Whatever Happened to River Country? The History Behind Disney’s Abandoned First Water Park

Would you believe that the Walt Disney Company allowed a full theme park to rot away in the middle of Walt Disney World for nearly two decades? We’d forgive you for being skeptical, as the story sounds completely antithetical to Disney’s usual M.O.. However, it’s true. This is the story of that park – River Country – from its construction to its awkward closure and what the future holds for the land.

River Country opened on June 20, 1976, near the grounds of the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The park was one of the first major additions to Walt Disney World after its 1971 opening, and was one of the earliest fully-themed water parks ever built.

Themed as a “Tom Sawyer swimmin’ hole,” the park – which was originally known as Pop’s Willow Grove in development – continued numerous water-based attractions that would become industry standard at water parks in future decades. These included large water slides, an inner-tube river, a sand-bottom lake, and a play area featuring tire swings and bridges.

The park was also known for its unique filtration system, which used fresh water from the adjacent Bay Lake. The water was cleaned and filtered and used in the park’s attractions, meanwhile the he park’s water sat at a higher level than the lake’s, which ensured that unfiltered water from the lake couldn’t enter the park.

This aerial photo shows the now-abandoned River Country, bottom center, Discovery Island, right, the Contemporary resort, top center, and Shipwreck Island, located between the Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge properties. [The Walt Disney Company]
River Country was a staple of the Walt Disney World attraction lineup for 25 years, and over that period it was witness to the evolution of the vacation kingdom. When the park opened, the entire complex was made up of the Magic Kingdom theme park, two resort hotels, a campground, and a small shopping village. By 2001, that roster had expanded to include three more theme parks, over 30 hotels, and – perhaps most damaging to River Country in the long run – two more water parks.

While River Country was revolutionary when it opened, by the turn of the century, the park had not only been surpassed by outside competitors, but also by Disney’s own Typhoon Lagoon (opened 1989) and Blizzard Beach (opened 1995).  Up against those heavily themed thrill parks, the comparatively tiny River Country felt positively quaint. In turn attendance began to suffer, and by 2001, Disney’s first water park was living on borrowed time.

Blizzard Beach

The proverbial “other shoe” dropped on November 2, 2001, when River Country closed for its annual winter refurbishment… and didn’t reopen with the other two water parks. Disney initially remained silent on the issue for months before releasing a statement in 2002, which said the park would be closed for the remainder of the year. The park remained closed in 2003 and 2004 before Disney officially announced in 2005 that River Country was closed for good.

There have been many theories bandied about online as to why River Country closed. One of the primary theories revolves around the idea that the closure was due to a brain-eating amoeba that was present in the park’s water. This rumor likely grew out of the death of of an 11-year-old boy who did in fact contract a fatal case of amoebic meningoencephalitis from the park’s water. However, that incident occurred in 1980, 21 years before the park closed. There were also two tragic drowning deaths at the park during the 80s, neither of which had anything to do with the park’s closing. Rather, the biggest reason for River Country’s closure is that the park simply couldn’t sustain demand next to its much larger siblings, especially in the midst of the massive travel slowdown following the attacks of 9/11.

However, the park’s closure isn’t the end of its story. Disney, uncharacteristically, didn’t demolish River Country after its closure. Instead, they simply fenced off the park and allowed it quite literally to rot.

@RyanElijah Twitter

The park’s Life After People-like state attracted many urban explorers who illegally broke-in to explore and document the crumbling slides and pools, sharing their images on the internet for all the world to see. This led to River Country attaining an almost cult-like fame among many, even those with little interest in the rest of Disney’s parks.

Disney finally began work on the site in 2016 by filling in the Upstream Pool. Over the next two years, the company continued tearing down and removing the park despite making no official announcement of what they’d be doing with the land. Finally, in October of 2018, Disney announced that the new Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge vacation club resort would be constructed on the site. The hotel has since been removed from the 2019 D23 Expo  announcements and no further information has been offered by Disney.

Reflections Concept Art

So River Country truly is no more, and the space will be transformed, perhaps forever ending the saga (and intrigue) of the World’s original water park.

Were any of you lucky enough to visit River Country before it closed? Do you wish it was still open at Walt Disney World, or do you think the quaint park’s time had passed it by? Let us know in the comments below.

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94 Replies to “Whatever Happened to River Country? The History Behind Disney’s Abandoned First Water Park”

  1. This was my favorite place in the world when I was a kid. Such a bummer it closed – I literally still miss it.

  2. Fond memories of River Country from when I was a child. I was extremely disappointed that my children missed out. I don’t enjoy water parks but this one I would’ve definitely gone back.

  3. Visited Disney from the uk in 97, we did all the Disney parks including the 3 water parks, river country was my absolute fave! In the middle of an exhausting holiday it was a relaxing haven quite unlike any of the other Disney parks. Such a shame this closed down, what a waste, unfortunately Disney just succumbed to the ‘bigger is better’ culture, however not everyone agrees.

  4. “River Country” was one of a kind ! We ( our family ) went there a lot . It was very different from any other water parks ! More relaxed and laid back . As we all say “ a simpler time” .
    We were sad to see it close!!!

  5. Such a shame, it was a magical place, went there as a kid in 1980. I was fascinated by it and still am after all these years. One of the best times ever. Probably wouldn’t have the same vibe if they opened it back up now.

  6. I loved it. It’s always sad when a piece of our past goes away, but it’s just the way of things.

  7. River country was so memorable to my family growing up we all still talk about it! So sad to read all this and hear it’s been closed!
    Disney is wonderful with all the new attractions over the years and hotels etc it rudely is magical. However, I wish more of the original Disney were kept going as well !!

  8. My family enjoyed River Country from it’s inception. As a child, the lake area was our favorite as it brought a playground to the water! We would skip the Magic Kingdom and just go swim. These are some of my favorite Disney memories 💫

  9. We loved river country. The cost was doable for large groups. There wasn’t the hustle bustle of the newer water parks. Plenty for people who weren’t thrill seekers to do and enjoy. I miss it!!

  10. My family went in 2001 and enjoyed the park immensely. It is a shame that the park was closed. It was a great laid back place to relax with the kids.

    It is understood that the bottom line is the strong point for closings.

  11. I was there in the late 70’s & it was a blast. I wish I had gone back in the late 90’s when I took my kids to WDW. I did get a brochure of River Country, which I still have.

  12. I was there in 1980 with my husband sort of a late honeymoon and had no idea about the 3 incedents it was fun we enjoyed it but I can kind of understand why it closed they started having so many bigger more attractions!! Also after 9/11 I hear it slowed down so much that Disney made the decision to permanently close it

  13. I was there in 1976. It was so hot that the sand burnt my feet before I reached the water. My fave were the 2 drop slides. My Mom was scared half to death and came running because she didn’t know I could swim. I looked it up in 2017 before moving back down here. I was shocked to see that it had been abandoned.

  14. Hi,
    We visited River Country in 1991 – we were staying at Fort Wilderness at the time. It was supposedly based on an old fashioned country ‘water hole’ and it did feel have that natural feel to it. We loved it!

    1. Went once in 1992 – as a 10 year old boy who grew up reading Tom Sawyer, River Country was simply amazing! I remember the zip line into the water and plunge slides were my favorites. It is a shame I can’t share this kind of quaint Waterpark experience with my kids.

  15. MY YOUNG FAMILY ENJOYED THE RIVER COUNTRY IN THE MID 90’S, ESPECIALLY MY BOYS. WE NOW FEEL LIKE WE HAD A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY THAT OTHERS WILL NOT HAVE. PART OF AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP THAT CAN SAY “REMEMBER WHEN…”

  16. Visited this park with my young daughter in the mid 90’s. (She’s 32 now) The park was clearly built with swimmers in mind. Plunge pools at the end of the slides were deep and swirling and overall the experience was far more thrilling (terrifying you might call it) than BB or TL provide. But the new parks are for the majority who’s swimming abilities are more limited and they’re far better for families. Still, very fond memories of my one visit to the original.

  17. We had the pleasure of visiting River Country several times while camping at Disneyworld’s Fort Wilderness campground. So much more fun, natural and safer than the current water parks at Disneyworld. The beautiful surrounding of a day at River Country was relief after a day at the Magic Kingdom walking all day on concrete.
    The tent camping was surreal with bunnies hopping around in the early morning. And baby Bambi’s near the forest edges. I miss that naturalness, that country style a lot.

  18. Out of our many trips to disney….. only made it to river country once! Had a blast! Cannot tell you the date or time?…but it is a shame that it is no more! Ah well…time marches forward!

  19. My only chance to visit was my 2nd time going to Disney in 1996. We stayed outside of the resort and my moms friend drove us everywhere. We would always start our days very late. I wanted to go, but nobody else wanted to, they all wanted to go to the new blizzard beach. The next time i went was in 2002, it was closed by then. So sad

  20. I remember going there in the 90s. We loved the slides and even the log in the water. We could never stay on it! Fun times! It’s a shame but I’m sure alligators prob paid a role in the closing.

  21. I recall going at least once distinctly in the 90s. Having already experienced Typhoon Lagoon by then and even the pool at the Yacht Club I can see how River Country got sort of outpaced. It was definitely a neat place with a very homey vibe but I couldn’t see them keeping it open to compete with not just the the water parks but even resort pools if they were to try to charge even half day admission costs I think people would revolt.

  22. Such fond childhood memories of River Country. I held onto hope they would refurbish and reopen, sadly I guess not.

  23. Loved River Country, went as a young adult with the family and as an adult with my husband. It was great to be able to camp and have such a great swimming hole on property
    We still camp at Ft Wilderness two to three times a year. Was sad to see it deteriorate year after year. Even safer to know they are putting a resort there practically on top of the campground, going to be interesting to see how that impacts the campground. Loved River Country, simplar times, which is what camping is all about.

  24. I grew up in Ft. Myer’s Florida and in the late 70’s visited River country many times. It was one of the first water parks in Florida. I was a teenager and my girlfriend’s and myself would drive up just for the day. We loved the water volleyball,and everything else about it. So sorry to hear it’s closing, it holds very dear memories for me.❣️

  25. I went to Disney University in late May of ’76, training for the opening of River Country. I was a college student in Tennessee, and roomed nearby with students from Perdue and ‘Bama. Met Card Walker and Dick Nunis, on a first-name basis of course, before we opened in late June. Worked in Pop’s Place and had a great, great summer there.

  26. Yes I remember River Country very well. My family and I had a blast. I loved the water slide my very first big one sliding off in then gliding through the air then plunging in the water did it a million times that day. And the lake was amazing

  27. Very special and fun days in the 80’s and 90’s at River Country and so special since Fort Wilderness also felt like our 2nd home. Wish Disney would again re-think another type of laid back, old timey water park

  28. My family visited river country each time we went to Disney world. Loved it, my daughter, now 39, still talks about how much fun she had there. We also spent a day at typhoon lagoon and blizzard beach which we enjoyed but river country was always our favorite. Wish it was still in operation so my granddaughter could see the “old swimming hole” of bygone days

  29. Yep! I remember going there back in the early’80’s. Fun place but I agree it probably needed to go.

  30. Always loved River Country. It really was a quaint old swimming hole, so much more laid back than the others. One day when we were there, Goofy arrived by speedboat from Bay Lake. Good times!

  31. It was a great time each time we went reminded me of an old time swimming hole. It was great for the whole family. I wish it was still in operation today. Everytime I go to Disney I think about the old water park. It would be great to have something there again especially for the campers that are there…

  32. I almost drowned at River Country in 1977. I was 6 years old and went down a waterslide that dumped me out into kinda deep water with no one around to see me struggle to get to shore. Good times.

  33. We had so much fun at River Country in 1987 as a family! I’m so sad to hear it no longer exists. Great fun memories!

  34. We camped in Fort Wilderness Campground numerous times starting around early 1980’s. With those camping adventures we always made at least one day trip to River Country with each camping trip. We also had a great time there and enjoyed everything about it. Having now gone to both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon I can see why Disney closed River Country because the newer water parks have greater and better attractions and activities to enjoy at a greater price, of course. Now being DVC members we get to enjoy Disney once or twice a year

  35. As a fort wilderness cast member when river country was being built and opened in 1976 this story makes me feel like a dinosaur. Campground employees were the very first to use the park before it opened and I remember it well. It was the first of its kind and had a few kinks yet to be worked out though we loved it. Fort wilderness was still wild in those days and this park was a good fit.
    Thanks for the memory!

  36. I was lucky enough to visit River County in 99 and 2000 I was 16 first time round. 99 was our first time from the uk, it was great because my parents felt they could relax on the beach area while i went off and explored. I really loved there and sadly didn’t get back to WDW until 2005 when it was closed. It was a great water park I feel quite proud that I get to go there.

  37. Went there when I was a kid in the late 70’s. My family and I loved River Country. Of course each time we went back, we went to River Country.

  38. I went to River Country many times. My son loved it there. I even saw Jan Michael Vincent there. It’s too bad they let it rot. It never seemed crowded there, unlike the other two water parks.

  39. Vacationd at Fort Wilderness MANY times – and still do. Just LOVED River Country – especially it’s convenience’! Hop on our golf cart and zip over. Daughter a good swimmer but barely big enough to get on the “big” slides. First time she dropped over the edge her heart & our hearts were in our throats. She was so proud of herself – wore that slide out – up-down-up-down-up down until she was waterlogged.
    Heartbroken the year we showed up to discover it was closed and Heartbroken to pass by it year after year on launches and see it abandoned and rotting.

    R. I. P. along with our memories

  40. My first water park and Disney experience…I’ll always have the 10 year old me -in the 1986 videos-going down the slides and exploring the grounds of the park. I’m glad it’s not continuing to rot and Disney is using the land again to create new memories for families.

  41. I remember going to River Country as a child in the 70’s. My children also got to enjoy the park in the 80’s and 90’s. Having River Country next to Fort Wilderness is what made the campground so attractive to families. It was good, old-fashioned fun in the water. We have many great memories of playing there, and I am sorry it is gone. I think it could have been enjoyed by families today and could have been a major attraction with it’s storybook, country roots.

  42. I miss River Country. As a child I went to the water park anytime my family stayed in Fort Wilderness. I had a “Very Special” connection to the water park; it opened on my 4th Birthday (June 20, 1976). I was always hoping Disney would find away to bring the water park back.

  43. I remember visiting River Country when I was in elementary school and it was magical… remaining in my memory 40+ years later.

  44. We visited River County several times in the early 90’s when our children were young. We stayed at Camp Wilderness. It was the perfect place for young kids. Not too big, not too small. It’s a shame they closed it but happy they are doing something with it now.

  45. Apparently, we were some of the last to actually go to this park. Our first time to Walt Disney World was in 1998….we stayed at Fort Wilderness for 2 weeks. Went to every theme park at least twice. We did go to River Country once. I’m glad to hear they are making something cool out of that area instead of just letting it rot.

  46. Thank you so much for this bit of history. I visited River Country soon before it closed. I took my son, age 4, for the first and only time. New to water parks, he was so brave when he went over the slide with the 10 ft drop to the pool. The pic of him in the tire swing hung on a refrigerator magnet for 15 years, probably much to his annoyance 😅. He’s 26 now. I hope the new resort comes into existence! It’d be great if they salvaged part of the old park for the new resort’s pool attraction. I’ll be the first in line!

  47. I visited River Country several times in the early 80’s while attending college in Tampa. Even with my extensive travels and experiences as a full-grown-adult my River Country memories are some of the most fun times I ever had. I think of them often. There was a time when for the era, time and place this was a very very special experience. Too bad you can’t go home anymore.

  48. I loved River Country. We visited WDW with our extended family several times and we all loved going there. Sad to see it is no more

  49. Need to build more parks and stop building hotels. Theres already way too many people at the parks as it is. So they decide to close a park, do nothing with it, and then build another hotel that will just crowd these parks up even more. I would rather they just redid it and added on a bunch.

  50. My grandparents took me in ‘98. I was 8. I’ll always have those awesome memories! This place was amazing in the eyes of an 8 year old! I met the queen of hearts, goofy and chip n dale. I got a hair wrap that I LOVED! We camped in the camp ground. One of my best childhood memories.

  51. My husband and I honeymooned in Disney in 1999. I remember River Country day being the best day we had and my favorite water park in Disney. We had so much fun! We even saw Goofy on a horse! I was sad to see it was shut down just a few years later. Great memories!

  52. I remember going to River Country in ‘81 &’83. Funny story, in ‘83 my brother and I were 14 and 12. We were very good swimmers, so my parents let us go to River Country on our own. An afternoon storm blew in and left about 30 minutes later. We thought nothing about it and went back to swimming. I guess our mom thought we should have gone back to the Contemporary, which was ridiculous because we couldn’t have ridden the boat anyway with all the lightning. She was always quite the overreact-er and next thing we know they’re at the park with WDW security. We were still busy having the time of our lives.

  53. My wife and I went to River Country and Discovery Island on our Honeymoon in 1984. They were both terrific but they were small and I doubt they would be viable today. Back then there were only two parks and not nearly as many guests.

  54. My 9 and 11 year old sons spent the entire second day of our 2 day Disney visit in River Country. I barely saw either of them except for drink and food stops the whole time and I personally loved my leisure day in the very attractive surroundings of River Country. I was very sad to hear of the closing and cherish our time in this terrific place.

  55. We would go there in the 90’s when our children were young. Always loved it and have fond memories. Thought it was a good place to go with the kids and just relax. Sad to see the end.

  56. Took our girls there in 98 it was a nice and quiet diversion from all the crowds- Sad to see it go e but like other attractions, restaurants or entire islands “Pleasure” all things must keep up with the times or be replaced to keep the Disney adventure magical .

  57. Hate to see all the development at fort wilderness! loved to stay there but with all the changes will rethink vacations to Disney! The crowds are ridiculous and they keep building more and more places to bring more people in. Not fun anymore! My kids grew up going to River Country on non park days.

  58. I was at WDW in the 70’s and knew of River Country but water parks were not my thing. I knew it closed but never fully realized it until taking a boat from Wilderness Lodge to MK. We sailed past it and for me the shocking thing was that it had just been left to fall into disrepair. To be honest it was creepy going by it and seeing small parts of the park totally rotted out and abandoned. On the other hand I really wanted to go there and see how it looked from the “inside” area. It seemed very odd that WDW didn’t go in and raze it completely.

  59. I was lucky enough to go to River Country on a trip back in 1977 it was one of my fondest early memories of The World.

  60. Loved River Country and my children have fond memories here. We hoped it would reopen one day but now it’s just a memory. Sometimes it shouldn’t be about bigger and better. Disney missed on a perfect opportunity to build on a theme of spending time with family and just RELAXING for a minute without the craziness of all the running to be somewhere.

    1. My children, husband and I visited in the 70’s, and enjoyed it very much. It was a lovely park and seemed just the right size to me! We all enjoyed our time there.

  61. Loved River Country!! I won a cannon-ball contest there on the 4th of July when I was 10 and still have the pin I won and the memory. It was a fantastic place to go and we would go a lot because our family could afford that but not the bigger parks. I’m not sure it would stay such a quaint place if it were still open today.

  62. We always stayed at wildernesses (still do). Many good memories of the waterpark as a child. We do not do the other water parks. I anxiously waited to hear what they would be doing with the area only to be disappointed to hear another resort. Was hoping they would expand campground or something on those lines. That’s what’s so nice of the campground, you can truly quietly relax after a busy day at the parks.

  63. As a resident of Central Fl., we loved being able to take our children to River Country. It was inexpensive , small and so much fun. It was a shame it closed. My young son got caught in a whirlpool coming down the slide. He was to little to get himself out. He was yelling to lifeguard for help as he spun around and around.

  64. I was lucky enough to go to River Country many times when I was younger. My family always included River Country in our plans just like the Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately I do not go to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach because they are just to big and chaotic. I have always hoped that they would revive River Country so my children could experience it and am quite sad that they never will. Sometimes bigger isn’t always better.

  65. We loved our days at River Country. After the other water parks opened and drew the people away from River Country, I hoped it would become the pool area for Fort Wilderness Campground. The pools in the campground are very basic. Other Disney resorts have specialty themed pools. This would have been a great addition for the Campground experience. Great Loss.

    1. I wished they would have left it for Fort Wilderness guests as well. It wasn’t so big that couldn’t have left it for FW guests use. We’ve never been to Disney’s two water parks. Too big and a little overwhelming.

    2. We’ve been to WDW more than 10 times staying from 10-18 days staying at Ft. Wilderness 8 times. Our boys, now in their 40’s, were able to ride their bikes all over as they got older. In their teens they rode the boats to the Magic Kingdom and the Monorail to Epcot. They have fantastic memories of our many visits there.

      I agree that it would have been nice to have had River Country as part of the price of Ft. Wilderness or at least a discount. We still bit the bullet and paid for admission a number of times. Loved being able to walk from the campground to RC and it’s uniqueness. Hopefully the replacement will offer some of the same magic as the other areas.

      PS The last stay in FW was the wife and me by ourselves, no kids! We rode our bikes all over the property for 18 days going to one of the hotels to lounge at one of the pools (you could do that back then). We even drove over to Cape Canaveral to watch the launch of a Space Shuttle which was absolutely thrilling.

  66. We visited River Country when our children were ages 5 and 8. They loved it! We were surprised to find it closed.

  67. Recently visited Fort Wilderness campgrounds and I am so sad to see how the new resort is encroaching on the campgrounds. The beach is gone! And now given to Reflections DVC cabins.

  68. I loved River Country and have very fond memories of floating around the lazy river with my mother as a kid. I wish I had the chance to share that same experience with my own children.

  69. I never went to River Country, but I loved Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, which was in one of the old River Country’s buildings and has closed due to the Reflections construction. It was a really great and unique Disney dining / character experience (where else could adults have unlimited beer and wine included in their buffet meal, where else can kids dance hand in hand with Goofy to a live band?). I miss it.

  70. I have always been sad I never visited before it closed. My DH and I went to WDW a lot from 1999 till it closed and just never made it. Just like Pocahontas show at AK. Make sure you don’t keep skipping things as they may not be there next time.

  71. I’ve been to all three water parks. I preferred River Country. More laid back, relaxing and visually appealing. But, it’s time had come and gone. Attendance was way down and the people had spoken. Not thrilled that the land is going to be, yet another hotel (a timesharing one, at that). Discovery Island met a similar fate. Nice idea, and relaxing to walk around, but it was conflicted as to what they were actually trying to accomplish there. Their probably planning, yet another, hotel on the site as we speak.

  72. We stayed at the campground several times and always went to River Country. We enjoyed the relaxed, back in time feeling, as opposed to the other water parks. We definitely wish it was still there.

  73. I grew up staying at Fort Wilderness and continue to do so. We always went to River Country. It has always made me sad to see it slowly deteriorating when I pass by it on the boat on the way to MK. I am glad they have finally decided to do something with the property.

  74. I went when I was 6 years old in 1994. We stayed at Fort Wilderness Cabins and I still have memories visiting the water park.

  75. Yes, we spent a great day at River Country in 1980, back when we stayed off property. It was such a relaxing day. My 12-year-old nephew absolutely loved the fact that there were minnows the lake. He really enjoyed swimming with the “tiny fish”.

  76. We would stay at the campground every year and went to river country every time. Loved it. Wish it was still open would go now. Lots of great memories

    1. I remember my family going to River Country. We had a great time. I was so surprised to hear it closed. I miss the memories which I hold deep in my heart. The park was quaint but had so much character. I would definitely go back for new memories and reliving old.