Disneyland California’s Legendary Mountain Has Vanished — But Why Is No One Talking About It?
Here’s What We Know So Far
For decades, the Disneyland Matterhorn loomed over Fantasyland like a snowcapped sentinel. Families scream in delight as bobsleds whip down icy slopes. The roar of the abominable snowman echoes through caverns. But now?
Silence.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds—a roller coaster that helped define Disneyland itself—has suddenly and quietly shuttered. Guests this week found the area wrapped in neutral-colored construction walls, with no fanfare, no countdown, and no clear explanation. Is this just maintenance… or something more?
The Disneyland Matterhorn: Behind the Walls of “Disneyland’s First Mountain”
Currently, the Matterhorn’s footprint is surrounded by beige walls with brown accents, stopping near the Monorail track, where scrim fills in the remaining space. While the summit is still visible, the once-lively attraction has gone dormant, drawing more questions than answers.
And Disney? They’re saying almost nothing.
The company hasn’t shared specific details about the project, nor a definitive reopening date. Instead, nearby signage simply states the attraction will return “later this fall.” For a ride with such deep roots in Disney history, the silence is deafening.
But those same walls also serve as a canvas for nostalgia—shield-shaped plaques retell the origins of Walt Disney’s mountain dream.
A Mountain Built on a Postcard and a Dream
In 1958, while on location in Switzerland for Third Man on the Mountain, Walt Disney became enamored with the real-life Matterhorn. Inspired, he mailed a postcard of the towering peak to his team of Imagineers with just three words: “Build this.”
They did exactly that.
When the Matterhorn Bobsleds opened in 1959, it became the first tubular steel roller coaster in the world, launching not only a new era in theme park engineering but also Disneyland’s first “thrill ride.” It debuted alongside the Submarine Voyage, Fantasyland Autopia, and the Disneyland Monorail, marking the first major expansion of Walt’s park.
Over the decades, the attraction became synonymous with innovation, inspiring later “mountain” rides like Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
A History of Upgrades — and Speculation
Though its exterior has remained largely the same, the Matterhorn’s interiors have seen multiple upgrades. The infamous abominable snowman—who now lunges at bobsledders mid-ride—wasn’t added until a 1977-78 refurbishment. That overhaul also introduced the enclosed lift tunnel, glowing ice caverns, and the now-iconic alpine wind effects.
Further changes came in 1995, 2012, and 2015, with updates to lighting, animatronics, and vehicle design. Despite these refreshes, the Matterhorn has never been duplicated at another Disney park—making it a uniquely Disneyland experience.
Now, with new walls up and no clear update timeline, fans are beginning to wonder: could this be more than routine maintenance?
Reading Between the Lines
In a time when Disney has reimagined attractions like Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, guests are especially alert. Some speculate that this closure could hint at more substantial changes to the Matterhorn—perhaps new animatronics, track enhancements, or thematic overlays.
Others point to structural maintenance, given the ride’s age and complex dual-track system. Even the bobsleds themselves, last redesigned in 2012, have drawn criticism for comfort.
But without an official update, all guests can do is wait… and wonder.
The Disneyland Matterhorn: What This Closure Really Means
The Matterhorn is more than just a ride—it’s a symbol of Walt Disney’s fearless ambition and the spirit of innovation that built Disneyland. Any time it closes, it signals something bigger: a preservation of legacy, or perhaps a new chapter.
Even in silence, the mountain speaks volumes.
Until it reopens later this fall, guests will have to imagine the roar of the yeti and the splash of icy water from afar. But when those walls finally come down, one thing is certain:
Disney fans everywhere will be watching.
