River Country Water Park (Looking Back)

POSTED: Thu, 06/02/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY: Kristen Heptinstall

We're talking about Disney World's forgotten water park. We all love Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, but did you know about Walt Disney World's first water park? River Country opened on June 20, 1976 and ceased operations on November 2, 2001.

River Country was -- and still is (more on that later) -- situated on the banks of Bay Lake near Discovery Island. The theme was rustic Florida wilderness, the landscape dotted with manmade rocks and boulders created by the same man who created the rocks of Big Thunder Mountain in the Magic Kingdom.

River Country featured four water slides, a lazy river, a nature trail, and a 1/2-acre sandy-bottom lake with a tire swing, boom swing, rope climb, and T-bar drop. Fort Wilderness guests got a discount for admission.

Once Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach opened, River Country couldn't compete, with Blizzard Beach a full four times the size of River Country. So, in 2001, the decision was made to close the gates.

And nothing has been touched since that time. Check out this great photo essay showing how River Country looked in 2009, a full 8 years after it closed for good.

Walt Dated World has some more information on River Country's demise and speculation that River Country may one day reopen for Fort Wilderness guests.

Did you ever visit River Country? Leave a comment below!

In:

katrina1122 wrote on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 13:29:

I loved the slide there that dropped you from pool to pool on your tube. It was a blast.

lvdizznee wrote on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 15:08:

when my now 28 & 26 year old niece and nephew were 1 and 3 my father took the whole family to WDW and we stayed at the Polynesian.....we took the kids over to River Country and they had a blast....even the 1 year old....I would love to see it come back....I don't care for Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon - too big - too noisy.....River Country was just right.

Lizzy_B wrote on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 21:31:

I never got to visit River Country, but I've always been fascinated by it! I hope they bring it back someday.

kayb wrote on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 02:40:

I got to go one time and had a lot of fun :) I hope they re-open it!

Will wrote on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 02:49:

I was lucky enough to visit a few times as a child. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Re-opening it would be interesting. I feel like it would almost have to be free or heavily discounted for Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge guests because otherwise I think most people would opt for one of the two larger parks. I love the rustic feel it had, which is probably why Wilderness Lodge is also my favorite resort there.

ADisneyDad wrote on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 04:03:

It was a must do for us I still have fond memories of swinging on the swing and tires with my brothers. We always enjoyed our day there.

gaylin wrote on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 04:31:

I agree with Katrina - the slide with the drops was SO fun. I got to go to River Country twice. The second time was an afternoon by myself. It was lovely and relaxing. I would have a hard time relaxing at either BB or TL as there are so many more tempting things to do!

Monica wrote on Mon, 08/22/2011 - 15:15:

We just loved it there. It was not crazy busy, nice atmosphere. We had our three older children at the time and they had a blast going down the slides at the same time. Very disappointing to see that it has closed, as we're going to DW with our youngest and we planned on taking her.

Monica wrote on Mon, 08/22/2011 - 15:16:

Lesley wrote on Thu, 09/01/2011 - 02:24:

I remember our two days at River Country as one of the most fun I ever had as a child. I have loved water parks ever since but none have come close to matching the special atmosphere at River Country. I am sad to hear it is no longer ioperating having been eclipsed by such a place as Blizzard Bay which I bet has no character.

finngirl wrote on Sun, 04/22/2012 - 00:50:

We really enjoyed River Country. It wasn't so frantic and crowded, and just had an "old-time" feel to it. I don't mind Typhoon Lagoon, but we are not fans of Blizzard Beach. Way too "hard" and barren, and very noisy. Plus the ANTS! Be very careful where you park yourself there!

I think the quest for "new and exciting" takes some of the charm out of D.W.

Cathy wrote on Wed, 05/30/2012 - 20:17:

I spent my 21st birthday in February 1981 at River Country with my best girlfriends. It was amazing there! It was just big enough and not so over-whelming like the newer water parks are now. You could actually sit on the beach and not wait forever to go down a slide. My girlfriends and I still talk about the great time we had that weekend. It's really sad that River Country could still not be open for those who actually prefer a smaller venue where you could actually enjoy the day and RELAX!!!!!! That really cannot be done at the other water parks!

Jim wrote on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 15:41:

Spent a lot of time there with my family. I liked it being close to the resort fort wilderness .we rode golf carts right to the gate I don't really like the other water parks ...Noisy crowded

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