River Country

[Diz whiz]

Has or is Disney doing anything with this property?

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Probably not in the near future. All the decent parts were taken for the other water parks. It would cost them too much to open it again as a water park and currently they don't have the desire to enlarge the campgrounds.

 

[Brocktoon]

I rode right up to River Country on the speed boats last week. It really has a spooky feel to it. The boat dock and walkways are all still there, and many of signs are still up. But, it's all grown over into swamp now. It looks as if Disney just packed up overnight decades ago, and left everything as it was.

 

[snowiit]

When we were on a fireworks cruise almost 2 years ago, the CM who was driving us took us by that area (left from WL) and said basically that River Country was, in her words, "rotting away". Sad but I think that they honestly couldn't do anything with it because of the water. Same reason that they don't let people swim in the lake anymore.

Nancy

 

[MomtoGKC]

That's so sad. I have some of the best memories of River Country from when I was little. I'll never forget when I was trying to be as brave as my older brothers. I wanted to go down the little kids water slide but I was afraid. My dad went to the bottom and said he'd catch me. I stayed at the top for so long wile he tried to caox me down. he kept saying he promised he'd catch me, just go! After a million times saying I'd go and then not going I FINALLY went! Oops - my dad had waited so long he finally looked away to check on my brothers and he missed me! I went right under the water but popped back up and was fine.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

I would love to see pictures of it back then and the way it is now. I wonder if anyone has any?

 

[Brocktoon]

That's so sad. I have some of the best memories of River Country from when I was little. I'll never forget when I was trying to be as brave as my older brothers. I wanted to go down the little kids water slide but I was afraid. My dad went to the bottom and said he'd catch me. I stayed at the top for so long wile he tried to caox me down. he kept saying he promised he'd catch me, just go! After a million times saying I'd go and then not going I FINALLY went! Oops - my dad had waited so long he finally looked away to check on my brothers and he missed me! I went right under the water but popped back up and was fine.

Growing up the family used to hit WDW about every other year, and most times we stayed at Ft Wilderness. River Country was a tradition. Even compared to TL and BB in Disney, River Country still felt like no other water park I've ever visited.

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

I too have such wonderful memories. My DM and I were just at DW in October and had a long conversation about River Country and wondering what they had done with it. It's sad that it's just sitting there. I would love to see pictures if anyone has old pictures.

I remember slides that dropped into the pool area. They stopped about 3 feet before the water and dropped you in.

 

[MomtoGKC]

I remember slides that dropped into the pool area. They stopped about 3 feet before the water and dropped you in.

I remember those - they were on the other side from the river area. My older brothers went on them but I was too scared!

 

[jpolak]

We were able to see parts of it from the boat at VWL. It does look pretty creepy and it seems like such a waste. I used to love going there as a kid.

 

[Chuck65]

I would love to see pictures of it back then and the way it is now. I wonder if anyone has any?

They have been posted before on this board, although I can't remember by who. For some reason one of the mods, safetymom, comes to mind. Maybe you can do a search for River Country pics and you'll get some hits.

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

I remember those - they were on the other side from the river area. My older brothers went on them but I was too scared!

I know. At the time it seemed like such a big drop. I was so scared. They seemed like they were 20 ft above the water, but I am sure it was more like 2 ft. =) Such good memories of River Country!!!

 

[FloraFauna]

We went to River Country in 1998. My kids were smaller back then and it was just hest day. Very laid back, lots of stuff to do. I even have a picture of my daughter, who was 5 at the time, playing in the sand with Pluto. I seem to remember getting freshly made ice cream there also. Good memories, sorry it is no longer open.

 

[Dis13]

Took these in October....

 

[Dis13]

 

[helenm29]

It's really sad to see it slowly fall apart! I remember going there when I first went to DW and it was great fun! now they should just call it "Gator Country"! I'm sure it's a great place for wildlife now! Helen

 

[TheGoofster]

It seems to me that it would make a perfect wildlife / bird sanctuary. Perhaps expand on the AK bird show, or something. Hate to see it just sitting there not being used.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Some good background here on Wikipedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_River_Country



along with link to aerial views.


(For the life of me, I can not figure what I can't make a hotlink there, you need to copy and paste the url)

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Maybe they should stick the Black Pearl in there and charge admission.

I have pictures of me as a kid in there I will have to look them up, it does seem a shame they cant do something with the space instead of letting the swamp just take it over.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Here are some pictures of it taken in 2005

http://www.disneypix.com/Recreation/River/2005a/River2005a.htm