As the back story goes, there is a magical protection of the mountain, keeping it's beauty (which you see when you first enter the mountain). But miners didn't heed the warning, and the town was destroyed by an earthquake

The little mining town of Big Thunder, located at the base of its namesake, is actually Rainbow Ridge, the original point of departure for the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland.

To add atmosphere to the attraction, designers scoured ghost towns for authentic carts, cogwheels, buckets, and other Gold Rush-era mining equipment.

Resembles scenery in Utah, and looks so authentic that exterminators have to check it constantly for Rattlesnakes and relocate them.