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Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below.
THE MATTERHORN |
| (June 14, 1959—Present) BACKSTORY: Originally a dirt mound created from what was removed to make the moat around Sleeping Beauty Castle. First named Holiday Hill and then Lookout Mountain, Park Operations staff continually had to keep a look out due to its unofficial status as “Lover’s Lane.” The Matterhorn was conceived by Disney when visiting Switzerland during filming of “Third Man on the Mountain.” Born out of the desire to hide the unsightly Skyway pylon, the Matterhorn was one of six new major attractions for Tomorrowland in 1959 (however, it has always been designated a Fantasyland attraction). Walt was discouraged by Joe Fowler when he wanted to “make some snow and have a toboggan ride.” Difficulties in creating the snow and drainage were circumvented by using steel, wood, plaster, and paint.
At 147' high, it is a 1/100th replica of its Swiss namesake and the tallest structure inside Disneyland. It is recognized as the first tubular steel roller coaster in the world, and was built by coaster builder Arrow Dynamics and WED Imagineering.
In 1978, the Matterhorn received a major refurbishment: Audio-Animatronic Yeti (or Abominable Snowmen, which have been nicknamed Harold); an ice crystal cavern at the top of the lift hill; an icy, crystal blue look given to the caves at the beginning of the downhill run; a complete change of the bobsleds (instead of being 1 car, 2 cars were now joined, which basically doubled the attraction's capacity).
With the closure of the Skyway in 1994, the holes through which the Skyway buckets would travel were filled in. In addition to general maintenance, it was to replace the old wooden frame of the mountain with a steel frame. The Wells Expedition Camp was added inside the attraction as well; it is a tribute to Frank Wells, Walt Disney Company President, who climbed the highest peaks on six out of seven continents before he died in a 1994 helicopter crash.
Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below. |
Matterhorn, 1950’s |
Jim Crarey remembers…June 1959 “Dick Erb and I were climbing at Tahquitz Rock late spring of 1959, and both 15 at the time. Chuck Wilks, the Sierra Club member who was hired by Disney to place the “pitons” in the side of the mountain, was climbing that morning too. He asked if we wanted a summer job on the Matterhorn. Well duh...” “ The next issue to overcome was doing it. Our soon to be boss, Chuck Corson, told us “Boys, if you can climb it, the job is yours.” On a warm June afternoon, Dick and I reconnoitered for a route. We climbed over the fence erected to keep all out and were about 20' off the ground when accosted by the Disneyland police. We found out that no one told them what we were doing and that we were supposed to take the ride’s elevator to the inside platform and begin from there. Nice start to a summer job...” “The purpose for us was to provide something to see for the folks waiting hours in line for the ride (sometimes the sign read 4 hours from this point). So 9 times a day, 6 days a week, all summer long and on the weekends between summer 1959 and summer 1960, we climbed the Matterhorn. Dick quit before the 1960 summer and was replaced by Jeff Winslow. I worked that summer and then retired too.” “The only things I can remember of interest that I can put in print are the 4 hours hanging by rope waiting to repel for Nikita Khrushchev and a time I sprained my ankle and was carried to the infirmary by the Chip and Dale characters.”
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Matterhorn, 1960’s |
Matterhorn, 1970’s–1980’s |
) Matterhorn, October 1971 |
) Nov. 1971 |
) Aug. 1972 |
) Aug. 11, 1975 |
) March 1976 |
) March 1976 |
) Aug. 1976 |
) Alpine Gardens, April 1982 |
) August 1982 |
) August 1986 |
Dave C remembers…August, 1962 When I was five, my family visited my relatives in Southern California and we went to Disneyland. We went on quite a few attractions as I recall—the Tea Cups, the Skyway, the Submarine Ride, and of course the Matterhorn Bobsleds, one of the few “thrill” attractions in the park at that time. Being five, I was a bit apprehensive about riding the Matterhorn—it looked so huge to me—but my Aunt Nadine, who tended to be a bit strict, scolded me for being afraid. I was with my Mom on the ride and Aunt Nadine and some other family members were behind us in the bobsled. I really enjoyed it, but my Mom was terrified and screamed VERY loudly throughout the ride. When it ended, my Aunt made a (not-too-nice) comment about how much noise I had made, and she was very surprised to learn that it was my Mom, and not me, who had been screaming. My Mom actually lost her voice and couldn’t talk for almost three days! All in all, it was a very fun and memorable first time at Disneyland… MANY THANKS TO DAVE C. FOR SHARING HIS MEMORIES & PHOTOS WITH DAVELAND!
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Matterhorn, 2000+ |
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) April 2007 |
) April 2007 |
) Yeti Footprint, May 2007 |
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