Tom Badger, Curtis Badger Accomack County

Annotation

Aquarena Springs was the culmination of a dream shared by two men: Arthur Birch (A. B.) Rogers and his son Paul J. Rogers. The Spring Lake Park Hotel opened at the headwaters of the San Marcos River in 1929. Soon, Aquarena Springs would become one of the premier tourist destinations in the Southwest. Attractions such as glass bottom boats, a Swiss sky ride, Texana Village, and the world,s only submarine theater delighted hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. From special events like the underwater wedding featured in Life magazine to the daily antics of nationally known Ralph the Swimming Pig, Aquarena provided entertainment and created lifelong memories for countless families. In recent years, under the auspices of the River Systems Institute at Texas State University, Aquarena has become an important center for environmental education and research.