Disney is moving forward with the demolition of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World Resort. In a recent photo posted on X by @bioreconstruct, we see the latest casualty of this transformation — Fort Langhorn.
Aerial photo of the demolition of Fort Langhorne. On the North island of former Rivers of America.
📷Oct 12 pic.twitter.com/OTk9mLP97k— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) October 14, 2025
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“Aerial photo of the demolition of Fort Langhorne. On the North island of former Rivers of America,”
the caption reads.
A Beloved Icon with Real-World Inspiration
Nestled within the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island was once a tranquil escape for park guests. Fort Langhorn, originally named Fort Sam Clemens (after Mark Twain’s birth name, Samuel Clemens), opened in 1973 as part of the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland expansion.
Empty Rivers of America facing the former Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World – Photo Credit That Park Place
The fort served as a rustic play area inspired by 19th-century frontier outposts, complete with a barn housing animatronic horses and other animals. It offered families a chance to explore, play, and learn about the spirit of America’s western frontier.
In 1996, the fort was renamed Fort Langhorn, reflecting Mark Twain’s middle name, “Langhorne,” in connection with the release of Disney’s live-action film Tom and Huck (based on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), which featured a fort bearing that name.
The Second Disney Fort to Fall
This marks the second Disney frontier fort to meet its end. The original Fort Wilderness on Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island closed in 2003 and was demolished in 2007 due to structural damage from age and termites.
Empty Rivers of America facing the former riverboat dock at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: That Park Place
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While portions of Disneyland’s original island—designed by Walt Disney himself—still remain, the same cannot be said for Florida’s version. Tom Sawyer Island and Fort Langhorn closed permanently on July 7, 2025, to make way for a new development.
Demolition of the fort officially began on October 12, 2025, clearing the area for Piston Peak, a Cars-themed expansion.
For more on the final days of Fort Langhorn, check out the video below:
The Old Frontier Taken Over by Cars
Replacing the Liberty Belle Riverboat, Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Fort Langhorn is something far removed from the historical frontier — the world of Cars.
Inspired by the success of Radiator Springs at Disney California Adventure, Disney is bringing a similar concept to the East Coast. The new land, Piston Peak, will be themed around the national park setting featured in the Planes spin-off films, blending the rugged beauty of the American West with Pixar’s cartoon automotive characters.
Concept art for Piston Peak, the new Cars Land coming to Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World – Disney Parks
While the new addition might potentially bring exciting experiences for park patrons, it also marks the end of an era. Fort Langhorn was not just a play area — it was a living piece of Disney history, echoing the adventurous spirit of America’s frontier past. Its loss reminds us that, in Disney’s constant pursuit of progress, pieces of nostalgia are sometimes left behind, not only at the cost of fond memories for guests, but at a potential cost to Disney in the long term.
Do you have any fond memories of Fort Langhorn? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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