Frontierland: Where the Old West Came to Life

As you journeyed back in time to the American frontier, you experienced the spirit of pioneer adventure and westward expansion that pervaded every boardwalk and river bend. With characters like Mike Fink and Davy Crockett riding again and the roar of adventure never far away, Frontierland at Walt Disney World was more than just a themed land in 1971. It was a living tribute to the wild West.

Like in the beloved Disney television stories, guests cruised the Rivers of America on the Bertha Mae or Gullywhumper as they relived the splendor of the frontier era aboard Mike Fink's Keel Boats. Davy Crockett's Canoes provided a hands-on experience through picturesque wilderness, past smoldering cabins, tribal villages, and wildlife scenes full of narratives for those who aspired to paddle alongside explorers.

A charming group of Audio-Animatronic bears, including Liver Lips, Teddy Barra, and Trixie, sang traditional songs on jugs, washboards, and one-string "things" at the Country Bear Jamboree, which brought a foot-stompin' good time to Grizzly Hall in the heart of the frontier. There was laughter and applause in a warm theater with a pine scent, and it was the epitome of rustic charm.

Sharpshooters could test their aim with long rifles at the Frontierland Shootin' Gallery, where each shot was an adventure into cowboy legend due to bouncing lead and painted targets. Animated forest critters winked at thirsty travelers from the Mile Long Bar nearby. At the same time, the Frontier Trading Post and Pecos Bill's Café served up hearty food and trail treasures, such as turquoise jewels and moccasins.

From Indian villages to trading posts, from saloons to leisurely river trips, 1971's Frontierland encapsulated the spirit of a bygone era—dusty, adventurous, and brimming with exploration. Frontierland was a place where American folklore lived on in each banjo strum and paddle splash.