Morgan's Wonderland
{{Short description|Non-profit theme park in Texas}}
{{ad|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox amusement park
| name = Morgan's Wonderland
| logo = Morgan's_Wonderland_Logo.jpg
| logo_size = 250px
| image = Morgans Wounderland Entrance.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Entrance of Morgan's Wonderland
| resort =
| location = San Antonio
| location2 = Texas
| location3 = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|29.539|-98.392|display=it}}
| theme =
| homepage = {{URL|morganswonderland.com}}
| owner =
| general_manager =
| operator =
| opening_date = {{Start date and age|2010|03|03}}
| closing_date =
| previous_names =
| season = March - December
| visitors =
| area = {{convert|25|acre|km2}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-40742586 |title=How one man built a $51m theme park for his daughter |last=Bates |first=Claire |work=BBC News |date=4 August 2017 |access-date=4 August 2017}}
| rides =
| coasters =
| water_rides =
| slogan = Where everyone can play!
| footnotes =
| status = operating
}}
Morgan's Wonderland is an accessibility-focused theme park in San Antonio, Texas founded in 2010. The park was developed by Gordon Hartman, a former homebuilder from San Antonio. Morgan's Wonderland has had over a net million guests since its opening in 2010.{{cite web |last1=Hartman |first1=Gordon |title=You Only Are Disabled in an Environment that Makes You That Way |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwDl-fmoBJs&t=259s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/fwDl-fmoBJs |archive-date=2021-12-15 |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=YouTube |date=December 28, 2011 |publisher=TEDx Talks}}{{cbignore}} The park features several attractions including rides, playgrounds, gardens, a catch-and-release fishing lake, a special-event center, and 575-seat amphitheater. The park's focus on accessibility makes it free for disabled individuals to attend the park.
History
File:Gordon Hartman at TEDx SanAntonio.jpg San Antonio in 2021]]
In 2005, Hartman sold his homebuilding business to establish The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation so he and his wife, Maggie, could aid children and adults with special needs. During a family vacation, their disabled daughter Morgan wanted to play with kids tossing a ball in a hotel swimming pool, but when she approached them, they abruptly took their ball and vanished.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/theme-parks/2024/05/12/morgans-wonderland-theme-park-accessibility/73660563007/|title=See inside the first ultra-accessible theme park 'for everybody': Morgan's Wonderland|first=Eve|last=Chen|date=2024-05-12|website=USA Today|language=en|accessdate=2024-11-07}} "I'll never forget the look of anguish and dismay on Morgan's face, so I decided there had to be a way to bridge the gap of misunderstanding about people with special needs. That incident was the tipping point for Morgan's Wonderland and ultimately Morgan's Inspiration Island," Hartman said.{{cite web|url=https://sanantonioreport.org/morgans-inspiration-island-promoting-inclusiveness-understanding-and-soaring-spirits/|title=Morgan's Inspiration Island: Promoting Inclusiveness, Understanding, and Soaring Spirits|first=Gordon|last=Hartman|date=2018-06-02|website=San Antonio Report|language=en|accessdate=2024-11-07}}
On March 3, 2010, Morgan's Wonderland opened,{{Cite web |title=American Heart: Creating a Theme Park for Those With Special Needs |url=https://abcnews.go.com/WN/american-heart-father-creates-morgans-wonderland-theme-park/story?id=10052908 |access-date=2021-07-25 |website=ABC News |language=en}} with NBA legend David Robinson and actress Eva Longoria as special guests.
Starting in 2012, Toyota partnered with the park as a long-term sponsor.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-11 |title=Morgan's Inspiration Island is First-Ever Water Park Designed for Disabled Kids |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/inspiration-island-is-first-ever-water-park-designed-for-disabled-kids/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US}}
On June 17, 2017, Morgan's Wonderland unveiled a major addition: the Morgan's Inspiration Island splash park.
In 2020 the park closed after only 11 days into the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Merlin |first=Lalla |date=2021-09-15 |title=Accessibility for all at Morgan's Wonderland |url=https://blooloop.com/theme-park/in-depth/morgans-wonderland/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Blooloop |language=en-GB}} The park reopened for the 2021 season at limited capacity.{{Cite web |last=Salinas |first=Rebecca |date=2021-01-15 |title=Morgan's Wonderland announces 2021 opening dates for theme park, sports complex |url=https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/01/15/morgans-wonderland-announces-2021-opening-dates-for-theme-park-sports-complex/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=KSAT |language=en}}
In 2022 the park hosted the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games.{{Cite web |last=Bird |first=Tyson |date=2022-04-28 |title=San Antonio's Morgan's Wonderland Caters to Kids with Disabilities |url=https://texashighways.com/travel/family-travel/san-antonios-morgans-wonderland-caters-to-kids-with-disabilities/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Texas Highways |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Santana |first=Steven |date=2022-05-09 |title=Special Olympics Texas returns to San Antonio after 2-year hiatus |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Texas-Special-Olympics-returns-San-Antonio-17159539.php |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=mySA |language=en-US}}
Events
The park holds a Snowball Run annually in December, which involves both 5K and 1K walking/running events.{{Cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Emily |date=2022-11-30 |title=Morgan's Wonderland to host annual Snowball Run in December |url=https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/11/30/morgans-wonderland-to-host-annual-snowball-run-in-december/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=KSAT |language=en}} The events are open to all ages and abilities.
Related complexes
= Morgan's Inspiration Island =
On June 17, 2017, Morgan's Wonderland unveiled the Morgan's Inspiration Island splash park.{{Cite web |title=Everyone Is Welcome at the World's First Accessible Water Park |url=https://themighty.com/2017/06/morgans-inspiration-island-accessible-water-park/ |access-date=2021-07-25 |website=The Mighty |date=May 14, 2020 |language=en-US}} The park features waterproof wheelchairs that guests can use.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-11 |title=Morgan's Inspiration Island is First-Ever Water Park Designed for Disabled Kids |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/inspiration-island-is-first-ever-water-park-designed-for-disabled-kids/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US}} Some parts of the park use warm water, to be accessible to visitors with certain muscular conditions.
= Morgan's Sports =
In 2021 Morgan's Sports opened, which includes wheelchair-accessible baseball/softball and football fields, and basketball, pickleball, tennis, and volleyball courts.{{Cite web |last=Mendoza |first=Madalyn |date=2021-06-29 |title=$4{{nbsp}}million sports complex by Morgan's Wonderland now open in San Antonio |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/morgans-wonderland-sports-complex-san-antonio-16281718.php |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=mySA |language=en-US}}
= Morgan's Camp =
In summer 2022 Morgan's Camp opened, an accessible camping program that can serve about 500 campers of any ability.{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Jordan |date=12 October 2021 |title=Morgan's Wonderland opens all-inclusive camp; summer camp slated for 2022 |url=https://www.kens5.com/article/news/community/morgans-wonderland-prepares-to-open-all-inclusive-summer-camp-in-2022/273-fb20c34f-b0d0-491c-a3b1-98d4db28657b |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=kens5.com |language=en-US}} The San Antonio Food Bank uses the camp's kitchen year-round.{{Cite web |title=Welcome To Morgan's Wonderland |url=https://www.campbusiness.com/articles/welcome-to-morgans-wonderland |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=Camp Business |language=en-US}}
= Morgan's MAC =
The Multi-Assistance Center (MAC), which provides medical services to disabled individuals, opened on October 2, 2022.{{Cite web |date=22 September 2022 |title=Multi-Assistance Center at Morgan's Wonderland offers one-stop approach to caring for special needs community |url=https://www.kens5.com/article/news/community/multi-assistance-center-morgans-wonderland-community-special-needs-disabilities/273-b2266c0c-4e2e-4ddc-b5d4-607ae66826e2 |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=kens5.com |language=en-US}} As of its opening, services provided included therapeutic care, dental care, and same day surgery.
Awards and recognition
Morgan's Wonderland and Morgan's Inspiration Island have been acclaimed for their emphases on inclusion and accessible design.
See also
- {{portal-inline|Texas}}