PSA: River Country did NOT close because of brain-eating amoeba or Florida law

[noladis]

In the threads about the unfortunate incident about the alligator attack at GF, I saw several claims that River Country was closed either because of brain-eating amoeba or a Florida law requiring waterparks use fresh water.

Neither explanation felt right, so I looked it up and found a great article on Yesterland that explains it: http://www.yesterland.com/rivercountry2.html

In short, River Country was a victim of the decrease in tourism following 9/11.

There was a death from a brain-eating amoeba--in 1980. However, the park continued to operate until 2001. River Country closed for the season just prior to 9/11 and never reopened in 2002. There were many other cuts around that time. With attendance down and two newer and larger parks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach), it was an easy cut.

 

[DWillowBay]

Thanks, noladis. Good research and supporting evidence. I hope it helps others understand.

 

[Capang]

Thank you. I tried to explain this to others over the last few days.

 

[mshanson3121]

Still sad. I can see our family absolutely loving that place.

 

[sunshine1]

Yes the rumour about amobea seemed to stick.
It was a decrease in attendence why it closed.

 

[NYUBwayBaby]

We went in the late 90s (I don't remember which trip it was. Either '97 or '99) and I remember it being the least busy of the waterparks. At least it seemed that way to me.
I also remember cutting my foot on a rock. That's pretty much it. I didn't like it very much

 

[mshanson3121]

http://www.redbookmag.com/life/news/a43241/abandoned-disney-world-park-river-country-photos/

 

[Capang]

http://www.redbookmag.com/life/news/a43241/abandoned-disney-world-park-river-country-photos/

Cool pics. However, the rumor part is wrong. I know Disney can take a decade or so to build a ride but jeez, they won't take 20 years to close a park if they thought swimmers could meet with imminent death. Also, only 1 person died there from that amoeba.

 

[Huff]

From Wikipedia, which does confirm the decline in attendance as a major factor in its closure.

However, it also says "The attraction may also have been affected by a change in Florida laws, which prohibited unchlorinated natural water bodies from being used for water park attractions".

Disney would have had to spend considerable sums to be able to reopen River Country. With declining attendance this wouldn't have made much sense. River Countries use of natural water for its attractions set it apart from Blizzard and Typhoon. With that no longer an option there was little reason to continue operating, crowds or not. I don't think it was just one cause. It was multiple factors with low attendance being the final blow,

 

[Capang]

From Wikipedia, which does confirm the decline in attendance as a major factor in its closure.

However, it also says "The attraction may also have been affected by a change in Florida laws, which prohibited unchlorinated natural water bodies from being used for water park attractions".

Disney would have had to spend considerable sums to be able to reopen River Country. With declining attendance this wouldn't have made much sense. River Countries use of natural water for its attractions set it apart from Blizzard and Typhoon. With that no longer an option there was little reason to continue operating, crowds or not. I don't think it was just one cause. It was multiple factors with low attendance being the final blow,

http://www.yesterland.com/rivercountry2.html
This explains it as well as stating the laws governing water at a FL water park.

 

[Huff]

http://www.yesterland.com/rivercountry2.html
This explains it as well as stating the laws governing water at a FL water park.

Says the same thing for the most part. Changes in water exchange with Bay lake and filtration was required to bring the park into compliance with the changes in laws. That cost money and with declining attendance such cost made no sense. So yes, attendance figures was the driving force but the other issues are also valid.

 

[Planogirl]

I always believed that it was attendance too. I think that it suffered from Horizons syndrome which was supposedly closed due to a sinkhole. Right.

River Country (and Horizons) could have been upgraded but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. We had a blast at River Country.

 

[gratefulfred]

What year did they stop allowing swimming in seven seas lagoon and bay lake at the resorts wasn't it before those laws went into effect?

 

[supersnoop]

From Wikipedia, which does confirm the decline in attendance as a major factor in its closure.

However, it also says "The attraction may also have been affected by a change in Florida laws, which prohibited unchlorinated natural water bodies from being used for water park attractions".

Disney would have had to spend considerable sums to be able to reopen River Country. With declining attendance this wouldn't have made much sense. River Countries use of natural water for its attractions set it apart from Blizzard and Typhoon. With that no longer an option there was little reason to continue operating, crowds or not. I don't think it was just one cause. It was multiple factors with low attendance being the final blow,

Wikipedia is not a valid source. Anybody can edit a Wikipedia page to say whatever they want.

 

[HopperFan]

Why would anyone, other than campers, want to go to River Country when they had Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach? Disney put themselves out of business on that one ............ and that may have always been the plan.

And if there was growing discussion about organisms and the comeback of the endangered species around the conference table, it would seem a natural progression to let this park close rather than do anything to make it competitive with the other two. Not that it was THE cause but rather a contributing factor to close it.

 

[goodeats]

What year did they stop allowing swimming in seven seas lagoon and bay lake at the resorts wasn't it before those laws went into effect?

I don't know about the general public, but as recently as 2002 and 2003 they held triathlons in Bay Lake and 7 Seas Lagoon.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Maybe off topic, but I find it disgraceful that Disney left so much trash and debris when they closed River Country.

I can understand leaving behind structures that nature claimed, like some of the slides, but there are plastic furniture and old signs just strewn about, like forest litter.

I bought into Disney being environmentally conscious for years, but seeing how they abandoned that property without anything being cleaned up, I'm not so sure they give a fig about the land anymore.

 

[Dismama2boys]

Maybe off topic, but I find it disgraceful that Disney left so much trash and debris when they closed River Country.

I can understand leaving behind structures that nature claimed, like some of the slides, but there are plastic furniture and old signs just strewn about, like forest litter.

I bought into Disney being environmentally conscious for years, but seeing how they abandoned that property without anything being cleaned up, I'm not so sure they give a fig about the land anymore.

I agree with you here. I'm both fascinated and horrified also with the wastefulness of this - and it happens lots of places. I once peeked in the window of a long-abandoned hotel, and there were still papers in the desk and hats on the hat rack. Apparently it's fairly common. In Disney's case, I find it extremely disappointing.

 

[JulieT3]

I don't know about the general public, but as recently as 2002 and 2003 they held triathlons in Bay Lake and 7 Seas Lagoon.

There was a triathlon that I believe started in Bay Lake 2009, but I'm pretty sure they had no swimming signs out for the general public by then. I think that was the last year that triathlon was held there, but I could be wrong. We were staying at wilderness lodge at the time.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

Wow. I went to River Country in the 70s, and Blizzard Beach around 2001. I honestly had NO IDEA that River Country stayed open until 2001. I would have bet it closed in about 1993 if I were playing a Disney World trivia game.