In 2006, Gordon Hartman observed his daughter, Morgan, wanting to play with other vacationing kids at a hotel swimming pool, but the kids were leery of Morgan and didn’t want to interact with her. Then and there, Gordon resolved to create opportunities and places where those with and without disabilities can come together for fun and a better understanding of one another. On April 10, 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland became the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind.
In 2017, the Ultra-Accessible™ theme park opened it’s expansion, Morgan’s Inspiration Island, which was named on the 2018 “World’s Greatest Places” list by TIME Magazine.
Guided by its mission of inclusion, the park strives to bring together guests of all ages and all abilities through the power of inclusive play.
Morgan’s Wonderland offers 25 Ultra-Accessible™ attractions, sprawled across a 25-acre oasis of inclusion. From a wheelchair-accessible Ferris wheel to catch-and-release fishing, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy!
Every day we work to provide an extraordinary 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 while encouraging everyone to gain a greater understanding of one another.
Morgan’s Wonderland is just like any other theme park except for a culture and environment that assures 100 percent enjoyment by every person entering the Welcome Center. Unfortunately, countless children and adults with special needs do not have access to facilities that enable them to enjoy outdoor recreation fully. Morgan’s Wonderland is changing that every day.
All Aboard!
When we say “all aboard’‘ – we genuinely mean it! The Ultra-Accessible™ Wonder Express carries multiple rail cars equipped with specially designed, wheelchair-accessible ramps. Enjoy the ride around our 8-acre lake with your whole family in this 1930s-style train at our depot next to Sensory Village™
Created For All Ages and Abilities
If you use a wheelchair, our railway cars are designed with you in mind! You can experience what it is like to go on a train ride with your family seated together. Make sure to say hello to the wildlife in the lake, as you’ll see ducks, turtles, and an occasional heron.
Take a spin!
Take a spin on our colorful, 36-foot-in-diameter Ultra-Accessible™ carousel! Feel the wind against your face as you ride up and down and all around on one of our beautifully crafted animals. For our friends who use wheelchairs, your “chariot” awaits! Our specially designed “chariots” are wheelchair accessible and not only go around in circles but also move up and down, just like our other colorful carousel animals.
One of our most popular attractions at Morgan’s Wonderland, the carousel, was thoughtfully built and carefully crafted to ensure people of all abilities can enjoy it! Take a close look the next time you visit, and you will notice it doesn’t have brightly colored lights or quick and sudden movements. This carousel is built to be inclusive! Our friends with sensory sensitivities can enjoy the colors without feeling overwhelmed by flashing lights and sounds. This ride is unique because our wheelchair-accessible chariots move up and down just like the other animals.
Our carousel is so awesome, Travel & Leisure voted it one of the top 15 “America’s Best Carousels” in 2012!
Call her a catalyst, a spark, an inspiration. Morgan Hartman doesn’t realize it, but her ability to smile through physical and cognitive special needs spurred her parents – Gordon and Maggie Hartman – to do things never before accomplished for individuals with special needs and their families. Morgan inspired the creation of a one-of-a-kind theme park and other initiatives benefiting the inclusive community.
It is Morgan’s sincere hope that everyone with a special need – young and older, healthy or ailing, introspective, or outgoing – will be touched extraordinarily by Morgan’s Wonderland: a shrine of inclusion, an oasis of friendship, an unforgettable wonderland…Morgan’s Wonderland!