Grizzly Gulch

**Grizzly Gulch** is the ‘luckiest town in the west’ and home to Big Grizzly Mountain. It is a western-themed area at Hong Kong Disneyland, the park’s equivalent of Frontierland. It was the second major expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland, following Toy Story Land and preceding Mystic Point.

## Background

Grizzly Gulch was established on August 8, 1888 - the luckiest day of the luckiest month of the luckiest year. However, the townspeople ran into trouble when they discovered they had built their town on a field of geysers. The town was literally sinking and their fortunes went with it.

Their luck turned around, when Captain Phineas Cosgrove went exploring around Big Grizzly Mountain. He came across a family of three bears scratching their backs against the mountain. When they left, he found traces of gold and staked his claim, starting the Big Grizzly Mountain Mining Company. Large ores and nuggets of gold were discovered and the town prospered, becoming the ‘luckiest town in the west’. The bear family became mascots for the town, nicknamed Rocky, Motherlode, and Nugget. They were protected by the citizens, in hopes that it would keep their luck going.

## Grizzly Gulch

### Inhabitants

Captain Phineas Cosgrove, Tom Cutwell, Sheriff Justice, Miss Kitty, Amy and Melody, Rocky, Motherlode, and Lugget

**The** **Big Grizzly Mountain Mines** are open for visitors to take a ride on the trains, where they’ll be able to find their fortunes. However, miners should be warned: the bears have been known to cause havoc around the mines. If fortune is not in their favors, they’ll be sent on one of the wildest rides in the wilderness.

**Geyser Gulch** is the old end of town, lovingly nicknamed that by the townsfolk. Though the geysers are active, it’s a popular spot for locals and tourists to play as an escape from the hot suns. The old water tower can still be found there. According to local superstitions, if one makes a wish when the **Lucky Springs Geyser** explodes, the wish will come true.

**The Grizzly Gulch Jail** takes care of the town's outlaws. Sheriff Justice captured the dastardly criminals and brought them to serve time. Some have managed to escape, like Wild Cat Kelly. The jail is advertising for a deputy.

**The Lucky Nugget Saloon** is the local eatery for the people of Grizzly Gulch. One day, a golden retriever named Lucky led miners to a 130 pound gold nugget. The nugget would be dubbed the Lucky Nugget and the saloon would be named after it. It’s owned by Miss Kitty, who performs in the town square with showgirls Amy and Melody, Captain Cosgrove, sawmill owner Tom Cutwell, and Sheriff Justice. The Lucky Nugget, itself, is on display at the **Assay Office**.

## Attractions

* Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
* Geyser Gulch
* Grizzly Gulch Welcome Wagon

## Connections

### Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Near the end of the attraction at Disneyland, guests will pass a sign pointing to different locations. Grizzly Gulch is one of the destinations, alongside Rainbow Ridge, Tumbleweed, and Thunder Mesa. Grizzly Gulch is 11743 km away, referencing the real world location of Hong Kong Disneyland in proximity to Disneyland.

### Thunder Mesa Daily Messenger

On the fourth page of the 2016 issue, there is an advertisement for cruises on the Western River Line. Grizzly Gulch is one of the towns connected along the Rivers of the Far West.

## Trivia

* Disney previously used Grizzly Gulch as a location name within the "All Aboard the Mine Train" song written to accompany a presentation of Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland on "Walt Disney Presents", with the lyric "Over there is Grizzly Gulch, where all the gold is panned".
* The founding date is 8/8/1888 because eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture. The number is referenced in Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars as the intended shaft for the train. Instead, they are sent into the fourth shaft, which is an unlucky number.
* Big Grizzly Mountain resembles Grizzly Peak at Disney’s California Adventure.
* The Lucky Nugget Saloon in Grizzly Gulch shares a name with The Lucky Nugget Saloon in Thunder Mesa. Though it's a food stand in Grizzly Gulch, as opposed to a large auditorium in Thunder Mesa.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.charactercentral.net/L718\_HongKongDisneylandResort\_HongKongDisneyland\_GrizzlyGulch.aspx