Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a mine train roller coaster in Frontierland at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. It opened on September 2, 1979, becoming the first installation of what would grow into a family of Big Thunder Mountain attractions across Disney parks worldwide, and was designed by Imagineer Tony Baxter with the ride engineered by Arrow Development.
The attraction sends guests aboard a runaway mining train hurtling through a desert mountain landscape modeled after the red-rock formations of Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley. The backstory follows the fictional town of Rainbow Ridge and a gold mine plagued by supernatural mishaps after prospectors disturbed a sacred site, a theme brought to life with animatronics, flooding effects, and falling boulders along the route.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Disneyland (Anaheim, California)
- Manufacturer: Arrow Development
- Opened: September 2, 1979
- Height: About 104 ft (32 m) mountain structure; 50 ft (15 m) lift hill
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Length: 2,671 ft (814 m)
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Riders board a mine train made up of five cars, seated two across in three rows per car for a total of 30 riders per train, for a roughly three-minute journey through tunnels, over trestles, and around hairpin turns carved into the mountain’s red-rock scenery. Along the way the train rattles past flooded mine shafts, an earthquake-shaken town, and a herd of runaway goats, all set within one of Disneyland’s most detailed show environments.
The coaster uses no inversions and relies instead on unexpected drops, tight turns, and sudden bursts of speed to create its thrills, making it a favorite transitional coaster for younger riders moving up from gentler attractions.
History and Legacy
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad replaced the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland and became the template for later versions built at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. The Disneyland original underwent a major refurbishment from January 2013 to March 2014, during which its track was completely replaced by Dynamic Attractions.
Explore more: Browse more roller coasters.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FAQs
Who manufactured Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland?
The original ride system was built by Arrow Development in 1979; its track was fully replaced by Dynamic Attractions during a 2013-2014 refurbishment.
Does Big Thunder Mountain Railroad have any loops or inversions?
No. It is a mine train coaster with no inversions, relying on drops and turns rather than loops for its thrills.
How many people can ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at once?
Each train has five cars seated two across in three rows, carrying a total of about 30 riders per train.
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Photo: AmaryllisGardener / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.