The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, formerly known as “Aquarena Springs,” is an amazingly unique entertainment and education facility that also provides important insight on fresh water, one of our most valued natural resources. Situated at the source of the San Marcos River, the center is a nationally recognized facility for environmental research using the natural Texas Hill Country ecosystem it’s established in as a lab and classroom. And with glass-bottom boat tours, visitors are sure to get a first-hand look at everything at work together!
Focusing on the importance that water plays in our lives, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment puts an emphasis on the delicate ecosystem pertaining to the Edwards Aquifer. The property that the center sits on was purchased in 1994 by Texas State University, transforming this once very public water playground in San Marcos into the education and eco-tourism experience you see today.
Photo: Facebook/The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
In the process of restoring parts of the facility, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment opted to retain one of the more popular activities that used to take place at this historic Texas playground. Glass-bottom boats were a part of the original waterpark feature at Aquarena Springs, which were first utilized in 1946. These electric-powered vessels took visitors on a tour of Spring Lake, which is the reservoir that was created at the San Marcos River headwaters in the mid-19th century.
Photo: Facebook/The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
Those who took a glass-bottom boat ride back in the heyday of Aquarena Springs would get a glimpse of the many freshwater springs that rose up to form its depths and the myriad of natural marine species of Spring Lake, including its turtle inhabitants. In the present, visitors to the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment can enjoy the same experience, witnessing firsthand the wonders of the natural spring waters. Not only does this aspect provide an excellent tour experience, but it also helps to educate visitors on the importance of the aquifer and its ecosystem, but also how very fragile it can all be. Tour pricing and additional details can be found on the center’s website at the link available here.
