Fort Wilderness
It's BIRTHDAY TIME again! This time, let's all send good wishes to our friend Andrew. Possibly the youngest Junior Gorilla? Or the youngest who comments, at any rate. Sue B. has provided a funny photo for the occasion - this extremely intense baby celebrating the completion of one trip around the Sun. Those feet look poised to destroy the cake, I hope it survived. Big Sis looks on adoringly, while Big Brother might be holding a wrapped gift.
Here's yet another selection of scans from the Mysterious Benefactor! They all feature Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer Island.
As the trees and shrubs continued to mature, the island got more and more beautiful. From some angles, the log fort might even be hard to see. I noticed that cable attached to the tree to the left, was the tree in danger of tipping over? When I worked at the Disney studio, many of the old trees had similar cables that supported some of the large branches that might potentially come crashing down.
I love this sun-drenched photo, and the spots of color provided by the guest's clothing inside the fort.
Moose antlers used to be the international symbol of welcome!
Inside the walls of the fort, guests would find a rustic, homey place for soldiers and officers, and the occasional pioneer in need of aid. The man to the right is happy to learn a little history! "Why didn't they just drive their Chevrolets across the prairie?". Meanwhile, enjoy those trashcans that look like cut logs.
Here's an unusual angle which I believe was behind the fort, you can just see the humble little graveyard, with guests paying their respects to those unfortunate souls who never reached their destination.
Hey, this one is flopped! Or was it flipped? But I'm leaving it as is. A Cavalry officer is probably telling exciting stories of his adventures on the plains. The guest at the bottom of the photo is wearing a deerstalker cap, just like Sherlock Holmes. Was it purchased at a souvenir hat stand?
The fort closed forever in 2003 after years of neglect, and it was torn down in 2007, replaced with a structure built for Fantasmic! performers. It looks pretty lame.
4 comments:
Happy Birthday Andrew-! If you can still easily place your feet on the dining room table as easily as this tot does, we need to see pictures-!
Major-
It's the sort of details seen here in all the images that make [or made] Disneyland such a special place - now lost to the ages.
Thanks to the M B for sharing these.
Happy Birthday, Andrew! (Haven't heard from you in a while. Are you working at Kennywood this summer?)
That cake actually looks tasty, ( but IIRC Major does not like coconut!). Well then, there will more cake for the rest of us! :-D Except... like Major prophesied, that cake probably went to cake heaven a few seconds after this photo was taken. "These (baby) boots are gonna walk right over you!" Thanks for the fun foto, Sue.
1) I'm sure that's what that cable is for, Major. It has an adjustable thingy (I can't remember the name) along the cable to tighten it up as need be.
2 & 3) Those aren't just antlers, Major. They're a pair of flying moose antlers! And they have alit on the Fort Wilderness sign. Even though they are large and look kind of scary, flying moose antlers are relatively harmless... Mynd you, flying møøse antler bites kan be pretty nasti! Like you mentioned, I also like the various shades of pink clothing seen through the gate.
4) I used to have a red and black rugby shirt like that guy sitting on the bench. The two ladies on the left are enjoying a feast. One appears to be cracking open oysters; probably gathered fresh from the ROA.
5) Piney... very piney.
6) I'm guessing that deerstalker cap was from a souvenir stand. I mean, would anyone wear an unusual hat like that in the real world?
Thank you, MB! And thank you too, Major.
The word you want is "turnbuckle," JB.
Great pictures today, Major. For Wilderness was always THE quintessential western fort in my mind.
I didn't know you worked at the Disney Studio? Details!
It looks like the benches inside the fort were made of split logs, placed on top of two large rocks (third to last photo). I don't think I ever noticed those before.
Happy birthday, Andrew! And thank you Major, Sue, and M.B.!
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