The Stage Coach (1955–1956) was an authentic Frontierland attraction at Disneyland, featuring real Concord-style stagecoaches pulled by live horses through a rugged desert landscape. Renamed Rainbow Mountain Stage Coaches in 1956 after scenic enhancements, it operated until 1959 (with some sources noting 1960).
Here are 10 fun facts about the original Stage Coach attraction:
- Opening Day Adventure: The Stage Coach debuted on July 17, 1955, as a Frontierland opening-day attraction, offering guests a bumpy ride through the Painted Desert, a region near today’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad area, mimicking an 1800s Western journey.
- Concord-Style Coaches: Built to echo the luxurious Abbott Downing Company’s Concord stagecoaches from the 1800s, the coaches (named California, Arizona, and Colorado) featured curved bodies and thoroughbrace suspension for a smoother ride over rough terrain.
- Four-Horse Teams: Each stagecoach was pulled by a team of four horses, sourced from Disneyland’s Pony Farm, navigating a dirt path shared with Conestoga Wagons, passing sights like Coyote Rock and Horse Thief Canyon. The stagecoaches were part of a broader effort to revive wagon-making for Disneyland, with props from Disney’s Westward Ho the Wagons! (1956) later used in the nearby Indian Village, showcasing studio-park synergy.
- Shotgun or Sardine: Guests could choose to ride “shotgun” atop the coach next to the driver for a thrilling view or inside the cabin, which seated about nine but felt cramped, earning it a “sardine” nickname among cast members.
- C-Ticket to D-Ticket: In 1955, the ride required a C-ticket, reflecting its mid-tier status, but upgraded to a D-ticket in 1956 due to high demand and operational costs, as lines often stretched beyond the loading area near Rainbow Ridge.
- Tipping Troubles: The coaches were prone to tipping on uneven paths, and breakaway harnesses meant to prevent accidents sometimes left guests stranded when spooked horses bolted, contributing to safety concerns.
- Nixon’s Photo Op: During a 1955 visit, Vice President Richard Nixon rode a stagecoach, smiling from a window for a promotional photo, with Walt Disney posing beside it in a cowboy hat, highlighting its photogenic appeal.
- Painted Desert Route: The route wound along the Rivers of America and into the Painted Desert, showcasing natural rock formations and sparse vegetation, with the area rebranded as the Rainbow Desert in 1956 after new landscaping.
- Low Capacity Woes: Each coach carried only 9–12 passengers, leading to massive lines and slow throughput, with high maintenance costs for horses and vehicles making it less sustainable than other attractions.
- Rainbow Rebrand: On June 26, 1956, the attraction became Rainbow Mountain Stage Coaches with the addition of new scenery and three mud wagons (buckboards) numbered 4, 5, and 6, designed for a four-pony hitch to boost capacity.
