Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: A Gold Rushin’ Roller Coaster
Everyone’s heard of Tumbleweed.
Oh, we pretend we don’t know where it’s at. Every stagecoach driver will lead his horses twelve miles out of the way before admitting there’s a shorter route, and no matter how much we might long to travel, we don’t acknowledge the railway that cuts through Tumbleweed, either.
But of course, it exists.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad snakes through Frontierland like an iron river. And it’s threaded with gold, or so people say. But only the bravest—or the greediest—will dare visit Tumbleweed in search of those shining nuggets. Why?
Because Tumbleweed’s a ghost town, and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is run by treasure-hungry spirits.
That’s how the story goes, anyway. Dismiss it at your own risk…
Workin’ on the Railroad
Tumbleweed wasn’t always a ghost town, and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad wasn’t always conducted by an invisible driver. In fact, it was built from one man’s love of the Old West. That man was Walter Elias Disney.
(Photo: HarshLight via Flickr)
Out in California, he’d created a boomtown called Disneyland and—as is necessary for any boomtown—there was a railroad: the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train. Passengers of the RCMT journeyed through the American Southwest on a lovely excursion through red-rock canyons and the cacti-dotted desert. That was in 1956.1
Although Mr. Disney passed some years later, his railroad managed to grow and stretch all the way to Walt Disney World, Florida, thanks to the continued work of his Imagineers. In 1980, they finally finished building the tracks around Thunder Mountain—a towering red beast—and a depot opened at Tumbleweed, right here in Frontierland.2
However, the Big Thunder line was…different than Mr. Disney’s original railroad. In fact, things started to get spooky.
The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness
Barnabus T. Bullion piggy-backed off of the success of Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and began the Big Thunder Mining Company. Living up to his name, Mr. Bullion was incredibly gold-hungry and ready to tear into the mountain to attain the treasures within.3
The locals tried to warn him, tried to tell him about the legend—how Big Thunder Mountain is also hungry for gold and will stop at nothing to protect its hoard. (Though, now that I think about it, perhaps what the mountain is truly hungry for…is human souls…)
Either way, Mr. Bullion refused to listen and began mining. From the moment he ignited that first stick of dynamite, nothing has been the same in Tumbleweed. Natural disasters like floods and earthquakes strike as regularly as the clock strikes twelve. The trains take off by themselves and careen carelessly down the track. Big Thunder Mountain has spoken, and its message is clear: we are not welcome there.
Go West, Vacationers!
But if you’re still reading this, then I suppose that means you still want to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (despite my warnings). I understand—the call of the West is an alluring one.
Well, I’ll do what I can to prepare you in hopes you can make a safe return.
First of all, if you’re shorter than 40 inches tall, you cannot ride the rails. (It’s dangerous enough for fully grown folk!) If the legends haven’t tipped you off, then I’ll spell it for you straight: you’re likely to ride without a conductor, and there’s no telling where the Big Thunder spirits will take you.
Be prepared for a high-speed, bumpy ride through dark tunnels and derelict mine shafts! (And keep in mind that the further back you sit on the train, the wilder the ride will be!)
While there aren’t any enormous drops, there are a few dips that are liable to put some air between you and your seat! Reaching top speeds of 36 miles per hour, you’ll be tossed from side to side as you barrel around the curves of the mountain.
In the event of mysterious happenings trying to derail your ride, it’ll probably be tempting to close your eyes. But do try to keep them open—Big Thunder Mountain is also legendary for its beauty.
Even though it’s now marred by mining equipment, you’ll be able to appreciate the beauty of the mountain’s gaping caverns (brimming with fluttering bats), natural sulfur pools bubbling with steaming water, and even amazing archeological finds like gargantuan dinosaur bones.
Yes, more than just gold calls people to Big Thunder Mountain. Natural beauty and adventure are also powerful sirens. And if that is your true motive in braving the mountain…I think (but I cannot promise) the spirits may just let you pass…
Because of this, people come from miles around, making the line for the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad longer than you’d expect for a ghost town. Wait times can hover right around an hour, but as the ride itself lasts for a riveting three and half minutes, it’s worth the time (if not worth the risk)…
Note: Early mornings are when Tumbleweed feels almost like a ghost town.
While you wait for the train to pull into the station, you can learn more about Barnabus T. Bullion and help with the mining endeavors by turning cranks and pushing plungers to detonate some dynamite. However, that’s a surefire way to rankle the Big Thunder spirits, so I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
Beyond that, there’s no other advice I can give other than to hang on tight! If you insist on riding the rails, then I wish you all the best.
P.S. I’ve heard another mining operation has started over in Fantasyland – The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I wonder if it’s cursed as well?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has remained one of the most popular coasters in the Magic Kingdom for over 40 years. Designed to be fun for both intrepid kiddos and adults, it’s a must-ride in Frontierland!
What do you think of this wild west coaster? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
Recommended Gear for this Adventure
Disclaimer: We earn a commission if you click any of the links above and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
