River Country blends perfectly with the outdoor theme of Fort Wilderness. Its rock-and-boulder setting makes it look like Tom Sawyer’s favorite swimming place.

At first sight, guests will see the 330,000-gallon clear-water pool, Upstream Plunge. Man-made boulders surround it, and several serve a double purpose as jumping and diving platforms. Slippery Slide Falls, two 16-foot rock slides, provide quick and fun entryways to the water, which is heated to 80 degrees during cooler months.

Visitors will probably be even more impressed by the attraction which lies beyond this pool, Bay Cove. The same types of imaginative touches which make the Magic Kingdom such a special place also make River Country a one-of-a-kind experience.

Bay Cove looks like something Mark Twain might have envisioned. Ropes and ships’ booms allow guests to swing above and then drop into the filtered lake water below. It’s a sand-bottom swimming place with a big, sandy beach perfect for sunbathing.

River Country’s biggest attraction is Whoop-'N-Holler Hollow, two water slides which take riders down long, winding chutes before a splashing entry into the water. A third rushing stream, White Water Rapids, takes visitors down a winding, 230-foot-long creek in large inner tubes to the cove water at a more-leisurely pace.

Kiddie Cove, a smaller version of Bay Cove, and Indian Springs, a water wonderland of play fountains, are for young children. There are plenty of beach and poolside areas for sunning and picnicking. Pop’s Place offers finger-lickin’ food from chicken strip baskets, hot dogs and fries to specialty sandwiches.

From April through September guests can splash over to River Country for the All American Water Party, where they can pal around with Goofy, Minnie Mouse and Pluto, or celebrate summer with water balloon games, cannonball contests and live music.

Cypress Point Nature Trail, a 350-yard boardwalk path between Bay Lake and River Country, gives guests a chance to enjoy the beautiful natural setting and observe the small animals and birds which live along the trail.

River Country is located across Bay Lake from Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the Magic Kingdom, with regularly scheduled boat transportation between the points.