The story of Disneyland Paris’s Frontierland’s fictional town ‘Thunder Mesa’. As told by Jeff Burke (executive producer), Bob Baranick (imagineer) and Craig Flemin (show writer).
The entrance of Frontierland called Fort Comstock , which is named after a silver mine in Virginia City, Nevada. It’s a kind of log stockade that was created by the earliest inhabitants of Thunder Mesa. This was a defense against an attack of native Indians from the Shoshone’s Tribe. Their tepees can be found near Fort Comstock.
The people who lived at Thunder Mesa were farmers, poached and smugglers. Tobias Northon & Sons Frontier Traders was the first shop ever in Thunder Mesa.
Ancient traditions of the native tribes, in fact, told of a powerful spirit protecting the mountain…the ThunderBird. This god would punish anyone who dared disturb the sacred rocks of Big Thunder. It was said that a flap of its mighty wings would cause the earth itself to tremble and open up. When someone tries to rob the richness of the mountain, the god flaps its wings which draws lighting and shakes the earth. For the longest time, the spirit’s rule was respected by all… until, one day,
In 1853, Henry Ravenswood struck gold in the mighty Big Thunder Mountain, which is located is the middel of the river in the city. Over the following years, railroad cars and riverboats carried more and more prospectors and fortune-hunters into the town, each hoping to strike rich. Soon the Thunder Mesa Mining Company was founded by Henry Ravenswood.
New modern shops opened to meet the increased demand for food and supplies, like the Thunder Mesa Mercantile Building.
Mister Ravenswood became wealthy very quick and began construction of a splendid mansion for his own family. The our-story high mansion, painted in white, with a red able roof and a garden decorated with marble statues, was standing on a hill overlooking the town. He also build a family cemetery on the banks of the river.
It’s owner’s dearest pride and joy, however, was his beautiful young daughter Melanie.(1842) She grew op protected and free to pass her time in the expansive manor gardens under Henry’s watchful eye.
Things appeared to be going quite well at Thunder Mesa. The minder and merchants settles on the Eastern part of the town and on the west side of Thunder Mesa was where the inhabitants relaxed.
A showgirl known as Diamond Lil, who somehow got into possession of an enormous gold nugget, opened a luxurious saloon and dance hall called the Lucky Nugget. Which opened in 1858 close to the Ravenswood Manor. Later the most expensive restaurant in Thunder Mesa, The Silver Spur Steakhouse served upscale meals for the high society. The outlaws and desperados met eat other at the Last Chance Cafe.
On special occasions the folks from Thunder Mesa would all come together and would meet in a huge barn, called Cowboy Cookout Barbecue. Everyone would bring some tables and chairs with them from their own home and would spend the day enjoying tasty BBQ ribs, chicken and spicy chili.
All of this good fortune, however, was about to change…
In 1860, the Thunder Mesa Mining Company was struck by the Thunder Bird God and Henry Ravenswood and his wife, Martha (1805)lost their lives during the horrible earthquake. Due to security reasons, the gold mine closed and the mining company stopped its activities.
Even before the earthquake at The Big Thunder Mountain, it would seen that trouble had been brewing at the Ravenswood home. Rumors said that Melanie’s suitor planned to take her away from Thunder Meda and Henry was furious! After his tragic death it seemed that nothing more would stand in the way of their wedding.
As the day of the wedding arrived, however, the groom was nowhere to be seen. Melanie searched for him throughout the mansion but couldn’t find him. Heartbroken, she locked herself away – or so it was thought. Through the windows she was sometimes seen wandering from hall to hall in her wedding dress. Some said she was waiting for her groom to return, while others believe that she was kept captive in the mansion.
Rumors soon spread that Henry Ravenswood himself had returned from the grave to prevent the wedding and to keep his daughter from ever leaving the house. More than one late night wandere had walked past the manor to find a dark shadow looming behind the curtains or to hear the sound of maniacal laughter echoing through the manor gardens.
Over the years, the manor fell into decay. The inhabitants of Thunder Mesa, too scared to set foot on the estate, began calling it thePhantom Manor. There were tales of brave souls who had dared to enter the house and never returned.
As for the gold vein of Big Thunder Mountain, the source of Thunder Mesa’s wealth, it was lost in the earthquake.
After the gold rush, Thunder Mesa settled down. Miners and fortune seekers left the town. Community life became important and agriculture was once more the most important economic activity. And Steam riverboats lazily made their way up and down the river, while ranchers and farmers settled in nearby Cottonwood Creek.
The restless spirits of Phantom Manor, in the meantime, are said to still be waiting for a courageous soul to find out what really happened that fateful night of the wedding that never was… Any volunteers…?
