What ever happened to River Country?

[slavike]

What ever happened to River Country (The Water Park by Fort Wilderness)? I remember loving this place, even after they opened the other water parks, they still had this one open for awhile, and I still remember liking it better. (I am not a big fan of swimsuit wedgies from plunging heights).
Just a thought, while I am sitting missing my old west photos.

Thanks

 

[Sandra22]

I have often wondered the same thing. . .

 

[poohluvr]

I'm not sure but I think they may have closed it because of the problems they have with the water.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I think like everything else they just decided to move on and put all there efforts into the 2 other water parks. It was sad the last few times we boated by....hardly anyone was there. I can remember when I was little it was such a wonderful place and always crowded...

 

[poohluvr]

I just remember many, many years ago a kid died there from some kind of bacteria or something in the water. I assume that's why Disney doesn't allow any swimming except in the pools. I could be totally off base though.

 

[Smooshdog]

Disney closed River country a few years ago. It was in park due to lack of guests, but it was closed because of the problems with the water. Bay lake resort guests used to be able to swim in the lake, but due to some bacteria concerns swimming is no longer allowed. There is a hole between River country and bay lake where water would come in and out, and since that water was in river country they had to close it down.

Check this site out: http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id220.htm

 

[Smooshdog]

oh and just to mention, my family always stayed at Fort Wilderness and went to River Country every vacation. It was very sad for me when I heard River Country was closed.

 

[PirateCutie05]

Ooo I have the answer! At first it was down for *refurbishment* one year when we tried to go. Then my mom had heard that there was bacteria in all the water in the World which is why at the Boardwalk you can't go in the water. Then we did the mouse power boats at the Wilderness Lodge and we FINALLY got the REAL answer! (Because the bacteria thing is a little false...WDW has triathalons every year and they swim in that water.) The water at River Country was directly from the Seven Seas Lagoon so they couldn't really *cleanse* the water. They may have been trying to fix this problem I can't really remember. But then a hurricane, I forget which, did so much damage that they decided it wasn't worth fixing it. It's really sad cause we really liked River Country too! But I think it's gone for good now...

 

[kribit]

Let's hope I can post this link...

http://piredale.photosite.com/album2/?page=3

I was really interested in learning what happened so I did a google search a couple of weeks back. The pics are so sad.

I loved River Country as a kids and it just looks so awful now.

 

[PirateCutie05]

Let's hope I can post this link...

http://piredale.photosite.com/album2/?page=3

I was really interested in learning what happened so I did a google search a couple of weeks back. The pics are so sad.

I loved River Country as a kids and it just looks so awful now.

Oh that is sad. RC had my favorite slide too! Those ones at the top of the hill that cut off about 3 or 4 feet from the actual water and you just free-fall in. I loved those!

 

[kribit]

Oh that is sad. RC had my favorite slide too! Those ones at the top of the hill that cut off about 3 or 4 feet from the actual water and you just free-fall in. I loved those!

I was just chatting with my dh about those slides - he had never been on them and had no idea what I was talking about - he missed out. I also thought they were the best thing....so much fun.

It's amazing how a simple slide can bring back such good memories. Disney is so good for that.

 

[Von Drake]

I've posted this before, but I don't remember where.
Freshwater shallows in the Sunbelt states are a breeding ground for a particular bacteria that enters through the sinus cavity and aatacks the lining of the brain, causing symptoms similar to encephalitis. Very dangerous and oft times deadly. The water in RC was drawn from deep in Bay Lake through high volume pumps and gravity fed down through the slides. A floating bladder formed a spillway through which the water returned to Bay Lake. The problem was that much of the fresh water section of RC was shallow, thus providing a life sized petri dish in which the nasty little bugs proliferated. Add to that the propensity of kids (of all ages) to inhale, ingest, or otherwise allow that water to enter their bodies, and you have a recipe for disaster. The pool area of RC was deep- 10 feet, if memory serves. So, if you are thinking 'why not just open the pool' , then you are looking at high liability due to the depth. (Poly used to have a diving pool as well, but that's history, too) .

Regarding water quality, Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon took some environmental damage over the years due to cumulative effects of fuel spillage, but they have improved recently as well. (This from a CM that I spoke to a while back) . That is why the lakes are full of life- from fish to snakes to gators. If you watch the birds of prey hunting fish, you will see that the ecosystem appears quite healthy. In addition, deep water activities are still advertised, such as water skiing and wakeboarding. It's the shallows that are potentially dangerous, but only if you submerge your face.

As far as someone dying at RC, I am fairly certain that did NOT happen. However, almost every year, someone is reported as dying from exposure. Last one that I read about was a couple of years ago in Florida. Two boys.

 

[tzvdmd]

http://www.disneypix.com/Recreation/River/2005a/River2005a.htm

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

In the word's of Lightning McQueen " I sure would have liked to see it in it's hayday"
I never had the chance to go, wish I had. I bet it was great!

 

[slavike]

God I really wish that someone would have said that they paved over it for an executive plane runway. I am devistated seeing those pictures. No one would ever guess all the great times and happy memories that were made there.
The single innertube is so sad.

 

[PirateCutie05]

The single innertube is so sad.

I know! It made me want to cry...I just thought to myself...look at that poor, lonely innertube.

 

[Smooshdog]

I wish I could just go walk around River Country one last time...while at Fort Wilderness I walked over to River Country and tried to peak in, but there is a huge green screen blocking the view. The only thing there is a small sign that says, "River Country is Closed." Very sad

 

[surfer_ed]

It was the first water park I ever went to. So I have a great feeling for the place.

I read somehwere that regulations changed that water parks had to have an inclosed water system, making this type of thing in a lake not viable. Why is there still a sign on the Disney highways saying where it is?

 

[steelfish535]

Years ago my brother got a double ear infection and ended up having a seizure, his fever went so high. They took him to the hospital, and the doctor said he might have contracted it from being in the water there. Who knows how it happened, but we weren't allowed to go to water parks for a long time after that.
I don't remember River Country very well....but it's so sad to see pics of it so abandoned and overrun.

 

[oghoagie]

I loved that place. It was so laid back. I went there when I was a kid with my mom. She passed away when I was a teen and always try to goto places we had great times. Disney was one of them I know they have to change and keep up with the times. I just find it hard to lose a place that I have such good memories of her. I will never forget the zip line I thought I was so cool when I could hold on all the way to the end. I am not sure when they shut it down but when I was working for MTV on disney property we kind of snuck over to where it was, and was so sad when I saw it was closed. The sadest part was it was still there just not open or kept the chairs were gone except for broken ones the slides did not have any water and there were some pools the were green. It looked like the land that time forgot or a the day after set. I would have loved to be able to bring my kids there. Im going to start a post "Rember this all the things disney has closed" it could be fun.