High atop Boot Hill, overlooking Frontierland, a.k.a. Thunder Mesa, at #DLRP Disneyland Park, sits the menacing Phantom Manor. The tale is told that long ago a gold mining mogul named Henry Ravenswood tapped Big Thunder Mountain clean. This angered the spirit of the Mountain who, in turn, caused an earthquake that took the life of Henry and his wife Martha.
Prior to the Ravenswood deaths, their daughter Melanie had become engaged to a would-be train engineer who desired to take her far away from the town. This had greatly displeased Henry, and he became determined to stop the wedding at all costs.
Left to manage the mansion alone, Melanie proceeded with her wedding plans. However, on her wedding day, a mysterious Phantom appeared at the Manor, lured her groom to the attic, and hanged him by the neck from the rafters. Melanie waited hours in the ballroom for her Groom to appear. Once the guests departed, Melanie never left the home again.
Since that fateful day, Melanie has never removed her wedding gown nor put down her bouquet, ever awaiting her Groom’s return. In the still night air, her voice can be heard singing softly to her lost love, and sometimes late at night, some see mysterious lights and shadowy movements. The Phantom—whom locals speculate is Melanie’s own father—lingers still and has invited 998 other happy haunts to join him in celebrating the averted nuptials.
Do you dare to board a doom buggy for a tour of Ravenswood Manor?
Today’s Takeaway:
Frontierland—or Thunder Mesa—at Disneyland Paris is reminiscent of the 1800s American western frontier, where land was wide and wild and populations were few and far between. It was full of not only natural hazards like desert terrain and deadly snakes, but it was also full of ruthless ruffians with pistols poised.
Today, locate a copy of Tombstone (1993) and view it with your children. (Parental guidance is, of course, suggested as this film is rated R for violence.) Now, this movie is fictional, but it gives a very good impression of what the famed Battle of the OK Corral and its surrounding circumstances may have been like. Follow up with library and/or internet research about the time period. Discuss why the cemetery is referred to as “Boot Hill.” And wrap things up by creating an “Old West” diorama in a shoebox.
SCHOOL SUBJECT: History
SKILL LEVEL: Middle Grades
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Phantom Manor looks so creepy! I love that even though Thunder Mesa & The Western River Expedition never were built at WDW, Thunder Mesa did find its way to DLP! And you tied all this to real American history! So cool! Like I’ve said for years, Disney really is educational! 🙂
I know! My husband is starting to talk about maybe going to DLRP in 2-3 years!!! Fingers crossed! I’d love to see this in person!
How exciting! I hope you get to go!
Ravenswood Manor looks like a spookier version of The Haunted Mansion in WDW. I love the backstory – there’s always a backstory 🙂
Have you been there? We’ll be taking my DD who will then be age 8 to DL Paris in June/July timeframe 2015. Would it be too scary for her?
I haven’t been yet, but we’re looking at going in 2-3 years. From what I’ve read, if your daughter is ok with the WDW Haunted Mansion, she ought to be ok with this one. I always tell my kids to just close their eyes if they’re uncomfortable and I’ll let them know when it’s safe to look again 🙂
Disneyland Paris is on my bucket list…hoping to get there in a couple of years! Thanks for a fun article!
We’re hoping to get there in a couple years too!
That sounds really cool that they have a simular Haunted Manshion just like we do. I plan to one day to get out to Disney Paris and then I will be sure to ride this ride!!!
We’re hoping to get there someday too, and this ride is definitely on our bucket list!
This looks awesome! I would love this ride!!!
It does look awesome!
I would love to be able to go to the different Disney Parks and check out how they interpret the Haunted Mansion (and any other attractions like Space Mountain). Ravenswood Manor looks like a really cool interpretation!
I know! Disneyland Paris versions all look kicked up a notch!
It would be a dream come true to go to Disneyland Paris and see The Phantom Manor! If I can get the guts up to ride on it! It looks a lot scarier than Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, CA! Thanks for the story that goes along with it!