I remember....

[kristinanderic]

I remember their being a water park called river country. What ever happeend to this park?

I also remember there being some type of a island that guests at fort wilderness could go to. I remember there was a stop for it when you take the boat launch to the other resorts. Does anyone know anything about this, or know what I am taking about?

[ftwildernessguy]

River country has been officially closed and is decaying away.

Discovery Island was a sort of nature preserve which has been closed for quite some time. The animals were relocated to AK. The docks are used by the ferry boat captains for docking practice.

[auntie]

Ahh..the good old days. Too bad River Country is just rotting away. FW needs it, if only for the pools. I remember taking my kids to Discovery Island when they were little..it was nice, simple fun.

[Smooshdog]

I remember Discovery Island very well. It was a lot of fun to take the boat to the island and see all the animals.

I was at Fort wilderness this december and stopped by River Country just for the sentimental value of it, it was covered by huge green screens and there was a sign that said "River Country is Closed." It was very sad for me to see that sign.

I sure do miss both Discovery Island and River Country, I just hope that they never get rid of the campfire/singalong/movie.

[DisCamper]

Just back A CM gave us a tour of River Country,But wouldn't let us take any pictures It is in bad shape. Disney is useing a part of River Country for Mickey backyard BBQ.

[tim5055]

I also remember there being some type of a island that guests at fort wilderness could go to. I remember there was a stop for it when you take the boat launch to the other resorts. Does anyone know anything about this, or know what I am taking about?

I have added the Discovery Island Tri-Fold brochure to my Fort Wilderness Scans Web Page. (http://www.popupcamping.info/FWScans.htm) Page two fo my scan is a map of the island.

[Napria]

I too miss Discovery Island. I was there in 1981, my first trip to WDW. It was February and River Country was closed, but I swore I'd go back one day and "do" River Country -- it looked so fun!

I didn't return to WDW till 2001 and by that time both River Country and Discovery Island were permantly closed. :sad1:

I understand that AK has supplanted the need for Discovery Island and Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have supplanted the need for River Country, but as someone who loves the quieter things, I'd love to see both these attractions brought back.

Do any Disney Execs look at these boards?

[corvette]

the latest scoop on river country, river country is permenatly closed because disney cannot control the bacteria level in the water, rc is fed from the lake and that is why there is no swimming in the lake either.

[auntie]

While I'm sure tha't true, and I've heard that before, regarding the bacteria level in the lake water. Certainly most folks agree that FW could certainly use some updated swimming facilities. I feel they could at least have used the pools with the slides near the entry of River Country as a themed pool for the campground guests. Would certainly stop much of the pool hopping over at the WL.

[Nikkole]

I didnt know much of anything about it... but my fiances' family was talking about it... Heres what it looks like from satelite views....

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f184/ParadiseDreams00/DIS/1.gif

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f184/ParadiseDreams00/DIS/2.gif

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f184/ParadiseDreams00/DIS/3.gif

[Smooshdog]

I would think that they could fill up the hole between bay lake and river country, drain it, and then put pool water in there and bring back river country. It still seems weird to me that for years and years it was ok to swim in the water and now it isn't.