Walt Disney’s huge interest in Switzerland didn’t just stop with their family vacation or with his 1959 live-action film Third Man on the Mountain, which was a story of mountain climbers of the famous peak near Zermatt, Switzerland. Instead, he decided to bring a little bit of Switzerland to Disneyland.

Inspired by the beauty of the real Matterhorn, Walt Disney had the thought of a bobsled ride for Disneyland. The Matterhorn Bobsleds, which opened on June 14, 1959, is noteworthy for its many “firsts” – first thrill attraction created for Disneyland, first tubular rollercoaster ever built, first fully themed indoor/outdoor coaster, and the first rollercoaster that allowed multiple vehicles on the same track at once.

Originally, the Matterhorn was intended to cover up the very unattractive center steel tower that supported the Skyway attraction, which was in the middle of a scrubby, grass-covered mound of earth called Holiday Hill. In anticipation of the Matterhorn, Holiday Hill became Snow Hill during construction and was later changed into the pathway that is there today. As plans for the Matterhorn evolved, it soon became a full-blown attraction that is still a favorite for many Disneyland goers.

The attraction opened as one of three new major attractions for Disneyland in 1959 (the Submarines and the Monorail were the other two). It was built by coaster builder Arrow Dynamics and WED Imagineering. It consisted of a wood and steel infrastructure surrounded by manmade rock. Unlike the real Matterhorn, this peak had numerous holes in its shell where the bobsleds exited, giving riders’ great views of the park below, and re-entered again.

Until the Skyway closed in 1994, the Matterhorn contained two big pairs of holes toward the middle of the mountain in which the Skyway buckets would travel through. One pair of holes was for travel on the way to Fantasyland; the other pair of holes for travel on the way to Tomorrowland. Inside was a large, open space where riders could see down into the Matterhorn’s bowels as they glided through. Following the closure of the Skyway, the holes were partially filled in on the Fantasyland side. The holes in the Tomorrowland face remained mostly intact.

In the 1970’s, the Matterhorn underwent some significant changes. First of all, it was officially made part of Fantasyland in the early 1970’s. In 1978, the Matterhorn received a major refurbishment. The biggest task during this refurbishment was to break up the interior space into a number of small, icy caves and tunnels with a more convincing theme than the openness that was there before. Some of the holes in the mountain’s skin were also filled in, including the two large openings at the top of the first hill. Additionally, the Abominable Snowman, a yeti named Harold, was installed in the form of several Audio-Animatronic figures that roar at the bobsledders as they zoom by. During this time, the bobsleds were also changed from the original 2-seater, flat luge-like, multi-colored model to a new more rounded one color (white with orange and red pinstripes) car.

Since then, there haven’t been too many changes to the Matterhorn over the years. One of the most noteworthy changes has been the external appearance. Now, the Matterhorn is painted a warmer gray color and the “snow” on its sides has become patchier. The actual external structure itself has remained largely unchanged, though some holes have been filled and minor alterations have been made to the mountains shape.

Additional Trivia and Fun Facts

• The Matterhorn is unique to Disneyland – it has never been replicated at any other Disney theme park around the world.
• To create the mountain, Disney Imagineers used enough lumber to build twenty-seven 1950’s-era tract homes, 2,175 individual steel girders, and countless tons of concrete.
• The movie industry technique of forced perspective was used to make the mountain appear larger than it actually is, utilizing progressively smaller trees and landscaping that give the illusion of more height as your eye travels up the mountain.
• The mighty Matterhorn is a 1/100th replica of its Swiss namesake, the tallest structure inside Disneyland, towering 147 feet over the park. The slopes and peak are identically aligned to the positioning of the actual mountain.
• Shortly after the Skyway closed, a grotto filled with glimmering crystals was installed inside the mountain. An abandoned crate labeled “Wells Expedition” was also added as a tribute to Frank Wells, who had died in 1994. The bluish glow of the crystals can been seen from the ground at night.
• During busier times, Mickey, Goofy and Minnie (along with other mountain climbers) can be seen scaling the mountain.
• It has been said there is a small basketball court inside the Matterhorn.
• When the Matterhorn first opened, it required an “E” ticket, making this the first attraction requiring one.