A speakeasy is coming to the top of the Wonder World tower in San Marcos, 110 feet above ground, where visitors will be able to look out over the Balcones Fault line that splits the Hill Country from the plains below. The venue, called The Fault, is planned to open by the end of 2026 and will hold roughly 40 to 50 guests at a time.
The project is the work of Kristin Williams, owner of Wonder World Cave & Adventure Park, and interior designer Maritza Sabogal, according to the San Marcos Record. The name nods directly to the tower’s setting on the Balcones Fault, and the venue is planned to host weekly public events once it opens. Sabogal, who spent 15 years working as a vintage furniture and decor broker before moving into interior design, is leading the look of the space — she has since transitioned into creating parties, installations and full rooms built around antique finds.
Art Deco Glamour Meets a Cave Park Landmark
The design plan calls for the space to evoke the Roaring ’20s, built around authentic vintage pieces and Art Deco glamour, per the same report. Expect pops of color, dim lighting, a bartop, lounge areas, couches and executive chairs, along with historic photographs pulled from Wonder World’s own archive. An old set of binoculars is also planned for guests who want to take in the view of the fault line themselves.
Sabogal has said that sourcing antiques can keep usable pieces out of landfills, and that she looks for durable vintage furniture made with high-quality materials rather than buying new. She previously built a retro courtroom installation, complete with mannequins, vintage furniture and clothing, for the grand opening of Injured Texan, a local personal injury attorney firm. Williams has said she fell in love with that mannequin work, which helped lead to Sabogal’s involvement in The Fault.
A Family Business Looks to Expand Its Reach
Wonder World itself is a 120-year-old San Marcos business, discovered as a cave in 1893 by Mark A. Bevers, according to wonderworldpark.com. Williams took over operation of the park in 2017 and the business has remained family-owned and operated ever since, per the same history page. The park sits at 1000 Prospect Street, and the tower itself — which rises roughly 110 feet above ground and offers views of the Balcones Fault line separating the western Hill Country from the eastern plains — also features art created by Rene Perez, as noted by mysanantonio.com…