Space Mountain

The idea began in the 1960s, when Disney designer John Hench explored an indoor roller coaster for Disneyland. The project waited until the necessary technology and room could be found for such an ambitious attraction. d23.com· waltdisney.org

For Disneyland, the designers shaped a compact single-track arrangement beneath a great enclosed structure. Arrow Development contributed to the ride’s early development, while the tubular steel track represented a notable achievement in the making of indoor coasters. disneyhistory101.com· waltdisney.org

When Space Mountain opened in 1977, it formed part of a larger Tomorrowland addition that included a stage, a restaurant, and an arcade. The new mountain quickly became one of Disneyland’s principal landmarks, with visitors queuing through the summer afternoon for a passage into darkness. disneyparksblog.com· coasterpedia.net

The attraction has since received substantial renewal while preserving its essential character: a steel coaster enclosed within Disneyland’s white mountain, where the passenger begins in Tomorrowland and soon loses sight of the familiar park. d23.com· en.wikipedia.org