29 Haunting Pictures Of River Country And Discovery Island, Disney’s Mysteriously Abandoned Theme Parks

Published October 24, 2016
Updated March 19, 2024

Disney's River Country and Discovery Island theme parks were mysteriously shut down in 2001. To this day, no one knows what exactly happened at what was once "The Happiest Place on Earth."

More than a decade ago, Disney World permanently closed the gates of two of its previously most popular theme parks: Disney’s River Country and Discovery Island. Instead of demolishing the parks, however, Disney has allowed them to rot in plain sight — a rather odd choice for a park known for its immaculate appearance.

Over the years, many have illegally entered the Disney’s River Country in hopes of documenting the disrepair and perhaps understanding why the parks were closed in the first place.

Using a drone camera, photographer Seph Lawless captured exclusive, never-before-seen images of the abandoned parks — and they’re rather haunting.

Disney's River Country Pictures
Abandoned Log Flume Ride
Disney's River Country
Seph Lawless PIctures Of Disney Parks
29 Haunting Pictures Of River Country And Discovery Island, Disney’s Mysteriously Abandoned Theme Parks
View Gallery

A Pioneer In Water Park Design

When Disney's River Country opened its gates on June 20, 1976, it stood out from the other water parks of its time, partly thanks to its unique theme.

It was inspired by the works of Mark Twain — particularly Tom Sawyer and Hucklberry Finn and their depictions of the 19th-century American South. In a sense, River Country was meant to resemble an old-fashioned swimming hole, nestled within the confines of a modern theme park.

One of the main selling points of River Country was the way in which it utilized one of Disney's natural assets: Bay Lake. The water park's filtration system drew water directly from the lake, creating a more natural and untamed swimming experience than the chlorinated pools typical of water parks.

Upstream at a separate location, Disney treated the incoming lake water, while downstream a dam helped maintain the water levels within the park.

At the time, this was a novel concept and helped to solidify River Country as not just a standout attraction for Disney, but a pioneer in the space.

Of course, it wouldn't have been nearly as remarkable if it didn't have the proper attractions.

Memorable Attractions And Rustic Charm

The naturalistic design of Disney's River Country spilled over into its rides and attractions. Notable among these were the "Whoop 'n' Holler Hollow" — two water slides that propelled guests into the park's lagoon — the "Upstream Plunge," which was similar to the more common lazy river, and the "Bay Cove" area, a half-acre wave pool with a sandy bottom, tire swings, and a barrel bridge.

The park, like many other Disney parks, sought to appeal to the widest possible audience, offering experiences for thrill-seekers and the more faint of heart alike.

Disney River Country Slides Circa 1981

Wikimedia CommonsSlides at Disney's River Country circa 1981.

Its appeal lingered for nearly two decades and even saw a slight resurgence in the 1990s thanks to the park's "All-American Water Party" events. That said, in hindsight, these events seem more like a desperate plea to lure guests back to the park as guests flocked to newer, more enticing water parks like Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

Looking back, it's clear that when Disney opened Typhoon Lagoon in 1989, it marked the beginning of the end for River Country.

Amoeba In The Water At Disney River Country

As Disney continued to expand, River Country increasingly became a relic of the past. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach offered more thrilling, exotic experiences that sharply contrasted with River Country's more rustic design.

Moreover, technological advances further illustrated how, frankly, outdated River Country was. Its once innovative water-filtration system struggled to meet continually evolving health and safety expectations, and whereas other water parks, with their more advanced technology, could operate year-round, River Country still operated on a seasonal cycle.

So, when River Country closed for its regular seasonal break in 2001, it never reopened. For four years, Disney never announced why, though, leading to countless rumors and speculation — or further fueled rumors that had been circulating for years.

For example, Yesterdayland cites a 1980 Associated Press article which reported, "A rare but deadly disease caused by an amoeba found in Florida fresh-water lakes has claimed its fourth victim — a New York youngster who spent his vacation swimming at Walt Disney World's River Country."

River Country In 1977

Wikimedia CommonsGuests at River Country in 1977.

The article states that this 11-year-old boy died of "amoebic meningoencephalitis," a disease which attacks the nervous system and brain and had reportedly killed two children earlier that season.

A state epidemiologist said the child died "after the amoeba entered his nose, went through the nasal passage, and attacked the nervous system, including the brain."

Disney officials at the time refused to take any responsibility for the deaths, saying they were "of course concerned" but ultimately not responsible, as the amoeba could breed in almost any freshwater lake during hot weather.

Still, the water park stayed open for 21 years after that report, and no other deaths were ever attributed to amoeba in the water after 1980.

Some rumors would later claim that the amoeba was the reason the park was eventually shut down, but given the timeline of events it seems far more likely that other factors were the cause.

The Decay And Renewal Of River Country

Disney officially announced that River Country would remain permanently closed in 2005, but they did not announce any plans to revitalize the old park.

In fact, it sat vacant for years after, steadily becoming a haunting, overgrown relic of days gone by. It remained that way for more than a decade.

In August 2016, Disney finally acknowledged the park once again, if only to say that it would finally be draining the 330,000 gallon Upstream Plunge, though it did not reveal any future plans for demolition of the park.

That moment would come two years later, in March 2018, when Disney announced that it would be tearing down River Country. In its place, the company would begin construction on a new hotel, Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge.

Plans for that hotel, however, were eventually scrapped as construction across all Disney resorts was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2022, Disney announced that Reflections would not be built on the site, and instead a Disney Vacation Club tower would be constructed, bringing a rather anti-climactic end to what had once been the company's flagship water park.


If you enjoyed this article on Disney's abandoned parks, why not check out 27 more photos of abandoned amusement parks and the world's six most absurd theme parks?

author
Jaclyn Anglis
author
Jaclyn is the senior managing editor at All That's Interesting. She holds a Master's degree in journalism from the City University of New York and a Bachelor's degree in English writing and history (double major) from DePauw University. She is interested in American history, true crime, modern history, pop culture, and science.
editor
Austin Harvey
editor
A staff writer for All That's Interesting, Austin Harvey has also had work published with Discover Magazine, Giddy, and Lucid covering topics on mental health, sexual health, history, and sociology. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Point Park University.