Bear Country (1972–1988) was a themed land at Disneyland, operating from March 4, 1972, to November 1988, before being rethemed as Critter Country in 1988 and later Bayou Country in 2024. Located near New Orleans Square and Frontierland, it celebrated woodland creatures, particularly bears, with attractions like the Country Bear Jamboree and Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes. The land’s rustic, forested aesthetic and bear-focused theming shifted to a broader critter theme in 1988, with some original elements lost.
Below are 10 fun facts about Bear Country (1972–1988) at Disneyland:
- Compact Land Size: Bear Country was Disneyland’s smallest land at 3.2 acres, designed as a forested enclave with log-cabin architecture to evoke a Pacific Northwest wilderness.
- Country Bear Jamboree: The land’s flagship attraction was the Country Bear Jamboree, an Audio-Animatronic show featuring 18 singing bears performing country music in the 350-seat Grizzly Hall.
- Walt’s Vision: Conceived by Walt Disney before his 1966 death, Bear Country was inspired by his love for rustic Americana, with the Jamboree based on unbuilt Mineral King Ski Resort plans.
- Davy Crockett Canoes: The Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, launched from Bear Country’s waterfront, let guests paddle around the Rivers of America, guided by cast members in frontier attire.
- Themed Dining: The Hungry Bear Restaurant offered burgers and fries in a log-cabin setting with riverside views, its name and decor tying directly to the land’s bear theme.
- Mile Long Bar: This snack bar featured a mirrored wall creating an illusion of stretching a mile, serving refreshments like ice cream with bear-themed signage and rustic charm.
- Teddi Barra’s Swingin’ Arcade: A shooting gallery with animated bear targets, named after a Country Bear character, used infrared rifles for interactive, family-friendly fun.
- Ursus H. Bear’s Wilderness Outpost: The land’s main shop sold bear-themed merchandise, like stuffed toys and coonskin caps, housed in a log structure near the Jamboree’s exit.
- Musical Atmosphere: Bear Country’s pathways played instrumental country tunes, with hidden speakers in trees and rocks enhancing the immersive woodland experience.
- Retheming Transition: In November 1988, Bear Country became Critter Country to incorporate Splash Mountain’s broader animal theme, retiring the original Country Bear Jamboree format in 2001.
