Monday, April 07, 2014

Big Thunder Mountain, April 1987

I would like to share these photos of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from 27 years ago this month, in honor of its recent reopening. Or just because I happened to have them. You decide.

HOODOO! No, not the wizard from "Lidsville", sorry if I scared you. No, I mean those strange rock formations that resemble the "hoodoos" at Bryce Canyon. They're cool, and must've been a challenge to make. A photo like this, taken out of context, might easily fool somebody into thinking that this is a photo from the real Bryce Canyon.


Oooo-eee, a dinomosaur! I am going to go cross those empty, harmless railroad tracks and excavate him, articulate the skeleton (filling in the missing bits with Legos) and sell him to the Field Museum in Chicago for a kajillion dollars. Who's with me?


Whoa, who put that train there? It startled me so much that I spilled my chocolate milk. Who can I sue? 


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

While I desperately miss Nature's Wonderland, this is a pretty good coaster with excellent theming. I loved the dinosaur bones from the start.

I was at Disneyland just a couple of weeks ago, and didn't even try to ride this, the crowds were unbelievable.

Thank you, Major. I think this might be my favorite of the "post-Classic" attractions.

JG

K. Martinez said...

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be 35 years old this September and seems more popular than ever. Nature's Wonderland only made it to 20 years. I guess that's a testament to Big Thunder Mountain's appeal and staying power. Thanks, Major.

Chuck said...

+227 bonus points for mentioning "Liddsville." Hoodoo scared the feces out of me as a little kid.

Melissa said...

"You remind me of the man."
"What man?"
"The man with the power."
"What power?"
"The power of hoodoo."
"Who do?"
"You do."
"Do what?"
"Remind me of the man."

Nanook said...

@ Melissa-

A reference to The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer-!! Be still my heart-!!

Major Pepperidge said...

JG, I feel the same way; I wish we could somehow have BOTH attractions, but Disneyland just doesn't have the acreage.

K. Martinez, wow, thanks for pointing out that BTMRR has existed for a full 15 years longer than Nature's Wonderland! Amazing, I never thought about it.

Chuck, like all of those Sid and Marty Krofft shows, Liddsville was very very weird.

Melissa, somehow I feel like that dialogue has come up before, but I can't imagine how. Maybe I mentioned the hoodoos before?

Nanook, that's a movie I still need to see someday… apparently it's a good one.

TokyoMagic! said...

Charles Nelson Reilly and Eddie Munster, along with Mousketeer Sharon Baird inside of a giant rabbit costume! How could they go wrong with that combination?

35 years for Big Thunder, huh? I say it's time to tear it down and finally build the "Western River Expedition" attraction.

Anonymous said...

Ah, Cary, Myrna and Shirley… it's "You remind me of *a* man" but let's not quibble about such inconsequential things at a time like this! :)