Aquarena Springs

Aquarena Springs was a resort and amusement park built around the San Marcos Springs in San Marcos, Texas, United States, which various owners operated from 1928 until 1996. Today, it is home to the Texas State University-San Marcos Aquarena Center.

History

The San Marcos Springs are the headwaters of the San Marcos River. This site, where more than 200 springs bubble up from the Edwards Aquifer and discharge an average of 225 million gallons of water daily, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in North America. Artifacts discovered in digs conducted from 1979 to 1982 date back 12,000 years.

The first Europeans to visit the springs were probably Spanish explorers in 1689. The springs were an important stop on the Old San Antonio Road and the Chisholm Trail. In 1849, Edward G. Burleson built a dam just below the springs, which created Spring Lake. A.B. Rogers purchased the property in 1926 and his son, Paul, developed a hotel there in 1928 and introduced glass bottom boats on the lake.

In the 1950s, construction of a submarine theater and large spillway at one end of the lake to produce a swimming pool led to the opening of an amusement park at the site in 1951. Other features of the park were the Alpine Swiss Sky Ride (a Von Roll skyride), an Intamin AG 220 foot observation tower, that moved vertically above the lake and rotated 360º, and "mermaid" performers that could be viewed from the submarine theater. By far, the most popular attraction was "Ralph, the Famous Swimming Pig." Ralph swam in the "Underwater Show" performing tricks and dives until the park closed and he retired. At its peak, Aquarena Springs attracted 250,000 visitors annually.

In 1994, Aquarena Springs was purchased by Texas State University. Aquarena Springs was operated as an amusement park until 1996, when the park was closed and converted by the university to an environmental learning center now known as "Aquarena Center". The center still offers glass bottom boat tours, plus environmental education tours, an endangered species exhibit and natural aquarium and scientific diving training.

The center added a Wetlands Boardwalk in a shallow area of Spring Lake. The boardwalk, made of recycled plastic lumber, floats on the water and circles a marshy area that showcases the flora and fauna of a wetland ecosystem.

Aquarena Center has been designated as a "critical habitat," subject to the Endangered Species Act, because the springs are home to the fountain darter, the Texas Blind Salamander, the San Marcos Salamander, the San Marcos gambusia, and Texas Wild Rice. It is feared the San Marcos gambusia may be extinct as none have been seen since 1983.

In 2007, plans were put in place for the removal of several of the old structures of the former amusement park. These include the submarine theater, old buildings, and the overhead trolley once used for a sky ride. However, the glass-bottomed boat tours would remain.

Filmography

The Aquarena Springs Amusement Park was the actual location of the resort in the 1978 film "Piranha", directed by Joe Dante.

References

* "What is Aquarena Center". [http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/info.html Texas State University San Marcos Aquarena Center] . Retrieved Jul. 28, 2005.
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* "Aquarena Springs". [http://www.texasescapes.com/FEATURES/Splash_Across_Texas/Aquarena_Springs/aquarena_springs.htm TexasEscapes.com] . Retrieved Jul. 28, 2005.
* "San Marcos Springs". [http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/sanmarcos.html The Edwards Aquifer Homepage] . Retrieved Jul. 28, 2005.

External links

* [http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/ Aquarena Center at Texas State University]
* [http://www.dtmag.com/dive-usa/AquarenaSpringsTX.html Dive America -- information on scuba diving at the Aquarena Center]
* [http://www.liquidtravel.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=35 Diving into Spring]
* [http://gallery.lonestarthrills.com/v/Aquarena-Springs/ Aquarena Springs Photo Gallery]