Editing Six Flags AstroWorld (section)

===Hofheinz family===
{{multiple image
|direction=vertical
|title=AstroWorld early ephemera
|align=right
|image1=aw bumpstick.jpg
|caption1=Original logo, from bumper sticker
|image2=1969 Astroworld Tickets Houston Texas.JPG
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|caption2=[[Very important person|V.I.P.]] admission tickets, 1969}}

The Hofheinz family, Roy and his three children (Roy Jr., Fred, and Dene), shared ownership of the park.<ref name=Family-Baytown/> Hofheinz hosted a press preview in May 1968; Leonard Traube wrote the park "has a beautifully realized continuity and layout calculated to move traffic in such a way as to make practical the policy of a single gate admission for virtually everything on the grounds",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://astrodomememories.org/items/show/1409 |title=Astroworld Shapes as Hofheinz's Third Whammo Entry in Houston |author=Traube, Leonard |date=May 28, 1968 <!--|newspaper=New York Times?--> |publisher=Astrodome Memories |access-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714155108/https://astrodomememories.org/items/show/1409 |url-status=live }}</ref> referring to the [[Duell loop]] that routes visitors through each part of the park.<ref name=Imagineering/>{{rp|83}}

AstroWorld opened on June&nbsp;1, 1968, just south of the Astrodome, creating a multi-facility entertainment complex; 50,000 guests visited the park during the first weekend. Hofheinz enlisted two of his grandchildren to launch the amusement park with the release of 2,000 balloons. An initial workforce of 1,200 collected tickets at a price of $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children.<ref name="HTO"/> Stan McIlvaine, who had formerly operated Six Flags Over Texas, was the first general manager of AstroWorld.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4071595/astroworld-june-1968/ |title=June Opening Is Scheduled For Astroworld |date=May 12, 1968 |newspaper=[[Corpus Christi Caller-Times]] |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715174027/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4071595/astroworld-june-1968/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two of the park's sixteen attractions<!--The sixteen attractions: (1)Alpine Sleighs, (2)Astroneedle, (3)Astroway, (4)Lost World, (5)Astrowheel, (6)Black Dragon, (7)Mill Pond, (8)Rub-a-Dub, (9)Spin Out, (10)610 Limited, (11)Le Taxi, (12)Boot Slide, (13)Maypole/Spin-a-Cup, (14)Crystal Palace, (15)Astro Go-Go, (16)Shooting Gallery - according to https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/18911253/ --> were not operational on opening day.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=June 2, 1968|title=Astroworld Reaction: 'It's A Fun Place'|url=https://www.chron.com/local/history/culture-scene/article/Astroworld-Reaction-It-s-A-Fun-Place-10820539.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412004331/https://www.chron.com/local/history/culture-scene/article/Astroworld-Reaction-It-s-A-Fun-Place-10820539.php|archive-date=April 12, 2020|access-date=August 27, 2020|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|publisher=[[Hearst Communications]]}}</ref>

Marvel McFey, the park's official mascot (branded the "Ambassador of Happiness"), was introduced in 1972. He was accompanied by a menagerie of "animal gypsies": Winston Wolf (the sheriff of AstroWorld); Pigs One, Two, and Three (mischievous tricksters named Quiz, Chiquito, and Harpo);<ref>{{cite web |url=https://astrodomememories.org/items/show/1589 |title=Photograph, Astroworld Mascots |website=Astrodome Memories |access-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719154801/https://astrodomememories.org/items/show/1589 |url-status=live }}</ref> Percy Penguin; Pierre Le Rat (the resident artist); Flopper Rabbit (a country bumpkin); Beethoven Bear (a checkers champion); Samantha Skunk ("a bright purple and pink flower child"); Frieda Frog (McFey's secretary); and Lester Lion (a frustrated baseball player).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth342258/m1/12/ |title=Animals Invade The Astroworld |date=May 24, 1973 |newspaper=The Wylie News |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715143856/https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth342258/m1/12/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=SA-75>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48824889/ |title=Meet 'Enchanted Animals' at the Mall |date=March 20, 1975 |newspaper=[[San Antonio Express]] |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715174028/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48824889/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to their in-park greeting and show duties, Marvel and his caravan of Enchanted Animals represented AstroWorld at many civic functions.<ref name=SA-75/> [[Rolly Crump]] designed and built the character costumes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/446063599/ |title=Astroworld Featured |date=June 4, 1973 |newspaper=Abbeville Meridional |access-date=15 July 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715180115/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/446063599/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1970, just two years after the opening of Astroworld, Hofheinz survived a stroke that left him in a wheelchair.<ref name=Advocate-76/> The enterprise announced a $38&nbsp;million long-range financing program in 1972, with notes held by General Electric Credit Corp., Ford Motor Credit Co., and HNC Realty.<ref name=AP-Hofheinz-82>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55186562/obituary-for-roy-mark-hofheinz-aged-70/ |title=Astrodome builder dies at age 70 |agency=AP |date=November 22, 1982 |newspaper=The Courier |access-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719152419/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55186562/obituary-for-roy-mark-hofheinz-aged-70/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Those creditors assumed control of the Astrodomain in 1974.<ref name=Advocate-76/> Astrodomain sold the hotels to Servico Inc. in May 1976.<ref name=Advocate-76/> Hofheinz liquidated his interest in the company a short time later.<ref name=hofheinz/><ref name=AP-Hofheinz-82/>