Photo by Chris Bales

Photo by Chris Bales, 1995

Welcome to the attraction that’s named Country Bear Theater Vacation Jamboree... or maybe it’s named Country Bear Playhouse... or maybe it’s named The Country Bear Vacation Hoe-down.

No matter what you call it, it’s a lot of summer vacation fun.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Photos by Allen Huffman, 2001

Conflicting nomenclature

The same performing bears who used to present the Country Bear Jamboree have a new show for you at Yesterland—with new songs, new costumes, new props, and even a replacement for the old show’s raccoon (a skunk).

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Playhouse lobby

Enjoy the fast-paced show with familiar and not-so-familiar songs:

• “The Great Outdoors,” performed by Henry and the Five Bear Rugs
• “Life’s No Picnic Without You,” performed by Trixie
• “On the Road Again,” performed by Wendell
• “We Can Make It To the Top,” performed by Liver Lips McGrowl
• “California Bears,” performed by the Sun Bonnets, Gomer, Max, Buff, and Melvin
• “Two Different Worlds,” performed by Terrence with Dolores the octopus
• “Rocky Top,” performed by the Five Bear Rugs
• “Nature,” performed by Ernest
• “Singin’ In the Rain,” performed by Teddi Barra and Henry
• “Ghost Riders In the Sky,” performed by the Five Bear Rugs
• “On My Way To Your Heart,” performed by Big Al
• “Thank God I’m a Country Bear,” performed by the entire cast

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Five Bear Rugs

“Ain’t nothin’ like the great outdoors to ease your soul;
Ain’t nothing like the great outdoors to keep you from growin’ old;
If your mind’s been hazy and you’re feeling lazy and down on all fours,
Then join us bears and suck up some air, in the great outdoors.
Yeeha!”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Henry

“Us bears we do love nature, and tramping through the woods;
Us bears we do love fishin’ every hour if we could;
Us bears we do love singin’, in country harmony;
And if y’all won’t join us, we’ll chase you up a tree!”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Max, Buff, and Melvyn

Buff: “Melvin!”
Max: “Wake up!”
Melvin: “Huh?”
Max: “The way you’re always hibernatin’, you must be part bear.”
Melvin: “Aw, heck, I’m only part moose as it is.”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Trixie

“You tossed my love aside, just like a crumb upon the ground;
If heartaches were fried chicken, I could sell ’em by the pound;
My sandwiches are stale, as all the promises you made;
And I can taste the teardrops in my lemonade.”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Wendell

“On the road again;
I can’t wait to get on the road again;
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends;
I can’t wait to get on the road again.”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Liver Lips McGrowl

“Are you feelin’ rocky?
Have you lost all hope?
Down in the dumps,
At the end of your rope?
I know it ain’t easy;
It’s an uphill climb;
Trust me darling;
Put your hand in mine;
We can make it to the top;
We can make a mountain rock.”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Gomer
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Sun Bonnets

Sun Bonnets: “Well, East Coast bears are hip; I really dig those styles they wear; and the Southern bears, with the way they talk...”
Melvin, Buff and Max: “They knock me out when I’m down there.”
Sun Bonnets: “The Midwest farmer’s daughter really makes you feel alright; and the Northern bears, with the way they kiss...”
Melvin, Buff and Max: “They keep their boyfriends warm at night.”
Sun Bonnets: “I wish they all could be California bears...”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Terrence

“Two different worlds;
We live in two different worlds;
Oh, we’ve been told that a love like ours,
Could never be.”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Ernest

“Some folks are partial to nature,
Like rivers and mountains and trees;
They’ll sit and sniff the flowers,
For hours and hours;
That kind of stuff just makes me sneeze.”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Swingin’ Teddi Barra

“I’m singin’ in the rain,
just singin’ in the rain;
What a glorious feelin’;
I’m happy again.”
 

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001

Big Al

“I was beatin’ a path to a love that would last;
I thought nothing could keep us apart;
Lost the love of my life and my Swiss Army knife;
(and it was a nice one too);
When I got lost on my way to your heart;
(without a spoon and a can opener, everything).”

Photo by Chris Bales

The Entire Cast

“Well I got a fine life, got me an ol’ fiddle.
When the sun’s comin’ up, I got cakes on the griddle.
And life ain’t nothin’ but a funny funny riddle.
Thank God I’m a country bear!

The show’s over. The exit takes you directly to the Brer Bar, where you can enjoy an ice-cold Coke.

Maybe you can lead everyone in the bar in a rousing sing-along: “It’s time for a vacation, for some rest and relaxation. Forget your cares, and join us bears, in the great outdoors!”

Country Bear Vacation Hoedown opened in February 1986 as a refresh of Disneyland Park’s long-running Country Bear Jamboree, which had opened in March 1972. The attraction’s new name was often listed as Country Bear Playhouse, suggesting that the County Bears might be reprogrammed with new shows every few years—but that never happened. The vacation show became the permanent show at Disneyland, except when Country Bear Christmas temporarily took its place during Holiday seasons.

Photo by Chris Bales, 2001

Temporary holiday show

For some guests, the vacation show failed to live up to the original. Somehow, the Sun Bonnets were more memorable lamenting “All the Guys that Turn Me On Turn Me Down” than wishing for “California Bears.” Trixie made a bigger impression with “Tears Will Be the Chaser for My Wine” than with “Life’s No Picnic Without You.” And Big Al was more delightfully gloomy with “Blood on the Saddle” than with “On My Way to Your Heart.”

Other guests preferred the vacation theme and its song selection—including “Rocky Top” and “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” The updated version came across as somewhat more Californian and less Floridian.

Photo by Chris Bales, 2001

“Final Performances”

After 29 years—including 15 years of Country Bear Vacation Hoedown—the attraction closed permanently on September 9, 2001.

A bear with a proven ability to sell merchandise would take over the twin-theater building—and the structure next door (including the Brer Bar), which was perfect for a large gift shop. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened April 11, 2003.

Photo by Chris Bales, 2001

Closed forever

Photo by Doug Marsh, 2002

Construction wall for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The Country Bears left Disneyland long ago, but they’re still performing at two other Disney parks. But only one has a version of the vacation show.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2000

Country Bear Theater at Tokyo Disneyland

At Tokyo Disneyland, a version of Vacation Jamboree is one of three Country Bear Theater shows that rotate seasonally each year, along with Country Bear Jamboree and Jingle Bell Jamboree. The Tokyo version is partially in English and partially in Japanese. Some songs are the same; some are different. Trixie performs “Achy Breaky Heart“ with two verses in Japanese and one in English. Who knew Trixie is bilingual?

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2000

Gomer and the Sun Bonnets at Tokyo Disneyland

At Magic Kingdom Park in Florida, Country Bear Vacation Hoedown had a relatively short run: 1986 to 1992. The Country Bear Jamboree had opened as one of the park’s orignal attractions in October 1971. It returned after the vacation version closed. Twenty years later, when it returned from a refurbishment in October 2012, the original show was trimmed by around 5½ minutes to allow more performances per day.

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Updated August 18, 2023