Pack Mules and Gullywhumper, August 1962
I have a few nice slides from August, 1962, starting with this fun look at Pack Mules as they returned from their trip through Nature's Wonderland to the safety of Rainbow Ridge. A few lesser-seen buildings are visible here. This attraction looks SO appealing to me now - sure, the Mine Train was incredible, but you could see Nature's Wonderland from different angles, such as from a "natural arch" bridge.
Next, the Gullywhumper loads up with a new load of passengers. Sitting up top would be great, but how about the two crates at the bow? There's a gun for warding off rabid elk (don't worry, the gun didn't hurt them, it was filled with puffed rice).
4 comments:
Major-
For the countless number of times I rode on the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train and the Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland, I can't recall ever riding a Pack Mule. Oh well.
Thanks, Major.
I can't tell for sure, but it looks like all the Mule riders, young and old, are wearing 'seat belts'. I thought it was only the young'uns that were strapped in. I wonder if a Mule ever 'went crazy' (maybe from a bee sting) and ran off the trail, through the cacti, and down the hillside of Rainbow Ridge?
I'm trying to think of a reason why anybody would rather sit inside the Keel Boat instead of on top. I know I would rather be on top! Maybe you can see some things better, at different angles, from the inside? I doubt it. Maybe only the "scaredy-cats" (and the occasional feral cat) who didn't want to ride waaaay up there, rode inside? Also, if there wasn't any more room on top, then the only option would be to ride inside, or wait for the next Keel Boat.
Thanks for the pics of the GullyMules... or MuleWhumpers, Major.
Hmmm, spellcheck didn't like GullyMules or MuleWhumpers. Can't imagine why.
I’m pretty sure I’ve told this story before but one time a friend of mine and I were riding the Keel Boats at Disneyland and we were loaded up on top … it was a very hot California summer and it was miserable. There was some issue going on and the castmembers were holding the fully loaded boat at the dock …..in fact all river traffic was held. We sat there on the top as the boat kinda rocked a bit in the blazing hot sun listening to the minstrel banjo music playing over and over…. This was about 1988 and I had a flattop … I used pomade to keep it spikey and in the “up” position… and in that sun the waxy pomade poured down my face! It was so hot … Chris and I looked at how miserable all the passengers on top were … the. Looked at each other and hearing that fast banjo music we started laughing uncontrollably…. We probably looked insane … the other pssengers baking in the hot sun were not laughing with us.
A few days ago on the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW …. A person had a mini ship canon … and I forget how they got it … but the historical appraiser said it was likely a KEEL BOAT deck canon. It looked exactly like the one in this photo . Now that makes me wonder if it was a real Keel Boat canon or a DISNEYLAND one!!!!
I don’t remember the cannons on the Keel Boats … but it’s likely something I didn’t notice.
I was on the Keel Boats ( inside this time ) when an imagineer told me that Eisner was changing Walt Disney Productions to “The Disney Company” and WED Enterprises to “Walt Disney Imagineering “ …. I kinda didn’t believe it … the. He handed me a little folding card that showed the old WED logo then opened to the new logo saying “ NEW NAME , BUT THE SAME MAGIC!”
I just scanned a 1966 slide of my uncle on TSI, with the Bertha Mae in the background. There were two kids sitting on the crates at the bow, and I wasn't sure I had ever noticed passengers sitting up there before. And it doesn't look like there were seat belts, so now I'm wondering if anyone ever fell overboard?
Mike, there wasn't a cannon on the bow of the Bertha Mae in that 1966 slide I just scanned, so maybe they were removed before that date? Or maybe only the Gullywhumper had a cannon?
If the Pack Mules were still operating today, they could have an upcharge for those guests who wanted to get off of their mules in the Painted Desert, and pose for selfies with the cacti and the animals. And then they could have an additional upcharge, for those who wanted to use the "paint pots" to do some finger painting. I bet management is sorry they got rid of the Pack Mules now!
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