- "Non Omnis Moriar"
- ―Ravenswood Family Motto
The Ravenswood Family is the central family involved in Phantom Manor's backstory.
History[]
The Ravenswood family was a wealthy clan that lived in the town of Thunder Mesa during the 1850s. The family made it's fortune by founding and owning the Big Thunder Mining Company which mined for gold in Big Thunder Mountain. They lived in the infamous Ravenswood Manor and were buried in it's adjacent cemetery of Boot-Hill.
Members[]
Official[]
- Henry Ravenswood (1795-1860): Family patriarch as well as the founder and owner of the Big Thunder Mining Company. He died in the Earthquake of 1860.
- Mélanie Ravenswood: The only daughter of Henry and Martha Ravenswood. She spent her entire childhood on the manor's grounds with her strict father refusing to let her leave.
- Martha Ravenswood (1802-1860): The wife of Henry Ravenswood. She died alongside Henry in the Earthquake of 1860.
Unused Script[]
- Arthur Ravenswood (died 1867): Brother of Henry Ravenswood and co-owner of the Big Thunder Mining Company and Ravenswood Manor. He was the level-headed and refined brother who ran the business and kept the family afloat, while his brother was a bully and womanizer. He died of an illness.
- Gabrielle Ravenswood (died 1868): The young wife of Arthur Ravenswood. She cared for him in his final days and died of a broken heart.
- Marie-Thérèse de Bourbon: Family friend and wealthy socialite in San Francisco. After Henry spent most of the family fortune, she supported Arthur at the end of his life. She would have occupied the large crypt in the Boot Hill.
- Goliath (1859 - 1867): The faithful dog of Arthur Ravenswood. He never left his master's side. He evolved into the hellhound found in the attraction, and became the dog of the Phantom.
Behind the Scenes[]
When the attraction that became Phantom Manor was being developed, it was placed in Frontierland. Imagineer Jeff Burke decided to tie the story in with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The owner of the mansion became the owner of the mines in Big Thunder Mountain, showing the rise and fall of the town of Thunder Mesa.
Arthur Ravenswood was made the owner in question, a play on the name of Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice-actor behind the Uncle Theodore character from the Singing Busts in the original Haunted Mansion. Eventually, the characters of Arthur and Henry were merged into one character to simplify the story.
One of the suggested names for the attraction was Ravenswood Manor, but it was rejected.
See Also[]
- The Gracey Family
Further Reading[]
- The Legend of Thunder Mesa at Ravenswood Manor
- Family Secrets: The Original Story of Phantom Manor at Ravenswood Manor