While the Matterhorn Is Closed, Learn the Mountain’s History
The Matterhorn at Disneyland is currently closed for refurbishment. But signs are up to celebrate it’s history!
You can read these signs in any order. Let’s start with “It All Started With a Movie.”
Third Man on the Mountain
Here’s the text from the sign:
In 1958, Walt spent one week on location in Zermatt, Switzerland, during the filming of the Walt Disney movie, Third Man on the Mountain.
Based on James Ramsey Ullman’s novel, Banner in the Sky, the film tells the tale of a young Swiss man who conquers the mountain that defeated his father – the Matterhorn.
Though Walt had already developed a fondness for Switzerland’s scenic beauty, he did not seem to appreciate the Matterhorn as he would on that trip, often stopping to star at its distant peak for up to an hour each time.
Walt soon mailed his Imagineers a postcard of the mountain with two words scrawled across the back: “Build this!”
1959 saw the first major expansion at Disneyland, including the first “E-Ticket” attraction, the Matterhorn Bobsleds.
These attractions also debuted:
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Disneyland Monorail
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Submarine Voyage
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Fantasyland Autopia
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Motor Boat Cruise
Now let’s look at the next sign, Disneyland’s First Mountain.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
The sleek bobsleds of Disneyland’s very first high-speed thrill ride will return later this fall.
Once again, you will climb the Matterhorn’s steepest inclines, maneuver through its icy crystal caves, and navigate hairpin twists and turns right along the mountain’s edge.
Just make sure to keep an eye out for the Matterhorn’s legendary inhabitant – the abominable snowman!
The mountain derives its name from the German words Matte, meaning “meadow,” and Horn, which means “peak.”
It is located in the Pennine Alps, southwest of Zermatt, on the Swiss-Italian border, the highest peaks in the Alps.
The Matterhorn is an isolated mountain. Because of its position on the main Alpine watershed and its great height, the Matterhorn is exposed to rapid weather changes.
The Matterhorn was one of the last great Alpine peaks to be climbed, and its first ascent, made in 1865, marked the end of the golden age of Alpine climbing.
Next, let’s learn more history behind this coaster with the sign, “A Tradition of Thrills and Fun.”
A tradition of thrills and fun
Matterhorn Bobsleds is not only the first roller-coaster-style attraction at the Disney Parks, it is the first tubular steel roller coaster in the world, making it a landmark amongst thrill-ride enthusiasts.
Riders can choose one of two nearly identical bobsled runs: one on the Fantasyland side and another on the Tomorrowland side.
Each run has a separate queue, and during slower periods only a single track may be in operation.
Both tracks are equally fun, but the Fantasyland track is slightly longer and features some sharper curves.
The use of forced perspective helps to make Disneyland’s Matterhorn appear especially tall.
However, the Disneyland Park mountain is exactly 100 times shorter than Switzerland’s massive 14,700-foot-tall original.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds feature vehicles redesigned in 2012 that are seemingly inspired by its predecessors.
Like the originals, the new vehicles come in two-toned colors (white with red, green or blue thick stripes) and a bright Matterhorn decal on the front.
Closer to the vehicles that followed the original, though, the current vehicles continue to consist of two cars connected by a tow bar, helping to decrease wait times and increase ridership as before.
Still, the updated Matterhorn Bobsleds feature vehicles with a realigned seating arrangement.
Three single riders in each car are allowed their own seats, instead of having to share with members of their parties.
Onto the next sign!
Monster on the mountain
Although Walt had always intended to include the abominable snowman in the Matterhorn, the mythical monster did not make its chilling appearance until enhancements were made to the attraction between September 1977 and May 1978.
A total of three snowmen were built, one for each ride track, and a third that was visible from both tracks.
A glowing pair of angry red eyes, added near the top of the lift hill, and a loud recorded growl helped bring the legendary creature to life.
Along with the snow monster, other enhancements were made to the mountain’s interior.
Imagineers enclosed the lift tunnel to keep it cold and added a fog bank, ice caverns filled with glowing crystals, and a howling Alpine wind.
There have since been other changes in the Matterhorn’s interior.
In 1994, the Skyway to Fantasyland sent its last car gliding through the Matterhorn, and the pass-through was sealed.
And in 1995, Imagineers added the mountain-climbing equipment of the “Wells Expedition” to the ice cavern scene as a tribute to the late Frank G. Wells, an avid mountain climber and The Walt Disney Company’s president and chief operating officer from 1984 until his passing in 1994.
To celebrate Disneyland’s 60th anniversary in 2015, the snowman received an update to his look, while this time surprising us with more appearances and a display of his “collection.”
Now let’s take a look at the last sign on the Matterhorn walls.
Seasonal sleds and Swiss cheese
Big star at Christmastime: An enormous star-shaped topper seemingly transforms the Matterhorn into the world’s largest Christmas tree.
Santa: Even Santa has reached the Matterhorn’s peak, the one place in Disneyland most like home.
Mountain climbers: To Walt, his Matterhorn was a real mountain, so it made perfect sense to have mountain climbers test their abilities by scaling it.
The ascents proved to be so popular that the Park hired its own team of mountain-climbing experts to reach its peak throughout the years.
Mickey Mouse himself began scaling the Matterhorn in the mid-1990s, often cheered on by Minnie and Goofy.
Basketball court: Rumors have long been floating that a basketball half-court exists within the top section of the Matterhorn.
Would you be willing to brave perilous heights and abominable snowmen for a game of hoops?
When King Baudouin of Belgium visited Disneyland and asked Walt why his Matterhorn had holes in it (for the Skyway to pass through), Walt replied, “Because it’s a Swiss mountain!”
https://youtu.be/fuh1Rek7aaQ
There you have it, folks! Some interesting history of the Matterhorn to tide you over until the bobsleds zip along again later this fall.
Thank you very much to my good friend Chris Lamberth, Jungle Cruise skipper and riverboat captain, for providing the sign pictures from his last Disneyland visit!
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