Then and Now Post your photos and memories from the Fort

[ynottony99]

So I wonder how much a state park campground charged in 1972? I have reservations for Wekiwa Springs in Feb. and the rate before tax is $20. So at the same rate of inflation I am guessing back then it would have been about $4 a night. If so, I imagine that $11 seemed quite steep for FW.

 

[Shan-man]

What really strikes me about the rate sheet is that NO PETS were allowed, whatsoever. Sure, the kennel was only $1 per day, but you couldn't even let you furry children visit the campsite. Glad that's changed, or we'd be at Encore or Turkey Lake!

 

[Live4FW]

When I was 13 we moved back to FL from Cali and had been avid RV'ers out there. My FW bug didn't start until my late 30's.

I always wondered why we didn't stay there from '78 - '83????

AHA, It was the no pets issue. We had a dog that always went camping with us.

I then remembered we went to the fort in '93 staying in our pop-up that we only had for a year or two. We had to leave my dog with my parents at the time.

Sure glad they changed this policy! One of the good things that has come to the fort over the years instead of going away

BTW, I also like the fact that there are loops for dogs and loops for no dogs. Hope that stays.

 

[ynottony99]

I am sure that some of you have seen this page before, but thought it was worth listing on this thread. It is a great collection of Disney Postcards. Chapter 4, pages 7,14,15 are FW/RC related, but there is a lot more worth checking out.

http://www.bigbrian-nc.com/pctoc.htm

 

[ynottony99]

Here are a couple of photos I found out there on that Inter-Web. I don't have any now photos as comparison, but things have changed a bit.

 

[HLUVZWDW]

Remember the sign

 

[ynottony99]

Sticking with the Marina photo from HLUVZWDW, I found these from someones vacation album. Pictures appear to be from the 70's.

 

[Shan-man]

MAN! Look at that line for the boats! Love the "Tom Sawyer'esque" sign to MK.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

MAN! Look at that line for the boats! Love the "Tom Sawyer'esque" sign to MK.

All I see is tourists getting in my way.....

I look at those old pics and wonder how old those folks are and how many aren't with us anymore. My family has such good memories of our trips that they will last a lifetime, my kids are only 18 and 15 and they already talk about previous trips. My twin brother is going to be a grandfather in June and he is really stoked about building memories with the new child.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thanks to Dis member Doggmeat, I have a lot more material to use for this thread now.

Here is a copy of the old rules sheet circa 1981 (courtesy of Doggmeat), with a couple of things starred. Note that there used to be three kinds of poisonous snakes at the Fort, and no motorcycles were allowed (also no pets allowed):

Here is a copy of the rules from a 2009 Fort Wilderness Gazette. Note that there are now four kinds of poisonous snakes, and motorcycles are OK:

There are a lot of other, smaller differences.

Interesting stuff!

TCD