Today's question...
How many of you read Time Magazine? If you do, how many of you read last week’s edition from August 24,2018? Well, that isn’t very many of you so I am going to share a story that those of you who are not readers of Time Magazine probably know nothing about and quite possibly have never even heard of.
Wonderland, Texas…
We all know the story of Alice in Wonderland but today for the sake of brevity I won’t recap it, except to say that was one hell of a rabbit hole. So how about we talk reality today and another Wonderland?
Today I want to share with you the story of Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island located in San Antonio, Texas. The story is a true story and none of the names are being changed to protect anyone, in fact, I want you to remember these names because the folks involved in this story are truly special people and some are even special needs folks.
Morgan Hartman…
Morgan Hartman is the namesake for Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island which are located side by side each other in what was formerly an old stone quarry in the northeast part of San Antonio, Texas. Morgan is the daughter of Gordon and Maggie Hartman of San Antonio; she is also a special needs person.
Back in 2005 while the Hartman family was on vacation and staying at a hotel the Hartman family was poolside and Morgan was trying to play with some other kids there. The other kids didn’t know how to interact with Morgan and it was that situation that led her father to decide to do something that would help bring able bodied normal children and physically and cognitively challenged kids together so they could relate to each other and interact with each other in play.
Builder by trade…
Mr. Hartman was a home builder and had a very successful home building company and he had both the resources and the connections to make something happen and that he did.
In 2005 he sold his home building business and the Hartman’s established a foundation to help special needs people, it had become the family mission in life. Fast forward to 2007 and Gordon had realized something else that was lacking for the special needs community, that was outdoor recreation and entertainment that was designed for special needs folks.
Morgan’s Wonderland…
The park is first class and admission for handicapped and special needs people is free. The pricing of tickets for non-handicapped folks are reasonably priced and parking is also free. The park is closed on weekdays now since summer has pretty much ended but I have some connections to the park and was able to go by there on Thursday and get some pictures for the Daily Dose.
Clearer vision…
Mr. Hartman had a clear vision of what he wanted to do; he also had savvy business skills so he also built some support business in the old quarry site as well that could help fund the non-profit theme park. He constructed a large soccer complex and then set about landing a major league soccer team for the city of San Antonio. Once he got the soccer franchise he then built a decent size soccer stadium that seats 8,000 people and can be expanded to accommodate about double that in the future. Those projects were successful and he then sold those off and took the money and developed the world’s first water park for the handicapped that is known as Morgan’s Inspiration Island that opened in the summer of 2017.
Morgan’s Inspiration Island…
Inspiration Island features a fleet of twenty five specially waterproofed wheel chairs that are available for wheel chair bound individuals. They are able to park their regular wheel chair and are transferred to one of the special ones and can get wet all they want in the specially designed splash pads that feature some really neat magical looking creatures. There is also the River Boat Adventure ride that is wheel chair accessible so those confined to wheel chairs can float the river as well that goes through the water park. There are a total of six different themed water attractions in the water park.
Time Magazine Greatest 100 Destinations…
That should tell you something about just how much impact this little relatively unknown place is having when it comes to special needs families. Between the theme park and the water park there is no place like it on earth, it truly is “Wonderland” and all because one man had seen the need to think outside the box when he saw the disappointment in his daughter’s eyes in 2005.
Tip of the ten gallon…
So, I give a tip of the old ten gallon Stetson hat to Gordon Hartman for his work in creating something truly special that serves not only the handicapped but also the families of those that are handicapped. Before I close I would also like to mention that he also has played a hand in a physical rehabilitation facility and a special needs school that is also located in the old quarry complex. He is one special man with a big HEART and great vision, Gordon Hartman.
Now you know…
Now that you know about this place please be sure to let anyone you might know who has a special needs or a physically handicapped person in their family about this place. San Antonio is a great vacation destination and these attractions you won’t find anywhere else, sharing this information may really make a difference for them when planning a family vacation in the future. Here is the website link to Morgans Wonderland
Coming tomorrow….
Don’t forget that SBI Saturday is on the horizon and three more folks will be receiving a share into the Steem Basic Income program courtesy of the Daily Dose.
Until next time,
@sultnpapper
Photo Credits: All photos associated with this article are the exclusive and sole property of the Daily Dose of Sultnpapper.
