Morgan’s Wonderland: A Theme Park for All
Who loves going to a theme park in the summer?! Many people take a day and visit their favorite theme park. They enjoy the sights and sounds, rides, spending time with their family and friends, and let’s not forget about the incredible food!
Let me introduce you to a theme park in San Antonio, Texas…Morgan’s Wonderland. What makes this theme park so special? It is the first and only fully accessible theme park for those with disabilities and is often referred to as Ultra-Accessible™. “Ultra-Accessible™ refers to removing both physical and economic barriers that confront children and adults with special needs. This means that those with and without special needs can come together in a fully-inclusive environment for a better understanding of one another.” The park’s creation was inspired by Morgan, Gordon and Maggie Hartman’s daughter, who has disabilities. It opened in 2010.
Morgan’s Wonderland was designed and built for those with special needs in mind so they don’t have to make accommodations but can overcome challenges and have fun like those without special needs. Within the park are playgrounds, theaters, rides, sensory environments, picnic areas, a wharf for catch and release fishing, a train, food booths, and a gift shop. The park will open this spring with four new attractions…a 4-seat zip line, a passenger boat ride, Jette’s Wonder Bikes, and a 4D cinema simulating a roller-coaster experience along with facility upgrades. All the park’s attractions are wheelchair accessible.
The park was “built on the promise of providing free admission to anyone with a special need.” While they recognize that special needs is broad, they cannot admit everyone free of charge. Therefore, the park focuses on those with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities for free admission.
In addition to Morgan’s Wonderland, Gordon and Maggie Hartman have also opened Morgan’s Inspiration Island, an Ultra-Accessible™ water park; Morgan’s Camp, an Ultra-Accessible™ summer camp environment with summer camp activities; Morgan’s Sports, an Ultra-Accessible™ sports complex offering fitness and fun for athletes; and Morgan’s Multi-Assistance Center (MAC), a center that improves the lives of individuals with disabilities and special needs through comprehensive and coordinated services.
It would be amazing if everyone with special needs had the opportunity to travel to San Antonio to experience this one-of-a kind theme park, but we know that’s not possible. However, we have many theme parks within driving distance of western Pennsylvania. While these parks are not fully accessible for those with special needs, they do offer assistance and will do their best to accommodate any requests or requirements you or those you support may have. All parks have accessibility guides that can be referenced through their websites.
In the beginning of Gordan Hartman’s ventures his guiding motto was, “Together, we CAN make a difference!” As a result of many successes and lots more to come, that motto now is, “Together, we ARE making a difference!” Let’s all strive to make this our motto too!
