This summer students from Western Michigan University found themselves in Mineral King as a stop along the way in learning about the life and work of Walt Disney. Though the proposed Disney ski resort project never came to fruition, the area remains a topic of interest for Mineral King lovers and lovers of Disney history. The man behind the course, Dr. Christopher Tremblay, had the idea to turn a road trip of historic points in Walt Disney’s life into a college course, and in 2015, it became a reality. This year marked the 8th “pilgrimage.” From Chicago to Marceline, Kansas City to Mineral King, and a grand finale at Disneyland, the students enrolled travel cross-country as they experience firsthand the life of Walt Disney. More information about the course can be found here: https://www.waltspilgrimage.com/pilgrimage
I am excited to share with you three perspectives from students on their Mineral King portion of the trip. I hope reading their accounts of this special area resonates with you as well.
Kaeshwinie Murugan
Scenery of Mineral King Mineral King was an unexpected but deeply rewarding part of our journey. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this serene and unspoiled valley stands in stark contrast to the bustling cities and historical sites we had visited earlier in our trip. Mineral King offered a tranquil respite from the pace of modern life, and walking through its untouched wilderness felt like stepping back in time. It was a reminder of the natural beauty that inspired so much of Walt Disney’s work and vision. Mineral King is unique not only for its natural splendor but also for its place in the story of Walt Disney. In the 1960s, Disney had grand plans to develop Mineral King into a ski resort, complete with lodges, ski lifts, and facilities that would welcome visitors year-round. It was to be a place where people could enjoy the wonders of nature while also experiencing the high-quality entertainment and service that Disney was known for. However, Disney’s untimely death in 1966 and subsequent environmental concerns halted these plans, leaving Mineral King largely untouched and preserved as part of Sequoia National Park. Walking through Mineral King, I couldn’t help but reflect on what might have been. The idea of a Disney ski resort in such a pristine location is intriguing, but at the same time, I felt a deep sense of gratitude that the area was never developed. The beauty of Mineral King lies in its raw, natural state—a landscape shaped by time and the elements, untouched by commercial development.
The towering trees, the clear mountain streams, and the rugged rock formations all contribute to a sense of timelessness that is increasingly rare in our modern world. Our hike through Mineral King, though short, was a highlight of the trip. The trail we followed took us along a river, through groves of ancient trees, and up to viewpoints that offered breathtaking vistas of the valley below. The crisp mountain air, the sounds of rushing water, and the vibrant colors of the changing leaves all combined to create an atmosphere of peace and reflection. It was a break from the city life, a chance to reconnect with nature and to appreciate the simple beauty of the world around us. In many ways, I’m glad that Walt Disney’s plans for Mineral King never came to fruition. The valley remains a sanctuary for those who seek solitude and a connection to the natural world, a place where one can experience the kind of wonder that Disney himself must have felt when he first visited the area. Mineral King is a testament to the importance of preserving natural spaces, allowing future generations to experience the same sense of awe and inspiration that has been a cornerstone of Disney’s legacy.
Katy Stampor
This picture shows the incredible view of the Mineral King property. One of the last projects Walt Disney tried to start was the Mineral King project. Walt wanted to build a ski resort on the Mineral King property. However, once Walt passed away, the project never came to be.
During the trip, part of day five was spent on this amazing property. This picture shows just one of the beautiful views I saw while here. I chose this image in particular because I thought it showed a large amount of the property. It shows the mountains and hills as well as the incredible greenery. This image shows many of the reasons why the property would have worked well as a ski resort.
Seeing this view was one of the most memorable and impactful moments for me from the entire trip. Hiking up to this spot was so serene and gave me a lot of time to think and reflect. I truly felt like I could let go of all my worries and fears while at this spot. I also do not believe I have seen a sight nearly that beautiful before. Often, I dislike being out in nature for a long time, but this was a place I found myself wanting to be and wishing I could have stayed longer. I hope I can return to the site someday in the future.
After visiting the Mineral King property, I fully understand why Walt Disney wanted to make it into a ski resort. The hills and mountains were huge, making them the perfect ski slopes. The scenery was gorgeous, giving people an amazing view while they skied and a reason to return to the resort. In addition to the scenery, the quietness of the resort also would give guests the perfect thinking place to think through any problems they have in their lives.
Later in the day, when visiting the Three Rivers Historical Museum, there was an image of what the ski resort was supposed to look like had it been developed. After seeing the image of the plans, I reflected on the sights I saw while at Mineral King and understood where all of these different plans would have been developed. Even though I loved my visit to the property, I saw there would have been several issues with turning this property into a ski resort. The small, twisty road going up to the property was one major issue, and it is understandable how that could have been a major turn-off in using this property. It could be very dangerous to drive on that road, especially in the winter. I know there was talk of redoing the road or making another way to get up to the property, but the road still posed a massive challenge. Another issue that could have been a problem was the lack of cell phone service. Had this property been turned into a ski resort, the lack of cell phone service would likely have been a problem in the case of an emergency.
While this property would have made an incredible resort, The Walt Disney Company ran into some governmental issues regarding the environment, and the project was put on hold permanently. I think the decision to leave this property as it was the right one.
Julie Syler
Hiking through Disney Property in Mineral King Day 5 left me speechless! Everything we experienced on this day left me in awe and each moment was astounding. I am grateful for the opportunity to cross some more items off my bucket list with this continuation of our journey.
This photo shows me actively crossing “hiking in a national park” of my bucket list as we trail through the mountains on our hike in Mineral King in Sequoia National Park. When I imagined me doing this bucket list item I never imagined it would be on Disney property! Despite the lengthy drive up the mountain, the vast nature life and views were worth it.
Prior to this pilgrimage, I had no idea that the Disney company had owned this land and or that the Mineral King Project even existed. From this, it has been very interesting to learn of Walt’s ambitions in things like this project. While I admire Walt’s idea to create a ski resort here for families, it is almost hard to believe that he wanted to alter such a beautiful land with a resort.
Throughout our journey it has become very clear to me that Walt was a dreamer. This became even clearer when learning about his plans when we visited the Three Rivers Museum. It is here that we learned more about the project and the conspires around the Country Bear Jamboree attraction. Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about Disney, I was once again proven wrong when we learned about the unsolved mysteries for the plans for the Mineral King resort. I had really enjoyed this part of the journey where my thinking was constantly being challenged and I was learning something new.
Upon reflection, I admire Walt’s vision but ultimately, I am glad the Mineral King Project never came to fruition so that the land we hiked on is continuously preserved in its natural beauty. I can only imagine what things would’ve looked like for the area and the Disney company if it ever came to be. I wonder if people would learn to appreciate it or hate the change. I also wonder how successful it would be as it would not be like an attraction in many other Disney projects.
In addition, on this day we also got the honor of being able to tour CalArts, the fine arts school Walt helped found. I loved seeing his creative influence, encouragement, and support of the arts in this school. I admire his support of the arts, and I wish there were even more places like this in our country.