River Country

[WDWFromTheirEyes]

What is the history of River Country? When did it close?

 

[Tri-circle-D]

There is a wealth of information about River Country on the Internet.

One site that has a lot of good information about WDW history is called Walt Dated World. Here is a link to the River Country info:

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id220.htm

The bottom line is that River Country closed for good in 2001/2002, and is still just sitting there rotting away. There are many speculative reasons for the closing, most of which all relate to finances. It was a small water park, and probably cost more to operate than the larger higher-capacity parks.


Such a shame. My family and I were fortunate to visit River Country many times before it closed.

TCD

 

[ntsammy5]

In my heart it's still open! The otters live there now.

 

[dtum]

it makes me feel sad when you take the boat to MK and see it just sitting there rotting. They could at least tear it down...maybe expand FW or make a new campground in it's place

 

[YodaGirl]

it makes me feel sad when you take the boat to MK and see it just sitting there rotting. They could at least tear it down...maybe expand FW or make a new campground in it's place

I agree. Very sad.

 

[Mary2e]

When I did the Segway tour last month, we stopped right outside the back end of it (the employee area). The guides mentioned they had seen several people around there with tape measures - and they didn't know for what.

There is an old employee rest/break area back there with a basketball court. It looks like it's still in use.

 

[DisCamper]

There is a link to River Coutry today
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=nr1pxh862nn3&style=o&lvl=2&scene=3930025

 

[bobbyshawatl]

Can you walk near River Country and see anything? I'd at least like to look over the fence or something. Never went when I was a kid... and we ALWAYS stayed at FW.

 

[des1954]

IMHO...they should have left it opened merely for historical reasons. River Country was the first water park in the country if I recall correctly.

They should have left it open as the "pool" for FtW & closed the Meadow Pool. In reality they could have easily monitored the guests that were entering River Country by simply using the KTTW card. If they wanted to open RC to guests of other resorts, then they could charge a hefty fee to the "outsiders"!

I don't know why Disney doesn't offer me a job as chief manager of FtW!! I could teach them a thing or two about guest relations!

 

[DisCamper]

The pool and slide at River Country remain ready to swim in until the first hurricane hit WDW, but was only used for training for the other two water parks.

 

[christinou]

Can you walk near River Country and see anything? I'd at least like to look over the fence or something. Never went when I was a kid... and we ALWAYS stayed at FW.

You can walk all the way up to the entrance but you can't see anything, they have fences up when the swimming pool and slides are. The best place to catch a glimpse is from one of the boat going to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[PatriciaH]

IMHO...they should have left it opened merely for historical reasons. River Country was the first water park in the country if I recall correctly.

Water Mania on 192 across from Celebration was open about 2 years before WDW. They tore it down a while back and built a Golden Corral and mini golf place.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

IMHO...they should have left it opened merely for historical reasons. River Country was the first water park in the country if I recall correctly. :

Man, you'd fit right in my town, Deb. We have a bunch in town who want to preserve the old Lehigh Canal that runs through our town. It's nothing but a big ditch with stagnant water that breeds mosquitoes. Out with the old, in with the new- River Country sits on prime real estate that Disney could either develope into a DVC resort or lease out to an outside developer for private vacation homes. It's a potential cash cow, baby!

 

[ntsammy5]

......

I see you're from Ithaca. I dedicate this to you:

High above Cayuga's waters, there's and awful smell! Some say it's Cayuga's waters, I say it's {insert name of your favorite institution of higher learning}

 

[ftwildernessguy]

By the raging Cataraugus, by it's stinking banks, stands our noble alma mater, she's the first in rank.

I used some poetic license with my old high school song.

 

[ntsammy5]

You went to school on the reservation???????

 

[ftwildernessguy]

About as close as you can get without being on it.

 

[WDWFromTheirEyes]

There is a wealth of information about River Country on the Internet.

One site that has a lot of good information about WDW history is called Walt Dated World. Here is a link to the River Country info:

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id220.htm

The bottom line is that River Country closed for good in 2001/2002, and is still just sitting there rotting away. There are many speculative reasons for the closing, most of which all relate to finances. It was a small water park, and probably cost more to operate than the larger higher-capacity parks.


Such a shame. My family and I were fortunate to visit River Country many times before it closed.

TCD

Thanks this is interesting

 

[F4disneyfan]

Man, you'd fit right in my town, Deb. We have a bunch in town who want to preserve the old Lehigh Canal that runs through our town. It's nothing but a big ditch with stagnant water that breeds mosquitoes. Out with the old, in with the new- River Country sits on prime real estate that Disney could either develope into a DVC resort or lease out to an outside developer for private vacation homes. It's a potential cash cow, baby!

I don't think a DVC resort at FW would work the pools at that resort aren't up to snuff and if they built a new one for DVC only the Fort Wilderness campers would get their noses out of joint because they wouldn't be able to use the new pool LOL...

 

[Mary2e]

The pools are being refurbished this winter.