Need some info about River Country

[phorsenuf]

I was talking to DH last night about the latest water park rumor and we got talking about River Country. I said that I thought I had read that the water used for RC was seperate from the water in bay lake. There was some divider of something.
Was I right? If so, where can I find the info to prove it to him?

Thanks!

 

[Patch'sD]

From what I can remember, River Country Waterhole used same water as Bay lake. A small Floating Barrier was there to keep the swimmers in. This was the large water area on the beach. Since the slides emptied into the water I am assuming they used the same water also. This is from what I remember from the early 90's.

 

[tmt martins]

I think that was 1 of the problems with keeping it open was the runoff into the lake.

 

[disneynutt1225]

I like looking at this site for WDW things of the past. It makes me feel nostagic - though I'm not sure HOW accurate things on this site are....

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/

If you go to the bottom, click on "Everything Else", then "River Country" and there's a nice write up with some pics about the defunct park there.

This is a blurb from that site:

"A giant flexible tube at the mouth of the Ol' Swimmin' Hole opened into Bay Lake and served as a "bladder" as it expanded and contracted to keep the River Country water level six inches higher than the lake. This was accomplished through the use of a special sensor system."

 

[Geoff_M]

Here's a bit more of an explaination from a non-linkable site:

History: The first water park in the entire world.
In late 1975, construction began on the first "mini" theme park opened at the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort. River Country, a Disney version of an old-fashioned swimming hole, rests on the edge of Bay Lake in Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. It features flume and raft rides, a nature trail, and a large beach. This park gets its water supply from an intake/filter pipe in Bay Lake. Water is sent along the lake bottom into a pump system located inside River Country's artificial mountain. From there it is forced down the flume troughs at about 8,500 gallons per minute, providing water for the flumes, and continually replenishing River Country's water supply. A large rubber "bladder" separates the park's water from regular lake water, with the help of a sensor system that keeps it inflated exactly six inches above the lake. Excess water from River Country spills over the bladder, replenishing Bay Lake. River Country opened in June 1976.

I think you can see the confusion about the water supply. Yes, the water is from Bay Lake but it was first filtered and treated before being released into the water park.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I seem to remember seeing fish in the swimming hole at River Country. It was kind of freaky to a pre-teen girl who up until that point only swam in "cement ponds" But River Country was too much fun to get squeamish about the fish so I learned to deal with it. I know this isn't documented proof but it's a very clear memory to me.

 

[kbkids]

I like looking at this site for WDW things of the past. It makes me feel nostagic - though I'm not sure HOW accurate things on this site are....

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/

If you go to the bottom, click on "Everything Else", then "River Country" and there's a nice write up with some pics about the defunct park there.

This is a blurb from that site:

"A giant flexible tube at the mouth of the Ol' Swimmin' Hole opened into Bay Lake and served as a "bladder" as it expanded and contracted to keep the River Country water level six inches higher than the lake. This was accomplished through the use of a special sensor system."

What a cool website - thanks for the link!

 

[disneynutt1225]

No problem

 

[DawnCt1]

I like looking at this site for WDW things of the past. It makes me feel nostagic - though I'm not sure HOW accurate things on this site are....

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/

If you go to the bottom, click on "Everything Else", then "River Country" and there's a nice write up with some pics about the defunct park there.

This is a blurb from that site:

"A giant flexible tube at the mouth of the Ol' Swimmin' Hole opened into Bay Lake and served as a "bladder" as it expanded and contracted to keep the River Country water level six inches higher than the lake. This was accomplished through the use of a special sensor system."

That's correct and it is how they provided a natural "filtration system" of sorts to keep the water moving. There is nothing sadder than renting the water mice and cruising past an empty River Country. We had some great family times there. There were also the man made pools with the water slides that dropped guests into the water from a higher level, not just the ole swimming hole. I think part of the problem with River Country may have been liability. There were a couple of drowning there and the bottom wasn't visable, making detection and recovery more difficult.

 

[DawnCt1]

I seem to remember seeing fish in the swimming hole at River Country. It was kind of freaky to a pre-teen girl who up until that point only swam in "cement ponds" But River Country was too much fun to get squeamish about the fish so I learned to deal with it. I know this isn't documented proof but it's a very clear memory to me.

I remember my kids when they were little, trying to catch little tiny fish in their water pail at RC.