Remember the Wilderness Homes?

[Tri-circle-D]

Back in the late 90's FW began to replace what had been called the Wilderness Homes with the current Wilderness Cabins. The Wilderness Homes were similar to the current cabins, except they looked more like a mobile home. Also, the layout was a little different. The entrance door was up toward the front of the trailer, and you walked right into the kitchen area, which was right in the front. Also, the Wilderness Homes did not have the nice porches like the cabins now do. They just had small, wrought iron staircases- one for each door. The Wilderness Homes did have a Murphy bed, but it was on the wall opposite the kitchen (where the kitchen sink is now in the cabins). The back bed room was pretty much the same.

My first visit to the Fort, in the early 90's, was to a Wilderness Home. I had grown up camping, but the DW was not interested. The Wilderness Home was a good compromise. We returned to the Fort many times after that first visit, and enjoyed staying in the Wilderness Homes.

In the late 90's, some of Wilderness Homes in some of the loops were replaced with Wilderness Cabins. We were thrilled the first time we saw the cabins, and we really enjoyed the look and layout of the cabins more than the homes. The process of replacing the homes with the cabins took place over several years. For a while, you had to be specific when you made a reservation as to whether you were requesting a home or a cabin. The rate for a home was less than for a cabin.

Anyway, some of the homes were still in pretty good condition when they were replaced. I always wondered what they did with all of them. They certainly had a lot of usefulness left.

Well, on my last visit to the Fort, I found out.

As I was sitting in a rocker enjoying a cup of coffee early one morning outside of Crockett's Tavern, a cast member struck up a conversation with me. He was supposed to be picking up trash, but it was early, and not many people were around, so we chatted for quite a while. He was originally from Vermont, but now lives in Florida full time. He told me that he lived in one of the old Wilderness Homes from the Fort. What? I asked, where is this? He proceeds to tell me about a place not far from the Fort, where someone set up a community from the old Wilderness Homes.

He gave me the name and website, which is:

http://www.villageflorida.com/cottages.html

Sure enough, those are the old Wilderness Homes! Some photos:

Here is some of the text from the website:

Our Cottage homes offer our residents peaceful and comfortable living at an affordable price. Our cottages were originally used at the Walt Disney World Resort before they were moved to our peaceful location. Nestled within orange groves and a beautiful lake, each cottage is cozy and livable.


I know that somewhere, I have photos of the Wilderness Homes when they were at the Fort, but I can't find any. The big difference on the exterior of the Wilderness Homes as they currently sit is that they have been placed flush to the ground. The floor plan is pretty much the same, except they took the bunk beds out of the back bedroom.

Well, now I know. And so do you.

TCD

 

[tungpo1]

LOL yep stayed in many. Pretty much the same as the cabin but without the fancy fake wood on the outside and the wood on the inside, just that horrible off white paneling.