TOM SAWYER ISLAND

(June 16, 1956–PRESENT) BACKSTORY: Names originally considered for the island were “Mickey Mouse Island” and “Treasure Island” (yes, even back in the 1950’s there were commercial tie-ins). However, the final choice was a Tom Sawyer theme. At some point, Disney may even have considered doing a Tom Sawyer film. John Winkler, the owner of the Becky Thatcher Book Shop in Hannibal, Missouri, sent Walt a copy of the Mark Twain classic, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” In it he wrote:

“Dear Mr. Disney: I hope that this small gift may inspire you to make these immortal stories into the most wonderful and popular movies that have ever been made! Faithfully yours, John Winkler.” On the next page he wrote: "To Walt Disney, with all appreciation from the Becky Thatcher Book Shop, Hannibal, Mo, June 1956.”

One of the first features of Tom Sawyer Island were 3 streams that would begin at the base of a hill that eventually became Tom’s tree house. These streams were an original feature possibly to help with the overall park water circulation system; but most like they brought the most bang for the buck by adding animation to an otherwise boring mound of dirt.

On the opening day for Tom Sawyer Island, there was an “old fashioned fish fry with catfish flown specially from Missouri…Attending as honored guests of Disneyland were two Hannibal, Missouri youngsters, Chris Winkler and Perva Lou Smith, modern day Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher. Chris and Perva Lou read a proclamation from the Governor of Missouri that officially annexed the Island to the state of Missouri. Following the ceremony the invited guests journeyed back across the river for a catfish luncheon at the Plantation House and the Island was declared open to the public.” (from the Disneyland News)

During the opening day ceremony, the Chris & Perva gave Walt Winkler’s inscribed copy of the book, illustrated by Norman Rockwell. Walt gave it to Herb Ryman, who had originated the early concept work for the island.

Guests visit the island, surrounded by the Rivers of America, by traveling on a motorized raft which is piloted by a Disneyland cast member (one of the few vehicles NOT on a track). The Island was shut-down February 5, 2007 for the $28 million addition of “Pirate’s Lair at Tom Sawyer Island.” Unveiling date was May 25, 2007.

Tom Sawyer Island Attraction Poster

Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below. The text and graphics below are from a vintage 1957 Tom Sawyer Island Brochure.

Daveland Tom Sawyer Island tree house graphic

Tom and Huck’s Tree House

Enter through the hollow tree trunk to a secret hide-out high in a tree overlooking the Rivers of America. Spy on the Indian Village…the war canoes loading for action. Follow the course of the Keel Boats…and the majestic Mark Twain, queen of the river.

Legend tells us that many moons ago, lightning struck this tree and caused three waterfalls to spring from its roots…and The 3 Falls became the headwaters of the Rivers of America.

Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Vintage Map of the Island
Tom Sawyer Island cartoon overview
Tom Sawyer Island cartoon overview
Tom Sawyer Island map, 1957
Vintage Map of the Island, 1957
Tom Sawyer Island, June 1957
June 1957
Tom Sawyer Island Dock, 1959
Dock 1959
Treehouse, 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island Treehouse, 1950s
1950’s
August 1962
August 1962
Treehouse, August 1962
August 1962
Crossing over to Tom Sawyer Island, September 1964
Crossing over to the Island, Sept. 1964
Disneyland Tom Sawyer raft, April 1965
April 1965
Disneyland Tom Sawyer Treehouse, April 1965
April 1965
Disneyland Tom Sawyer Treehouse, April 1965
April 1965
Tom Sawyer Treehouse, 1960s
1960’s
Tom Sawyer Treehouse, July 1972
July 1972
     
Daveland Tom Sawyer Island tree house graphic

The Old Mill

To the early settler, the mill was invaluable for grinding, sawing and other uses…

The massive overshot wheel of the old grist mill, turned by a tumbling stream of water channeled in a wooden flume, typifies the pioneer’s ingenious use of water power.

Tom Sawyer Island, 1956
1956
Tom Sawyer Island, June 1957
June 1957
April 1958
April 1958
Tom Sawyer Island, September 1958
Sept. 1958
The Old Mill, May 9, 1959
May 9, 1959
 June 1959
June 1959
Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island Old Mill photo, Sept. 1959
Sept. 1959
Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island Old Mill photo, November 1959
Nov. 1959
The Old Mill, November 1959
Nov. 1959
The Old Mill 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island The Old Mill photo, 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island The Old Mill photo, 1950s
1950’s
The Old Mill 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island, February 1960
February 1960
Tom Sawyer Island, February 1960
February 1960
Tom Sawyer Island, March 1960
March 1960
The Old Mill April 1960
April 1960
Tom Sawyer Island, July 1960
July 1960
Tom Sawyer Island, July 1961
July 1961
Tom Sawyer Island, September 1961
Sept. 1961
Tom Sawyer Island, December 1961
Dec. 1961
Tom Sawyer Island, April 1962
April 1962
Tom Sawyer Island, June 1963
June 1963
Tom Sawyer Island, June 1963
June 1963
Mark Twain and The Old Mill, September 1964
Sept. 1964
The Old Mill, January 1965
Jan. 1965
The Old Mill, April 1965
April 1965
Tom Sawyer Island, September 1965
Sept. 1965
The Old Mill, October 1966
Oct. 1966
The Old Mill, March 1968
March 1968
The Old Mill, October 1969
Oct. 1969
The Old Mill, date unknown
Date unknown
Tom Sawyer Island Old Mill, 1960s
Date unknown
Tom Sawyer Island Old Mill, 1960s
1960’s
Tom Sawyer Island Old Mill, February 1971
Feb. 1971
Tom Sawyer Island Old Mill, February 1971
Feb. 1971
Tom Sawyer Island Old Mill, March 1974
March 1974
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 18, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 18, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 18, 2007
Wild Ol’ Dan

Introduction To A Grizzled Ol' Disneyland Fan From Way, Way Back

Taint many who love the history of Walt Disney’s Disneyland as much as Wild Ol’ Dan Blasius. He’s just wandered into Daveland, unsaddled his horse, rolled out his bedroll, and sat down by the campfire to have a cup of coffee. Wild Ol’ Dan is also the author of the first Hopalong Cassidy novel to be published in well over 50 years: “HOPALONG CASSIDY RIDES AGAIN.” So as you might figure, I’ve asked him to put a few thoughts together on Frontierland at Disneyland. This time we're headed for the Island out thar in the Rivers of America…TOM SAWYER’S ISLAND…

I hear tell Walt designed the thing himself out in his barn…

Howdy Pards,

Say, I bet most of you fellers know that Walt Disney had a small barn in his back yard over there in Hombly Hills. Yep, that was kinda what you might call headquarters for the Lilly Belle miniature steam train...or the
Carolwood Pacific Railroad, as Walt officially called it. Did you know that Walt had his wife sign an official
lookin' document sayin' that his railroad could run through her flower gardens? He sure did. Kinda fun...

At any rate, Walt did more than a little dreamin' out thar in that barn...yessirree... Did I ever tell ya about the time...it was back in the mid-fifties it was...let's see...

Well, Walt, by nature, was kind of an experimenter and a dreamer and it was back in those days shortly after Disneyland had opened I believe...one of Walt's best Imagineers and concept designers, a feller named Marc Davis, was working hard on a design for an Island attraction out thar in the Rivers of America, and Walt just did not like it for some reason or other. So, one night Walt took some paper home...took it with him out to the barn in his backyard...and began dreamin' some. It took a little while, but, next mornin' he laid the paper on Marc's desk with a note attached sayin' "This is how it should be."

   And, you guessed it...that's the way it became!  Yep, 'twas Ol' Walt Disney himself that designed TOM SAWYER'S ISLAND at Disneyland. It officially opened to the public back on June 16th, 1956 as I recall. Oh, it was a place to inspire the imagination if ever there was one. How many of you fellers have ever been in Injun Joe's Cave on the Island?  Ever crossed the Suspension Bridge?  Or the Pontoon Bridge? How many of you have seen Tom and Huck's Tree House?  Or Castle Rock? Did ya ever go in to that secret escape passageway in Fort Wilderness? Ever explore the Old Mill?

   Well, if ya did, you’ll remember how wonderful those simple things out thar on the Island were. You used to be able to fish for real, honest-to-gosh catfish out thar on the island too. Till somebody finally figured out that carryin’ a catfish around with ya all day at the park just wasn't a good idea...

   The onliest way to get to or from Tom Sawyer's Island was the exact same way Tom and Huck did... on a raft. It sure was a relaxin’ place for adults and a place that inspired the imagination of kids of all ages. You'd look out thar on the river and, oh, what a delight...there it was...that big, beautiful riverboat... the Ol' Mark Twain...circlin' the bend. Or there was a mess of folks paddlin' down the river in canoes... or ridin' in Keel Boats...and over yonder, across the river, was that Ol' Frontier town...

Reckon I kinda long for those good ol' days...oh to be a boy again...

But, course, you fellers know that Ol' Walt did some growin' himself on a farm there in Missouri. Yep, he sure knew what a swimmin' hole looked like...and he knew about Ol' Tom and Huck's adventures there along the Mighty Mississippi. So...when the time came for him to head out to the barn and do some dreamin' of those good ol' days...reckon you could say that Walt had sort of a head start...

I hear tell that the pirates have kinda taken over the Island these days. They were always around…in Tom and Huck's imagination anyways…

Well, truth is, this ol' cowhand kinda longs for those good ol' days wanderin’ the Island the way Walt Disney himself had dreamed it.

   Did you fellers know that Walt's Barn was moved to that steam train place there in Griffith Park? Yep, it sure was. You can see it there till this day and actually wander inside it...maybe feel some of the magic that was born in that place long, long years ago...

Adios for now. Talk to ya on’ down the trail.

 Wild Ol’ Dan

Daveland Tom Sawyer Island tree house graphic

Fishing Pier

Borrow one of Huckleberry Finn’s favorite poles and a can of worms…fish for catfish and river perch at Catfish Cove.

Tom Sawyer Island fishing pier, 1956
1956
Fishing near the Old Mill, August 1958
August 1958
Fishing near the Old Mill, September 1958
Sept. 1958
1958
1958
Tom Sawyer Island fishing pier, August 1959
Aug. 1959
Tom Sawyer Island fishing pier, August 1959
Aug. 1959
Rivers of America, 1950s
1950’s
Rivers of America, 1950s
1950’s
Rivers of America, 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island, August 1964
Dec. 1961
Tom Sawyer Island, December 1961
August 1964
Tom Sawyer Island, January 1968
Jan. 1968
Tom Sawyer Island, January 1969
Oct. 1969
Tom Sawyer Island fishing pier photo, November 1970
Nov. 1970
Tom Sawyer Island, August 1974
Aug. 1974
Daveland Tom Sawyer Island tree house graphic

Injun Joe’s Cave

…Where Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher wrote their names with candle smoke. Explore the labyrinth of passages…look for fossils in the walls…crawl through secret tunnels…discover the hiding place of Injun Joe’s treasure “under the cross”…

Glistening stalactites and stalagmites form weird shapes in the Chamber of the Bottomless Pit…Some have said that from the depths they have heard the mournful sound of Injun Joe, crying out in the darkness…but others claim it is just the wind moaning in some lost subterranean passage.

Signage on Tom Sawyer Island, August 1956
August, 1956
Signage on Tom Sawyer Island August 1956
August, 1956
Tom Sawyer Island Injun Joe Cave, August 1974
August 1974
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Daveland Tom Sawyer Island tree house graphic

Pontoon & Suspension Bridges

Tread the path of peril over the undulating Pontoon Bridges across the bay…Follow the path of the early American trail blazer over the swaying Suspension Bridge, swung high above Smuggler’s Cove…

Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island Suspension Bridge, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Tom Sawyer Island, August 1958
Aug. 1958
Tom Sawyer Island Suspension and Pontoon Bridge, 1958
1958
Tom Sawyer Island Suspension and Pontoon Bridge, May 9, 1959
May 9, 1959
Tom Sawyer Island, February 1960
February 1960
Tom Sawyer Island, February 1960
February 1960
Tom Sawyer Island, June 1963
June 1963
Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island Suspension Bridge photo, April 1977
April 1977
July 1978
July 1978
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Daveland Tom Sawyer Island tree house graphic

Castle Rock Ridge

A fantastic group of rocks stretches along the ridge of the island…and in this primeval playground you can ride the Merry-go-round Rock…or see-saw on Teeter-Totter Rock. Climb the stone steps to the ramparts of romantic Castle Rock high above the river…descend the spiral steps to the depths of the Castle.

High adventure awaits you beneath Ambush Rock…Relive the days of the river pirates in the Pirate’s Den…follow the underground maze to The Dungeon of No Escape!

1957/1958
Tom Sawyer’s Island, 1957/1958
1957/1958
Castle Rock, 1957/1958
Tom Sawyer Island, August 1958
Aug. 1958
Tom Sawyer Island, August 1958
Aug. 1958
Tom Sawyer Island, September 1958
Sept. 1958
Tom Sawyer Island Castle Rock photo, 1958
1958
Tom Sawyer Island Castle Rock photo, May 9, 1959
May 9, 1959
Tom Sawyer Island Castle Rock photo, May 9, 1959
May 9, 1959
Tom Sawyer Island 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island 1950s
1950’s
Tom Sawyer Island Castle Rock photo, 1950s
1950’s
Castle Rock on Tom Sawyer Island, July 1960
Castle Rock on Tom Sawyer’s Island, July 1960
Castle Rock on Tom Sawyer Island, June 1964
Castle Rock on Tom Sawyer’s Island, June 1964
Tom Sawyer Island, September 1965
Sept. 1965
Tom Sawyer Island, November 1965
Nov. 1965
Tom Sawyer Island, October 1966
Oct. 1966
Castle Rock on Tom Sawyer Island, July 1967
July 1967
1969
Castle Rock, 1969
Castle Rock
Date unknown
Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island Castle Rock photo
Date unknown
Castle Rock
Date unknown
Castle Rock
Date unknown
Castle Rock, December 2006
Castle Rock, December 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
View from Castle Rock, 2006
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007
Tom Sawyer Island, February 2007
Feb. 4, 2007

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