The old River Country

[PrincessKsMom]

its so unDisney to let an attraction just rot there like that.

Unless you consider the other 1/2 of Pop Century that's never been developed.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Unless you consider the other 1/2 of Pop Century that's never been developed.

Or unless you consider the swamp tral board walk at the Fort that Disney just let rot away, then closed it.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Or nless you consider "20,000 Leagues" ride at the Magic Kingdom being closed for YEARS before removing it.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

. . . and, don't forget the bird aviary and other stuff rotting away on Discovery Island.

TCD

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Or unless you consider the "Sky Ride" being closed for all those years before removing it,,,(but the towers still there but they won't let you go up them to take pictures).

 

[BradyBz12]

Or unless you consider the "Sky Ride" being closed for all those years before removing it,,,(but the towers still there but they won't let you go up them to take pictures).

Only the Fantasyland end. They finally tore down the Tomorrowland station last week.

 

[PrincessNP]

I did a little searching and found this info on Ole River Country. Sorry if it has been posted before.

This water park opened on five acres at a corner of Bay Lake near Cypress Point at Fort Wilderness on June 20, 1976. It was officially opened by Gerald Ford's daughter Susan and was designed to be like the type of swimming hole you'd imagine in a Mark Twain novel. According to Disney press releases, gravity kept the millions of gallons of water fresh in River Country. A giant flexible tube at the mouth of the Ol' Swimmin' Hole opened into Bay Lake and served as a "bladder" as it expanded and contracted to keep the River Country water level six inches higher than the lake. This was accomplished through the use of a special sensor system.
Water from Bay Lake was pumped through the inside of River Country's artificial mountain to the top of the flumes and raft ride at the rate of 8,500 gallons a minute. Following the principle that gravity causes water to seek its own level, the River Country water spilled over the top of the tube back into Bay Lake and provided circulation in the water. There were natural sand beaches underfoot instead of the concrete found at a regular waterpark.
Fred Joerger, who did rock work on attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain and Tom Sawyer Island designed the rocks at River Country and scattered them with pebbles from streambeds in Georgia and the Carolinas.

River Country proved to be very popular and the limited capacity led to many sold out days. The success of the Huck Finn-inspired swimming hole led to the construction of Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. So why is it now in Walt Dated World? There are several theories for the closing of River Country. Even though the park was popular during the hot summer months, the majority of the water was unheated. Because of this, River Country would often close for refurbishment in early fall when it became cooler or it would be closed during the middle of the week.
Rising admission prices and the addition of two larger water parks on Disney property may have made many visitors feel that River Country was no longer a good value for the price of a ticket compared to the limited number of things to do there.
Disney tried to rectify this problem in 1998 when it offered what it called the All-American Water Party. This seasonal event celebrated every day as the Fourth of July. Games such as sack races, tug-o-war, and a water balloon toss were offered and Disney characters would dance as a country band played during a "good ol' fashioned barbeque." By 2002, the Water Party was a thing of the past and River Country was listed for the last time in the Birnbaum Disney guide. The events of September 11, 2001 and the resulting decrease in tourism may have also played a part in River Country's demise.
River Country is still in place but is only available for private parties and conventions, not for regular guests. Even then, it is rarely used. There have been rumors that it may reopen someday exclusively for Fort Wilderness guests.



I cant get the pictures to post so here is the link:
http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id220.htm

 

[PrincessNP]

OK......the redneck in me counld not help but post the song I found....

River Country. Big River Country.
It's a hoot. It's a holler! It's a water jamboree!
River Country. Big River Country.
If you're hot around the collar it's the cool place to be.

River Country. Big River Country.
Let 'er rip. What a drip! It's a dandy. It's a beaut.
River Country. Big River Country.
You can shed your cares over there, but not your bathing suit.

You can slip.
You can slide.
You can zip.
You can dive.
In River Country everyone's a friend.

You can swing from a limb.
You can sink.
You can swim.
It's a day you'll remember when you're freezin' in December.

River Country. Big River Country.
There's a lot about it, to brighten up your soul.
River Country. Big River Country.
Come and join us for a visit to the ol' swimmin' hole.

 

[shirley 38]

BRING BACK RIVER COUNTRY Us campers will use it, swim, fish have sing alongs etc.

By the way I LOVE your song on River Country.
LOL SHIRLEY 38

 

[wlkw03]

Awwww, I do miss River County, all of those sun burns I got as a kid while standing in line to go down the slides. Many fond memories....

 

[shirley 38]

Thank you to everyone who agree's with me about River Country.

 

[WDWFigment]

Can anyone tell me if this or any signs with "River Country" on them are still up and in plain view over there?

 

[chartle]

Can anyone tell me if this or any signs with "River Country" on them are still up and in plain view over there?

didn't this get moved to the pool as part of the recent rehab?

 

[DisCamper]

Yes the water tank started up front for the wilderness railroad then it was moved to River Country and it now lives at the pool at the Meadows pool

 

[WDWFigment]

Yes the water tank started up front for the wilderness railroad then it was moved to River Country and it now lives at the pool at the Meadows pool

Are there any entrance signs or anything still visible? For some reason I seem to recall a rolling steel drum that said River Country on the side. However, it's very possible that my memory is incorrect.

 

[des1954]

My first visit to RC was July 4, 1976 - or just shortly after it opened. It was amazing, as we had never seen or heard of a themed water park before then. IIRC, it was the first themed water park in the country.

We had gone to St. Augustine for the weekend & decided to check out RC on our way home. We parked in the overflow lot & took the bus to Settlement & walked the rest of the way. Remember...back then they didn't have wheels on coolers, so we didn't take one. We bought food & drink inside RC.

Fast forward to 1997 when we took our first GC to the Fort - no transportation problems to RC then. We just took a casual ride from our site & parked the cart near Clementine's Beach - rolled our cooler inside & had a fantastic time. We had the premium annual passes then which included all the water parks. We went to RC every time we stayed at the Fort after then, until it's demise. I'm very sad it's gone.

 

[DisCamper]

Last time I went to River Country was the summer 1988. Me and some friends spent about 2 or more hrs. There it was sad for me because it was not the great park I remember as a kid and all the fun I had there. I wish I never went that last time because of all the great times and memories I had as a kid.

 

[WDWFigment]

Are there any entrance signs or anything still visible? For some reason I seem to recall a rolling steel drum that said River Country on the side. However, it's very possible that my memory is incorrect.

This is what I was talking about:

Is it still there?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Isnt that parked right across from Trails End/Crocket's now? I dont remember seeing anything about RC painted on it though.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

It says Mickey's Backyard Barbeque now.