Abandoned San Antonio water park Splashtown USA was operational until as recently as 2021. | Photo via Robbie Brown, Unknown Ventures
Splashtown walked so Six Flags Fiesta Texas could run.
While Six Flags hit San Antonio in 1992 and the city remains home to multiple beloved amusement parks like SeaWorld San Antonio and Morgan’s Wonderland, those fan favorites stand on the shoulders of giants.
Let’s brush up on the history of the Alamo City’s now-abandoned theme parks.
Splashtown USA
Family-friendly water park Splashtown USA opened in 1985 and was a San Antonio fixture until 2021, when it closed to make room for a car dealership. Urban explorer and paranormal investigator Robbie Brown of Unknown Ventures filmed an in-depth tour of the park for YouTube, and one thing’s certain — the abandoned space is a little eerie.
Funtown USA
Today, it’s padlocked and overgrown, but back in the 1980s, Funtown USA was thriving on San Antonio’s Southwest side. The tiny but mighty 2.5-acre theme park featured go-karting, batting cages, and arcade fun. The park shut down in the late 1990s and reopened briefly in 2012 as a rehabilitation facility for physical therapy patients. In 2020, a new owner purchased the property and voiced plans to revive the park, but it remains closed today.
Little Artist Workshop | 10 a.m. | The DoSeum |Free with admission | Bring your kiddos to Little Artist Workshop for ages 1-5, where kids will also learn great studio habits, such as caring for their artistic tools, embracing challenges, and exploring.
Something Wild at Slab Cinema Art House | 7-9 p.m. | Slab Cinema Art House | $10 | Check out a 1986 classic: A free-spirited woman “kidnaps” a yuppie for a weekend of adventure — taking a dangerous turn when her ex-convict husband shows up.
Saturday, July 26
Boots and Bling Market Day | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Art by M Butterfly | Free with purchase | Get in on a fun-filled day of shopping, food, and entertainment, and be ready to browse through a variety of vendors offering everything from trendy boots to sparkling bling.
Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift | 6:30-7:45 p.m. | The Josephine Theatre | $49.25 | Make this “Cruel Summer” a little kinder with a candlelit tribute to Taylor Swift.
Sunday, July 27
San Antonio Film Festival Day 5 | 9 a.m. | Tobin Center for the Performing Arts | $52.86 | Join in on day five of the San Antonio film festival for screenings, networking and more.
Monday, July 28
Monday Night Yoga | 6-8 p.m. | San Pedro Creek Culture Park | Free | Recenter yourself with a refreshing yoga flow, enhanced by the sounds of the San Antonio River.
Tuesday, July 29
Tuesday Night Jazz | 8-10 p.m. | Blue Star Brewing Company | Free | Show up early to claim a spot for live music listening and enjoy a full food menu, craft beer + beer cocktails, and fruit spritzers.
It’s official: the one and only Paul McCartney’s “Got Back” tour is coming to the Alamodome Oct. 25, with tickets going on sale Friday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. The San Antonio show is the rock legend’s only stop in Texas on the tour, his first in North America since 2022. (KSAT)
Opening
Ooh, sparkly — A new James Avery Artisan Jewelry location is coming to the Northside. The proposed location is just north of the San Antonio International Airport, in Countryside Plaza on San Pedro Avenue near 281 and Bitters Road. Renovations of the space should be completed by January. (MySA)
Development
Santikos is planning a new $30 million entertainment center along US Highway 281. The Trinity Oaks project will feature a new movie theater with 10-12 screens, a sports bar with stadium seating, and gaming areas, including bowling lanes. Other retail — and possibly residential — development is also in the works for the space. (San Antonio Business Journal)
Closing
Cascabel Mexican Patio is saying a fond farewell and closing its doors after 22 years. Its free fideo and Central Mexican cuisine was a neighborhood staple on St. Mary’s Street. The restaurant has promised to keep its Facebook page operational and share the recipes that made it locally beloved. (San Antonio Culture Map)
Sports
This just in: the San Antonio Spurs have signed journeyman sharpshooter and swingman Lindy Waters III — who played 38 games with Golden State last season — for a one-year deal. Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts. (KENS5)
Ranked
Two San Antonio hotel restaurants, Signature and the Study at Dean’s, have been named among the top 100 hotel restaurants in the country, according to a joint study by Kayak and OpenTable. Metrics included overall diner ratings as well as percentage of 5-star reviews. (San Antonio Culture Map)
Featured
Food & Wine journalist Regan Stephens has named San Antonio one of eight “under-the-radar” cities poised to become “America’s next great food cities.” Stephens gave particular shout-outs to Curry Boys BBQ, Best Quality Daughter, Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, and food truck Wok Wey. (San Antonio Culture Map)
Eat
Lettuce celebrate: National Whataburger Day is back Friday, Aug. 8, and the beloved chain is celebrating with 75-cent burgers. Whataburger Rewards members can snag this offer online and through the Whataburger app from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Limited-edition Whataburger commemorative cups will also be available.
Fact or Fiction
The color of your car impacts your car insurance rate. Fact or fiction. Luckily for Nicki Minaj, this is fiction. Still, rates can change for other reasons, so experts advise shopping around regularly. See if you could save with this quick questionnaire.*
Read
Tangle is a rare political newsletter that doesn’t take sides — it lays them out. Every day, it delivers balanced reporting on major political stories, minus the bias. Subscribe for free.*
The Buy
Amazon’s deals are still rolling, and we’re here for it. Shop more picks while the sales last:
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📚 Get a like-new version of Kindle’s latest model, the Paperwhite, for 26% off.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I’m a tad obsessed with theme parks and ghost towns, so my deep dive down the history of closed San Antonio amusement parks was a blast.
Can’t lie, though — my personal favorite San Antonio amusement park remains, as ever, Morgan’s Wonderland — the first and only fully accessible theme park in the country, with the absolute coziest Ferris wheel. (Plus, visitors with disabilities ranging from ADHD to epilepsy get in free.)
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