Construction activity around the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom Park has taken a new turn, with a visible steel framework now rising from a building that has quietly been part of the Liberty Square attraction‘s footprint for years.
A New Structure Takes Shape
WDWNT reported on June 23 that the small building across from Memento Mori — long used as an extension of the Haunted Mansion queue — appears to be receiving a significant addition. A new steel framework is now visible, attached to the structure, featuring a slightly sloped roof and an arch-shaped opening on one side that could be the start of a window frame.
The building was first blocked by construction walls earlier this year, and a construction permit filed by Walt Disney World Resort for “general construction” near the Haunted Mansion had hinted that something more substantial was underway.
One notable change in the surrounding area is the gap now between the building and the Haunted Mansion, created when construction crews removed the Mike Fink Keel Boats landing as part of the broader Frontierland overhaul.
What Walt Disney World Resort ultimately plans for the structure is unclear. Whether it will continue serving as the Haunted Mansion queue space or take on a new purpose when the surrounding area transforms under Piston Peak National Park hasn't been addressed publicly.
The Haunted Mansion itself remains open to guests throughout the exterior refurbishment work, which has had the ride surrounded by scaffolding and themed scrim for several months.
The Bigger Picture in Frontierland
The Haunted Mansion construction is one thread in a much larger tapestry of active projects reshaping Frontierland and Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom Park. The transformation began last summer when the Liberty Square Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Rivers of America all closed permanently. The island has since been demolished, and the river drained, clearing the way for Piston Peak National Park — a Cars (2006)-inspired expansion drawing on the visual language of America's national park system.
Walt Disney Imagineering is developing two new attractions for Piston Peak National Park: a family-friendly ride and a rally-themed thrill ride, both distinct from anything in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park.
Running parallel to that project is the development of a Disney Villains land planned for the area “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” Neither Piston Peak National Park nor the Disney Villains land has a confirmed opening date.
What do you think about Walt Disney World Resort‘s plans for Piston Peak National Park and the Disney Villains land at the Magic Kingdom? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
