Daily Dose of Sultnpapper 8/31/18> Alice in Wonderland, ….no, no, no… it is Morgan’s Wonderland and Inspiration Island.
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.
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What a wonderful place! I had never heard of these parks, and I am super happy to hear they exist. I hope more parks like this will be created around the world for differently-abled people to enjoy!!
Yes, it is a wonderful place and it gets great support from businesses being that it is a non-profit. Mr. Hartman, when he had the Scorpions soccer team, got Toyota to buy the naming rights for the stadium and also worked in a major deal for the two parks in that package as well. Plus other big companies located in San Antonio and Texas are patrons and sponsors of the park.
No doubt there should be more of these around the world.
Well, there is the no doubt coolest story of the day, and it's just plain early.
I spent a part of yesterday in the 'soiled bin' of humanity and this piece was better than a fresh cool shower (In Yuma AZ a cool shower in the summertime is a serious luxury).
What a cool place, what an inspiration. Thank you!
Okay, I'll bite, "soiled bin of humanity" is referring to what? I am not quite sure exactly where or what that place is but I am going to venture a guess. I get three right, that is the standard, on guesses.
Guess one is the county jail. For guess two I am going to go with a homeless shelter. My last guess is going to be the VA hospital in your area.
I am so disappointed that I didn't think about this place earlier in the summer and I attended a meeting at the soccer stadium earlier and did the story on the bomb sniffing dogs that the federal government were testing there that day. The soccer stadium shares the same parking with these parks and literally is just a few hundred feet way from each other.
When you see all the smiles of the people there it is just amazing. I am not just talking about the smiles on the handicapped people; the smiles on the people who are there with those that are handicapped are huge because they are seeing people enjoy something that in most cases they have never been able to experience.
Glad this was a bright spot early for you, hope the day continues to be positive.
Well, it was actually a 'talk show' with a friend of mine one of the guests. Topic of the segment had to do with the slaughter of white farmers in South Africa specifically and the falling down of society in general in SA. I stayed with the show out of courtesy and the next segment was on vaccine damage. I felt like I needed a shower after.
I have a special needs sister. Physically she was fine, in fact gifted. The theory was she was O2 deprived at birth. I got to accompany her and even be listed as her coach at Special Olympics events. She qualified for the nationals twice in sprint and long jump but wouldn't go without family and it was harvest time for us, But I saw those smiles at all levels. From participants and spectators.
One year they made the commanding General at Ft.Lewis Wa. the Grand Marshall of the state meet. It was showery for the opening and his remarks. At the end of his remarks he said "I'm tired of this rain already. Lieutenant, bring on the good weather." In 15 minutes the sun was shining. I suspect he just had access to a much better weather forecast than everybody else, but it was a funny thing.
Oh yea, you were in a much worse place than I could have ever guessed for sure. You would need a good cleansing after that no doubt.
That is a funny story on the weather and the CG, we have a nephew that has the same condition as your sister but his mother just will not accept it. He is in his mid twenties and functions at the level of a 12 year old if that high. There wasn't an official determination either on the O2 with him, but that is the likely scenario as well, it was a long , long labor and delivery and the worst part was her doctor is also a family member, a cousin. The doctor never has admitted he screwed up, but a C section should have been done, at least I think it should have.
That is such a nice story so nice to see a peson inspired to make a park so admissable to handicapped people
my first post I read today and what a great way to start my Steemit day
Glad to have helped get your day started off right Jay. It really is wonderland , Wonderland, Texas. is what it is being called and they even have signs up at the edges of the complex on the roads, like the city limits signs cities post on the edge of town.
I remember hearing about this special park a few years back. I am glad you mentioned it again as it is truly deserving of the attention. The world could use a few more people like Gordon Hartman.
It is quite the place and the people who work there are really trained well for the guests that visit the park. The world sure could use a few more like Gordon Hartman.
they could use a few more like cecicastor too!
lol. you get around Ma'am, nice to see you here!
Thank you, @janton! I do manage to get around. I am over on discord too!
howdy this fine Saturday cecicastor! well you are such a wonderful contributor to steemit and add som much to so many conversations. I salute you!
Thank you, @janton. I am just finding my way in this wonderful world we call Steemit!
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howdy sir sultnpapper! wow what a great post with a great message and God bless those people who step out and make a difference in this world! yay!
Yes, it is quite a place.
What a lovely heart warming story and it's not even a story, it's for real - Gordon Hartman deserves a medal. There should be more facilities like that all over the world!
I couldn't agree more.