LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Wonder World has had a wonderful year of recognition and awards from local to state distinctions. The cave and adventure park has been operating in San Marcos for over 100 years, welcoming thousands of visitors from school field trips to tourists and locals looking for a fun adventure. The natural underground cave is wondrous, but the park offers a variety of fun from their train ride through Mystery Mountain into a preserve of Texas wildlife where guests can feed emus, goats, peacocks and more, to the charm of the anti- gravity house that will leave you questioning the laws of physics. The park has an arcade and a treasure trove of collectibles to look through in the gift shop, or feel free to hunt for your own crystals in their gem mining experience. They offer a snack bar reminiscent of soda pop shops with all the fan favorites from nachos to hotdogs, plus plenty of picnic areas near their resident blue and gold macaws. The park is a hot spot for field trips since

SEE WONDER WORLD PAGE 12 it offers a deep history of the natural area that resulted in the cave’s formation. There is no age limit to the fun as the theme park has something for everyone.

The city of San Marcos celebrated the legacy of Wonder World by announcing them as a Legacy Business through their economic development program. The award is nomination based with the eligibility requirements including that the business must be operating for at least 20 years and serve as a historical and cultural asset to the community. Wonder World has been in operation for over 120 years, so the legacy title is fitting.

Another recognition came from San Marcos’ Destination Services team which honored Wonder World owner Kristin Mostyn Williams with the 2025 Rogers Family Tourism Award. This honor is presented to an individual who has had major and lasting contributions to the promotion of San Marcos tourism.

“The Rogers tourism award was really special to me because A.B. Rogers once owned Wonder World Park, and he sold it to my grandfather,” Williams said.

Wonder World has been a part of Kristin’s life even before she was born, with her family operating the park since 1956. Her grandparents TJ and Phyllis Mostyn ran the park until the 1970s, when their son Buddy Mostyn took over operations. Buddy and his wife Karen ran the park for over 40 years before retiring and handing the reins over to their daughter Kristin. She is the third generation owner with many childhood memories tied back to the park.

“I grew up working here with my mom in the gift shop and then working my way all around the park. Since I could talk I was here working,” Williams said.

Even though she grew up with the park, running it was not her original plan. After graduating from Texas State University and working in Buda, she made her way back to San Marcos when her parents were retiring and looking to sell the theme park.

“I was thinking how cool would that be to continue that on and have the opportunity to do it,” Williams said.

Receiving the Rogers Family Tourism award was a special honor since Kristin’s father, Buddy Mostyn was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award back in 2010.

Just this month, the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce honored Wonder World for their 45 years of membership with the SMTX Chamber. To continue the list of awards and recognition, the theme park received state recognition from the Texas Historical Commission for their prestigious Texas Treasure Historical Business Award. The award pays tribute to the state’s well-established businesses and their exceptional historical contributions to communities across Texas.

Kristin Mostyn Williams has been dedicated to preserving the rich history of the park but has also been working on new initiatives to share the geological and historical significance of the park with the community. From event space rentals to educational children’s summer camps, Wonder World is evolving to be much more than just a theme park but a community hub that uplifts the natural beauty and history of the region. She has worked with local artists such as Rene Perez and Paul Murray to adorn the park with murals that celebrate the local flora and fauna of San Marcos.

“I do love the arts, and I love that it brings all things San Marcos to the park; I just want this to be a beautiful place for everybody to come,” Williams said.

Wonder World is open seven days a week with walk-ins always welcome. This summer, they are a part of the San Marcos Summer Savings Pass, which offers a bundled deal on local attractions including a Lion’s Club Tube Rental, A glass bottom boat ride at the Meadows Center, a Wonder World tour and a discount on glow kayaking through Paddle SMTX. For more information on the deal the history of Wonder World, and to book your own adventure visit wonderworldpark. com

Photos courtesy of Wonder World Cave & Adventure Park