In a quiet corner of San Antonio, Texas, a remarkable transformation unfolded under the blistering summer sun: a place where laughter is unbound by wheelchairs, where water cannons still the chatter of difference, and where the promise of inclusion is no longer a distant hope but a splashy reality.
Here is the story of how Morgan’s Inspiration Island became more than a water park—it became a symbol of what happens when intention meets design, and compassion meets imagination.
A Dream Sparked By A Daughter’s Wish
On a warm afternoon, Gordon Hartman, while watching his daughter Morgan struggle to join other children at a hotel pool, realized how many public spaces excluded people with disabilities. That moment inspired him to create a place where everyone, regardless of ability, could play together.
Gordon Hartman, a San Antonio homebuilder turned philanthropist, and his wife Maggie were inspired by their daughter Morgan, who has both cognitive and physical challenges.
Hartman credited his daughter Morgan as the driving force behind every initiative they have undertaken to support individuals with disabilities. Her spirit and experiences inspired the creation of projects aimed at fostering inclusion, understanding, and joy for people of all abilities.
The first chapter of that vision was the inclusive theme park Morgan’s Wonderland, which opened in 2010 as the world’s first amusement park designed with individuals with special needs in mind. But the next chapter would be wetter, louder, more audacious—and aimed at breaking down one of the toughest barriers of all: the water park.
Building The Ultra-Accessible Splash Park
On June 17, 2017, the doors opened to Morgan’s Inspiration Island in San Antonio—the first water park of its kind in the world. Inside, families found six major attraction zones, a towering seven-story lighthouse, an eight-acre fishing lake, and a tropical-themed world of splash pads, river rides, and raindrop gardens—all designed with access in mind.
What set this park apart was not just the slides, but the painstaking attention to every detail of accessibility: every pathway, every ride, every changing room. Guests were greeted with waterproof wristbands equipped with RFID tracking so families could keep track of children who might wander.
The park also provided free waterproof wheelchairs called “PneuChairs,” powered by compressed air rather than batteries, allowing visitors to roll directly into splash zones and enjoy the full experience. “The chair can go for two to three hours. I was thoroughly impressed by the accessibility in the changing room,” one visitor wrote.
For those sensitive to cold water, the park featured “Rainbow Reef,” a warm-water attraction specifically created for guests who might find traditional splash zones uncomfortable.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Hartman’s vision was his determination to ensure the park was not defined by disability but by belonging.
He emphasized that Morgan’s Inspiration Island was designed for everyone — a place where people of all abilities could share the same joyful experiences side by side, without separation or distinction.
The focus was never on creating a space for individuals with special needs, but rather a space that celebrates true inclusion for all.
Lives Changed Beneath Every Wave
Visitors from around the world have described their experiences with wonder and gratitude. One mother recalled her daughter’s first time on the accessible pirate-ship slide—a ramp led up to the deck, a wide transfer zone allowed her to leave her wheelchair, and she whooped with joy as the giant bucket splashed down.
Another guest, wheelchair user Cory Lee, wrote, “This was something that I never thought I would get to do… it was truly remarkable to see the younger kids enjoying it so much.”
Families who had previously planned separate outings began booking trips for both siblings—one with a disability, one without—knowing that this time the park would not treat one child as an afterthought. “Both those with special needs and those without can play together,” one review declared.
The ripple effects of these experiences extended far beyond the park gates, sparking global conversations about inclusive design, universal access, and joyful architecture.
Changing The Narrative Of Accessibility
The creation of Morgan’s Inspiration Island did more than build slides—it reframed the story of ability. Historically, “accessible” has meant a ramp tucked off to the side or a half-hearted alternative route. Here, access is central to the design itself.
The park also became a practical laboratory: designers collaborated with therapists, special-education teachers, caregivers, and water-park consultants. They sought feedback from guests and the disability community throughout every phase of development.
By designing for inclusion first, Morgan’s Inspiration Island challenged an entire industry to think differently. When builders begin to say “guests of all abilities” rather than “most guests,” they change the entire foundation of design thinking.
Why The World Should Take Note
There are countless water parks around the world, yet few have asked the question: how many billions of people currently excluded by design deserve this experience?
Every PneuChair provided, every ramp built, every quiet zone created sends a simple yet profound message: your presence matters.
And though the park is located in the United States, its message resonates far beyond its borders. Accessibility is not a luxury—it is a design imperative. When one park raises the bar, the ripple spreads globally, influencing architects, policymakers, and families everywhere.
Morgan’s Inspiration Island shows that accessibility can be beautiful, joyful, and commercially viable. It is not just an act of charity—it is smart, compassionate innovation.
A Hopeful Plunge Into The Future
In the calm after a summer storm—or in the echo of laughter from the splash zone—there is a sense of possibility. Families rolling side by side. Children with and without disabilities shrieking together as a bucket tips overhead. Caregivers resting on shaded benches, smiling as they watch joy made visible.
Morgan’s Inspiration Island stands as a landmark of inclusion and a testament to what happens when empathy meets enterprise. It reminds the world that design can be a form of love in action.
The story of this one park carries a global promise: when every slide, every ramp, and every path is built for everyone, we don’t create a special-needs park—we create the park.
May its example inspire cities everywhere to build spaces where laughter knows no barriers, and where the sound of splashing water means freedom for all.
Sources:
ABC News
Good Morning America
Curb Free With Cory Lee
Morgans Wonderland
