The island that famously shut down at Walt Disney World is Discovery Island (originally opened as Treasure Island), located in the middle of Bay Lake. It operated from 1974 until April 8, 1999, as a zoological park where guests could observe exotic birds and wildlife. The island was closed primarily because Disney's Animal Kingdom had opened the year before, which offered a much larger and more modern environment for animal conservation and guest interaction. After its closure, the animals were relocated to Animal Kingdom and other accredited zoos. Today, Discovery Island sits abandoned and overgrown, though it is still clearly visible to guests taking boat transportation between the Magic Kingdom area resorts. It has become a legendary site for "urban explorers" and Disney historians, representing a quiet, forgotten chapter of the resort's history.