River Country Exploration

[hyzdufan]

I always love to explore things that are abandoned and take pictures, walk around, things like that. What are my chances of getting into River Country to take a walk around? What's the best route to access it?

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

I always love to explore things that are abandoned and take pictures, walk around, things like that. What are my chances of getting into River Country to take a walk around? What's the best route to access it?

I'm told that guests attending Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness use River Country's old restrooms.

That said, I wouldn't try to explore any areas that are clearly closed off.

 

[kirbsam]

i would say your chances are good. i hope you go for it, and share your pictures with the rest of us. that being said, i would not try to go swimming there. plus, i heard that a family of alligators lives in there now. good luck though.

 

[Dan Murphy]

...What are my chances of getting into River Country to take a walk around?...

Slim to none.

 

[disnut8]

Disney wouldn't allow a guest to explore an area that has been closed for such a long time. It hasn't been repaired or maintained so who knows what you might encounter. The insurance liability would be HUGE if anyone was found on a closed piece of land. I wouldn't even attempt it.

 

[penguin77]

We were at fort wilderness last october for the segway tour. And that took place at the backyars bbq site. the restrooms and what what looked to be an old counter service spot were still being used. River country itself was there but large fences were in place to keep people from "peeking". Although I resisted the temptation to do so there were no armed guards there prohibiting anyone frome slipping in between the fence panels.

 

[Poohbear123]

Slim to none.

Yep, Dan says it all! Hi Dan.

 

[foodrocksluver]

I always love to explore things that are abandoned and take pictures, walk around, things like that. What are my chances of getting into River Country to take a walk around? What's the best route to access it?

Have you seen what that place looks like now?
Here is a sampling for you:

You can not possibly think that they would let you in there to "explore". It's in ruins practically. Could you imagine walking around in there with it looking like that? I prefer to keep the memories I have of it from when I was little.

 

[OhMari]

I can't believe WDW just let it go to ruins. We were there in the summer of 2000, I think it was open yet, but closed shortly after. They couldn't keep the water clean.

 

[hyzdufan]

We were at fort wilderness last october for the segway tour. And that took place at the backyars bbq site. the restrooms and what what looked to be an old counter service spot were still being used. River country itself was there but large fences were in place to keep people from "peeking". Although I resisted the temptation to do so there were no armed guards there prohibiting anyone frome slipping in between the fence panels.

Peeking would be acceptable, I suppose. I'll play it by ear...and eye. ;-)

 

[angelmav]

It is amazing they let it go to ruin, I imagine the park itself was probably too small to be worth the $$ to keep the water treated. Still....

 

[PopArtGal]

the pics are kinda creepy

 

[TripTime]

I never made it to River Country. I would love if some of you would share some of your pictures from when it was up and running.

 

[wasabi girl]

I never made it to River Country. I would love if some of you would share some of your pictures from when it was up and running.

Me too!

 

[phisigprincess]

What a bummer! I remember having a great time there. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[minnie61650]

River country was once a well enjoyed water park.

WDW opened River Country on June 20,1976.
It was closed in November 2001 because of problems with the water quality (it was reported that some of the Bay Lake water contaminated the water).
Our family went to River Country October of 1976 when it was brand new and
returned several times after that. It was a favorite of our family and our son age 25 still talks about how that was his favorite water park.
Because of the water issue I do not think they will ever restore River Country the way it was.
However River Country had a really nice themed pool with a water slide and I always wondered why Disney did not at least keep the pool open for FW guests.
Upstream Plunge Pool and Slippery Slides
At the back of this clear water pool are two steep slides that drop swimmers off in a free fall splashdown.
Here is a photo:

There was a pool as part of River Country.
Here is the photo from the above mentioned website:
http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id220.htm

The pool is in the lower right corner of the photo.
River Country also had a sand bottom contained pool which was cleverly set up to make guests feel like they were swimming in "an OLE swimming hole."

River Country was 6 inches higher than Bay Lake and set up so that any overflow of water would spill into bay lake.
Here is another photo from:
http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id220.htm

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Some recent photos of River Country from another forum:

What a shame!

 

[sugahappy]

Please tell me that's not a lone inner tube just eerily floating in the water. Would Disney really leave that there? Creepy!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Oh how sad!!!

 

[k_null81]

I know this may sound stupid but everytime I see pictures of Big River County after it closed it gives me anxiety. I have the biggest fear of abandoned things that are ran down. So the thought of wanting to look around the property now freaks me out!!!!! I paused before scrolling down to the pics that someone posted.

 

[disvaclub92]

I found this on youtube. Brought back good memories. I can remember the tube ride, always a traffic jam. My favorite part was the water slides. The slide would end then you would have like a ten foot drop (was probably smaller but when your a kid seems bigger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VArObNa-1SA