ABANDONED DISNEY: River Country [Part 1]
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 1:19PM Posted by Fritz 
A while back I spent some time* at Disney's first water park, River Country. Yep, it's still there where they left it yet it no longer functions as a park. More like a watery ghost town. There are few things in the world that compare to the feeling of walking through an abandoned attraction, let alone an entire abandoned park.
I do not suggest you go jumping over fences to climb around your favorite forgotten Disney destination. (Maybe you just peak through the cracks in the fences the next time you are at The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review at Fort Wilderness--- located just south of River Country).
With a view of the Contemporary, Space Mountain, and Discover Island in both photos.
A floating yellow inner tube still floats in the swampy water.
[Part 2] now available.
For more River Country history go to http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id220.htm
'Then' photos from printed materials, mgmcinnis, auntierain, and others.
'Now' photos by Fritz and Bing Maps
*This did not include trespassing. It was by invitation. Please to do not tour River Country without permission.
Reader Comments (12)
Ahhh River Country. That place was cool I do like Blizzard and Typhoon but I have fond memories of RC. I hope the Magic Kingdom never ends up like that. If so, I'm going in to do what you did. Great post!
Wow, it looks like everybody just up and left in an instant! It seems kind of eery yet kind of exciting that there's this entire park just sitting there abandoned with water still in the pools and tubes still laying around. Have you been there? It is really like the pictures?
unbelievable.
Great comparison photos, Fritz. Don't know if I've ever seen side-by-sides like this before for RC.
Such a saddening comparison to see what was so long ago. Brings back memories from what seems like another lifetime.
I have very fond memories of Discovery Island, which closed when they opened Animal Kingdom. On our very first visit to WDW in1998 we asked a cast member if there was somewhere we could go to chill on our second day, after hitting MK on day one.She suggested DI. It was wonderful, a slow boat trip from the M.K across to the island, gentle music playing, cool places to sit under shady trees, even a hammock on a beach to relax in.It was busy with visitors but very relaxed.
We have been back to WDW many times, we even bought a house at Orange Tree for wonderful vacations and even more wonderful memories,we like Animal Kingdom, but it doesn't compare to Discovery Island.
My children and grandchildren enjoyed going to River Country over the years. I'm sorry to see it in such disrepair. I always thought they should have opened it to the Camp Ground as there swimming area. I read that due to bacteria in the lake waters it was most likely the reason it was closed.
I was feeling to same way . What great memories I had at river country it would be truley awsome if they ropened the park especially if they made exculsive for lodge and campground guests. I would pay up to 40.00 bucks to go ot it just to bring back old memeroires. We all want to go back and I think disney nows that and they shjould capatilaize on our old hearts.I recently hoped the fences and it was pretty cool walking through the old site but it was bitter sweet. So heres to river country . I miss you.
bp -tampa-fl
There's a great discussion and look back at River Country on Lou MOngello's WDW Radio Disney podcast http://wdwradio.com/WDW-Radio-Show-Disney-Podcast/Show-55-Feb.-24-2008.html
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I loved that park when i was a child. My parents took me there our first trip to disney and a couple of years ago i took my wife and wanted to show her that park. I was disapointed to find out that it had been shut down.
Great pictures, though it's sad to see RC this way. And that pic with the yellow innertube still floating there gives me the creeps for some reason.