There’s new construction on the back of a Liberty Square building. The building was part of the themed complex where the Mike Fink Keel Boat landing (unused for decades) stood until this spring. We got a look at the new construction on a recent visit to Magic Kingdom. Here’s a closer look!
New Construction at the Former Mike Fink Keel Boat Landing for Piston Peak National Park
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- A closer look at the new addition to an existing building.
- One wall already has a bit of theming – a small arched opening that looks like a window
- This site went from active demolition to new construction in about two months.
On our recent visit to Magic Kingdom, we found a new addition to a structure under construction behind the Piston Peak National Park construction walls in Liberty Square. Other buildings in the area include Memento Mori and Columbia Harbour House. Rather than standing on its own, the new structure is built against the back of an existing facade that used to be utilized for the Haunted Mansion’s extended queue. As a result of the new work, the footprint of the building is expanding.
The new structure is metal-framed, with a shed-style roof that meets the existing rooflines. Crews sheathed it in plywood over what appears to be a new concrete block foundation. One wall has a small arched opening framed into it. Meanwhile, a loader and excavator worked the surrounding dirt as crews continue preparing the area for more construction. More from Piston Peak National Park in another article soon.
From Demolition to New Construction
When we last covered this site in May, crews were tearing the Keel Boat Landing down. About half the structure and the Rivers of America dock were already gone. Additionally, Walt Disney Imagineering had filed a “General Construction” permit for the site back in January. This is the first vertical construction we’ve seen here since that teardown.
Meanwhile, the work is part of the new Piston Peak National Park. That’s the Cars-themed land going in where the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island used to be.
It is possible that this building will be near one of the walkways that will lead into the new land from Liberty Square and Frontierland. Technically, Disney is billing Piston Peak National Park as an expansion of Frontierland and not its own standalone themed land.
The Story So Far
- The Mike Fink Keel Boats opened with Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971, and closed in 2001.
- Walt Disney Imagineering filed a “General Construction” permit for the site in January 2026.
- Demolition began in May 2026, taking down about half the structure and the Rivers of America dock.
- As of early July, a new metal-framed structure is under construction on the site, built against the back of the existing building.
- The work is part of Piston Peak National Park, the Cars-themed land replacing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
For everything we know about the Cars-themed expansion, check out our Piston Peak National Park page.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!