Grüzi, Lily! Welcome to planDisney! I'm thrilled that you not only found us but also asked this fantastic question. As an amateur Disney Parks historian, I love discussing all things Disneyland, especially one of my favorite attractions!
You are absolutely right! There is a connection to the famous Matterhorn at the Disneyland Resort. In fact, there is a roller-coaster-style attraction also named the
Matterhorn, whose gleaming peak towers over the park. The attraction is inspired by the iconic Swiss landmark, though it stands at just
1/100th of the original mountain's scale, reaching 147 feet (approximately 44.81 meters). Walt Disney found inspiration for Disneyland's Matterhorn while working in Switzerland on one of his favorite films, "Third Man on the Mountain". At the time, Disneyland had an area called Holiday Hill, an elevated mound formed from the dirt excavated to create the moat around Sleeping Beauty Castle. Always seeking ways to enhance his park (as he famously said, "Disneyland will never be complete"), Walt saw the real Matterhorn and had a vision. As the legend goes, Imagineers soon received a picture of the mountain with Walt's handwritten note on the back: "
BUILD THIS!"
Imagineer Vic Greene got to work, alongside Disney Legend Bob Gurr, who designed the first continuously tracked tubular steel roller coaster, which would become the ride system for the attraction. The Matterhorn was completed just in time for what became affectionately known as the Second Opening of Disneyland in 1959, marking the park's largest expansion up to that point. On June 14 of that year, three iconic attractions debuted: the Disneyland-ALWEG Monorail System, Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn, leading the way with an
opening at 3:00 p.m.
Since then, the Matterhorn has remained a Disneyland-exclusive landmark. The attraction features two tracks: a shorter, faster track to the left of the entrance and a longer, slightly slower track to the right. Over its nearly 66-year history, the Matterhorn has received several enhancements, including the addition of the Abominable Snowman, nicknamed "Harold," in 1978. A tribute to former Disney president and Chief Operating Officer Frank Wells, an avid mountain climber, was added in his honor after his passing in 1994. The attraction received another update in 2015 when Imagineers consulted with an anthropologist to give Abominable Snowman an even more realistic look.
As someone who grew up in Southern California, I can share that spotting the Matterhorn's peak in the distance always signaled that a Disney day was on the horizon. It's a must-ride attraction for me, and while I'll ride it anytime, nothing compares to the breathtaking views as you race through the caverns and see the park illuminated at night. That image is forever etched in my mind when I think of Disneyland.
Lily, I've linked several Disney Parks Blog articles throughout this response to help with any additional research you may want to do on the Matterhorn. I also highly recommend watching The Imagineering Story on Disney+ for an in-depth look at the history of not only the Matterhorn but also other beloved Disney attractions.
If you have any more questions about the Matterhorn or anything else related to Disney theme park attractions, please
feel free to reach out to me here at planDisney!
Happy researching!David