The Mike Fink Keelboats have not navigated the Rivers of America in Disneyland for over a decade. On May 17, 1997, the Gullywhumper tipped over, dunking a boatload of guests. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but the Gullywhumper was ultimately retired to this remote area of Tom Sawyer Island. The Gullywhumper's sister boat, the Bertha Mae, was sold on eBay in 2001.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Snapshot: Disneyland! - The Gullywhumper
The Mike Fink Keelboats have not navigated the Rivers of America in Disneyland for over a decade. On May 17, 1997, the Gullywhumper tipped over, dunking a boatload of guests. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but the Gullywhumper was ultimately retired to this remote area of Tom Sawyer Island. The Gullywhumper's sister boat, the Bertha Mae, was sold on eBay in 2001.
never been on one, but it look a hell of a lot more fun then the canoes!
ReplyDeleteIn Disneyland Park in Disneyland Resort Paris the "Coyote" and the "Raccoon" have been reactivated in July 2007 (after being off for several years). Sadly they are now the only operating keel boats at any Disney park in the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's even sadder when you look inside this Keelboat and see it holding water, rotting away.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the Davey Crocket movies, so when I was Disneyland last month I took 7 or 8 pictures of the Gullywumper both from Pirates Lair and from the Mark Twain. I was trying to get the best angle. Does anyone know if this is the actual prop/boat from the River Pirates movie or was it made just for the attraction?
ReplyDeleteWould love to see those photos, Chris. To answer your question: All keelboats in all disney parks are reproductions.
ReplyDeleteBut the originals were in service for about 10 years (from 1955 and 1956) in Disneyland but have been replaced with reproductions after that.
I started my WDW career in the 80's as a Keelboat driver, and loved every minute of it... until sumemr time hit, and then it became miserable!
ReplyDeleteI wish I coulda bought the one on eBay and relived those times!
Richard Kraft, a mega agent for several top writers of Hollywood scores, purchased the Bertha Mae and has been paying more than $8,000 a year to store it.
ReplyDeleteKraft is a huge collector of all-things pop culture -- including many Disney items -- and produced his own entertaining documenting called "Finding Kraftland."