Disney’s River Country, Abandoned Since 2005, Is Slated for a 2027 Resort

Overview

• River Country opened in 1976 as Walt Disney World’s first water park, built around a rustic, natural-lake swimmin’ hole concept.
• The park never reopened after a seasonal closure and was officially declared permanently closed in 2005 without a detailed public explanation.
• Fans often cite a fatal 1980 infection and two drownings in the 1980s when discussing the park’s fate, though no evidence links those incidents to the closure decision.
• Left untouched for years, the site decayed and attracted urban explorers until Disney began clearing it around 2016, including filling the Upstream Pool.
• In 2018 Disney announced the Disney Lakeside Lodge for the former site, targeting a 2027 opening with theming inspired by films such as Bambi and The Princess and the Frog.