Welcome to Morgan’s Wonderland
Children with disabilities can enjoy all the rides and attractions at Morgan’s Wonderland.
© Universal Images Group—Getty Images
Gordon Hartman’s daughter, Morgan, has a disease that makes it difficult for her to speak. When Hartman noticed that this made it hard for Morgan to play with other kids, he decided to build a theme park where all kids would feel included. He called it Morgan’s Wonderland, in honor of his daughter. Today, Morgan is all grown up, and millions of kids enjoy the accessible theme park that she inspired.
Located in San Antonio, Texas, Morgan’s Wonderland has rides, playgrounds, a make-believe village, and more. Each attraction is designed to be used by children with disabilities (though every kid is welcome). For example, all the rides are built so kids who use wheelchairs can enjoy them. And because many kids with autism are sensitive to loud sounds, nothing in the park is noisy.
“It’s the small things that make the big difference: Having fun,” Hartman told CBS News. “And for too long, I think, individuals had to watch and say, ‘I wish I could.’ Here at Morgan’s Wonderland…you don’t watch. You participate.”
Recently, Morgan’s Wonderland added even more fun features. There’s a new movie theater that gives kids the feeling of riding a roller coaster. There’s a zip line that lets riders soar over the park’s lake. Another new ride is a cross between bike-riding and hang-gliding.
“It’s just simply mind-blowing to know that there’s a place like this where we can enjoy the things that most people—typical people—[get a chance to do] across the world and around the country,” Victoria Garcia-Ammann told Texas Public Radio. Garcia-Ammann’s daughter, Emily, has a disability.
Hartman is now building an accessible hotel. He’s also planning to teach other business owners how to make stores, hotels, and restaurants more accessible to everyone.
Check out the slideshow for more photos of Morgan’s Wonderland.
© Universal Images Group—Getty Images; Nan Palmero (CC BY 2.0)