Before Splash Mountain: Monstro, Paul Bunyan, and Disney’s Unbuilt Flumes (Ep. 96)

Jim Hill and Len Testa begin their Splash Mountain history with the water rides Disney considered long before the attraction took shape. Jim traces Walt’s early Monstro concept, other unbuilt Fantasyland rides, and the log-flume technology that revived interest in a Disney water thrill ride. The conversation culminates in a Paul Bunyan proposal and the decisions that eventually steered the project toward Song of the South.

Original Air Date: February 1, 2016 (estimated)
Original Title: Splash Mountain

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walt’s interest in shoot-the-chutes rides and an early Monstro attraction for Fantasyland.
• Donald Duck bumper boats, an Old Mill Ferris wheel, and other concepts that never reached Disneyland.
• How Monstro found a different role in Storybook Land Canal Boats.
• The proposed Bible Storyland park and its connection to former Disney designers.
• Water-ride ideas considered for Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier.
• Arrow Development’s log-flume technology and the example set by Knott’s Timber Mountain Log Ride.
• Dick Nunis’s push for a flume and the proposed Paul Bunyan sawmill adventure.
• Why the project’s story evolved toward Song of the South and the future Splash Mountain.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.
View transcript here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
• YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Produced by Aaron Adams

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/

Jim and Len trace the unbuilt water rides and log-flume concepts that preceded Splash Mountain, from Monstro the whale to Paul Bunyan.

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