The past and present at San MarcosApr 1, 2010
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Restored Glass Bottom Boat at the Aquarena
Past and present photo of what was a hotel and now an...
Remains of the old sky ride at the Aquarena
| Ralph the Swimming Pig, Aqua-Maids underwater show, Submarine theatre, Sky Ride and the Sky Spiral. What do these attractions have in common? It was almost a ‘rite of passage’ for every Texas child to visit the Aquarena Park in San Marcos up until 1996. They claim that this was one of the biggest and most attended theme parks in Texas. Oddly enough the Aquarena is also the headwaters to the San Marcos River. This area is an extremely important environmental site because it’s the major aquafier for the surrounding area. In 1994, Texas State University bought the theme park and resort and have converted it to an educational center. It is still a work in progress. It is obvious that the conversion will be a slow and expensive proposition. A 220’ tower still looms overhead. The tower once had a round car that took you to the top as it rotated 360 degrees. An old theatre in the shape of a submarine sits submerged off the waters – this was the theatre where people would gather to watch the underground show – mermaids, divers and Ralphie the diving pig. The remains of the sky ride, with its tulip-shaped launch pad now corroding from the Texas heat and humidity still stands, complete with the cables that whisked people in a pod-shaped car across the waters. The one attraction that still exists is the glass bottom boats. Now fully restored, these boats examine the aqua floor for sea life and plants. The narrators are students at Texas State University who also explain the history of the park and why it is so important. Since its purchase, the university has built a floating boardwalk with a short trail through a wetland area. What was once an old hotel on the property now houses offices and a display of the Texas river systems. There is also a small aquarium with endangered species that are found in these waters. While the focus now is on educating the public, it was an interesting look back at Texas history (any state history) and how man alters and uses land for its purpose. Here is an interesting website with a video and pictures of the Aquarena Our next stop was the historic downtown of San Marcos. The centerpiece is its turn-of-the-century courthouse with its main square. Next to the square is a museum dedicated to Lyndon Baines Johnson. President Johnson graduated from Texas University at San Marcos. This one-room museum focuses on his “formative” years and the years he spent at the university. For a small museum, the exhibits, which were mainly photos and newspaper clippings, did a good job of explaining his early years. This was one of those ‘sleeper’ towns. The city of San Marcos does a better job of advertising the 250 outlet stores there then it does its own history. You have to dig a little deeper to start to understand the history of the city. If you are in the area, I would definitely recommend a stop. It was another wonderful day in our life on the road. |
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