Before we leave Texas, there is one more very heartwarming place that we need to visit near San Antonio: Morgan’s Wonderland. Opened in 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland takes credit for being the first theme park designed and built specifically for the enjoyment of people with special needs. Working as a non-profit organization, the theme park is able to allow special needs people into the park for free and charge very small amounts for everyone else. When I say that the park was designed for special needs people, this involved going to the manufacturers of amusement rides and making them wheelchair accessible, not a cheap or easy design change. In addition to a small handful of rides, there is a Sensory Village, a playground, a train that goes around the lake, an amphitheater, carousel, water play area and other things. Your budget is 50 million. Morgan’s Wonderland plus a nearby sporting complex was built with 35 million, if that gives you an idea of what you can do with strategic thinking and a good plan; so it may be a good idea to scout Morgan’s Wonderland a bit to see what they have done. For the sake of budgeting, any rides that are installed at your park will be 50% more expensive than the same exact ride unmodified (so multiple the cost by 1.5), but keep in mind that some rides will not accommodate a wheelchair no matter how much modification is put into it. While Morgan’s Wonderland is complete park in its own right, it looks to me from a distance that it might be a little light on the amount of attractions (which may have been done on purpose). Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to fix it by significantly adding to the park OR pick a different location and create your own special needs park. If you choose to create your own park, the land that it is on plus the infrastructure will be donated by local charities.
Click here to check out Morgan's Wonderland
Submissions are due by midnight on Sunday night.
For a look at the rules, posting hints, and some budget guidance, please check out the introduction thread: Introducing.......The Fix-It Competition
SAN ANTONIO, TX - A small park in San Antonio named Morgan's Wonderland has always been a place for anyone, even those in wheel chairs, to be able to have a fun amusement park experience. And while a small park, it certainly has some big plans with a new $50 million dollar expansion coming in 2012.
New to Morgan's Wonderland in 2012 will be a brand new land titled "The Land of Giants". Within the land will be three new attractions along with a brand new nighttime spectacular, "Stand on the Shoulders of Giants" which will play nightly on the lake, featuring nearly 100 different water jets that can spray 50 ft. into the air and two giant, 30 ft. tall water screens along with music, lasers, and some fireworks!
The next attraction, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Ride, is a special, KUKA-arm simulator ride with enclosed cars to keep riders in. While riders cannot remain in their wheelchairs. A special device will lift them from their wheel chairs (along with the help of a person) and into their seat on the ride, which is specially designed to keep the rider veyr comfortable. The ride is themed to Jack's journey up the benastalk and his encounter with the giant. The ride will cost a total of $15 million.
Here is a map as well as the final costs:
WonderWheel: $20 million
Jack and the Bean Stalk: $15 million
The Giant: $12 million
Stand On The Shoulders of Giants: $3 million (15 minute show)
