Then and Now Post your photos and memories from the Fort

[2goofycampers]

The date stamp is incorrect.

 

[FlaFortCampster]

I recently found a few interesting items from the 1980's and will post as soon as:
A. I get my allotted number of posts
B. Some kind soul reminds me how you post pictures.
Wish I had keep notes......

 

[ynottony99]

The date stamp is incorrect.

So if that was then, would this be the now photo????

 

[Born 2 Fish]

 

[2goofycampers]

So if that was then, would this be the now photo????

Or, pushing up

 

[LuckyinGa]

That's a good one

 

[kesharn81]

thanks for the info - useful thread...

this seems useful information...thanks for

sharing...

see ya...

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I think it was some time in 2007 that the famous lawnmower tree died. I believe that Disboard member Stacktester was actually there when they cut the top part of the tree off. Here is what it looked like then:

(I found the photo posted above here on the Disboards-I believe that it was originally posted by Lisa8200).

On my visit in October, I could have sworn that the remaining portion of the lawnmower tree looked shorter. On my November visit, I snapped this photo, which indeed shows that this Fort icon is disappearing

TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Well, the "then" in this group of photos was just a few months ago, but these photos still qualify because they illustrate a pretty big change in the way things look at the Fort back in the 1600-1900 loop area.

As many of you will remember, the 1800 and 1900 loops were built in a very swampy area. Some of the sites were right next to very low areas that were filled with water whenever it rained, and stayed wet for a long time thereafter.

Well, back in September or so, they started filling in these low areas.

Here are some photos that I took just outside the 1800 loop in October, 2008.

Here are some photos taken the day after the above photos were taken:

And, here are the "now" photos, taken at end of November, 2008:

As you can see, this particular "swamp" just disappeared.


TCD

 

[Tri-circle-D]

For as long as I have been going to the Fort, this old wagon has sat next to the playground by the Marina:

As you can see, it used to be painted to promote River Country. Notice the Musket Mickey logo on the end.

The wagon still sits in the same spot, but is no longer painted with any reference to River Country:

TCD

 

[stacktester]

It's as though River Country is a bad little secret Disney doesn't want anyone to remember.

 

[LONE-STAR]

 

[TxTink :)]

Great pics and very interesting information. Thanks

 

[ynottony99]

Staying with the RC theme......

 

[BradyBz12]

Loving this thread, btw.
DH visited FW as a kid, but I'm a newbie, although a quick convert with 4 trips in the last 5 years (this one 3 weeks ...and still not long enough!)

We're actually on the road heading back north from the Fort (boooo) but wanted to mention that on our last loop around on the golf cart just 2 days ago (Thurs 12/18), this water tower was no longer there. Unfortunately I don't have a pic, but there was all sorts of "stuff" going on in this area that day.

 

[DaveInTN]

We're actually on the road heading back north from the Fort (boooo) but wanted to mention that on our last loop around on the golf cart just 2 days ago (Thurs 12/18), this water tower was no longer there. Unfortunately I don't have a pic, but there was all sorts of "stuff" going on in this area that day.

Maybe they've dismantled the water tower to use in the pool renovations?? That would be too cool!!!

 

[BradyBz12]

Maybe they've dismantled the water tower to use in the pool renovations?? That would be too cool!!!

That's been the rumor - I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[ynottony99]

Wow!! Let's see who can get the first photo of the area with no water tower and get it posted!!!!

 

[ynottony99]

Staying with RC and this area. Someone else maybe able to share just when these changes were made. The then photos are from Feb. '06 and the now were in Nov. '08.
The Pavilion sign location is in front of the pavilion as you face it by the pony ride.

The RC entrance is unused and blocked off.

The sign is now gone.

Sign relocated and now at least the RC entrance area is getting some use once again for the Backyard BBQ, and the Segway Tour. We still need a new photo with the water tower removed. Maybe some spy work to see if there is any sign of near the pool????

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Following up on Tony's last post, immediately above, I also have some then and now photos of the River Country entrance area.

These first photos were taken some time in 2007, but they represent the way that the River Country entrance looked from about 2002 through September, 2008:

These next two shots are what you could see if you peeked around the plywood barricade that was erected in front of the ticket booth. These are bait tanks that were used by the recreation department for fishing excursions. Also, note that the ticket prices were still posted on the concealed ticket booth.

This sign was moved September, 2008:

The old ticket booth has been cleaned up, and the plywood wall has been removed, as has the bait tanks and other stuff formerly being used by the fishing guides:

This little building has been cleaned up, too. This display used to promote Discovery Island. Back in the day, there used to be a little burrowing owl that lived here. He is not back (yet). The cage is empty, but it is still there:

These benches are also new to this area. The back of the sign is the same, but this is a new location, as already mentioned:

Here is what the water tower looked like in October, 2008. Now, the word is that it has been removed:

Here is what the view was when you looked back toward the entry area:

Here is a shot of the back of the old River Country ticket booth, on the way out of this area: