Glass Bottom Boats at Aquarena

A glass bottom boat is a boat with sections of glass below the waterline allowing passengers to observe the underwater environment from within the boat.  The first glass bottom boat at Aquarena was a converted paddle boat that Paul Rogers built to show his family and friends the San Marcos Springs and the abundant animal and plant life living in Spring lake.  Encouraged by the enthusiasm of his viewers Paul went on to develop the area around the headwaters of the San Marcos river and Spring lake into an amusement park using Glass Bottom Boats as it's main attraction. 

Between 1945 and 1994, 8 glass bottom boats were built using the same design, experiencing few alterations other than replacing the canvas top, enclosing the boat with windows, installing doors in the bow and squaring off the pointed bow for easier loading and unloading of passengers.