A first of its kind park offering rides, playgrounds and other amusement activities designed specifically for those with special needs is set to open this week in San Antonio, Texas.
The $32 million facility called Morgan’s Wonderland is fully-accessible. One ride, for example, is an off-road adventure where park goers sit in vehicles designed to accommodate wheelchairs while traveling through the twists and turns of rocky terrain.
In addition to rides, the park also includes a sensory village, a lake for fishing and a garden complete with calming music and art. Safety features like wristbands enabled with tracking devices are also available.
The facility was created by Gordon Hartman, a philanthropist whose daughter, Morgan, has a disability.
“They have an opportunity to do things they’ve never done before, like ride in a swing or a carousel or sit with their family in a train,” Hartman told The Washington Post about the park experience for people with disabilities. To read more click here.
Admission is free for visitors with special needs, but everyone else pays $5. Reservations are required for the park, which opens March 3.
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I have had the opportunity to visit Morgan’s Wonderland here in San Antonio. I have to say – this place is utterly amazing! They have thought of everything, right down to making a secluded and soothing quiet area for folks to go sit, in case they get over-stimulated and need a break.
I have also met the park’s founder – Gordon Hartman. He is an extraordinary person with a huge heart and great vision. This is the first of it’s kind in the world and I know it will be a model for many more parks just like it.
I encourage everyone to check out their website and tell your friends!
I look forward to visiting this park! We have been to Cedar Point, Walt Disney World and Busch Gardens with our special needs son. He’s 6 and has developmental delays with autistic-like behaviors. Cedar Point and Disney were nightmares. Our other kids had a great time, but it was too overwhelming for our son. Busch Gardens was much better. If you bring in your child’s IEP, they give you a special pass. It allows you to leave the line and return later and go to the front of the line. That was a lifesaver! Everyone was so friendly and understanding. It made the trip more fun for all of us. I look forward to making a trip down to Texas next winter!
I think this amusment prark was a great idea because it is inclusion for young children with disabilities and they will get to experience thrills and excitment as regular children in a amusment park.. Gotta love it!