River Country?

[Orlando313]

I haven't posted anything about the rumor I heard because I heard this from a CM working over at Ft. Wilderness, so I just took it with a grain of salt. But this is what she told me:

*There will be a Ft. Wilderness DVC built.
*River Country will be torn down.
*Mickey's Back Yard BBQ will be relocated to the east side of the campgrounds.
*The horses in the back will be relocated to the stables at the front of Ft. Wilderness, and the back stables will be torn down.

All of this will be the new home of the Ft. Wilderness DVC. This sounded more like a 5 year kind of plan to me because they're just now getting going on the Grand Floridian DVC. Like I said, I took it with a grain of salt.

 

[YankeePrincess]

I thought the rumors did say it was a Ft. Wilderness DVC. They were going to be some kind of cabin type rooms or something. I dunno.

Anyway, those pictures remind me of the show Life After People. Very sad.

 

[chartle]

I thought the rumors did say it was a Ft. Wilderness DVC. They were going to be some kind of cabin type rooms or something. I dunno.

Anyway, those pictures remind me of the show Life After People. Very sad.

Its not necessarily a FW DVC but its rumored to be in that area.

They did some major surveying and just recently someone saw a tall "Site Line" pole that they use to see how the height of a building effects the views.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I have never been but dh went years before I met him. I have some pictures floating around here somewhere. It's sad but at the same time cool in a creepy way to see the pics of how it is now.

I'm fascinated with stuff like that. Dead malls, abandoned buildings and old stores, parks etc. I also like cemeteries. Yes I'm weird LOL.

 

[chartle]

Thank you for sharing the video.

I don't remember it being open when we were there in 1998 but I do remember my kids and their dad swimming in the lake. I thought the lake was gross.

It ceased operations on November 2, 2001 and official closed about 4 year later and I think for a few years it was seasonal only.

 

[World Showcaser]

I love catching glimpses of it on the boat ride from WL.

Ok no need to post mine now!!

I saw those on line too!

No! Please do post them. I too would like to see yours. All are a little different depending on the photographer.

There have been handfuls of pictures and videos pop up in the last few years of RC in it's decaying state that show those offices were deserted some quiet hastily, photos and memos still out on desks and such. I don't think anyone goes over there regularly for any work and havn't in several years.

Now that sounds like a mystery worth investigating. I wonder what happened? Does anyone know?

I'm fascinated with stuff like that. Dead malls, abandoned buildings and old stores, parks etc. I also like cemeteries. Yes I'm weird LOL.

Me too, sister! If you're weird, we'll be weird together. I love stuff like that.

 

[chartle]

There have been handfuls of pictures and videos pop up in the last few years of RC in it's decaying state that show those offices were deserted some quiet hastily, photos and memos still out on desks and such. I don't think anyone goes over there regularly for any work and havn't in several years.

They use some of the buildings like the bathrooms that are on the edge of the old park for things like I think Mickey's Backyard BBQ.

For anyone that finds the video where they "visit" the closed area of the park be aware when you see them talk about how the music is still playing and the water fountains still work they are in this area not the closed part. And yes when they "visit" the closed part they can still hear the music, that's because its coming from the still open/used part of the park.

 

[pwdebbie]

Maybe Disney could add another tour to their tour list. I bet a number of people would sign up for the River Country Historical Site Tour!

 

[buffettgirl]

oh!! I have so many good memories from there! Well, other than the taste of lake water up your mouth and the feel of the rivets on the slide under your butt, and the mandatory trek to Discovery Island which (in my family) signaled that the day was over and I'd have to walk through the dreaded aviary. Though, I did like the big giant turtles at the end of the walk.

Remember the large multiperson tube ride that went down the big (in my head) drop at the end? I always ended up backwards on that LOL.

 

[chartle]

Maybe Disney could add another tour to their tour list. I bet a number of people would sign up for the River Country Historical Site Tour!

It would require too many shots.

 

[Sorrel]

Oh, those photos! I used to LOVE River Country! So relaxing and different, with the trail through there too. I remember that if you left your lounger for too long, black vultures used to come and turn your towels over! For someone from the UK those vultures were exotic!

I really do miss that place, and very time I go to WDW I mention it, and remember it. I think it's because I"m a country gal at heart!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

*Here's* Tri-circle-D's original post with all the photos.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Where is/was RC located...exactly?...I looked at Google Earth near FW and couldn't find it.

 

[chartle]

Where is/was RC located...exactly?...I looked at Google Earth near FW and couldn't find it.

To the left of the marina towards WL.

http://g.co/maps/7t9wd

http://binged.it/K75BZV

 

[buffettgirl]

Where is/was RC located...exactly?...I looked at Google Earth near FW and couldn't find it.

if you look at where the stables are located in FW, look just north east (on bay lake)

 

[Sorrel]

How can we go and see this now? This is making me so nostalgic, and my other half has never been there!

 

[foodrocksluver]

Whenever I see these River Country posts I start to cry.

I can't handle it. I want it back more than anything at WDW.

One of the worst mistakes I ever made was looking at the pictures of it in it's current state. They are so haunting.

 

[Prock]

There have been handfuls of pictures and videos pop up in the last few years of RC in it's decaying state that show those offices were deserted some quiet hastily, photos and memos still out on desks and such. I don't think anyone goes over there regularly for any work and havn't in several years.

Lake patrol uses it as a base, that's why there is a dock in front of it, and it often has a couple of their boats.

 

[Prock]

Its not necessarily a FW DVC but its rumored to be in that area.

A DVC is going there, eventually, but from what I've heard its a small version of Aulani.

 

[chartle]

Whenever I see these River Country posts I start to cry.

I can't handle it. I want it back more than anything at WDW.

One of the worst mistakes I ever made was looking at the pictures of it in it's current state. They are so haunting.

To everyone looking back nostalgically to River Country I think you are looking through very thick Rose Colored Glasses.

Disclaimer: This review is from someone who first visited RC as a teenager and then as a father with a 6 and 7 year old.

River Country was a first gen water park. Not at all like water parks today. Today RC would be an insurance nightmare.

The water for all the slides came from the lake. They supposedly treated it, but it was greenish brown.

Some of the body slides (not just the "shotgun" slides at the pool) dumped you into over 6 feet of water. Everyone had to be a strong swimmer but at the time there were no "height" limits. In order for younger ones to use the slides you had to go down first, tread water and then push them to the ropes that defined the splash down area.

If you went under and stayed under, good luck, the water viability was maybe 2 feet if that. The life guards would have had to search for you or your kids blindly.

The real pool had rocks around it for diving, yes diving, at one time in this country diving was encouraged.

So besides that, other issues that it was much smaller than the other water parks and it was tough to get to* I can see why it closed.

* At the time RC was built it was in the middle of what was WDW. As they started to build other parks and resorts it was now in a lost corner of the world. If you told guests that at one time there was a water park near the campground in WDW they would ask "There's a campground in WDW? "

Sorry to burst everyone's bubble.

Oh and yes I too have a very special place in my heart for RC.