The old River Country

[shirley 38]

My question is can you walk over there. I love this place and think it is a shame they can't do something with it.

What is the problem??? Beautiful pool, walking trails. They could just rope off the lake.

I would really like to know this.,

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Yes, since October, 2008, you can walk into the old entrance area of River Country, and look around the area around the old counter service restaurant, Pop's Place. The rest of the area is fenced off and is in terrible shape. Just rotting away, really.

This is the beautiful pool that you remember:

If you head over to the fence, and stand on one of the big rocks (be careful!), this is what it looks like now:

TCD

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Not so beautiful over there any more, Shirley. Discamper posted some pictures not too long ago taken recently at RC. Officially, you can't go over there. Unofficially, it's a different story.

 

[E&K's Dad]

I remember more about River Country from my first WDW vacation than I do of any other part of my trip! What was reason behind it's closure? Typhoon Lagoon/Blizzard Beach? Up keep expense vs. building new? Seems like such a waste of a good facility.

 

[Aurora in blue]

We took the boat from MK to Fort Wilderness. Do you pass river country on the way? I saw some old bridges and things and I was wondering if that is where river country is?

 

[Tri-circle-D]

We took the boat from MK to Fort Wilderness. Do you pass river country on the way? I saw some old bridges and things and I was wondering if that is where river country is?

Yes, those were the ruins of River Country that you saw to your right as you approached the Fort marina.

TCD

 

[ftwildernessguy]

A FW bus driver told me Disney is sponsoring an archeological dig at the ruins of River Country. They are interested in seeing what campers were like 30 years ago.

 

[DisCamper]

 

[BradyBz12]

so so sad....

It would be nice if they at least cleaned the joint up, filled in the pool to make it safe and opened it up as a "nature walk" or a playground or something - but I think that's highly unlikely.

 

[shirley 38]

I just don't get it. OPEN THE PLACE & the pool. Most of the resorts have the lake around them some of the have a beach connected to it.

People do not go into the water. Just fence it off and open some part of river country.

I don't know how to do a poll but maybe someone could put one on this thread.

RIVER COUNTRY LOVER FOREVER.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Watch out! Shirley's gettin' all riled up! John better hide out in the 5er!

 

[Disneyfan1977]

Swimming is no longer allowed in the seven seas lagoon or bay lake, right? I think its due to the contamination of them? So maybe that had something to do with it. And with TL and BB maybe there was no demand. With all of that said, its so unDisney to let an attraction just rot there like that. I really dont' get it. Its sad. I have memories of my dad standing at the bottom of the kiddie slides convincing me I could do it. I dont' see why the pool couldn't be a third FW pool. Make the rest of the natural water, just that and take out the things that don't need to be there.

So sad, Disney should really do something with it......

 

[Tri-circle-D]

As soon as they figure out how to make a buck off of the old River Country site, it will be put to use lickity-split! Until then, don't hold your breath. Why should they make it another pool for the Fort? There's no money in that!

TCD

 

[Disneyfan1977]

As soon as they figure out how to make a buck off of the old River Country site, it will be put to use lickity-split! Until then, don't hold your breath. Why should they make it another pool for the Fort? There's no money in that!

TCD

I guess your right. I didnt' really think about the whole money end of it. Its just a shame for it to sit there.......oh well...so it goes.

I will be there on Monday and I will have to take a stroll past it and bring a little tissue......

 

[chartle]

You may be looking back at RC with rose colored glasses.

Here is my take on the closing of River Country coming from someone who
visited it first as a teenager and then as a parent of a 6 and 7 year old. I first wrote this over 10 years ago.

1. It used water from the lake. Unless they did some special coloring, it had the same brownish green color as Bay Lake. I heard they "treated it" and heated it a little in the fall and spring.

2. It was hard to get to. From the old WDWIG.com web site:

*. By Car - Enter through the Magic Kingdom toll booths (stay to the
right as you approach them) and then follow the signs for River Country.
Buses take guests from the parking lot to the River Country entrance.

*. By Bus - Buses bound for Fort Wilderness depart from the Transportation & Ticket Center regularly throughout the day. These buses will drop guests off at the Pioneer Hall bus stop in Fort Wilderness. From here it is a short walk to the River Country entrance. After exiting the bus guests should follow the path to their left. The River Country entrance will be just after the Pioneer Hall Restaurant complex on the left.

*. By Boat - Guests who are at the Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary Resort can take motor launches directly to the Fort Wilderness docks. The entrance to River Country will be straight ahead and to your right.

3. It was small. If Typhoon Lagoon holds 20,000 (a pure guess) River Country could hold maybe 5,000 (another pure guess)

4. River Country was a first gen "themed" water park. I don't remember there being many water parks in the late 70's. The design would be considered an insurance nightmare today. I remember the main slides dumping you into 8 feet of water. Not just the shotgun slides but all the slides. You would have to go first and them wade in the water to catch your kid and push him to the side. At the main pool, they had rocks you could dive from. Yes at one point in the USA they would let you dive into a pool.
What were they thinking?

With the opening of the two other water parks and what others have said
about rehab, I can see why it closed.

The rumors at the time of closing were that they were going to rebuild it as
a special pool for Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness guests.

Here is Deb's old web site
http://web.archive.org/web/19991010031401/wdwig.com/faq_rc.htm

 

[Disneyfan1977]

You may be looking back at RC with rose colored glasses.

Here is my take on the closing of River Country coming from someone who
visited it first as a teenager and then as a parent of a 6 and 7 year old. I first wrote this over 10 years ago.

1. It used water from the lake. Unless they did some special coloring, it had the same brownish green color as Bay Lake. I heard they "treated it" and heated it a little in the fall and spring.

2. It was hard to get to. From the old WDWIG.com web site:

*. By Car - Enter through the Magic Kingdom toll booths (stay to the
right as you approach them) and then follow the signs for River Country.
Buses take guests from the parking lot to the River Country entrance.

*. By Bus - Buses bound for Fort Wilderness depart from the Transportation & Ticket Center regularly throughout the day. These buses will drop guests off at the Pioneer Hall bus stop in Fort Wilderness. From here it is a short walk to the River Country entrance. After exiting the bus guests should follow the path to their left. The River Country entrance will be just after the Pioneer Hall Restaurant complex on the left.

*. By Boat - Guests who are at the Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary Resort can take motor launches directly to the Fort Wilderness docks. The entrance to River Country will be straight ahead and to your right.

3. It was small. If Typhoon Lagoon holds 20,000 (a pure guess) River Country could hold maybe 5,000 (another pure guess)

4. River Country was a first gen "themed" water park. I don't remember there being many water parks in the late 70's. The design would be considered an insurance nightmare today. I remember the main slides dumping you into 8 feet of water. Not just the shotgun slides but all the slides. You would have to go first and them wade in the water to catch your kid and push him to the side. At the main pool, they had rocks you could dive from. Yes at one point in the USA they would let you dive into a pool.
What were they thinking?

With the opening of the two other water parks and what others have said
about rehab, I can see why it closed.

The rumors at the time of closing were that they were going to rebuild it as
a special pool for Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness guests.

Here is Deb's old web site
http://web.archive.org/web/19991010031401/wdwig.com/faq_rc.htm

interesting take on it. Never thought about the transportation thing.

As far as parent catching their kids...if they can't swim in 8 feet of water than the slide wouldn't really be for them anyway. I couldn't so I went into the kiddie areas where the slides landed in shallow water.

 

[LONE-STAR]

You may be looking back at RC with rose colored glasses.

Here is my take on the closing of River Country coming from someone who
visited it first as a teenager and then as a parent of a 6 and 7 year old. I first wrote this over 10 years ago.

1. It used water from the lake. Unless they did some special coloring, it had the same brownish green color as Bay Lake. I heard they "treated it" and heated it a little in the fall and spring.

2. It was hard to get to. From the old WDWIG.com web site:

*. By Car - Enter through the Magic Kingdom toll booths (stay to the
right as you approach them) and then follow the signs for River Country.
Buses take guests from the parking lot to the River Country entrance.

*. By Bus - Buses bound for Fort Wilderness depart from the Transportation & Ticket Center regularly throughout the day. These buses will drop guests off at the Pioneer Hall bus stop in Fort Wilderness. From here it is a short walk to the River Country entrance. After exiting the bus guests should follow the path to their left. The River Country entrance will be just after the Pioneer Hall Restaurant complex on the left.

*. By Boat - Guests who are at the Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary Resort can take motor launches directly to the Fort Wilderness docks. The entrance to River Country will be straight ahead and to your right.

3. It was small. If Typhoon Lagoon holds 20,000 (a pure guess) River Country could hold maybe 5,000 (another pure guess)

4. River Country was a first gen "themed" water park. I don't remember there being many water parks in the late 70's. The design would be considered an insurance nightmare today. I remember the main slides dumping you into 8 feet of water. Not just the shotgun slides but all the slides. You would have to go first and them wade in the water to catch your kid and push him to the side. At the main pool, they had rocks you could dive from. Yes at one point in the USA they would let you dive into a pool.
What were they thinking?

With the opening of the two other water parks and what others have said
about rehab, I can see why it closed.

The rumors at the time of closing were that they were going to rebuild it as
a special pool for Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness guests.

Here is Deb's old web site
http://web.archive.org/web/19991010031401/wdwig.com/faq_rc.htm

I agree transportation would be a pain from other resorts but when it was built there were not so many resorts. I say open the pool give us some good food and it could be a night time outdoor wilderness pool bar for the campgrounds and the lodge to share. That way the people from the lodge could see us poor old campers pull up in our jacked up and tricked out golf carts while they had to walk.

 

[shirley 38]

You may be looking back at RC with rose colored glasses.

Here is my take on the closing of River Country coming from someone who
visited it first as a teenager and then as a parent of a 6 and 7 year old. I first wrote this over 10 years ago.

1. It used water from the lake. Unless they did some special coloring, it had the same brownish green color as Bay Lake. I heard they "treated it" and heated it a little in the fall and spring.

2. It was hard to get to. From the old WDWIG.com web site:

*. By Car - Enter through the Magic Kingdom toll booths (stay to the
right as you approach them) and then follow the signs for River Country.
Buses take guests from the parking lot to the River Country entrance.

*. By Bus - Buses bound for Fort Wilderness depart from the Transportation & Ticket Center regularly throughout the day. These buses will drop guests off at the Pioneer Hall bus stop in Fort Wilderness. From here it is a short walk to the River Country entrance. After exiting the bus guests should follow the path to their left. The River Country entrance will be just after the Pioneer Hall Restaurant complex on the left.

*. By Boat - Guests who are at the Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary Resort can take motor launches directly to the Fort Wilderness docks. The entrance to River Country will be straight ahead and to your right.

3. It was small. If Typhoon Lagoon holds 20,000 (a pure guess) River Country could hold maybe 5,000 (another pure guess)

4. River Country was a first gen "themed" water park. I don't remember there being many water parks in the late 70's. The design would be considered an insurance nightmare today. I remember the main slides dumping you into 8 feet of water. Not just the shotgun slides but all the slides. You would have to go first and them wade in the water to catch your kid and push him to the side. At the main pool, they had rocks you could dive from. Yes at one point in the USA they would let you dive into a pool.
What were they thinking?

With the opening of the two other water parks and what others have said
about rehab, I can see why it closed.

The rumors at the time of closing were that they were going to rebuild it as
a special pool for Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness guests.

Here is Deb's old web site
http://web.archive.org/web/19991010031401/wdwig.com/faq_rc.htm

BAH HUMBUG THERE 'S ONE IN EVERY CROUD

 

[Born 2 Fish]

They should turn the place into a big fishing extravaganza ! Yeah baby , thats what I'm talk'n bout !!

 

[I'mDownWithDisney]

We went in 2000 just before it closed. It was nice to revisit RC, but it seemed so much smaller than when I was a kid. We stayed all day and had a good time. The next day all 4 us had terrible sore throats and flu like symptoms. I wasn't too stoked on RC after that. I do wish the pool was open to campers, though.