Credit: Jeremy Thompson, FlickrAs part of the ongoing transformation of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort has added some new theming to the barn attached to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Let’s take a look at what’s changed!
New Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Theming
On July 13, WDWNT reported that Walt Disney World Resort had added some new theming to the vehicle storage and maintenance barn attached to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction. The details match the aesthetic of the rest of the surrounding Frontierland area.
Walt Disney World Resort has repainted the building an aged brown color to match the worn Western look of the rest of Frontierland. The garage doors have also been redone to look aged and worn. The actual siding and garage doors haven’t been replaced–just repainted.
Disney installed the new maintenance barn during the year-long refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which began in January 2025 and ended in May 2026. Crews replaced the entire steel roller coaster track, updated the ride vehicles, refreshed existing queue and attraction theming, and added a brand-new Rainbow Caverns scene filled with glimmering stalagmites, glistening ponds, and audio-animatronic bats.
Other Construction in Frontierland
The updated Big Thunder Mountain Railroad theming comes during a period of transformation for Frontierland. Last year, the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Liberty Square Riverboat permanently closed to make way for a new area called Piston Peak National Park.
The Cars (2006)-themed addition to Frontierland will feature two brand-new attractions: a family-friendly ride and a thrilling rally race. Walt Disney Imagineers are designing the area with the natural landscapes of America’s national parks in mind, incorporating some of the surrounding Frontierland landscape and the former Rivers of America waterway.
As Piston Peak National Park develops, Walt Disney World Resort is also refurbishing the exterior of the Haunted Mansion, as more of the once-backstage parts of the attraction are set to become part of the visible facade when the reimagined Frontierland area debuts.
At the same time, Walt Disney World Resort is developing the long-awaited Disney Villains land for the unused space “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” Disney has bulldozed thousands of trees in the area and created a temporary staging area for this developing expansion.
Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced an opening date for Piston Peak National Park or the Disney Villains land at Magic Kingdom Park. Follow Inside the Magic for updates on these projects and other developments at Disney parks around the world!
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