new blog: Mineral King – Walt Disney’s Last Lost Project

[LeahZ]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/09/09/mineral-king-walt-disneys-last-lost-project/

Mineral King – Walt Disney’s Last Lost Project
Posted on Sunday, 9th September 2012 by Michael Bowling


Walt Disney was an innovator. He changed expectations people had for animated films and amusement parks. Earlier this year at The Walt Disney Family Museum, urban planner and Disney historian, Sam Gennaway, hosted a presentation with Walt Disney’s son-in-law Walt Disney Family Museum Co-Founder and former Disney Company CEO, Ron Miller, and Dave Price, son of Disney Legend Buzz Price, on Mineral King. Mineral King was one of three projects Walt Disney was working on when he passed away, the other two were EPCOT and CalArts. If Mineral King had been built, it would have changed people’s expectations for ski resorts.

Walt Disney describing his plans for Mineral King


Read the rest of this entry…

 

[DHK]

Wonderful post! It is always fascinating to learn more about the man who started all the Disney magic!!

 

[rowan1813]

Thank you for posting this blog. The Mineral King project is very special to my family. We live in the Central Valley at the base of the Sequoias and it was because of this project that the highway up through the foothills, to the Sequoias, and Mineral King was built. We go to the foothills fairly often to enjoy Lake Kaweah and the towns up there. If it wasn't for Walt's determination to begin the project, we wouldn't have even got the highway and all that it offers.

I wish that the resort had been built and everyone could have had a chance to experience Walt's vision and the beauty that is Mineral King. We don't have a ski resort that is very close to us, the closest ones are Badger Pass and Sierra Summit, and those are quite a drive whereas the Disney resort would have been extremely close and a welcome winter destination place.

I have to agree with Ron's statement in the last paragraph. I believe that the resort would have been built despite the attempt to block it in the courts by the Sierra Club. He was not a man to take no for an answer.

 

[HeyItsNickCA]

Interesting read. It's unfortunate that it was never built, I wonder how different ski resorts would be today if it had been built. Would the ski industry have been affected like the theme park industry was affected by Disneyland?

 

[dadzgirl70]

Wow, I had no idea. Thank you for posting this. Interesting read.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

Thank you for posting this blog. The Mineral King project is very special to my family. We live in the Central Valley at the base of the Sequoias and it was because of this project that the highway up through the foothills, to the Sequoias, and Mineral King was built. We go to the foothills fairly often to enjoy Lake Kaweah and the towns up there. If it wasn't for Walt's determination to begin the project, we wouldn't have even got the highway and all that it offers.

I wish that the resort had been built and everyone could have had a chance to experience Walt's vision and the beauty that is Mineral King. We don't have a ski resort that is very close to us, the closest ones are Badger Pass and Sierra Summit, and those are quite a drive whereas the Disney resort would have been extremely close and a welcome winter destination place.

I have to agree with Ron's statement in the last paragraph. I believe that the resort would have been built despite the attempt to block it in the courts by the Sierra Club. He was not a man to take no for an answer.

Thank you for your personal perspective on Mineral King. It is interesting to hear what folks who live in proximity to Mineral King think of the project. I agree with you and Ron Miller,Walt would have made Mineral King a reality. I am pleased you enjoyed reading the blog.

Michael Bowling

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Every time I drive up to Giant Forest and pass the cutoff to Mineral Springs I think how close it came to being a Disney resort. I've been tempted to drive there, but haven't yet.

I really enjoyed reading Michael's blog.