River Country

[Horizons16]

I was bored earlier in the day and decided to use google maps to look up River Country and see whats going on there. The zoom doesnt go in far enough to actually see whats going one. I can see the area, the swimming hole, stuff like that, but thats all.
I was just wondering if anyone knew whats going on with it. Maybe some photos. Just curious. Thanks!

~Steve

 

[Geoff_M]

RC went down for "rehab" in 2001 (IIRC) and has never re-opened since. After a couple of years in "limbo" is was slowly de-listed from Disney references. Effectively it's "gone" even though the structures are still there. There are a couple points of speculation about the moth-balling of CR. The conventional wisdom was that it could not compete for attendance with the "thrill" themeing of BB and TL and the post-9/11 guest slump was a final nail in its coffin.

 

[CindyT]

I really miss River Country, it was a great place to go, especially if you were staying in the campgrounds. I liked the more laid back feel of the place.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

It seems kindof a shame that they have let that go since it holds some history in that it was the first Water park in the country (world??).

It would be nice if they revamped it, a little smaller than water country was but reopen parts of it to make it a theme swimming pool (hole) for Fort Wilderness and the lodge (like at Beach club). with the slides going thru the woods, the rope swings, that would be cool

 

[monarchsfan16]

When we were Flag family in April at the Lodge, I asked the cast member about RC and why it closed. He said it was getting too expensive to run transport out there, and it was getting too difficult to keep the water from RC out of Bay Lake. Some people on this board have speculated that it was hard to keep Bay Lake out of RC, but it was actually the other way around.

 

[Memph1s]

Check out these pictures of River Country from last May. Not for the faint of heart if you are a River Country fan. Very Sad to see.

 

[GIOny]

Memph your pictures are sooo sad. I have such good memories of River Country. Come on Disney, put your money back in the parks (WDW,DL) and reopen River Country.

 

[ryley26]

we peeked through the fence at the bybb and RC is a complete disaster. They would need to put major dollars into it to rehab.They probally figure its easier to upgrade the two thay hve now.

 

[VSL]

Surely they won't just leave it forever though?

I doubt there'll ever be a RC again (kinda sad - I never got to go!), but I can't imagine them just letting it sit there for years and years and years without doing something with the land (even just cleaning it up)... would they?

 

[klj27]

I have never been there so I can't picture what type of land is available there. When I was touring DVC in July I asked our agent about other DVC resorts and for some reason I mentioned the land where River Country is. He just smiled and said we are looking at many spots for DVC resorts and kind of eluded to the fact that may be an option for that site.

 

[Horizons16]

Its kind of sad since it was the first water park. Those pictures brought a tear to my eye. The other week when i went to change my oil i found a RC towel in the rag pile! I was offended. I snathed it up and then put it in a safe place.

 

[tjmouse]

The land itself looks pretty good for as long as it's been abandoned. I am sure one day they will do something with it.