Aquarena Center, San Marcos, TX

Aquarena Center in San Marcos, Texas is part of Texas State University. They provide a watery park for tourists and residents of the area. The park is located at 921 Aquarena Springs Drive. The park opens daily at 10 am during the winter and stays open till 4pm. At other times of year the park is open from 9:30am to 5pm or 6pm. The summer will have longer hours.

The park center was open as a result of the long history. The San Marcos River is a portal for many places in Texas. During archaeological searches Clovis points and Mastodon bones were uncovered. Much of what was found dates to over 12,000 years. The Tonkawa Indians are the earliest known inhabitants of the area. Then the Apache and Commanche began to use the area. General Edward Burleson was the first European to build a home in San Marcos. His home was on the grounds of what is now the Aquarena Center. A dam burst creating Spring Lake and Burleson had to move. Others tried to live on the land.

Arthur Rogers built the Aquarena Inn in 1928. His son in 1946 launched the first glass bottom boat on the lake and river. Eventually a Submarine Underwater Theatre was created. Then in 1969 a famous swimming pig took his first dive. The Pig was named Ralph. In 1994 the university bought Aquarena, changing its focus as an amusement park to one of entertainment. They felt it would be best to preserve and educate.

In this acquisition they bought 90 acres of land that is both ecologically fragile and important. They built a classroom, lab, and research facilities to help students at the university and also to teach visitors about the area. The glass bottom boat rides still exist today. Tours are every 30 minutes with $8 for adults and $6 for children being the fee. Underneath the water it is possible to see many inhabitants like catfish, sunfish, soft shell turtles and more. There is a boardwalk and exhibit hall that further explains what guests will experience.

For educational purposes classes are invited to the park, as well as the aquarium. The aquarium has a number of endangered species in the tanks. There are 8 species of organisms in the river that are known to be endangered, which is another reason to bring awareness. The aquarium tanks recreate the natural habitats.

Along the land are wetlands, which are preserved. No one is allowed to walk on the area, but they can use the pathways built on the land to get close. It is possible to see a number of birds and other animals walking along the ground. It is an important ecosystem to Texas and this particular region.

Scuba divers are welcome to come to Aquarena to dive. There is a dive for science program where divers get to dive in some of the cleanest water, not only to learn but to help restore the land. There is a hole in Spring Lake where a webcam has been placed to show people what it is like down there.