At Disney California Adventure Park a fresh visual treat has appeared on the refurbishment walls surrounding Grizzly River Run, the beloved white-water rafting attraction that’s currently closed for its annual winter maintenance. While the ride itself has been out of service since early January as part of a scheduled seasonal refurbishment, the construction walls haven’t been merely blank barriers. Instead, they’ve been updated with new concept artwork inspired by the nearby Grizzly Peak area, giving passers-by something intriguing to study as they walk past.

Early in the refurbishment process, crews drained Grizzly River Run and began preparing the ride’s structures for repainting and maintenance. Scaffolding now lines sections of the flume, and much of the area has been wrapped and protected as painters and technicians work. The ride’s winter closure is typical for water attractions at this time of year, but this year’s refurbishment feels a little more immersive thanks to the themed artwork now on display.

The new additions to the walls include several styles of concept pieces, each showing a different perspective on the Grizzly Peak theme. One of the most striking is a painted top-down view of Grizzly River Run itself, with iconic park landmarks like the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa rising in the background. This broad, map-like image gives fans an unusual bird’s-eye look at the entire attraction and surrounding terrain.

Flanking that panoramic view are framed prints featuring black-and-white sketches from early design phases. In these images, the peak takes on an even more literal interpretation of its name, with mountain outlines that hint at the full shape of a mighty grizzly bear — including legs and other details that didn’t make it into the final build. One piece even bears the number “97”, suggesting it was drawn in 1997, perhaps during initial concept discussions for the land.

Alongside those older drawings are more familiar versions of the peak, shown both in sketch form and as fully realised watercolours that mirror the version of Grizzly Peak guests know today. Together, these works serve as a mini-timeline, tracing how the rustic wilderness theme evolved from early idea to built theme park land.

While Disney hasn’t shared an official date for when Grizzly River Run will reopen, the presence of painting crews and protective coverings suggests that the work is well underway. In the meantime, fans walking through the park can enjoy this window into Disneyland Resort’s creative process — a reminder that even the rougher periods of construction carry a bit of story and style.