The WDW waterpark that closed

[tink20]

I learned something today that I never knew. My friend was telling me about a 3rd WDW waterpark, she said she went to when she was in high school (about 22 yrs ago) She said its just sitting there abandoned now.

 

[daughtersrus]

I learned something today that I never knew. My friend was telling me about a 3rd WDW waterpark, she said she went to when she was in high school (about 22 yrs ago) She said its just sitting there abandoned now.

River Country closed in 2001. It was by the campground.

 

[sam_gordon]

River Country closed in 2001. It was by the campground.

If you rent any of the boats from CR, Poly, GF, WL, you can go by the area.

 

[JanaDee]

River Country was closed shortly after 9/11. It is just sitting there abandoned and rotting now.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

AS others have said, River Country closed in 2001 and was just never reopened. You can GIS Disney's River Country and see photos of it in its hey day and what it looks like now.

Then:

Now:

 

[tink20]

thanks for the pics

 

[skylizard]

AS others have said, River Country closed in 2001 and was just never reopened. You can GIS Disney's River Country and see photos of it in its hey day and what it looks like now.

Then:

Now:

It's so sad that Disney has left it sitting like that for over a decade. You'd think they'd at least clear it out

 

[DopeyDame]

Man I loved river country! So sad it closed. It wasn't nearly the size and scope of the other two, but it was the first place I swam in the "deep end", the first place I went down a big-kid slide, the first place I put my head under water that wasn't a pool.

Sigh. Between this and the other thread about things we miss at WDW, I'm feeling so sad and nostalgic today...

 

[Tuffcookie]

I was fortunate enough to have been there twice, with youngest DS, when we camped at FW.

I will always remember that Goofy, wearing an old fashioned bathing suit, would occasionally appear and go down the water slide!

TC

 

[disney1990]

Why do you think Disney just leaves it there rotting instead of doing something with that piece of property?

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Here is a video showing a lot of the before and after:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VArObNa-1SA

 

[Breezy_Carol]

So talking about River Country.....does anyone remember Discovery Island? It was right near there and was like an animal preserve.

 

[Kitty 34]

We absolutely loved Discovery Island as did our sons. We have many many pictures and great memories of that place.

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't know why Disney has not chosen to redevelop the property or at least remove the debris in order to let it revert to nature. It was initially closed because it badly declined in popularity after the opening of Blizzard Beach, so re-opening it with the same theme would not have made sense; it was MUCH smaller than the other 2 water parks.

One thing I do know is that the reason that River Country remains closed and will never reopen is that it was a freshwater water park, and due to the occurrence of Naegleria (the so-called brain-eating amoeba) in freshwater in Florida, it would now be impossible to keep lake water filtered enough to keep swimmers safe.

 

[momof1princess]

So talking about River Country.....does anyone remember Discovery Island? It was right near there and was like an animal preserve.

If I recall correctly, Discovery Island was closed due to a deadly bacteria that was found there.

 

[disney1990]

If I recall correctly, Discovery Island was closed due to a deadly bacteria that was found there.

Actually River Country was caused by a deadly amoeba, called Naegleria fowleri, in the water. It is the reason why you shouldn't swim in the lakes in Florida.

Discovery Island was closed shortly after Animal Kingdom was opened and most animal life was removed from the island to AK.

 

[momof1princess]

Actually River Country was caused by a deadly amoeba, called Naegleria fowleri, in the water. It is the reason why you shouldn't swim in the lakes in Florida.

Discovery Island was closed shortly after Animal Kingdom was opened and most animal life was removed from the island to AK.

Oh wow! Thanks! I had them backward.

 

[NewRVLady]

I have a great pic of me petting a GIANT Tortoise on Discovery Island...he had escaped his pen and was rambling along the beach

 

[LBIJim]

So talking about River Country.....does anyone remember Discovery Island? It was right near there and was like an animal preserve.

Discovery Island was a nice and relaxing place to visit. We took our daughters there on their first WDW trip and all of us really enjoyed it.

Never visited River Country.

Jim

 

[Katelly]

On our first few trips to Disney, River Country and Discovery Island were still open and we had planned to visit both. However, our schedule was a bit hectic and we never got to either place. We just thought we'd visit on our next trip - never thinking they would be closing those two attractions. Sad that we missed out on exploring those areas.