Then and Now Post your photos and memories from the Fort

[ynottony99]

TCD suggested an awesome thread a while back. He and I have discussed some ideas and feel sure many of you will have some often memories to share.
While Fort Wilderness has remained a favorite destination for some 35 years, it has seen many changes, even in recent months. So share with us some of your photos from 'then', including a 'now' picture if you have one. Photos and/or memories of attractions and events, your family then and now, how your camping gear has changed.............so many possibilities.

 

[2goofycampers]

 

[ynottony99]

I thought I would get started by comparing a photo taken at the OutPost. I can not take credit for the picture, and I don't know when it was taken. But it is clear it was back a few years.

On my recent visit, I took this photo.

There have been many changes.

I first thought the old picture was looking from the inside out toward everyone waiting to check in. Not the case. According to a CM, everyone use to have to check out and pay on departure. I can only imagine how long that line must have gotten.

Of course the tree has grown a little too.

The Reception and check in has grown to include this building too.

There is more, but dinner is on the table, so feel free to add your thoughts too!!!!!

 

[stacktester]

This pic was from last year Thanksgiving Weekend. Site 301. Unfortunately we all know it will never look the same again so I thought I'd put a pic of it here. My lame photography doesn't do it any justice.

 

[ynottony99]

This pic was from last year Thanksgiving Weekend. Site 301. Unfortunately we all know it will never look the same again so I thought I'd put a pic of it here. My lame photography doesn't do it any justice.

I was thinking about these folks when we over there last. I am glad you shared this.

 

[ynottony99]

From a while ago.

Very nice. I don't think I have any photos of the peacocks.

 

[TheFlame]

We saw this motor home and site last week and remembered something had happened to the couple here. Weren't they on the tv special and one of them passed away shortly thereafter? I also noticed a for sale sign in the window of the motor home. It looked really sad and lonely there. Just wondering, I couldn't remember the details of what happened.

 

[stacktester]

We saw this motor home and site last week and remembered something had happened to the couple here. Weren't they on the tv special and one of them passed away shortly thereafter? I also noticed a for sale sign in the window of the motor home. It looked really sad and lonely there. Just wondering, I couldn't remember the details of what happened.

That setup belonged to Jay and Donna Howard. She passed away from breast cancer on Christmas Day after Samantha Brown interviewed her for a Trevel Channel segment about Disney decorating. It was very short and didn't do the fort or the Howards any justice. They flipped around so much it was confusing.

They stayed quite a few months beginning around Halloween. I remember them having the site decorated for different ocassions they were there so long. The pic I took was early in their decorating stage and it wasn't even complete.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Tony-

Thank you for starting this thread.

I hope that it leads to some great old photos of the Fort.

Here is my first contribution.

I found this old photo of the Fort Wilderness Railroad on line. (This is my "then" photo):

The structure that you can see in the background to the right is the Gateway Depot. This is the current location of the Outpost bus stop.

The small building just behind the water tower still stands on site. These are my "now" photos:

I read somewhere that this building housed a water treatment system to try to take the minerals out of the water that was used for the steam engines. Apparently, the natural Florida water was pretty hard on the engines, so they treated it before pumping it in.

If you look in the window on this little building, you can see the remnants of some of the equipment.

Now you know what that little building used to be.

TCD

 

[Shan-man]

Very cool (and rather sad)! Hope you don't mind but I tweaked the "before" picture.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

How about some River Country photos?

River Country then:

River Country now:

TCD

 

[ynottony99]

Very cool (and rather sad)! Hope you don't mind but I tweaked the "before" picture.

Nice job.

 

[ynottony99]

How about some River Country photos?

River Country then:

River Country now:

TCD

I say we break in there and go down the slides 1 more time!!!!!!

 

[stacktester]

Not in that water Tony. There's no telling how many feet of pine needles in the bottom.

 

[ynottony99]

Aw come on. Wouldn't it be worth it for the notoriety?!?! Especially if we get photos

 

[ynottony99]

I tried to pay a visit to the 'roundhouse'.

I talked to a couple of CMs about getting in to see it. Of course it is in a 'secured' area, and the public really isn't suppose to be back there. Had TCD been on the prowl he would have made it anyway,(and for all I know he did and has photos to share!!) I stopped short of the security gate and snapped this photo, which pretty much tells the story.

The building is now used by Mousekeeping. I was told that the tracks are still in the floor inside, with something put down over them to walk on.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Now this is the kind of stuff Disney should put as a tour,,I'd love to see this kinda stuff !

 

[stacktester]

Aw come on. Wouldn't it be worth it for the notoriety?!?! Especially if we get photos

OK, how bout at the next 4th of July GG I'll drink a couple pitchers of Kungaloosh and we'll head on over to River Country and do it.

 

[ynottony99]

OK, how bout at the next 4th of July GG I'll drink a couple pitchers of Kungaloosh and we'll head on over to River Country and do it.

Well, you know someone has to take the picture, so I'll let you have all glory while I capture it for the record.

 

[ynottony99]

Some of us noticed that in these vintage photos, the 'street' in front of Pioneer Hall seemed to be dirt.

Of course, that is not the case now.

During breakfast at TE one recent morning, I decided to ask Ken about this. He said that FW was opened with this area unpaved and as best he could recall, it was that way until the early 80's. He said it wasn't really a dirt street, describing it more like a small gravel with sand. There are of course other changes that can be noted. There have been changes to landscaping, signs, and the original wooden shingles have been replaced with a more durable composite.