Return to a waterworld of magic

Aquarena reunion will host park’s former employees and guests

San Marcos — It may be hard to believe for many current residents of San Marcos, but once upon a time, Six Flags over Texas didn’t exist. Ditto for Schlitterbahn, Sea World and the rest of the mega-amusement parks, excepting California’s Disneyland.

But generations of Texans didn’t have to cross the wide open desert to see a special bit of magic; and untold numbers of those families have the same scene recorded in their old home movies:

It’s of women in modest bathing suits performing underwater at Aquarena Springs. Occasionally they would break from their weightless ballet to breath through a small hose, with their longish hair waving in the currents of the Submarine Theater. But the biggest trick to many of the beholders came when the women would drink a Coke, upending the green glass bottle far below the surface of crystal clear Spring Lake.

Though their movements are perfectly preserved and their grace evident past the grain of the old 8-mm film, we never saw them dry and certainly never knew their names.

Next weekend, that could change. Former Aqua Maids, Aqua Men, Aqua Clowns, glass bottomed boat drivers and other “alumni” of the former resort that now houses the Texas Rivers Center have been invited to come back to where they once belonged. Three days of events are planned, both at what is now Aquarena Center and other locations around San Marcos.

The celebration will kick off Friday, Nov. 6 with a social mixer at the San Marcos Conference Center, Embassy Suites. Former employees from as far back as 1946 and up to 1996 will be in attendance. Tickets must be purchased in advance. A “Memorabilia Gallery” sponsored by the city of San Marcos Convention and Visitors Bureau and hosted by the San Marcos Heritage Association, will be open Friday night and Saturday and is open to everyone at no charge. Call 245-7544 and leave a voice message to arrange for a “Will Call” badge if interested in the Mixer (cash only).

On Saturday, a full day at the park will include Texas State students collecting oral histories of any Aquarena Springs employees who would like to share their personal stories. These students are from a class dedicated to the history of Aquarena Springs Resort and Theme park. An outdoor barbeque and live music are also planned. Other events will include an open house at the Texas Rivers Center and of course glass-bottom boat tours. Bar-B-Q can be purchased the day for $8.95.

Several other activities and announcements are also planned to coincide with the reunion as well. A book of historic photographs of the park from the 1920s through the early 1990s will be released with proceeds going toward preservation of Aquarena's unique glass-bottom boats. A highlight of the reunion will be two Book Signings by Author Doni Weber and her mother, Shirley Rogers's descendants of the Rogers family who created Aquarena Springs resort. Signings will be at the Convention center Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday at the Aquarena Gift Shop from 4 to 6 p.m.

Sunday the Salt Grass Steak House is opening up for a special 8 to 10 a.m. brunch just for the reunion. Many of the old Pepper's At the Falls crew promise to be there. The brunch will be $9 at the door.

This is an incredible opportunity to meet and socialize with former underwater performers, clowns, pig trainers, glass bottom boat tour guides, divers, aqua maids, gift shop personnel and vendors that all played a role in making Aquarena Springs one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas for 50 years.

Although this event is a reunion of Aquarena Springs employees and anyone who worked at Aquarena since 1996 everyone is invited whether they worked at Aquarena or just visited. To register for this event call (512) 245-7544 and leave a voice mail message to request a registration package.

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