Hold Up. We Need To Talk About Disney's Weird Abandoned Catfish Situation

Disney parks have gone through some massive changes over the years, with each transformation bringing the House of Mouse further into the future.

Disneyland

These updates, new rides, lands, and even whole theme parks can mean we have to say goodbye to beloved attractions. But, not all former Disney park experiences are remembered quite so fondly, with some just being downright strange. And so, Dear DFB Reader, it’s now that we feel we must tell you about Disneyland’s weird abandoned catfish attraction.

Yes, you read that correctly and, no, we’re not joking. We honestly wish we were. Allow us to take you on a walk down memory lane — to Disneyland Park when it first opened to the public in the 1950s. Much like Magic Kingdom at Disney World, Disneyland Park is home to Tom Sawyer Island — in fact, it was the first Tom Sawyer Island (which is obvious if you know that Disneyland opened long before Disney World…)

Tom Sawyer Island

Anyway, back in the day, Tom Sawyer Island was home to Huckleberry Finn’s Fishing Pier — and Catfish Cove. What exactly is Catfish Cove, you ask? Don’t worry, we’re getting there. You see, Dear DFB Reader, folks could actually go fishing for live fish off the pier in the Rivers of America. Yep. Real, live fish. There were Catfish, Bluegill, River Perch, and Trout for folks to catch.

Tom Sawyer Island

We know what you’re thinking, “Who wants to walk around a theme park with a dead fish all day?” And we say dead because you could keep the fish you caught at Catfish Cove and take it home with you. The idea was that you’d catch a fish, and Cast Members would take it and store it on ice at the former Aunt Jemima Pancake House (what is now River Belle Terrace) until you were ready to take it home at the end of your day. But, there was just one little, stinky problem…

Disneyland

…those who caught fish often did not take their bounties to a Cast Member to store on ice. Instead, what ended up happening rather frequently was that folks just ended up carrying dead fish around the park, eventually tossing it wherever seemed convenient at the time, only for an unsuspecting Cast Member to find later. Just think about strolling along Main Street, U.S.A. or through New Orleans Square only to be smacked in the face by the stench of rotting fish.

Hey, there!

As you can imagine, Cast Members got tired of playing fishmonger and, eventually, this “take home” option was discontinued just weeks after it was introduced. You could still fish off the pier for a time after the abandoned catfish situation, but you had to release your catch back into the water.

Pelican’s Landing

While we can’t say we’re particularly sad that there is no longer an option to leave dead fish all around Disneyland, we are sad anytime a piece of Disney history goes away. For more Disney history, tips, news, and more, stay tuned to DFB!