Corpus Christi named Gulf Coast leader in accessible travel

Just how accessible is Corpus Christi? — Visit CC partners with Wheel the World to promote inclusive tourism

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi is making waves in accessible travel – becoming the first Texas Gulf Coast destination to partner with Wheel the World, a global platform that helps travelers with disabilities find destinations that fit their accessibility needs.

Seven local attractions have joined the program, offering travelers with mobility devices more confidence when planning a trip to the Coastal Bend.

For San Antonio native Todd Hargroder, the Texas coast has always held a special place.

“It’s about a two-hour drive. I enjoy the whole process of coming down,” he said. “And Corpus Christi is our sparkling city by the sea!”

Hargroder, who’s been using a wheelchair for nearly 40 years after a motorcycle accident at 19, has seen Corpus Christi evolve over the decades – from Spring Break trips in the 1980s to now.

“Be very aware of where you’re rolling,” he said. “Those small cracks in the sidewalk can really catch you off guard, lose your balance.”

After his accident, Hargroder began designing adaptive products to support his independence, creating the company Soul Mobility.

“I started modifying products to better suit my drive for independence and started my first company out of my parents’ garage and then grew that to where we were selling in 23 countries,” he recalled.

Still, travel can be a challenge.

“My biggest barrier for coming to the coast is trying to find accessible accommodations,” he said. “I would say the accessible rooms are much to be desired. It seems like most of the accessible rooms are on the lowest floor, from the furthest ocean view, and some of them are even looking at the dumpsters.”

“It’s already hard enough to travel and get away, you just want to enjoy yourself. But then once you arrive at your destination, you face additional barriers with something as simple as being able to brush your teeth with an accessible sink,” he added.

That’s exactly what Visit Corpus Christi hopes to change through its new partnership with Wheel the World.

“By partnering with Wheel the World, Visit Corpus Christi is tapping into a $50 billion accessible travel economy here in the U.S., according to a 2024 Open Doors Organization and Harris Poll. That’s 25.6 million travelers with disabilities, and that doesn’t even include their friends and families who travel with them,” explained America Segura, Director of Communications for Visit CC.

“When we make it easier for everyone to visit with confidence, we’re not just being inclusive — we’re expanding our visitor economy and proving that Corpus Christi is truly open to all.”

The Wheel the World program functions similarly to a booking engine powered by Expedia, offering verified information about accessible lodging, attractions, and activities, with each audit evaluating key accessibility factors such as wheelchair access, sensory-friendly design, and mobility support to ensure transparent, inclusive travel experiences for all visitors.

Seven local attractions and businesses were designated as participating partners:

At the Texas State Aquarium, President and CEO Jesse Gilbert explained how accessibility has long been a focus.

“It was important to us as the state’s leading aquarium and one of the leading aquariums in North America to make sure that we can let people know that we’re an accessible facility,” Gilbert said. “When you’ve got animals and visitors in the same world, you’ve also got water — so how do we manage that?”

And with every feature built into the facility, working behind-the-scenes are teams to ensure its accessibility.

“Just looking at how we move guests through the jungle, which actually presents an interesting space for guests because it’s not a linear path – which is on purpose. We want people to feel like they’re in the jungle,” he said.

“When we went to design that, we made sure we had specialists who helped us create that experience so it was easily traversable by all guests.”

For Hargroder, improvements in accessibility are noticeable – but not done yet.

“It’s getting better around the world. Accessibility has certainly improved over my 40 years in a wheelchair,” he said. “But we’ve still a ways to go.”

And he’s ready to help however he can.

“Some people just don’t know. They want to help, they want to make things more accessible – they just don’t know,” Hargroder said.

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