El Dorado

The famed Mesoamerican “City of Gold” was hunted by Spanish explorers through much of the 15th century, but alas, nothing came of it. Their greed and need to conquer the peoples of the region kept their minds occupied, but when reality set in, the only gold they discovered was a small amount dredged up in Lake Guatavita after the Spanish conquistadors conquered the Muisca peoples. While the conquistadors pillaged and plundered, what they didn’t know is they had solidified their fate of never discovering the city of gold.

The City of El Dorado lays deep in the jungles of Mesoamerica, surrounded by dense foliage, white water rapids, ravenous piranhas, predatory jaguars, and more, but once, it was a bustling city and hub of trade, the richest city in South America. The people of El Dorado were famed for their advancements in agriculture, shipbuilding, and architecture, among their trading prowess. Ruled by a wise king, the people of El Dorado lived lavishly for years, until a terrible war broke out.

Invading from the north, Jaguar Warriors of the Aztec Empire swept through Central America, eventually reaching the city of El Dorado. They made quick work of the city, many of the citizens not putting up any resistance as the warriors claimed building after building for their empire. However, as a select group of warriors reached the top of the pyramid in the center of the city, they entered the chambers of the king. Here, the king welcomed the warriors, offering them bread and fish, providing pulque (Aztec beer) and water, and giving each warrior his fair share in gold from his stash.

The warriors were confused, as the city put up no resistance and the king was offering them hospitality, but they could not say no. For days, the king invited the warriors to lavish feasts, showed them his menagerie of wild animals, and invited them to watch Ullamaliztli matches, and the warriors even got to compete. At the end of the week, the king welcomed the warriors to the final celebration, a sacrifice to honor the sun god Huitzilopochtli. The Jaguar Warriors were shocked that a city so far from Tenochtitlan would worship their own gods, play their sports, and drink their drink, but as they reached the top of the pyramid with the king, it was too late for them.

The king greeted them, welcoming them as they sacrificed fruits and vegetables to their sun god, but the Jaguar warriors questioned why plants and not humans. The king smiled, looking at them and said that they had not gotten there yet. Suddenly, the king’s robes slipped off, his skin growing green and feathered, his body elongated and serpentine, and his face present with the jaws of a terrifying beast. What these men had not realized is that this whole week they had spent in the city, they were in the presence of the god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god of wind and wisdom. Quetzalcoatl told the men that he had showed them hospitality, he had fed them, bathed them, welcomed them with open arms, yet the men only wanted to take. They offered nothing in return, they just consumed whatever he could give them. He then told them that this city has survived for so long not on taking, but on giving and trading, developing new ideas and expanding on old ones. El Dorado was a city that would celebrate the selfless and punish the selfish, and with that, each of the Jaguar warriors were consumed by the serpentine God.

Years passed as legends about the city grew, especially with the Spanish conquistadors spreading through Mesoamerica, yet the city could not be found. Aztec legend told that the city was taken away as Quetzalcoatl saw the flaws in man and could not allow his prized city to continue to be seen mortals, while others speculated that only those with pure intentions could find the city, keeping it hidden from those seeking to reap its rewards without offering anything in return.

During an expedition searching for the Fountain of Youth in what is now Florida, Dr. Everett Erie discovered a dying letter left by Juan Ponce de Lèon, one that the fountain resided not in St. Augustine, but rather in a city of gold somewhere south of Mexico. He was ashamed he had not learned this until his death bed, but hopes one day someone else will reap the rewards.

Dr. Erie searched long and hard, but the city never showed up. He dug for gold, cleared trees, and tore apart ruins, but nothing appeared. That was until his wife got sick and was dying. Erie in a nightly prayer while lying in the jungle said he would give anything to save his wife, and the next morning the city revealed itself. Inside, he was welcomed to take a single flask from the Fountain of Youth, but in return, he would have to give something up himself. He agreed, to which Quetzalcoatl (as the king) appeared, telling Erie that the price for a life is a life. Erie could not sacrifice a life, but bargained a deal that should he be allowed to take enough just for his wife, he would sacrifice something else. Quetzalcoatl agreed, demanding Erie’s dominant hand. With that, Erie reluctantly agreed, his hand being lopped off by Quetzalcoatl as he vanished. Erie was able to take a single splash of water for the fountain, not enough for eternal life, but enough to heal his wife’s illness.

With that, Erie was cast from the city, not given the opportunity to explore it further as one selfless act does not make a selfish person selfless. He was cast away and immediately made for London where he would heal his wife just in time, making Erie think maybe, just maybe, it was time to think about other people too.

Guests continue around the lake to see a dense jungle area with just a few paths winding deep inside. Through these jungle paths, guests can see different animals along the way (if you’re doing two animals, do three paths with the left one empty. If you’re doing 3 animals, it doesn’t matter).

Once guests enter, they find a city of gold. To the left, a temple of gold can be found leading to the entrance of the river ride. Right beside it, guests can find a family coaster that weaves in and around the river. To get even better views of the river/ ride, the far left path bridges over it.

The far right of the land has a small El Doradean village set up as a façade to lead to the outdoor stunt show a la Indiana Jones or Waterworld.

Dining and shopping areas can be found scattered around the land.