Thunder Mesa

Thunder Mesa is a mining town in Arizona and the first town ever mined by the Big Thunder Mining Company. It is the setting of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the rest of Frontierland at Disneyland Paris, largely created by Imagineer Jeff Burke.

Background
Thunder Mesa began as a fur trading outpost, with a Native American settlement, a fort, and tents of explorers. In the late 1840s, gold was discovered in the hills of Big Thunder Mountain in Arizona, and many moved out west to claim their fortunes. In 1848, Barnabas T. Bullion was given a land grant to establish the Big Thunder Mining Company to find more gold. The mines were personally overseen by Henry Ravenswood, who built a large estate on the highest hill of the town.

The mines thrived, but as time passed, the gold began to dry. The miners were ordered to dig deeper. The mines were plagued with unexplained instances, like self-moving trains, ghostly voices, and cave-ins, which the superstitious believed to be the work of the Thunderbird. In 1860, Thunder Mesa was rocked by a massive earthquake, killing most of its inhabitants, including Ravenswood. It managed to get by as a quiet river town since, despite the rivers drying out for a while. Bullion moved onto greener pastures, in the meanwhile, continuing the business in Rainbow Ridge and Tumbleweed in the late 1870s.

Notable Locations
Big Thunder Mountain housed the mines that were once owned and operated by the Big Thunder Mining Company. Years after the earthquake, prospectors attempted to get the business going again. Though the old tales had become folklore, this new generation of miners discovered that they were true.

The Lucky Nugget Saloon is owned and operated by Diamond Lil, a showgirl and all-around entertainer. Her entertainment over the years have included dancers, puppets, and live bands to entertain both the townsfolk and any visitors to Thunder Mesa.

Ravenswood Manor was once home to Henry Ravenswood and his family. After his death, the townsfolk began to talk about the old house and the family that lived in it. Some say that Ravenswood still lives in that house, keeping an eye on it and his daughter, Melanie. The locals gave it a nickname - Phantom Manor.

The Thunder Mesa Riverboats travel along the Rivers of the Far West. The Mark Twain and the Molly Brown pass through the neighboring towns of Tumbleweed, Rainbow Ridge, Grizzly Gulch, and Stillwater Junction.

Wilderness Island is home to Old Joe and his dog, Moonshine. They sit on the docks, as the riverboats pass by, waiting to catch any good fish.

Disneyland Paris
Unique when compared to other Big Thunder towns, Thunder Mesa encapsulates all of Frontierland at Disneyland Paris. All of the attractions, restaurants, and shows within the land connect to the Thunder Mesa story.

Phantom Manor
The Phantom Canyon scene within the attraction is either the haunted remains of Thunder Mesa after the 1860 earthquake or the underworld. Undead residents, like the mayor, a showgirl, a bartender, and an apothecary are forced to remain in the ruins for all eternity, like the rest of the ghosts at Phantom Manor.

Other
Thunder Mesa is referenced in the queue in Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. Thunder Mesa is 9258 km away from Rainbow Ridge, as a reference to their real world locations. A carriage line advertising in Tumbleweed offers carriage rides from Thunder Mesa to Rainbow Ridge, costing $10.

Trivia

 * Thunder Mesa’s name is a reference to the Western River Expedition - an attraction designed by Marc Davis for the Magic Kingdom that was never built.