The Big Thunder Ranch (1986–2016) was a Western-themed area in Disneyland’s Frontierland, located near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It offered a casual setting for live shows, a petting zoo to view Disneyland’s horses and other animals, and dining at the Big Thunder Barbecue, known for its all-you-can-eat ribs, chicken, potatoes, beans, and more. The ranch closed permanently on January 11, 2016, to make way for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Here are 10 fun facts about Big Thunder Ranch during its 1986–2016:
- Opening and Concept: Big Thunder Ranch opened on June 27, 1986, as a re-creation of an 1880s working horse ranch, designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and architect Chris Carradine to provide a rustic contrast to the thrill of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
- Petting Zoo Animals: The outdoor petting zoo housed sheep, goats, cows, and donkeys, with notable residents including two turkeys that received presidential pardons in 2008 for Thanksgiving, showcased as part of the ranch’s animal displays.
- Mickey Moo’s Fame: In 1988, the ranch welcomed Mickey Moo, a Holstein cow from Maine with a Mickey Mouse-shaped marking on her side; she gave birth to Baby Moo in 1991 and remained a star attraction until her passing in 1993.
- Horse Viewing Area: The ranch provided a paddock where guests could see Disneyland’s horses, used for parades and shows, resting on breaks or days off, accessible via a hidden trail from the backstage Circle D Corral stables.
- Miss Chris’ Cabin: The log cabin, built with real logs from the Rocky Mountain Log Company, was named Miss Chris’ Cabin and served as a children’s crafts center with tables for coloring and crayon baskets, later themed as Pearl’s Cottage during seasonal overlays.
- Big Thunder Barbecue Menu: Reopened in April 2009, the all-you-can-eat Big Thunder Barbecue served family-style meals with barbecue ribs, chicken, smoked sausage (dinner only), ranch beans, coleslaw, cornbread, corn cob wheels, and drinks in mason jars, with vegetarian skewers available.
- Live Entertainment: The ranch’s outdoor stage hosted shows like Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (2012–2014), with musicians performing country and folklore sing-alongs, and characters like Woody and Jessie appearing during seasonal events.
- Seasonal Overlays: The ranch transformed for holidays, becoming Little Patch of Heaven in 2004 for Home on the Range, a Halloween-themed area with pumpkin decor, and a Christmas village with Santa meet-and-greets and red-ribboned pine trees.
- Hunchback Dinner Show: From 1996 to 1998, the ranch briefly housed a medieval village for a Hunchback of Notre Dame dinner show, featuring Quasimodo and Esmeralda, before reverting to its Western theme in 1998 for corporate events.
- Railroad Tribute: After the ranch’s closure in 2016, the Disneyland Railroad’s rerouted Frontierland section added two lanterns with the Big Thunder Ranch logo as a subtle tribute, visible to passengers near the former site.
