The Abandoned Disney World Park That Is Slowly Being Reclaimed by Nature
In 1976, Disney opened River Country on the edge of Bay Lake in Florida. It was the company’s first water park and operated for 25 years before closing in 2001. Unlike most Disney attractions, it wasn’t removed or replaced. Instead, it stayed fenced off and unused.
Eventually, the site changed as plants spread through the empty pools, and slides collapsed under the overgrowth. Nearby Discovery Island closed in 1999 and was left in the same condition. Years later, photographer Seph Lawless documented both locations. His images drew wide attention and led to legal pushback from Disney after they appeared online and in print.
River Country’s Design and Decline
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Coreyjune12
River Country was built on the shore of Bay Lake and used water drawn directly from the lake itself. The design mimicked a swimming hole more than a theme park. Guests floated through inner tube rivers, dropped into a sand-bottom lake, and played in natural surroundings with rope swings and small water slides.
The park operated without heated water, which meant it had a shorter season than other Disney attractions. That approach became less viable as the resort expanded. Newer parks offered larger attractions and year-round appeal. Consequently, River Country closed in November 2001. And in 2005, Disney confirmed that it would not reopen.
The Park’s Physical Condition After Closure
After the closure, Disney sealed off River Country but did not remove any of the infrastructure. The grounds were left to deteriorate. Gradually, plant life crept in and covered most of the built environment. Algae spread across the still water, vines wrapped around metal structures, and wooden walkways began to rot.
Slides that once carried guests were filled with leaves and debris. Meanwhile, tree roots moved under foundations and broke through paved paths. The park was never cleaned out or reimagined. Disney also took no public steps to redevelop or maintain the property.
Discovery Island Was Also Abandoned
Image via Wikimedia Commons/BestofWDW
Discovery Island, which once operated as a nature attraction in the middle of Bay Lake, closed in 1999. Like River Country, it was never reopened or rebranded. Access to the island was cut off, and it was left intact without demolition. Buildings remained in place, surrounded by thick brush and tree growth.
Over the years, the structures weakened and the animal exhibits vanished. Visitors boating nearby could still see parts of it, but the company made no announcements about its future. Today, the island sits unused within the park’s borders.
Seph Lawless Captured the Decay
Photographer Seph Lawless visited Bay Lake to document the two abandoned sites. He did not enter the Disney property but rented a boat and used a long lens to photograph the overgrowth. He also flew a drone with a mounted GoPro to capture aerial views. His images revealed the worn condition of the parks: broken slides, submerged equipment, rusted metal, and buildings left to collapse.
Lawless described the scenes as both sad and visually interesting. He later published the images in a book about abandoned amusement parks. His work sparked public interest and introduced many people to parts of Disney World they had not realized still existed.