Morgan's Wonderland
 
Entrance of Morgan's Wonderland
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| Slogan | Where Everyone Can Play |
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| Location | San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Coordinates | 29°32′20″N 98°23′31″W / 29.539°N 98.392°WCoordinates: 29°32′20″N 98°23′31″W / 29.539°N 98.392°W |
| Opened | March 3, 2010 |
| Visitors per annum | 500,000 |
| Area | 25 acres (0.10 km2) |
| Website | www |
Morgan’s Wonderland is a 25-acre theme park in San Antonio, Texas, that was designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment. The park, which opened in spring 2010 on the site of the former Longhorn Quarry, was developed by Gordon Hartman, a former homebuilder from San Antonio. He said his daughter, Morgan, who deals with cognitive and physical challenges, inspired creation of the park.
Non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland is the first theme park of its kind in the world. It has welcomed approximately a million guests from all 50 states and 65 other countries. Admission for those with special needs is free; admission fees for accompanying family members, friends, caregivers and the general public are nominal.
Morgan’s Wonderland has garnered local, state and national honors including being named “best family attraction” in Texas by VacationHomeRentals.com, a TripAdvisor affiliate.
In 2005, Hartman sold his successful home-building business to establish The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation so he and his wife, Maggie, could pursue their dream of helping children and adults with special needs. Their devotion is inspired by their 22-year-old daughter, Morgan. Her soaring spirit despite physical and cognitive challenges sparked within the Hartmans a deep desire to create Morgan’s Wonderland, a haven without barriers for those with special needs but also for their families, caregivers, friends and the general public.
Morgan’s Wonderland opened March 3, 2010, and celebrated its grand opening April 10, 2010, with NBA legend David Robinson and actress Eva Longoria as special guests. Completely wheelchair-accessible, the $34 million park features more than 25 elements and attractions including rides, playgrounds, gardens, an eight-acre catch-and-release fishing lake, 18,000-square-foot special-event center, 575-seat amphitheater, picnic area and rest areas throughout the park.
The guiding principle for Morgan’s Wonderland is inclusion. “Morgan’s Wonderland is a special place where anyone can have fun,” says Gordon Hartman, CEO of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, “but it was created with special-needs individuals in mind. Morgan’s Wonderland is just like any other theme park except for the added benefit of a culture and environment that assures 100 percent enjoyment by everyone who enters through our Welcome Center. Unfortunately, countless children and adults with special needs do not have access to facilities that can help them fully enjoy outdoor recreation. We truly believe Morgan’s Wonderland is beginning to change that.”
Rides custom-designed to accommodate wheelchair riders means that every family member can enjoy the fun. Adapted rides include the Wonderland Express train, with a half-mile of track that wraps around the park’s scenic lake; the Off-Road Adventure, where guests can test their driving skills in sporty vehicles; the Whirling Wonder™ Ferris wheel, with a dozen brightly colored gondolas that rise up to 5 ½ stories high for panoramic views of the park; and a carousel, offering all kinds of horses and other animals ready to be ridden. The latter sits flush with the ground and has “chariots” that move up and down as the carousel turns, giving those in wheelchairs the same sensation as guests riding horses.
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