Official Disney backstory for Big Thunder Mtn

"Disney legend has that the story of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the BTM Mining Company date from the early days of American's 1st major gold rush. When glitter was discovered in the Big Thunder region in the 1850's it was thought to be one of the richest strikes west of the Mississippi. A mining company was quickly established, taking it's name from that given to the local out cropping of red and orange covered rock formations. However dreams of gOfficial Disney backstory for Big Thunder Mtn

"Disney legend has that the story of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the BTM Mining Company date from the early days of American's 1st major gold rush. When glitter was discovered in the Big Thunder region in the 1850's it was thought to be one of the richest strikes west of the Mississippi. A mining company was quickly established, taking it's name from that given to the local out cropping of red and orange covered rock formations. However dreams of gold rarely come without cost. Big Thunder Mountain had stood sentinel for centuries over desolate land that the nearby residents believed to be sacred. Local lore spoke of a protective super natural force that dwelt deep within the mountain. Those who ventured too close were doomed to feel it's wrath.

Mining work near Big Thunder went without incident at first. But, as the easy picking began to pan out the miners were forced to dig deeper and deeper into the Mountainside. In their quest for more gold they began using highly volatile explosives to blast ragged holes into the hard rock. Steel rail layering Gandy Dancers began spiking miles of track down into the very heart of the mountain. Huffing and puffing mine trains began to add to the rumble and vibration exploding across the landscape. Then the inexplicable began to happen. Stange eerie noises echoed through newly opened shafts. Green horn miners began to hear Tommy Knockers, the spirits of long dead miners, tapping from inside the boarded abandoned tunnels. Cave-ins became frequent. Equipment fail. And then the narrow gauge engines began rolling out the makeshift station with no human hand at the control. Entire trains, most times packed with unsuspecting passengers would race dangerously at break neck speed along the spiraling steel and wooden track. Ghost Trains! The miners began to whisper maybe the locals were right. Maybe the Mountain was inhabited by a spirit of it's own. Maybe the mine was haunted. They left in droves, returning to their former occupations. The operation went bust and Big Thunder became just another Ghost town.

Thirty years drifted by and the local myths and legends about Big Thunder were swept from memory of all but a few who could still recall why the area had been abandoned. A new gold rush took hold in the 1880's and the Boom Town of Tumble Weed was established in Dry Gulch, at the foot of Big Thunder Mountain. Although the little settlement suffered from bouts of arid weather the arrival of Professor Cumulus Isobar, "Rain Maker Extraordinaire and Purveyor of Magical Elixirs" always guaranteed that his customers would no go dry for long. Sometimes it even chanced to rain while he was in town, enhancing his reputation, and usually resulting in a flash flood, if the ground refused to absorb the rainfall because it had baked too long in the sun.

A new batch of boomers, drillers, and prospectors re-outfitted the BTM Mining Company Office. They started grubstake operations up again, blasting and drilling once more into the untapped veins of Big Thunder Mountain. But, as visitors to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad soo experienced for themselves, sometimes folklore turns out to be more than myth, and those who ignore that past are doomed to repeat it."

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