Big Thunder Mountain, Mining train ride in Frontierland, Chessy, France.
Big Thunder Mountain is a mine train ride through Frontierland that travels across red rock formations with sharp curves and dark tunnels. The train reaches speeds of about 60 kilometers per hour while winding through a landscape designed to look like an old mining operation carved into the mountainside.
The attraction opened in 1992 alongside Disneyland Paris and drew inspiration from the Gold Rush era of the American West. The mining theme was chosen to echo a time when fortune seekers roamed the harsh landscapes searching for precious metals.
The name evokes a stubborn mountain that supposedly resisted miners in the American frontier stories. The design with red rocks and weathered structures captures how the Old West looked through the eyes of those seeking gold and fortune.
Visitors need to be at least 102 centimeters tall to ride. The attraction runs throughout the day, though wait times vary depending on the time of day and season.
A remarkable feature is how water surrounds the mountain structure as a design element. The riverboat Molly Brown circles the entire attraction while mine trains rush through different paths simultaneously, creating an intricate interplay between the two.
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