Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland Frontierland attraction at Disneyland; from May 28, 1960, to January 2, 1977. Formerly Rainbow Caverns Mine Train (1956-1959). Guests rode a train through a new wilderness area populated by 204 lifelike bears, beavers, and other critters, then continued through the area of the former attraction—the painted desert and Rainbow Caverns, where the coolness of colored waterfalls and pools were a refreshing respite on a hot day. When Walt was planning this attraction, he was not satisfied with his designers’ creations, so he took drawing materials home and drew up the entire ride himself. Today, this drawing is one of the treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. The attraction was removed for construction of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
