Abandoned - Disney’s River Country

Back in the 1970's, the Walt Disney Company built what was at the time the worlds first fully themed water park. It was beloved and visited by millions until it unexpectedly closed in 2001. Since, there have been urban legends, failed concepts and explorers venturing inside what was now an abandoned Disney water park. For years it sat abandoned becoming an iconic decaying theme park. Today I am revisiting the topic that started this whole series and diving deep to explore the full history and what is eventually going to happen to Walt Disney World's River Country.

Thumbnail Taken By Abandoned Southeast

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BrightSunFilms 2020

[BrightSunFilms]

Here are some more and un-watermarked, rare photos of River Country in 2004. The earliest photos I could find of the park in its abandoned state.

[straightgrrrrrizzly]

i'm always finding myself getting nostalgic for places i've never personally experienced.. this is one of them.... great video

[MrMario]

The music playing in an abandoned River Country is still terrifying.

[Rosie-itdx]

the fact that even now in 2023 the site is technically still abandoned is just crazy. construction started on the reflections but completely halted due to covid and there is no word from Disney about it. there are even rumors that the project is cancelled.

[lavapix]

I visited in 1978 and my cherished memory was the worst sunburn of my life.

[alec]

Disney in 2008 "were gonna build a western style resort for all families"
Disney in 2019 "were gonna build a hotel for rich people"

[clownfromclowntown]

That new hotel they’re building is such a misstep. People don’t go to Disney for the modern, sleek architecture. Everything classic Disney is also EXTREMELY kitschy, and that’s what’s so great about it. Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Main Street are all places that would never be built today because they’re *so* aggressively themed and not trying to play into modern design. By making hotels that never fit when a current aesthetic they become timeless, while that modern hotel will look as dated as 70s style design looks to us now since it dated itself by being “2010s”

[Adam-cqbv]

My wife and I stumbled on this park a couple years ago while camping at Fort Wilderness. We explored until getting kicked out by security. We didn't even know it existed until then. Great video.

[matmcd]

I remember swimming there with my best friend as a kid circa '95-'96.
Then as an adult, taking the ferry around the lake with my kids, it was creepy to see that the old water park was still there
but over grown and barely recognizable.
Gave me chills.

[rof]

"It's like Whole Foods as a hotel." Ha!

[andrethef-]

This guy is the KING of abandoned places!

[remcat]

I'm fascinated by River Country even though I never got to go there. I get that it became dated, but the woodland theme was so charming. I wish they would have invested the money to keep River Country alive. Thanks for this excellent addition to the ever captivating River Country story!

[richardgrace]

Disney: we are green and eco friendly and focused on the environment snd leaving as small of a footprint as possible
Also disney: yeah we are just going to leave all the shit we have build abondoned all over the place

[TheCreditShifu]

Man, I went to river country in ‘98. Loved that park, like swimming in a lake. Very relaxing.

[gamecockmickey]

Holy crap, how sad it is to know that had Buffalo Junction gone through, River Country would (probably) still be open today.

[JJackMoto]

I was 12 when my family visited in 1994. We stayed in Ft. Wilderness, and River Country was the only thing I vividly remember from the whole trip. Mostly because it stormed one day we were there, and everyone left the park but my family. We basically had the entire water park to ourselves. It was magical, especially for a 12 yr old.

[usernotfound]

I went to River Country a few times as young kid and man it really had that “old swimmin” hole” feel. Great memories there with my family.

[fropen]

Why am I so nostalgic for a place I've never been?

[stateradio]

River Country was always my family's favorite water park. No lines at any of the slides, a lot quieter than the rest of the park, less rules/less strict, very affordable and a lot of fun! I remember walking to some parts of the park and being the only person there. Never had an issue with capacity as we went in the later years when Typhoon/Blizzard Beach were open. That never happens at Disney. Would you rather ride a great slide like Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach 1-2x a day or a slightly less fun water slide nearly 10x in a day? As a kid thats a no brainer. So many memories...what I would do to go back!

[Verlisify]

"And THATS where things get interesting"
YOU MEAN THE LIGHTS AND SPEAKERS THAT DIDN'T BURN OUT IN FLORIDA HEAT AND HUMIDITY WEREN'T THE INTERESTING PART???