The first time I went to River Country was over 4th of July weekend in 1976. We made a BIG weekend out of it. Stayed at FtW, drove to KSC for our first tour (cool), and spent one day at River Country. It was an amazing water park, and the first of it's kind!
It's too bad they had to close it, cause it was so convenient for "Forter's" and a wonderful place to relax for the day. I know it's private property, but it should have earned some sort of "historical" priviledge because it was the country's first themed water park.
ETA: The article says the petting zoo would be relocated to the area by the Outpost. I don't ever remember that happening. Does anyone else? I do remember having to rent the rafts. It was like $.75 for the day.