Preview: Cars Land tuning up at Disney California Adventure

Radiator Springs will celebrate California’s car culture with a nostalgic trip down Route 66 when the fictional film town built for and by cars debuts at Disney California Adventure in 2012.

> Photos: “Cars” town of Radiator Springs at Disney California Adventure

Cars Land, the 12-acre themed spot currently under construction at California Adventure, will feature three new rides set amid a faithful re-creation of the isolated red rock desert town populated by Lightning McQueen and other animated vehicles in the Pixar movie “Cars.”

> Related: Radiator Springs Racers | Luigi’s Flying Tires | Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

As part of the thematic story line for the new land, downtown Radiator Springs will be celebrating race day against the looming backdrop of Ornament Valley. Trimmed with neon lights, the town’s streetscape will glow at night.

The rides, restaurants and shops of Radiator Springs will include:

> East side of street

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree - Visitors take a spinning tractor ride through Tow Mater’s Towing & Salvage yard.

Cozy Cone Motel - The snack stands will serve chili cone carne, cone on the cob, popcone and other food pun novelties.

Radiator Springs Curio Shop - The Route 66 tourist trap will sell traditional roadside souvenirs, trinkets, knickknacks and bric-a-brac.

Luigi’s Flying Tires - Riders steer a levitating bumper car through tilting towers of retreads behind Casa Della Tires.

> West side of street

Fillmore’s Taste In - A hippie-themed snack shack under a tie-dyed geodesic dome.

Sarge’s Surplus Hut – A retail store in a military-style Quonset hut selling “Cars” merchandise. An earlier plan to sell Ridemakerz radio controlled vehicles has been shelved for now.

Flo’s V8 Cafe - Customers dine alfresco on Route 66-inspired food at tables stationed between gasoline pumps. The restaurant will feature Flo’s Motorama girls posters, Doc’s Piston Cup trophies and other memorabilia.

Ramone’s House of Body Art - The retail shop will sell Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers merchandise.

> South end of street

Radiator Springs Courthouse – The domain of town judge Doc Hudson will be reserved for a future use.

Radiator Springs Racers - The indoor-outdoor attraction combines a leisurely dark ride prelude with a dueling side-by-side racecar finale. The ride’s queue will wind through Stanley’s Oasis, Tap N Cap and the Bottle House.

Cars Land Drive-In Theater - Early artist renderings showed a restaurant concept similar to the Sci-Fi Dine-In theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. Plans for the Cars Land restaurant have been shelved for now.

Note: A similar version of this article ran online several years ago. We decided to run the article now as the ride’s debut draws near.