A Texan father couldn’t find an accessible theme park to take his disabled daughter – so took matters into his own hands and built one himself.

In 2006, Gordon Hartman was vacationing with his daughter, Morgan, who was born with physical and cognitive disabilities.

While spending time with Morgan, he observed her being shunned by other children in the hotel pool ‘simply because she was not able to be verbal’.

The Texas millionaire claimed that seeing his child’s ‘anguished look of misunderstanding’ inspired him to search for an inclusive place to whisk her away.

However, Hartman was unable to find what he was looking for.

Gordon Harman built the theme park for his daughter, Morgan. (BBC)

Spurred on by his desire for inclusivity, the dad sold his homebuilding business and decided he would create a theme park where ‘everyone could do everything, where people with and without special needs could play’.

In 2007, the former property developer consulted with a team of doctors, therapists and families for advice before construction began on a 25-acre site in San Antonio, Texas.

Three years later, Morgan’s Wonderland opened.

The inclusive theme park boasted a fully accessible Ferris wheel, adventure playground, miniature train and a carousel specifically designed for wheelchair users.

However, Morgan apparently wasn’t a big fan of the carousel and it took her three years to work up the courage to try the ride.

Her dad told the BBC: “When we opened she was too scared to go on it. She didn’t understand why it was going around and the animals were going up and down.

“First she would stand near it, then she’d get on an animal but we wouldn’t start it. It was a slow process but now she loves going on it.

“Overcoming something she was scared of meant a lot to her. Little things achieved in play can make a big difference.”

The park is full of accessible attractions. (BBC)

In 2017, Hartman worked to launch the world’s first ‘ultra-accessible’ splash park, Morgan’s Inspiration Island.

The addition, which cost an additional $17 million, features 25 attractions and five interactive splash pads.

Speaking about the waterpark and its parent site, the businessman told Southern Living: “This unique park is a special place where anyone can have fun but they were created with individuals with special needs in mind.

“Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island are just like other theme parks except for the added benefit of a culture and environment that assures 100 percent enjoyment by everyone who enters through our Welcome Center.”

According to Brent Fields, CEO of Morgan’s umbrella organization, around four million people from every state in the union and over 120 countries have visited the park.

“[It’s] helped us spark that spirit of inclusion,” he told Texas Public Radio.

Gordon Hartman, from Texas, doled out the eye watering amount to build a theme park for his daughter, who has the cognitive understanding of a five year old.

The millionaire dad was inspired to embark on the endeavour after noticing that his daughter, Morgan, struggled to fit in with other children on a family holiday.

When Morgan got into the pool with other kids, Hartman saw quickly leave the pool as they weren’t sure how to interact with a disabled person.

BBC

When Hartman tried searching for an inclusive place to take his daughter for holidays, he realised that one didn’t exist.

So he decided to make one for her.

The former property developer set about creating a theme park in 2007.

Hartman told the BBC: “We wanted a theme park where everyone could do everything, where people with and without special needs could play.”

Bringing together a team of doctors, therapists and families to help advise on the facilities, the theme park began construction on a 25 acre site in San Antonio, Texas.

Morgan’s Wonderland opened in 2010 to the tune of $34 million (£26 million) and includes a fully accessible Ferris wheel, adventure playground and miniature train.

The park also includes a carousel specially designed for wheelchair users, allowing them to go up and down alongside the animals.

BBC

It took Morgan three years to work up the courage to go on the carousel however.

Her dad told the BBC: “When we opened she was too scared to go on it. She didn’t understand why it was going around and the animals were going up and down.

“First she would stand near it, then she’d get on an animal but we wouldn’t start it. It was a slow process but now she loves going on it. Overcoming something she was scared of meant a lot to her. Little things achieved in play can make a big difference.”

Since it was opened, Morgan’s Wonderland has received over a million visitors from 67 countries and from all 50 US states.

A third of the park’s staff have a disability and access is free to all guests with a condition.

Back in 2017, a water park was added onto the park, costing an additional $17 million (£13 million).

Speaking of the expansion, Hartman said: “Fewer people were visiting in July because the wheelchairs got too hot. So we decided to create a water park next door.

“It helps people realise that though we are different in some ways, actually we are all the same,” he says.

“I saw one girl in a wheelchair go up to another girl without special needs, and they began playing together. That was really cool.”