they were taken. Four years later, and guests are still trying to stay drive!



How about a closeup of the cab?



Two shots of the Devil’s Paint Pots:



An unexpected geyser! Ain’t nature grand?



Last one shows the Mine Train at the Rainbow Ridge station:



See more vintage Mine Train/Nature’s Wonderland photos at my main website.

Inside Rainbow Caverns, 1962

Hop aboard the Nature's Wonderland Railroad for a trip through the Nature's Wonderland attraction at Disneyland, circa August 1962.



A closeup of the cast member at the front of the train as it meanders through the scenery:



And then come the jaw-droppers. Well, for me at least. 2 consecutive shots showing the interior of the Rainbow Caverns:



Interior shots are extremely rare, as they were hard to capture with the camera equipment available at the time.



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

Janet Leigh rides the Mine Train, Pt. 2

Janet Leigh and family have safely boarded their Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland at Disneyland, circa 1962. Most likely current hubby Tony Curtis was off shooting "40 Pounds of Trouble" nearby.



I wonder what imminent danger Janet was pointing at to daughters Kelly and Jamie Lee?



Back to smiles in this shot:



But Jamie Lee is attempting to cover her ears from something.



With the help of some modern-day technology, we can see 8 consecutive frames from the strip of negatives in sequential motion:



More vintage Janet Leigh at Disneyland fun at my main website.

Janet Leigh rides the Mine Train, Pt. 1

These vintage images from 1962 show actress Janet Leigh taking her children, Kelly and Jamie Lee, for a visit to Disneyland. Their father (and Janet's hubby), Tony, was filming a sequence from "40 Pounds of Trouble" at the Park.



Here's a cute one of future actress Jamie Lee getting a pat on the head from mom:



Not a huge surprise that Janet was accompanied by a VIP Tour Guide:





Looks like trouble with the kids as Janet creates a few frown lines:



Daughter Kelly: "I don't want to wait in line!"



Looks like the crisis has passed.



Sassy!





Come back as we join the Curtis family aboard the Mine Train!

More vintage Janet Leigh at Disneyland 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.

Cascade Peak 101

Recently The Disney Corporation publicity machine released news that the Railroad will be opening "this summer" and talked about the five new waterfalls that would be featured along the way. Trotting out a little history, it will be nice to have these new water features, as the loss of Cascade Peak has been a sore spot for many a vintage Disneyland fan. For those of you who have never heard of Cascade Peak, here's your 101 course. Located near the Mark Twain dock, this July 1963 image shows the Nature's Wonderland Railroad cruising around the mountain and its thundering waterfall.



Thundering is right; this is no mere trickle like the current Schweitzer Falls at the Jungle Cruise. Take a look at this May 1963 shot. That's water pressure!



Another closeup from October 1962:



A shot of the entire peak from November 1967:



A rare shot from March 1960 showing its construction:





Of course over the years the waterfalls took their toll on the manmade mountain, and in an era of Disney Corporation cheap, the decision was made to level it. Cascade Peak was no more in 1998. So I say "hurray" to the return of waterfalls along the Rivers of America.

See more vintage Disneyland Cascade Peak photos at my main website.

Steve Allen in Frontierland

Today Donna Reed and Steve Allen and his sons look puzzled as they attempt to figure out where to go in Frontierland. So many choices! You really can't go wrong with the Mark Twain; seems like a good choice to me!









Two interior shots of Steve and boys at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon:





Last one today is a great shot of Steve on the Rainbow Mountain Railroad. Here comes the photographer!



See more vintage and current Disneyland Frontierland photos 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.