Sig Nordal

The Frontierland area of Disneyland Park has the unique distinction of featuring two riverboats, Mark Twain and Molly Brown. Each riverboat features a recorded conversation between the Captain and Mark Twain or Molly Brown. Since the storyline takes place in the fictional town of Thunder Mesa, most of the spiel deals with the sights of Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor, Wilderness Island, Smuggler’s Cove, an old snoring fisherman, Yellowstone National Park geysers, dinosaur remains …

Mark Twain is based on the Anaheim Park’s original riverboat, a sternwheeler.
Molly Brown, named for Titanic-survivor Molly Brown, is the only sidewheeler in a Disney Park.
On May 16, 2005, Molly Brown’s engine overheated as the boat rounded the corner at the back of the Rivers of the Far West. Although there was no visible fire, smoke damaged the ship and her engines, rendering her immobile. Guests were ferried ashore by the River Rogue Keelboats. The engine system was badly damaged and Molly Brown remained out of operation for many months, while Mark Twain’s ongoing refurbishment at the dry dock was finished.

In September 2005, Molly Brown was moved to the dry dock, and in March 2006, Mark Twain finally resumed operation from Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing. However, it was not until September that Molly Brown’s long refurbishment finally began, and was completed in late April 2007.

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