Big Thunder Mountain

Big Thunder Mountain is a mountain range in the Western River Valley in Arizona. It is the setting of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Disney Parks.

Background
The mountains were formed thousands of years ago by the natural forces of the world. Indigenous groups settled in the areas, believing that the mountains were guarded by a spirit. When white settlers began to move into the areas, they were warned that the spirit was not kind to fortune finders and the greedy. Their warnings fell onto deaf ears the moment gold was discovered in the mountains. The Big Thunder Mining Company was formed in 1849 in the town of Thunder Mesa, when Barnabas T. Bullion received a land grant. Years later, the towns of Rainbow Ridge and Tumbleweed were established for similar purposes.

Soon, the towns suffered several natural disasters. Thunder Mesa was hit by a massive earthquake in 1860. Rainbow Ridge suffered from an earthquake, and Tumbleweed was hit by droughts and floods. Despite the risk, the mining continued, even as the populations dwindled.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The mountains are the setting of the attraction. The mine trains travel through its hills, passing into the caves and dodging the supernatural.

Phantom Manor
The mountains can be seen in Phantom Canyon, where the souls of those that died in the 1860 earthquake are doomed to haunt forever.

Disney Kingdoms: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Abigail Bullion travels deep into the mountains to see the mining up close and personal. She learns about the bandits and the truth about the conditions within the mine. She helps the miners pilot the mine train out of the crumbling mines and back into the town of Rainbow Ridge.