216. Kathryn Mayer and Greg Glasgow on Disneyland on the Mountain

The cover image for Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was

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When you think about projects from Disney history that never happened, Mineral King is one of the most interesting examples. The concepts for this California ski resort were a serious dream for Walt Disney in the 1960s. Those plans ultimately led to a conflict with environmentalists in the Sierra Club who had concerns with developing the pristine land. Kathyrn Mayer and Greg Glasgow tell this story in their book Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was. They do an excellent job presenting both sides of a conflict that went far beyond Disney’s proposed resort.

Kathryn Mayer and Greg Glasgow are the authors of Disneyland on the Mountain. — Photo by Kathryn Mayer and Greg Glasgow

Kathryn and Greg are my guests on this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about their new book and Mineral King. We talk about what inspired them to dig further into this story at the start. Their work as journalists leads to a balanced approach that doesn’t make either side the villains. We understand both Disney’s perspective and why their opponents felt so strongly about protecting the land. Kathryn and Greg describe how they approached the material and structured the book. They begin with Walt’s dream and then focus on the individuals on both sides that are part of the story.

Walt Disney presents his plans for the Mineral King project in California. — Photo Courtesy of Kathryn Mayer and Greg Glasgow

During this podcast, we talk about how they researched the topic and what surprised them. Kathryn and Greg also give some interesting history that explains why this story was a perfect topic for a book. We also talk about their interest in Disney and what they enjoy doing when they visit the parks today. I had a great time chatting with Kathryn and Greg and learning more about Disneyland on the Mountain.