Bone Carving Shop (1955-1964)

The Bone Carving Shop was a small retail space within the Davy Crockett Frontier Arcade in Disneyland’s Frontierland, operating from approximately July 17, 1955, to 1964. Located just past the Frontierland bridge from Main Street, U.S.A., the shop sold items carved from bone or antler, such as jewelry and frontier-themed souvenirs, complementing the arcade’s Western games and Davy Crockett merchandise. The arcade, which included shooting games and collectibles, closed in 1987, and its space, including the Bone Carving Shop, was incorporated into the Pioneer Mercantile, now selling broader Disney merchandise.

Below are 10 fun facts about The Bone Carving Shop in the Davy Crockett Frontier Arcade at Disneyland:

1. Frontierland Arcade Setting: The Bone Carving Shop was a windowed counter within the Davy Crockett Frontier Arcade, facing Frontierland’s main entrance, drawing guests with its rustic, open-air retail setup.
2. Bone and Antler Crafts: The shop sold handcrafted items like pendants, rings, and small figurines, likely carved from animal bones or deer antlers, evoking the frontier’s hunting culture.
3. Varied Naming: It appeared in park guides as Bone Carving Shop, Bonekraft, Bone Jewelry, or Bone Craft, reflecting inconsistent branding but a consistent focus on carved goods.
4. Western Souvenir Appeal: Items were marketed as authentic frontier keepsakes, appealing to parents while kids played arcade games like shooting galleries or animal-themed challenges nearby.
5. Davy Crockett Tie-In: The shop’s merchandise aligned with the 1955 Davy Crockett craze, possibly offering bone-carved coonskin cap charms or miniature rifles, priced at 50¢–$2.
6. No Formal Entrance: Lacking a dedicated door, the shop operated as a niche retail nook within the arcade, accessible via the main arcade space, enhancing its quaint, discovery-driven charm.
7. Craftsmanship Display: Cast members may have demonstrated carving techniques at the counter, showcasing the skill behind bone and antler items, similar to other Frontierland craft exhibits.
8. Material Ambiguity: It’s unclear if carvings used real animal bone or synthetic substitutes, a common practice in 1950s theme parks to balance authenticity with cost and availability.
9. Integration into Mercantile: The shop closed in 1964, its space absorbed into the Frontier Trading Post, which became Pioneer Mercantile in 1987, shifting to Disney-themed apparel and candies.
10. Complementary Arcade Goods: The arcade’s central area sold furs, dishware, and coonskin caps, making the Bone Carving Shop’s unique bone crafts a specialized addition to the Western merchandise mix.