River Country, opened in 1976, was the first water park at Walt Disney World, with two large pools, five water slides, and an "old-fashioned swimming hole" vibe. But it was no match for the modern water parks, folding in 2001 after giving generations of local kids and tourists fond memories to last a lifetime. Here are some of our favorite historical photos of the park in its heyday.
24 photos of Walt Disney World's abandoned River Country water park
By Orlando Weekly Staff on Sat, Jul 6, 2013 at 1:52 pm
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Once upon a time, River Country was a popular water park at Walt Disney World. Via gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com
The "theme" of River Country was old-fashioned swimming hole, with pools and crazy waterslides that used water pumped in from Bay Lake. Via disneyparks.disney.go.com
There was a boom swing, made out of a heavy, swinging ship's boom. You could swing on it and jump off into the water. This would never fly today. Via lostepcot.com>/a>
There was also this crazy tire swing, which looks like it was awesome to ride. Via yesterland.com
One of the water slides was a whitewater rapids type thing, and guests road innertubes to the bottom, where they were dumped off in a giant pool. Via lostepcot.com>
Then there was the Whoop n Holler Hollow slide, which you rode in without a tube. Via lostepcot.com>
It was huge, and full of crazy turns. Via yesterland.com
Some of the water slides ended in steep drop offs, which landed you into the pools below. Via lostepcot.com>/a>
If you weren't the adventurous type, you could always just sit by the pool. Via lostepcot.com>/a>
Goofy was River Country's mascot. Via waltdatedworld.bravepages.com
This is what River Country looks like today.
River Country closed in 2001, and Walt Disney World officials said at the time that it could reopen someday if there was enough guest demand. abandonedplaygrounds.com
Its pools have been sitting intact but vacant ever since. Via abandonedplaygrounds.com
They're full of slimy, green water. Via moderndayruins.com
Everything is filled in with weeds and overgrown. Via imagineeringdisney.cok
Even the waterslides are grown over. Via abandonedplaygrounds.com
Tree branches have fallen on some parts of them. Via disboards.com
The buildings are still there, just rotting away. Via boingboing.com
It's hard to even imagine that just 12 years ago, people were flying down these slides and into the pool here. abandonedplaygrounds.com
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