Rainbow Ridge

“The Biggest Little Boom Town in the West”

―Slogan

Rainbow Ridge, sometimes referred to as Big Thunder is a fictional town from Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland, heavily featured in the story of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Description[]

Rainbow Ridge is a mining-town located along Big Thunder Mountain in the Western River Valley of Arizona. The ridge was located along the regions of, "Nature's Wonderland", consisting of Beaver Valley, Living Desert, Bear Country, Big Thunder Gorge with the sister falls of Big Thunder & Little Thunder, and the Rainbow Caverns of Big Thunder Mountain. The town was also located along the Rivers of the Far West/Rivers of America. The Big Thunder Mining Company prolifically used the town, and its mine-train the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad passed through.

Features[]

Assay Office: The Assay Office was established in 1869 and provided, "Chemical Analysis of every description made with accuracy of dispatch. Mining claims recorded, bought and sold".
Big Thunder Gorge Bridge: A bridge passing over Big Thunder & Little Thunder Falls in Big Thunder Gorge. The bridge was constructed in 1869, and suffered damage on one of its log beams when a beaver chewed at it like a tree.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad station: An outpost for the Big Thunder Mining Company
Big Thunder Saloon:
City Hall: Rainbow Ridge's city hall was located in its town square.
El Dorado Hotel/Barber Shop: The El Dorado Hotel is a small, two-story hotel established in 1870. The hotel shared a building with the town's, "Barber Shop" which also seemed to provide dentistry services.
General Mercantile: The General Mercantile of, "Plain & Fancy Dry Goods" is the town's mercantile and holds the town post-office.
Gold Nugget Dance Hall:^[1]
The Hideout: This was a meeting-place for ruffian townsfolk of Rainbow Ridge, used during feuding for Big Thunder's gold.
Livery: Used to store trains for the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and maintained by blacksmith Jeremiah Colt.
Pack Mule Trail:
Panhandle Hotel/Big Thunder Epitaph: A shared building between the Panhandle Hotel, Big Thunder Epitaph, and a U.S. post-office.
Rainbow Ridge Post Office: This is a post-master's office along Big Thunder Trail near the river.^[2]

History[]

Background[]

Origins[]

The town of Rainbow Ridge was established by the year of 1869.^[3] The town presumably got its name from Big Thunder Mountain's, "Rainbow Caverns" which the town was located near. In 1869, they established their assay office and also constructed the Big Thunder Gorge bridge, passing over Big Thunder & Little Thunder Falls.

Big Thunder Mining Company[]

The Big Thunder Mining Company seemingly established itself in Rainbow Ridge in the year 1879.^[4] The mining-activity of the town peaked at 2,015 and Rainbow Ridge became known as, "The Biggest Little Boom Town in the West". The Mining Company's activities in the mountain upset the Spirit of Big Thunder, causing accidents and natural-disasters such as earthquakes and the trains running on their own. In 1880, a structure for the "Big Thunder Mine" was constructed.^[5]

The region also seemed to be visited by lady robbers, "Lady Goldenhair" and, "The Long Island Kid". These incidents resulted in the town population dropping 247, to 85, and then to 38. The town would be visited by the company president Barnabas T. Bullion who had a portrait hung up in the Panhandle Hotel, and whom visited with his peer Jason Chandler from the Society of Explorers and Adventurers via the Western Expeditions and Delivery Service. Rainbow Ridge hosted other Big Thunder Mining Company president, Willard P. Bounds, who signed documents in the town hall to use the haunted Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as an attraction. Around this time, an accident with dynamite occurred in the mountain resulting in a large explosion which trains only narrowly avoided.

Later history[]

During the Big Thunder Mining Company's decline, some prospectors used the town's trains to lead nature tours of the region.

Development history[]

Rainbow Ridge was originally a faux-town used in Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. When the space of the attraction was used to make Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in 1977, some of the town remained as a back-drop for the ride's load-area. The names of many of the buildings have been changed over the years.

Appearances[]

Disneyland[]

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad[]

The town of Rainbow Ridge is the backdrop of the load-area and queue.

Big Thunder Trail[]

This attraction is set in the Rainbow Ridge region and contains references to the town.

Disneyland Railroad[]

A plaque on the bridge going over the falls reads, "Big Thunder Gorge Bridge, commissioned 1869, township of Rainbow Ridge".

Legends of Frontierland: Gold Rush![]

Rainbow Ridge was one of two central locations for this interactive attraction, the other (somewhat confusingly) being, "Frontierland" which the town feuded with. The citizens of Rainbow Ridge were characterized as ruffians and outlaws, greedy for the mountain's gold.

Main Street Cinema[]

A posting from the Disneyland Casting Agency says, "Stagecoach & Wagon Drivers Seeking experienced drivers to carry passengers through Nature’s Wonderland and the Painted Desert. Apply Rainbow Ridge".^[6]

Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland[]

Rainbow Ridge appeared in this defunct attraction.

Pack Mules Through Nature's Wonderland[]

Rivers of America[]

The boats pass by Rainbow Ridge locations.

Disneyland Paris[]

Thunder Mesa Daily Messenger[]

This newspaper mentions the Rivers of the Far West as connecting Thunder Mesa to Rainbow Ridge.

Magic Kingdom[]

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad[]

A poster for the Butterfly Stage Line mentions the line connecting to Rainbow Ridge.^[7]

Trivia[]

The rattlesnake season poster encouraging townsfolk to check their boots is a reference to Sheriff Woody's line, "There's a snake in my boot".
Willard P. Bounds is historic father of Lillian Marie Disney, Walt Disney's wife.
The river-front picnic seating for the town's fireworks displays are a reference to Fantasmic!.
The bandit logo likeness in Legends of Frontierland was an unused bandito character from the Western River Expedition.
Live performed character Sheriff Lucky used to appear in Frontierland, tied into Rainbow Ridge.^[8]
In Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland, Rainbow Ridge was described as "The gateway to nature's wonderland".