SAN ANTONIO – Although closed for the remainder of 2020 because of COVID-19, Morgan’s Wonderland remains focused on delivering joy – to the front doors of people in the community who need a lift the most during the pandemic.
Beginning the week of July 20, the world-renowned, ultra-accessible™ theme park’s “Delivering Joy” team – led by costumed-character, butterfly-mascot Joy – will arrive at homes and offer uplifting entertainment to individuals deeply affected by the unprecedented health emergency. Morgan’s Wonderland will schedule visits after reviewing nominations submitted by the July 15 deadline to www.MorgansWonderland.com/deliveringjoy/.
“On May 28, we announced the difficult-but-necessary decision to close Morgan’s Wonderland for the rest of 2020,” said Gordon Hartman, the park’s founder. “But our mission of inclusion has not diminished one bit. We received so many heartfelt messages that inspired us to think out of the box, outside the park, to go beyond Morgan’s Wonderland. Our doors may be currently closed, but we’re committed to safely delivering joy to the front doors of our friends who need it most.”
Each Delivering Joy visit will be unique to the level of joy needed by each individual, said Nikki Young, the park’s director of edutainment.
“It could be just a Wonderland-A-Gram (like a telegram containing good wishes) or a Doorway Dance Party or even a Driveway Dance Party, if space allows for it,” Young explained. “Folks also can take Porchtraits (photos) with Joy. Whatever we do, we’ll practice all mandated safety measures; even Joy will be wearing a mask. We hope Delivering Joy will give our friends who are having the most difficult time a bit of a reprieve with our safe and socially-distanced house visits.”
Morgan’s Wonderland has been closed since March 14 in response to Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s declaration of a public health emergency. Under normal circumstances, the park would be hosting special events in celebration of its 10th birthday, however the COVID-19 health emergency has forced those festivities to be put on hold. Thus far, the park has welcomed approximately 1.9 million guests from all 50 states and 76 other countries.
Morgan’s Wonderland offers more than 25 attractions including wheelchair-accessible rides, playgrounds and gardens for the enjoyment of guests young and older. This past year, TripAdvisor inducted Morgan’s Wonderland into its Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame. The Texas Governor’s Committee on People With Disabilities also presented its highest lifetime-achievement honor – The Governor’s Trophy – to Gordon Hartman and Morgan’s Wonderland.
Morgan’s Wonderland is located in Northeast San Antonio, a half-mile west of IH 35 at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive.
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