Keel Boat and More, April 1966
The humble but lovable Keel Boat has probably been mostly forgotten by the general public (damn them!), but we superior beings remember it for its unique charms.
Let's start with this great photo of the Gullywhumper passing Cascade Peak while one of the yellow Mine Trains passes in the background. It still boggles my mind that Cascade Peak is actually gone. ("I thought Major Pepperidge seemed a bit boggled!", I hear you thinking).
A Keel Boat (not sure which one) is just about to vanish around the bend, already partially obscured by the Old Mill and a crowded raft. 
Well, maybe that's the Bertha Mae over there, it has the day off. So does the Columbia. But the Mark Twain is as busy as ever with the Disneyland Band on deck; those military boys appear to be having a swell time! 
9 comments:
Boggle me eyes, yes I did think that! After you mentioned it though, honest.
It's a lovely time on the river, 1966. Look at that cute - and cheery - yeller train passing serenely by the lamentably absent scenic of Nature's Wonderland, Cascade Peak.
Well there's Gully himself in his dorky hat and flannel, keeping his 'whumper boating on an even keel. His is not the only dorky hat aboard, while on lower decks hang two boys who are too cool for school. Or at the least smashingly overdressed.
That ain't the 'whumper in the 2nd pic, by gully. A real cowboy is standing where Billy the Kid was on 'whumper.
The shore in front of The Silently Looming Mansion are awash in orange flowers, the shore is speckled with lilly and that shows us folks who are really enjoying the Mark Twain. :D
such heautiful images, even on a cloudy day, always inspire the thought "what WERE they thinking?!?"
compared to what we see here, Mr Disney's beloved river is pretty boring these days.. :(
thanks for happy memories (even if i never got to see them for myself)!! :-)
These have such a cool feel to them, hard to explain. Plus, who doesn't love a Keel Boat? BRING BACK THE GULLYWHUMPER!
Very true; there is a certain 'plastic' all be it still better than nothing look to the bend in the rivers area today. I am always amazed at how 'almost real' a well framed picture of the old mill area can look from this time period of the park.
Walt was right (duh) we need more traffic here!
The Keel Boats where always my favorite way to ride the river. So sad that they are gone. And why, for the love of mike, can't they rebuild Cascade Peak?
Why can't they rebuild both Cascade Peak AND Nature's Wonderland? Put some of it where the ranch and BBBQ are and then extend the rest of it out beyond the berm a bit. I love rollercoasters, but I would still rather ride thru Nature's Wonderland than go on Big Thunder....anytime!
I'd love to see Cascade Peak's return, but there's no way they are going to spend that kind of money on what is basically eye candy. And Nature's Wonderland is "old school", so it would never come back either. There's no interactivity (kids love interactivity!) or digital projections, and there are no fast thrills. Maybe they could make it "Kim Possible goes to Nature's Wonderland"!
I know that you are right, Major. Maybe they could install guns on the trains so kids could shoot at the animals and then have Rainbow Caverns a simulator room where everyone puts on 3-D glasses.
Never give up, never surrender. There's enough land in that area to support another major attraction, maybe they would build a Cascade peak if it were background setting to a new experience. Maybe something a little slower that layers over the Big Thunder...
Pirates of the Caribbean visit the Grand Canyon or something...
Just shoot me.
JG
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