River Country

In 1976, the River Country water park was one of the first major attractions created at Walt Disney World in Florida. It was also one of the first fully-themed water parks, making it a draw for water park fans all around the world, not just in the United States. It held various rides that could only be found at the River Park for many years, as the concept of a themed park was only in its infancy at the time.

River Country, however, faced significant competition at the end of the century from other newer, flashier themed parks, including other Disney assets such as Typhoon Lagoon. While it was a brilliant idea when it first debuted, by 2001, the facility had already begun to lose money. River Country was closed by Disney in 2005 after being closed for nearly three years for refurbishment. The park is still often featured in periodicals and online outlets, primarily for its scary, 'abandoned theme park' ambiance.

Address: Walt Disney World Resort, West Wilderness Road Shores of bay lake, Orlando, FL 32836, USA
Opened: June 20, 1976