Saturday, October 16, 2010

Tom Sawyer Island, 1956

No matter what you are doing today, I'll bet you wish you could step into this picture and transport yourself back to this beautiful day in Frontierland, circa 1956. Don't worry, you won't get your feet wet. The only way to Tom Sawyer Island is via a raft, which is pretty cool. I would have suggested a catapult, but understand that it might have had some drawbacks. There is just something about the Island that makes you want to explore it from shore to shore. It appears that Tom hasn't built his treehouse just yet.


This photo is also from 1956, but from another lot. It gives a great view of the Suspension Bridge!

8 comments:

TokyoMagic! said...

Hey the Pontoon Bridge isn't there yet either!

Interesting how the Treehouse isn't there, but the water that pours out of it's base today was already there....I wonder what the water was coming out of back then?

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Love those muddy waters....

Not so sure about keeping your feet dry, this and other early photos of the rafts show that the "front" sometimes gets a little low in the water. I've seen old pics where the water has clearly rolled over the deck.

The current rafts appear to have helium filled pontoons, they don't dip at all, even when full of guests!

Great post, thanks!

Connie Moreno said...

Another great post! Just waiting for the weather to "act right" and I want to spend some quality time on the Island.

Chuck said...

TokyoMagic, the water came out of a sewer main that was accidentally ruptured by a landscaping crew while the island was under construction. Walt liked the effect and eventually had a tree planted on top of it to filter out the impurities.

TokyoMagic! said...

Chuck, so THAT is why the water is that color!!!

Nancy said...

hah! i knew it must be something like that.

and Major, you are right, wanna just step right onto that raft...someone give me a hand!! :D

JG said...

Major, I've traveled extensively by catapult. It's not bad, except for the sudden jolt on arrival.

That story about the water color is believable, the mighty mississp is just the same, but many rivers can say the same for far less reason.

Since that was an artesian well, I wonder if the beer company had any connection to it?

JG

Major Pepperidge said...

JG, That explains why you always wear a crash helmet.

Beware of those Artesians!