Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

[RobotMirror]

49 years ago this month, the Petrified Tree was installed in Disneyland. A gift from Lillian Disney, the tree came from a forest that existed up to 70 million years ago, making it the "oldest" attraction in the park.



The plaque at the base of the tree reads as follows:

PETRIFIED TREE from the PIKE PETRIFIED FOREST, COLORADO

This section weighs five tons and measures 7 1/2 feet in diameter. The original tree, estimated to have been 200 feet tall, was part of a sub-tropical forest 55 to 70 million years ago in what is now Colorado. Scientists believe it to be of the redwood of sequoia species. During some prehistoric era, a cataclysmic upheaval caused silica laden water to overspread the living forest. Wood cells were changed during the course of time to sandstone. Opals were formed within the tree trunk itself.

Presented to Disneyland by Mrs. Walt Disney, September, 1957.

[elly]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

hah! great bit of info there frogberto!

[Witches of Morva]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

ORWEN: Thank you for the information, Frogberto, duckling! For a minute there, I thought this would turn out to be a topic about a certain nasty old biddy sister of mine. By the way, I notice the little green frog you used to have in you avatar is gone, now. I just KNOW Orgoch went and gobbled him up!

[Geek and proud]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

:o

[BigThunder]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

Cool Frogberto. I've always liked that little detail along the ROA. Its pure Walt; he put it there because he liked it.

I take issue with calling it a Disneyland attraction, though. Now, if it was in DCA, that would be another story...

[Abominable Snowman]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

I never knew it was that old. Thats crazy.

[tahoebob54]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

49 years ago this month, the Petrified Tree was installed in Disneyland. A gift from Lillian Disney, the tree came from a forest that existed up to 70 million years ago, making it the "oldest" attraction in the park.



The plaque at the base of the tree reads as follows:

PETRIFIED TREE from the PIKE PETRIFIED FOREST, COLORADO

This section weighs five tons and measures 7 1/2 feet in diameter. The original tree, estimated to have been 200 feet tall, was part of a sub-tropical forest 55 to 70 million years ago in what is now Colorado. Scientists believe it to be of the redwood of sequoia species. During some prehistoric era, a cataclysmic upheaval caused silica laden water to overspread the living forest. Wood cells were changed during the course of time to sandstone. Opals were formed within the tree trunk itself.

Presented to Disneyland by Mrs. Walt Disney, September, 1957.

A CM told me that it is going to be closed for a upgrade next year, and that they will be putting a loop in!!!!

[aerinpegadrak]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

Yeah, I don't like calling it an attraction either. The oldest thing in the park, certainly, but in my opinion, the honor of oldest attraction goes to King Arthur Carrousel, whose platform dates back from the 1800s.

[Hakuna Makarla]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

never saw this tree, where is it at? thanks froggy

[stinkerbell]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

I thought this was another Jennidisneyfer birthday thread.

My bad.

Carry on.

:evil:

[LuvsLilo]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

You better run Stinkerbell! :mob:

[SCUBAbe]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

never saw this tree, where is it at? thanks froggy

it's right across from the golden horseshoe, juust past the mark twain loading area next to the river. I'll show it to you...

[Hakuna Makarla]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

it's right across from the golden horseshoe, juust past the mark twain loading area next to the river. I'll show it to you...

cool, you will have to show me much, seems I have missed so many details in the park and I want to get to see them this time

[stinkerbell]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

You better run Stinkerbell! :mob:

I'm scared. But I'm younger and can run faster. :lmao:

[Hakuna Makarla]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

does anyone else think the shape of that thing looks somewhat nasty? or is it me again :lol:

[Opus1guy]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

There's a little more to this story than just Lillian giving it to Disneyland.

Walt found the tree for sale on a trip to Colorado. He really liked it so he purchased it, and later in what can only be called a "gag gift"...presented it to Lillian on their 31st Wedding Anniversary on July 13th, 1956.

Well, Lillian...not wanting anything to do with this beast...came up with her own way to pawn it off...so she in turn gifted it to Disneyland later the next year.

Here's a shot of Lillian and Walt at the tree in what can only be speculated as them smiling at each other acknowledging their own "inside joke" about the tree.



Don't know which of the two ended up the winner in this exchanging gag. Something tells me Walt wanted the thing for Disneyland all along.

[nemopoppins]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

Opus1guy, thank you for the story! Just last week we discussed the tree when we passed it. We wondered how happily Lillian might have received such a gift. Now it all makes sense.

[DisneyCarnivora]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

I'm glad the old tree gets some recognition!

[aaronpaulcustoms]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

One word: Superdisnerific!

[DonDuck]

Re: Happy Birthday to the Oldest Attraction in the entire park!

Why, this just makes me want to break out in song.

What rolls down stairs alone or in pairs
Rolls over your neighbor's dog?
What's great for a snack and fits on your back?
It's Log, Log, Log!

It's Log, Log, it's big, it's heavy, it's wood.
It's Log, Log, it's better than bad, it's good!
Everyone wants a log! You're gonna love it, Log!
Come on and get your log! Everyone needs a Log!