This photo gives us a rare glimpse of what Disneyland looks like from the top of the 147-foot Matterhorn Bobsleds ride. Debuting on June 14, 1959, 4 years after the theme park opened, it was the world’s first tubular steel roller coaster. As an added feature they had (and maybe they still do—does anyone reading this know?) a pair of mountaineers climb the mountain several times a day. And on this particular occasion, a photographer, who apparently went first. What strikes me about this 1960 photo is how empty Disneyland looks. The last dozen times I went, it was packed to the eyeballs.
Disneyland mountaineers climb the park’s Matterhorn Bobsleds ride, Anaheim, 1960
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Never catch me climbing up there. I like the view from down bellow better.
Photo is reverse printed. See the lettering of Casey Jones railroad and Storybook Land? Tremendous shot though!
Thanks, Al. I’ve now reversed the shot and suddenly it makes sense. I should have known that the spinning tea cups should have been on the left!
We had our Hamilton High school grad night in 1959 just after the park opened that year.
With special fond memories of that glorious occasion of long ago.
Wow, that que for the bobsleds wraps right around the Matterhorn. (Walt will be happy his trains are now running clockwise again.) Anyone able to name all these rides? Bet you can’t get those mountaineering shoes anymore. And an original mint (airline style) travel bag from the monorail will set you back more than the price of bringing a family of eight to the Magic Kingdom in 1959….assuming you can even find one in that condition.
Another place been many times since a kid in the 60’s. Not surprised now “packed to the gunnel’s”. One word of advice, if at all possible, avoid visiting in August – Never noticed before but Disneyland is paved with black asphalt… After walking around for 15 or 20 minutes, felt like I was being “baked” in an oven from the heat radiating up off of the asphalt.