Big Thunder Ranch

Big Thunder Ranch entrance in 2007.

Big Thunder Ranch was an attraction at Disneyland. It included an outdoor petting zoo, a walk-through cabin, and a variety of scenery meant to create the atmosphere of a Western ranch. It was located in Frontierland, nearby Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Inside one could find sheep, goats, cows, and other farm animals. Among these animals were the two turkeys who received presidential pardons in honor of Thanksgiving in 2008.[1] The attraction was hosted by Brawny.

Big Thunder Ranch closed permanently on January 11, 2016, as the attraction (and some nearby backstage areas) will be the future site of a 14-acre Star Wars-themed land.[2][3][4]

History

Big Thunder Ranch opened in 1986. It housed the Big Thunder log cabin, a building constructed with real logs provided by the Rocky Mountain Log Company. The cabin was initially intended as a replica to simply be looked at by visitors, but it was later used as a gift store and finally as a children's crafts center. Walt Disney Imagineering designed the building, and building designer Bob Ybarra drew the plans. Care was taken to use real materials and hide modern structural hardware to make the cabin look as authentic as possible.[5]

The cabin was accompanied by a petting zoo and a dining area known as the Big Thunder Barbecue.

Eventually the petting zoo was removed to make room for an outdoor theater that served as a home for a live show themed to Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame titled Festival of Fools beginning in June 1996.[6] The show ended in April 1998;[6] Big Thunder Barbecue closed soon after.

The Ranch hosted the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show after they left the Golden Horseshoe Saloon until they left Disneyland on January 6, 2014 and moved to Knott's Berry Farm. After being used on occasion for special events and seasonal attractions for several years, the outdoor dining area reopened in spring 2009, serving seasonal confections and an all-you-can-eat American-style barbecue menu, including chicken, pork, sausage, beans, corncob, cornbread, coleslaw, lemonade and fruit cobbler. Musicians performed traditional American country and folklore sing-along on the stage and interacted with diners.

The log cabin was called "Miss Chris' Cabin" and had two large tables stocked with baskets of crayons and coloring pages.

Decorations

The entire ranch rotated through seasonal-appropriate decorations:

Big Thunder Ranch often hosted seasonal and holiday-themed shows, including Woody's All-American Roundup during Fourth of July events, Woody's Halloween Roundup during Halloween events, and Santa's Reindeer Roundup during Christmas events.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Thunder Ranch.
  1. ↑ French, Sally. "President Bush pardons turkeys to be sent to Disneyland". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  2. ↑ Pimentel, Joseph (September 10, 2015). "Construction on Disney's 'Star Wars'-themed land begins next year". Orange County Register. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ Lenker, Margaret (September 25, 2015). "Disneyland's 'Star Wars' Addition Prompts Ride Closures". Variety. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ Glover, Erin (September 22, 2014). "Season of the Force Begins November 16 at Disneyland Park in Southern California". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Projects remembered - Disneyland Big Thunder Ranch". Building Designer. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  6. 1 2 http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID500110.asp

Coordinates: 33°48′51″N 117°55′13″W / 33.8143°N 117.9204°W / 33.8143; -117.9204

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