VIDEO: Disneyland digs deep into the legend of the original headstones returning to Haunted Mansion

in Disneyland Resort, Park Secrets

It’s been 15 long years since Disneyland guests have enjoyed the original headstones that graced the landscape of the Haunted Mansion attraction but they’re finally back to their original (and final?) resting place.

Beyond the delightful gags on each of them, Disneyland went deeper into the inspiration behind each of these poor unfortunate souls named on the headstones that have presumably returned to the ranks of the 999 happy haunts that inhabit the Haunted Mansion as well as why they went missing for so long.

In a new video posted on the official Disney Parks Blog, Walt Disney Imagineer Kim Irvine explains that the original headstones were lost back in 2001 when the theme park replaced them with pumpkins for the “Nightmare Before Christmas” overlay at the popular attraction. This year they finally restored them to their original location and added new ones to honor more Imagineers who worked on the project. There’s also some neat behind-the-scenes footage of the Imagineers testing out familiar locations within the mansion.

As detailed by the Disney Parks Blog, the original headstones and the Imagineers they represent are:

  • Claude Coats (lead designer – specializing in backgrounds and environments, he also developed the Omnimover layout)
    At Peaceful Rest Lies Brother Claude
    Planted Here Beneath This Sod
  • Marc Davis (lead designer – specializing in character design and sight gags)
    In memory of our Patriarch
    Dear Departed Grandpa Marc
  • X Atencio (script and song)
    Requiescat Francis Xavier
    No time off for good behavior R.I.P.
  • Bill Martin (concept architect)
    Here Lies A Man Named Martin
    The Lights Went Out on this Old Spartan
  • Dave Burkhart (models)
    Dear Departed Brother Dave
    He Chased a Bear into A Cave
  • Yale Gracey (special effects and illusions)
    Master Gracey Laid to Rest
    No Mourning Please, at His Request. Farewell
  • Bob Sewell (models)
    R.I.P. Mister Sewell
    The victim of a dirty duel, Peaceful rest
  • Chuck Myall (show designer)
    R.I.P., in memoriam Uncle Myall,
    Here you’ll lie for quite a while
  • Gordon Williams (sound and Audio-Animatronics system)
    Good Friend Gordon
    Now you’ve Crossed the River Jordan
  • Cliff Huet (architecture/interiors)
    Rest in Peace Cousin Huet
    We All Know You Didn’t Do It
  • Wathel Rogers (figure animation)
    Here Rests Wathel R. Bender
    He Rode to Glory on a Fender
  • Fred Joerger (models/effect modeling)
    Here Lies Good Old Fred
    A Great Big Rock Fell on His Head, R.I.P.

in Disneyland Resort, Park Secrets

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