DCA's Grizzly Peak Recreation Area, Backstory

DCA's Grizzly Peak Recreation Area
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by Doobie Moseley
May 10, 2001
An upclose look at DCA's Grizzly Peak Recretional Area including interviews with two of the Imagineers that worked on it.

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Grizzly Peak Recreation Area

The Legend of Grizzly Peak
Long ago, Ah-ha-le, the Coyote met Oo-soo-ma-te, the Grizzly Bear on top of the mountain. Seeing that the Grizzly was a powerful being, Coyote asked him to always watch over and protect the land. Then one day, people cam and tried to chase Oo-soo ma-te from the mountain. But Grizzly was strong and held his ground. When Coyote saw the brave bear standing alone against so many, he turned Oo-soo-ma-te into stone so he could never be driven away. To this day, people claim they can hear the great bear spirit in the wind that roars through the caverns and trees of Grizzly Peak.

Standing at 100-feet, Grizzly Peak is easily the most recognizable landmark at Disney's California Adventure (DCA). The Peak can be viewed from almost any point in the park as well as the surrounding areas including all the Disney hotels. It is the anchor for the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area, one of the areas that make up the Golden State district of DCA.

The East side of Grizzly Peak is situated near the "hub" of the park - the Sunshine Plaza. The Peak extends West towards the rest of the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area which is bordered by Condor Flats on one side, the Bay Area on another and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel on the other. Winding in and around Grizzly Peak is one of the stand-out attractions at DCA, Grizzly River Run, a white-water rafting ride. The other attraction in the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, a forest-themed play area for the young and young-at-heart. Within the Challenge Trail is the Ahwanee Circle where storytelling takes place. Also in the area is Rushin' River Outfitters with outdoor-themed merchandise.

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Grizzly Peak as seen from near the Sunshine Plaza
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Backstory
According to Disney legend, German emigrant Jakob Probst discovered gold at Grizzly Peak in the mid-1800's. But far from being a genius, Probst's discovery was by pure chance. Frustrated at failing to get his mule across Grizzly River, Probst threw his hat into the river and trampled it. Picking it up and putting it back on his head, he discovered a one-pound gold nugget had fallen inside. Probst immediately staked a claim he later sold for millions to the Eureka Gold & Timber Company.

Nicknamed "The Pride of the Sierra", the Company was a successful business throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gold was extracted from the mountain and shipped to San Francisco. A company office and adjoining store were built right next door as well. But by the early 1950s the mine was tapped and Eureka Gold & Timber closed down. The structures stood empty for years - only the office and company store remained in use - converted to an outdoor supply store.

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Mine Shaft #2 underneath Grizzly Peak
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The land itself was sold to the government to create the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area. Over the next few decades the land was reborn with trees growing back and rivers clearing up. Eventually, California's rafting enthusiasts discovered the whitewater thrills of Grizzly River and the word got out about the crystal-clear waters and Class V rapids there. By the 1980s, that hobby had grown into a business with several companies offering guided raft trips to customers. One of those companies was run by a savvy young group of entrepreneurs. They purchased the old mining structures to use as their base of operations. The Grizzly River Rafting Company was born.

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An overview of Grizzly River Run as seen from the Grand Californian Hotel
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