Most parents will do just about anything to keep their children safe and happy. This is especially true for those who have a child with special needs. It’s not a matter of protecting them from reality so much, but more of making sure they have the same opportunities as kids without challenges.

One father with a special needs’ daughter felt frustrated that she was constantly shunned by other kids. Morgan wanted to play just like everyone else but because she’s “different,” that became a problem. As a loving dad, it broke his heart. That’s when he decided to build a theme park where all kids with challenges could visit. So, he began what would become Morgan’s Wonderland in Texas.

Gordon Hartman is a dad like all others…all he wants is for his daughter to be included and to thrive.

It all started one day while at a hotel swimming pool. While there with his family, he quickly recognized that other kids wanted nothing to do with his daughter. All she wanted was to play with the other children but that didn’t happen. In his mind, it was time for a change — a big change. He couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

He put a plan in place that would allow his daughter, as well as others in her situation, to have fun like everyone else.

In 2007, he secured an abandoned quarry in San Antonio and then started construction on a one-of-a-kind theme park. It took four years to complete but he finally opened the gates to Morgan’s Wonderland. Initially, the park had 25 elements, including playgrounds, rides, and interactive spaces.

Morgan’s Wonderland would continue to grow.

But Gordon wasn’t finished with this unique theme park just yet. In 2017, he constructed Morgan’s Inspiration Island. Just like the park, this addition was ultra-accessible. That meant that no matter the type of disability a child had they could get around with ease. The water park was such a success that it was named as one of the “World’s Greatest Places” by Time Magazine.

This dad took every measure possible to design the areas so that all children with special needs, along with their families, could have fun.

Talk about ingenuity. Gordan went as far as providing waterproof wheelchairs. That way, kids could go to Morgan’s Inspiration Island and get wet but without damaging their wheelchairs. While this theme park accommodates all special need’s kids, it’s also a place where able-bodied children can have fun. It’s an all-around family-friendly park.

Gordon described his vision perfectly.

“Everyday, we work to provide a special place where smiles and laughter lead to wonderful memories with family members, friends, and caregivers. We want Morgan’s Wonderland to be a place where the common element of play creates an atmosphere of inclusion for those with and without disabilities, encouraging everyone to gain a greater understanding of one another.”

Morgan’s Wonderland is an incredible gift to everyone.

Obviously, not every father can do what Gordan Hartman did but he’s given all kids and adults a way to celebrate life together. Instead of feeling isolated and perhaps even bullied, children can simply have fun. As for Morgan, things have never been better.

For people who’ve visited this park, they say it’s unbelievable. Everything is so well laid out and each element is top-notch. Whether you have a child with special needs or not, you should add a visit to Morgan’s Wonderland on your vacation list.

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Source: Shareably, YouTube