Who remembers . . . . . . . . ?

[Tri-circle-D]

Yup, 500 loop was Terry Trail and the bike barn was by the 300 loop. If you check out the bottom of my FW web page (link below) I have both the current map as well as a 1978 map. You see a lot of changes during these years.

Here is a short history of FW:

Fort Wilderness opened November 1971 on 750 acres between the Contemporary Resort and the Walt Disney World Village. At that time it had 231 camping sites including loops 100 - 600.

June 1973 added 481 sites, loops 700 - 1900

April 1974 Pioneer Hall opened

June 1976 added 113 sites, loops 2000 - 2100

June 1976 River Country opened

April 1979 added Creekside Meadow group camping area

December 1986 added 383 trailer sites*, loops 2200 - 2800

*The Terry Trailer rental program on the 500 loop was so popular "cabin rental were expanded. IIRC the current sites of cabins had rental Terry Trailers on them as well as the 500 loop. After 2200-2800 opened the 500 loop was converted to a camping. loop.

Tim: Thanks so much for the information. Your website is great! I am fascinated by the 1978 map!!

I'm not sure if you saw this map, which was posted on the photo of the day thread by Ynottonny99:

This one doesn't show a date, but my guess is that it is more recent than the map on your site, because it shows the Bike Barn in its current location.

I was at the Fort last week, and I noticed that on the campground map posted on the building at the end of the dock at the marina, the 500 loop is still shown as Terry Trail. This map shows the 2200-2800 loops, so this confirms that the name change to Buffalo Bend was a while after the trailers were removed. Does anybody know when the name changed?

I have a question for the Ft. Wilderness history experts: Was the 2100 loop (which is now a cabin loop) originally a camping loop? There is a walkway from the 2100 loop to the 1100 loop comfort station, and there is a building right in the center of the 2100 loop that looks like it could have been a comfort station, too. Anybody remember anything about this?

Also, Tim, the history you listed above suggests that the 2200-2800 sites were opened in 1986. We used to stay in the Wilderness Homes quite a bit in the late 90's, and it was pretty obvious that the homes in the 2700 and 2800 loops were a lot newer than those in the other loops. When they began to replace the homes with cabins, the 2700 and 2800 homes were replaced last ( I think this process took several years). This makes me think that the 2700 and 2800 loops may have been opened more recently than the other cabin loops. Anybody know anything about this?

Thanks to everybody for your input. My history at the fort only goes back about 14 years, and I find it interesting to hear about the changes over the years.

TCD

 

[ynottony99]

Way before my time.........

 

[KevinNYC]

We first visited FW in 1975....Back then, Discovery Island was called Treasure Island...with a complete pirate walk thru on the island...it was great...and a visit was free.....the island used to fly a large "Jolly Roger" flag...Of course, the best way to get around FW then was the steam trains...but FW was much smaller then..we did get to try the canoes and we always fondly remember the Chip & Dale breakfast buffets...best value at WDW..I have photos of the train and Treasue Island....I just dont know how to post them here...I will try to get them on here in case anyone woudl llike to see some of the "early days" at FW

 

[stillh2o]

Who remembers when Pioneer Hall at Chrismas time had free hot cider and cookies.

 

[KevinNYC]

We visited WDW for the first time in May, 1975...we stayed at FW and just loved the place...especially the Steam Train.....we still have a few pics and I hope I can upload them correctly...BTW....after they stopped using the train they used some of the passenger cars as the original ticket booths at Pleasure Island, they just removed the wheels and modified them to be ticket booths and that lasted for many years....they have since removed the passenger cars to be refinished ..and they built train-like ticket booths to substitute at Pleasure Island....well...here goes:::

I hope this works..we have other pics of the old trains that we found on another site....as well as a pic of one of the actual trains about to be refinished in California
..this is my first try at posting pics..so dont be mad with me if it doenst work the first time...thanks to everyone for their kind advice & patience on posting pics

 

[KevinNYC]

Hey..seems like my pics made it to the forum...hurray....here is a pic of one of the original FW Stream Engines, now in california, to be refinished...

here are a few original pics of the Stream Train around FW...these I found on another site....so they are not mine...but they really capture the early FW experience...

Here is a more recent pic of a streach of the old rairway bed and remaining tracks....you can find these small remaining pieces on teh FW property....you just need to look carefully....

Enjoy

 

[stillh2o]

I remember the old train

 

[KevinNYC]

Again, back IN 1975......the island was called Treasure Island..before they made it into Discovery Island...It was a lot of fun..with a pirate walk thru....parrots./.pirates...treasure to be found...no charge from what I remember///.the sunken boat along the shore....here is a picture of the dock when it was Treasure Island..note the large "Jolly Roger " Flag..its the same dock they used when it became Discovery Island:

This pic is from Treasure Island....look at the type of waterboats they used to commute the guests in back in 1975...:Afgain, notice the Jolly Roger Flag on teh dock on the left side of the pic::

Here is a pic of the FW launch taking guests to Treasure Island from the FW dock..Notice the Jolly Roger flag atop the launch...and also notice the swimmers enjoying the lake at the FW beach and also notice the dock out in the water for the swimmers:

Next is one of the Watch Towers on Treasure Island..:

Finally, this is cute..a deer taking some shade down by the FW beach..notice the early sailboats and walkway to the FW dock behind the Deer and tree:

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Kevin- Thanks for posting the photos of Treasure Island! They are great. The shipwrecked boat is still there, and you can see it on the boats that go back and forth to the Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom. Treasure Island is way before my time!

TCD

 

[ynottony99]

We visited WDW for the first time in May, 1975...we stayed at FW and just loved the place...especially the Steam Train.....we still have a few pics and I hope I can upload them correctly...BTW....after they stopped using the train they used some of the passenger cars as the original ticket booths at Pleasure Island, they just removed the wheels and modified them to be ticket booths and that lasted for many years....they have since removed the passenger cars to be refinished ..and they built train-like ticket booths to substitute at Pleasure Island....well...here goes:::

I hope this works..we have other pics of the old trains that we found on another site....as well as a pic of one of the actual trains about to be refinished in California
..this is my first try at posting pics..so dont be mad with me if it doenst work the first time...thanks to everyone for their kind advice & patience on posting pics

Those are awesome photos!!!!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[4DisneyAddicts]

I do remember Minnie Moo, I have a picture from one of my visits. I also remember River Country and Discovery Island.

I feel very nostalgic whenever I see the lawn mower tree. I showed it to my boys a few years ago. I told them about how we used to always look for it as kids. The tree almost covers it now...

I remember the carts. I kind of remember them selling food but definitely remember my Dad buying us stuffed animal characters from one.

I also remember the petting zoo and being bitten by a goose.

Of course one of my favorite memories, that I still do with my kids today, is buying ice cream on the way "home" for the night.
Also, playing checkers at the Trading Post.

 

[CottontailCurl]

Thank you so much for these pictures! I love seeing all the stuff that was there 'back in the day'! That looks like an awesome vacation with the train, Treasure Island and swimming in the bay (is it just me or is the water a LOT more clear there than it is now? - maybe it's for the better that people can't swim in it anymore! I just went back and looked at it again, it seems the area they've roped off for swimming is padded with extra sand, that might be giving it the "clearwater" look I thought I saw). When you looked for treasure on the Island, was it stuff you could keep when you found it?

I vote they bring back the train!!

Again, back IN 1975......the island was called Treasure Island..before they made it into Discovery Island...It was a lot of fun..with a pirate walk thru....parrots./.pirates...treasure to be found...no charge from what I remember///.the sunken boat along the shore....here is a picture of the dock when it was Treasure Island..note the large "Jolly Roger " Flag..its the same dock they used when it became Discovery Island:

This pic is from Treasure Island....look at the type of waterboats they used to commute the guests in back in 1975...:Afgain, notice the Jolly Roger Flag on teh dock on the left side of the pic::

Here is a pic of the FW launch taking guests to Treasure Island from the FW dock..Notice the Jolly Roger flag atop the launch...and also notice the swimmers enjoying the lake at the FW beach and also notice the dock out in the water for the swimmers:

Next is one of the Watch Towers on Treasure Island..:

Finally, this is cute..a deer taking some shade down by the FW beach..notice the early sailboats and walkway to the FW dock behind the Deer and tree:

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

Tim: Thanks so much for the information. Your website is great! I am fascinated by the 1978 map!!

I'm not sure if you saw this map, which was posted on the photo of the day thread by Ynottonny99:

This one doesn't show a date, but my guess is that it is more recent than the map on your site, because it shows the Bike Barn in its current location.

I was at the Fort last week, and I noticed that on the campground map posted on the building at the end of the dock at the marina, the 500 loop is still shown as Terry Trail. This map shows the 2200-2800 loops, so this confirms that the name change to Buffalo Bend was a while after the trailers were removed. Does anybody know when the name changed?

I have a question for the Ft. Wilderness history experts: Was the 2100 loop (which is now a cabin loop) originally a camping loop? There is a walkway from the 2100 loop to the 1100 loop comfort station, and there is a building right in the center of the 2100 loop that looks like it could have been a comfort station, too. Anybody remember anything about this?

Also, Tim, the history you listed above suggests that the 2200-2800 sites were opened in 1986. We used to stay in the Wilderness Homes quite a bit in the late 90's, and it was pretty obvious that the homes in the 2700 and 2800 loops were a lot newer than those in the other loops. When they began to replace the homes with cabins, the 2700 and 2800 homes were replaced last ( I think this process took several years). This makes me think that the 2700 and 2800 loops may have been opened more recently than the other cabin loops. Anybody know anything about this?

Thanks to everybody for your input. My history at the fort only goes back about 14 years, and I find it interesting to hear about the changes over the years.

TCD

We stayed in the 2100 loop at Christmas in 1980. It was indeed a camping loop!!! We decided on the spur of the moment to spend a couple nights at Disney on our way home to Ohio. We were very young and naive and didnt realize how busy/crazy WDW could be at Christmas. We just pulled into the campround and asked for a site for 2 nights. Try to do that today!!!!!

 

[KevinNYC]

Here is an old map of FW from 1973,,,we think its from 1973,..note that Discovery Island is called Treasure Island then..the map also highlights the steam train route around the campground. Enjoy

 

[tim5055]

Here is an old map of FW from 1973,,,we think its from 1973,..note that Discovery Island is called Treasure Island then..the map also highlights the steam train route around the campground. Enjoy

Actually your map would be from 1976 (or maybe late 1975).

It shows the 2100 loop which was added in 1976 and does not show the creekside group camp which was added in 1979.

"Treasure Island" opened on April 8, 1974 and was renamed "Discovery Island" April 1, 1976.

The train ran from late 74 early 75 until early 1980.


***Edited to correct the Discovery Island date

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I can't tell for sure but is the 500 loop in Kevin's map called Tupelo Trail not Terry Trail? Would that help date it better?

 

[tim5055]

I can't tell for sure but is the 500 loop in Kevin's map called Tupelo Trail not Terry Trail? Would that help date it better?

It does say Tupelo Trail, and I'm not sure when that change was made. I do know that the first "cabins" in FW were actually Terry travel trailers (I stayed in one) on Terry Trail. Guess I have to do more FW history/research as I am interested in the Tupelo trail name change.

I jsut edited my original post. I figure Kevin's map is from late 1975 or early 1976

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

It does say Tupelo Trail, and I'm not sure when that change was made. I do know that the first "cabins" in FW were actually Terry travel trailers (I stayed in one) on Terry Trail. Guess I have to do more FW history/research as I am interested in the Tupelo trail name change.

I jsut edited my original post. I figure Kevin's map is from late 1975 or early 1976

WOW!! You sure do get your research done fast. Thanks