Tales From The Trunk

When the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse opened at Disneyland in 1962, it had one massive tree trunk.



When it morphed into Tarzan’s Treehouse, a second (albeit smaller) tree was added to the mix.



One of the tree knots was supposedly a tribute to Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars.



Yes, I guess I can see that. I am assuming (and we know how dangerous that can be) that with the recent remodel and removal of this second tree, that Jabba also bit the dust.



Over on Tom Sawyer’s Island, the young ones could climb up into Tom and Huck’s very own treehouse. You could get some pretty spectacular views of the Park from up here.



If you look a little closer at the March 1958 image, you can see that Tom and Becky have their names “carved” into the artificial tree.



It’s also visible in this July 1965 shot:





Just before Tom Sawyer’s Island was converted into Pirate’s Lair, I snapped as many photos as I could in February 2007. The carving appears to be the exact same one, unchanged after over fifty years.



Huck had his own little spot at the base of the tree.



Whether these little details are still around or not I have no idea. I remember Tom and Huck’s treehouse was closed for quite some time, but it appears that guests are able to climb up into it once again. Anyone know if that’s correct or not?

See more Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island photos at my main website.

Hump Day on Tom Sawyer Island

It's Wednesday, and you've hit hump day, that marvelous day when you're half-way through the work week and the weekend is quickly approaching! Here's an October 1959 view of the Tree House on Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland. The next undated image is most likely from 1956/1957.



And this is how I know...Case de Fritos is still in its original location on New Orleans Street:



This black and white image of TSI yields a few interesting detail shots:



Some fishing action:



and the tent for Holidayland:



This December 1959 image shows guests waiting for a raft so that they can return to the "mainland":



A detailed view:



Hope you enjoy your Hump Day!

See more Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island photos at my main website.

Tom's Treehouse

The Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island tree house is barely recognizable in this early 1950's photo. The mini waterfall below is from The Three Falls. According to a vintage brochure:

Legend tells us that many moons ago, lightning struck this tree and caused three waterfalls to spring from its roots…and The 3 Falls became the headwaters of the Rivers of America.



This September 1958 image gives a closer look at the crates used to cover the tree house:



and one from 1962:



The house survived the transition to Pirate's Lair, albeit with a much less hand-crafted look. Here's a shot from 2008:



Missing that original tree house? Climb on up to my main website and see more.

Disneyland, Summer of '63: Frontierland

A few more from my batch of Summer 1963 black and white Disneyland images. Today, we take a visit to Tom Sawyer's Island in Frontierland. Care to journey across the Rivers of America on a raft? This water craft takes skill; no cheating on a track with this one!

LOVE the expressions on the faces of these two little boys; they are having the time of their lives exploring Fort Wilderness:



A pensive shot of the little boy; possibly on the way to a meltdown from too much excitement?



Back in business again, he excitedly tours Tom's tree house:



See more vintage Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island photos on my main website.

The Thrill of Exploration

One of the things that helps keep us young is continuing to have a sense of exploration. Walt Disney understood this, and built his park around that concept, allowing guests to walk through the past and then experience the hope of the future. Tom Sawyer Island has undergone a number of transformations over the years (some for legal reasons, others for the love of all things Sparrow), but it still remains a living testament to our inner yearning of discovery. This is why I prefer to go to the park when the crowds are low; it is easier to imagine that I am the first one to see the treehouse perched high over the top of the island (shown here in this vintage 1950's photo).



Without the crowds, I can also take the time to imagine the back story to the Old Mill and why it has been abandoned.



The rickety-nature of the bridges on the island also contribute a bit of danger, adding a bit of a thrill as you traverse the shaking planks.



Castle Rock harkens back to the days of old when kids would build forts to ward off imaginary villains. Today, this would most likely be done on a Sony Playstation.



The ultimate area of exploration on Tom Sawyer Island was Fort Wilderness. Sadly, this area has not survived the years, and only exists as a restroom tacked onto the exterior of the reworked structure.



So much of our imagination is spoon-fed to us today with video games and other technically impressive sources of media. Personally, I prefer to be given a few tools and allowed to come up with a story myself. But that's just me...and as I get older, I feel more like the dinosaurs and old farts that I used to make fun of when I was young.

See more vintage and current Tom Sawyer Island photos on my Tom Sawyer Island web page.

Disneyland June 1966, Pt. 2

The second half of my June 1966 series starts off with a lovely shot of the Rivers of America, including Tom Sawyer's Island. The plaid family must have journeyed over to the Island, as this shot of the Treehouse would attest to. Little plaid boy is having a blast climbing up the steps.



Mrs. Plaid is snooping around the inside of Fort Wilderness:



Meanwhile, I'm snooping into the Escape Tunnel with this zoom shot:



Based on the location of this shot in the batch, I am going to guess that the water on the right is from Cascade Peak, as the Mine Train from Nature's Wonderland chugs by it.



Just a few of the critters you see along your journey on the Mine Train:



A few of the Living Desert area:





The perfect ending to this series is a shot of the Plaid family in front of the Castle:



See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland photo web pages.

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.