As of Monday, September 29, 2025, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are officially concealed from view, with construction walls and other barricades now covering the entire riverwalk area in Liberty Square and Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park.
At the D23 Expo 2024, Walt Disney World Resort unveiled plans to replace the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island with a brand-new experience inspired by Disney’s Cars (2006) franchise. The upcoming area, called Piston Peak National Park, will feature two exciting rides: a family-friendly adventure and a thrilling rally race.
The Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Belle closed in July. Shortly after, Walt Disney Imagineers began tagging props on Tom Sawyer Island for either archival preservation or destruction. Meanwhile, construction equipment was seen filling the drained riverbed, stretching all the way from the Haunted Mansion to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Ya know…the drained Rivers of America does give an added creep factor to the Haunted Mansion 👻
Ya know…the drained Rivers of America does give an added creep factor to the Haunted Mansion 👻 pic.twitter.com/FBkgt5rUlC
— Doctor Disney (@Doctor_Disney) August 19, 2025
Scaffolding and scrims began appearing along the edge of the dried-up Rivers of America earlier this month, indicating that Disney was preparing to shield guests from the full extent of the demolition and construction taking place. Over the weekend, Disney Fanatic reported that tall brown scrims were beginning to appear along the former waterway.
As of September 29, the entire Rivers of America is surrounded by construction walls and scaffolding wrapped in scrim. According to a report from WDWNT, gray construction walls in Liberty Square now connect to brown scrim on the border of Frontierland. While the scrim continues down the wooden pier, guests can still navigate the area, though their view of the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island is now entirely blocked.
The scrim-wrapped scaffolding rests in the riverbed, leaving behind glimpses of the rustic wooden structures leading to the dock on Tom Sawyer Island. Some gaps remain between the construction walls, allowing guests to catch a glimpse of bushes and landscaping beyond. From a distance, some buildings on Tom Sawyer Island are still visible, especially from slightly uphill near the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The grand opening date for Piston Peak National Park has not been announced yet. Walt Disney Imagineers are also working on a Disney Villains land “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,” making these two expansions the largest ever at Magic Kingdom Park. Follow Disney Fanatic for updates on these and other projects around Walt Disney World Resort!
Has construction impacted your visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
Our family was there last June, and road the river Boat for the last time…but did not venture over to Tom Sawyers Island as we rarely ever do. In some ways we all glad to see it go and are excited for the opportunity to traverse the new areas when completed.