Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox amusement park Six Flags AstroWorld, also known simply as AstroWorld, was a seasonally operated amusement park in Houston, Texas. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the park was situated between Kirby Drive and Fannin Street, directly south of I-610. The park opened on June 1, 1968, and was developed originally and constructed as part of the Astrodomain, the brainchild of local philanthropist and former Houston mayor Roy Hofheinz, who intended it to complement the Astrodome.<ref name=hofheinz/> The Hofheinz family sold AstroWorld to Six Flags in 1978.
Notable rides featured at the park included the Texas Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster built in 1976 that was modeled after the well-known Coney Island Cyclone, and Thunder River, considered the world's first successful river rapids ride when it opened in 1980. WaterWorld, an adjacent water park, was acquired and added to AstroWorld in 2002. Following declining revenue, rising property value, and other issues facing Six Flags, the company closed AstroWorld permanently after its final day of operations on October 30, 2005, the final night of Fright Fest. Many rides were sold at auction or relocated to other Six Flags' properties, and demolition of the remaining structures was completed by mid-2006.
HistoryEdit
Planning and constructionEdit
Judge Roy Hofheinz, who was one of the original owners of the Houston Astros baseball team and spearheaded the lobbying effort that resulted in Harris County financing the construction of the Astrodome, founded the "Astrodomain" holding company after the Astrodome's opening in 1965. It owned Template:Convert in south Houston surrounding the Astrodome. Hofheinz continued to develop the Astrodomain, creating AstroWorld (1968), the Astrohall convention center (which hosted twice-daily stagings of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1969;<ref name=Diehl-69>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hofheinz had acquired the circus in December 1967),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and four hotels with a capacity of 5,600 guests to serve visitors: the Astroworld Motor Hotel (with a private suite for Hofheinz on the ninth floor),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Holiday Inn-Astroworld, Howard Johnson Motor Lodge-Astroworld, and Sheraton Inn-Astroworld.<ref name=hofheinz>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Tucson-68>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1967, Hofheinz initially denied that preliminary work for an amusement park had been underway,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but later announced on September 16 that approximately half of the remaining land, Template:Cvt, was being developed for a park to be named "Astroworld".<ref name=Chron-1967>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=CCCT-1967>Template:Cite news</ref> Hofheinz showed an architectural model of the park and announced that Randall Duell and Associates had designed it; Duell, a Hollywood set designer and architect, had previously designed Six Flags Over Texas.<ref name=Chron-1967/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An initial $25 million investment paid for extensive landscaping and a long pedestrian viaduct spanning the I-610 freeway,<ref name="HTO">Template:Cite journal</ref> the first privately owned, publicly accessible span over a federal highway.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lloyd, Morgan & Jones designed the bridge.<ref name=Family-Baytown>Template:Cite news</ref>
Additional design work for the park was performed by I. A. Naman & Associates (air conditioning); Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (electrical); Walter P Moore (structural); Turner, Collie & Braden (civil engineering); and Linesch & Reynolds (landscape architects).<ref name=Family-Baytown/> Template:Cvt of fill was required for the site, because of its low elevation and drainage issues.<ref name=CCCT-1967/> Dozier Specialty, who had previously worked on Colt Stadium, was the general contractor.<ref name=Family-Baytown/> The name AstroWorld was selected following Houston's designation as the home of the Johnson Space Center in 1965, paying homage to the nation's crewed space programs.<ref name="HTO"/>
Executives commissioned Ed Henderson, a Disney animator, to build a scale replica of the park and design maps for park guests.<ref name=Turner-2011/><ref name="50th Anniversary-HoustonPress" /><ref name="EdHenderson-HC">Template:Cite news</ref> Henderson's model of AstroWorld, measuring Template:Convert, was built as a publicity preview of the park in 1967. Architecture students at Rice University and the University of Houston sculpted many of the buildings.<ref name=Turner-2011/> It was displayed in the window of Foley's, a downtown department store,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> then moved to Hofheinz's Astrodome suite once the park opened;<ref name=Swamplot-2010/> as an Easter egg, a model of Hofheinz's black Cadillac is parked in a private lot in the northwest corner of the park's model.<ref name=Turner-2011/> After the park closed in 2005, the model was discovered, sawed into six pieces in a warehouse, then returned to Henderson. He stored it in his garage before it was displayed in fall 2010 at the Optical Project gallery, operated by artists Bill Davenport and Francesca Fuchs.<ref name=Swamplot-2010>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2011, it was sold to I. A. Naman and Associates, the same firm that had designed the park's outdoor air conditioning; they donated the model to the Houston Public Library.<ref name=Turner-2011/>
Hofheinz familyEdit
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>Template:Cite news</ref> referring to the Duell loop that routes visitors through each part of the park.<ref name=Imagineering/>Template:Rp
AstroWorld opened on June 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>Template:Cite news</ref> Two of the park's sixteen attractions were not operational on opening day.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=SA-75>Template:Cite news</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>Template:Cite news</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 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>Template:Cite news</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/>
Six FlagsEdit
Six Flags purchased a 20-year operating lease for AstroWorld in mid-1975.<ref name=Advocate-76>Template:Cite news</ref> The following year, Six Flags AstroWorld introduced a new, high-speed roller coaster, the Texas Cyclone.<ref name="HTO"/> A new playground named "The Magical World of Marvel McFey" was added to Children's World for the 1977 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year, Robert Cartmell named the Texas Cyclone the best roller coaster in the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The formal purchase of AstroWorld by Six Flags concluded in 1978.<ref name=Guenther/> In 1978, the new attraction was Greezed Lightnin', a high-acceleration loop roller coaster.<ref name="HTO"/>
McFey's tenure as the park's mascot ended in 1984 as Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters moved into the Enchanted Kingdom for the 1985 season;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> AstroWorld's parent corporation, Six Flags, had acquired the license to use the Looney Tunes characters in 1984 for its theme parks from Marriott along with the Great America in Gurnee theme park;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Marriott had held the license since 1976 for its twin Great America parks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Six Flags continued to change ownership, being purchased by Bally Manufacturing in 1982, then by a private equity firm, Wesray Corporation, in 1987. Time Warner acquired a minority stake in 1990 and owned the company outright by September 1993.<ref name=Guenther/> During Astroworld's first twenty years, it entertained more than thirty million visitors. The amusement park persisted while new competitors in Houston emerged and failed, including Busch Gardens, Hanna–Barbera Land, and SeaArama Marineworld. Attendance increased during these earlier years.<ref name=wray>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the early 1990s, the Six Flags parks gained access to DC Comics characters through its corporate owner, Time Warner;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Batman: The Escape was installed at AstroWorld for the 1993 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 1998, Premier Parks, led by CEO Kieran Burke, acquired Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1984, Premier, originally Tierco, a property management group, hired Gary Story to rehabilitate one of its properties, an older park named Frontier City in Oklahoma City; Story's successful turnaround of that park started the company's theme park acquisition program.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Closure and demolitionEdit
The Six Flags acquisition was part of an ambitious Premier Parks purchasing program, which bought 31 amusement parks in four years, including the 12 Six Flags parks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Burke received a $2 million bonus for completing the Six Flags acquisition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Six Flags failed to turn a profit for five straight years after the 1998 acquisition, announcing a $122 million loss for the first half of 2003;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> capital expenditures began to be scaled back because of its debt load.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In August 2005, Six Flags announced it was selling its chain of parks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> One month later, on September 12, Burke announced AstroWorld would be closed and demolished at the end of the 2005 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company cited issues such as dwindling attendance, rising property value, and conflicts involving off-site parking at Reliant Stadium, which houses the Houston Texans football team and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR).<ref name="Look Back-KTRK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1997, the combined attendance of AstroWorld and Water World was 2.27 million visitors; AstroWorld alone was ranked as the 28th most attended theme park in the United States with 1.99 million guests.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> AstroWorld attendance ranked 35th overall among all theme parks in 2000,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 37th overall in 2002,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 36th overall in 2003,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 39th overall in 2004, which was eighth among all Six Flags parks in 2004.<ref name=TPI-14/> A contractual agreement that allowed Six Flags patrons to park at Reliant Stadium expired in August 2005, and attempts to extend it failed.<ref name="Parking-HC" /> CFO Jim Dannhauser cited the expired parking arrangement as a "contributing factor" in the decision to close.<ref name="Parking-HC">Template:Cite news</ref> Burke later explained in 2014 the decision was based on "[AstroWorld's] condition and location and the costs to modernize ... we had big offers pouring in for the land at the time and it just made more sense to close it."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The final date of park operation was October 30, 2005.<ref name="50th Anniversary-HoustonPress">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Parking-HC" /> Following the closure, most of the park's assets, including rides and equipment, were sold during a three-day public auction held January 6–8, 2006.<ref name="Look Back-KTRK" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Company executives expected to sell the land for as much as $150 million, but ultimately received less than half that amount. After spending $20 million to demolish the park and clear the land, Six Flags sold the cleared property for $77 million in 2006 to Angel/McIver Interests, a land development firm based in Conroe, Texas.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By that time, Burke had been removed as CEO.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009, the former Astroworld site was still vacant. The land tract was reported as taking up Template:Convert. The land owners hired real estate consultants, Croswell Torian Commercial Properties, to subdivide and market the property to other developers under the "SouthPoint" brand, though no development had yet occurred.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The original Template:Cvt tract purchased by Hofheinz was reduced by Template:Convert: Template:Convert were acquired by Harris County Metro and another piece of the tract on the northwest corner sold to a car dealership.<ref name=timesunion/>
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) are the owners of a record-holding Template:Cvt of cleared land bounded by West Bellfort Drive, Fannin Street, Kirby Drive, and I-610. The original amusement park site occupied Template:Cvt of that. Parts of the tract were developed, and other parts were undeveloped; the HLSR was using some of that property for overflow parking and conveying those visitors over the long pedestrian viaduct, the last remnant of the former amusement park.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Though the site includes a great field of grass, the land is stabilized and partly paved with asphalt, so it can be used for parking.<ref name=timesunion>Template:Cite news</ref>
Areas and attractionsEdit
There were ten themed areas by the early 1980s. WaterWorld, an adjacent water park built in 1983,<ref name=Memories/> became part of AstroWorld in 2002.<ref name="Vintage">Template:Cite news</ref> The park's outdoor concert venue, the Southern Star Amphitheatre, opened in 1980.<ref name=Ride/> Well-known musicians and bands performed at the amphitheater over the years, including The Beach Boys, the Grateful Dead, and Bob Dylan.<ref name="50th Anniversary-HoustonPress" />
At the time the park closed, the themed areas were:<ref name=ParkMap/>
- WaterWorld
- Oriental Village<ref name=Thrilled/> (originally Oriental Corner)<ref name=68map/>
- Mexicana (originally Plaza de Fiesta; included Children's World, which was removed to install XLR-8 in 1984)<ref name=Guenther/><ref name=68map/>
- Nottingham Village (1972 expansion initially named Country Fair; renamed in 1981)<ref name=Guenther/>
- Western Junction
- Americana Square
- European Village (originally included Alpine Valley)<ref name="50Years">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=68map/>
- USA (originally Mod Ville; Coney Island expansion (featuring Texas Cyclone) added in 1976;<ref name=AW-history/> later renamed International Plaza in 1977)<ref name=Guenther/><ref name=68map>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ride historyEdit
The Alpine Sleigh Ride, Astrowheel, and Mill Pond were among the park's original sixteen rides.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Early/> The Alpine Sleigh Ride "[took] passengers in roller coasters fashion over a mountain and through snow storms and waterfalls".<ref name=":0" /> Its opening was delayed by three weeks after the park's opening day.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The water skimmer ride Mill Pond was not operational on opening day for mechanical reasons as well as the late arrival of two "water bug" cars.<ref name=":0" /> The Black Dragon debuted within the first year.<ref name="Early">Template:Cite news</ref>
To compensate for the humidity in Houston, the park included more than 2,400 tons of cooling with vents in the shaded areas of the park, which AstroWorld called "the largest outdoor air conditioning system in the world" at its opening. Additional air conditioning systems were fitted to the Alpine Sleighs, blowing gusts of refrigerated air over guests at Template:Cvt.<ref name=Guenther/>
The "610 Limited" was the park's perimeter railroad, originally operating two steam locomotives, each Template:Frac-scale 4-4-0, which were built by Guiberson-Harpur Corp., a company owned by famed live steam builder and Walt Disney imagineer Bob Harpur.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each original train had an engine, tender, and four cars for a capacity of 250 passengers, carrying them at speeds up to Template:Cvt over Template:Cvt of track.<ref name=Diehl-69/> The No. 2 train was sold for scrap to Gary Norton in 1986 and served at Silverwood Theme Park briefly<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before the engine was sold to private owners and restored in Georgetown, California; the coaches remain in service at Silverwood. No. 1 remained in limited operation after diesel locomotives were relocated from Six Flags Magic Mountain; after AstroWorld closed, No. 1 was sold in January 2006, restored, and returned to service on the Pacific Coast Railroad at Santa Margarita Ranch in April as Caroline.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition, Harper Goff designed a custom railcar for Judge Hofheinz, named the Astrodoma, designed to run on the same tracks;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> it was stored alongside its locomotive in 1976 after the park was sold to Six Flags, and remained undisturbed before it was sold in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
| CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||||||
| Name | Closed | Manufacturer | Type | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Happening | 2005 | Eli Bridge | Scrambler | Mod Ville | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> After the park's closure, transferred to Six Flags Over Texas as Sidewinder.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Astrowheel | 1979 | Astron Intl | Double Ferris wheel | Mod Ville | First of its kind, with two arms allowing one side to be loaded at a time.<ref name=Tucson-68/> Each arm had eight spokes; each spoke carried an eight-passenger cabin.<ref name=Diehl-69/> Closed in 1979<ref name=AW-history/> and replaced by Warp 10 in 1981.<ref name=Guenther>Template:Cite journal</ref> | ||
| Astro Go-Go | Template:Unknown | Template:N/a | Live performance venue | Mod Ville | Renamed from original<ref name=CCCT-1967/> as Music Pavilion for the 1969 season and 300 seats added.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| Spin Out | 2005 | Arrow Development<ref name=Arrow-77>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> || Driving simulator |
Mod Ville | Similar to Le Taxi, but featuring sports cars; designed by Randall Duell & Associates. 46 cars on a Template:Cvt track.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Later renamed Antique Taxis.<ref name=AW-history/> Open for the park's final season in 2005.<ref name=ParkMap2005/> | ||
| Astroway | 2005 | Von Roll | Gondola lift | Alpine Valley, Oriental Corner | Initially announced as Skyway.<ref name=CCCT-1967/> Two-station gondola lift; stations were Template:Cvt apart.<ref name=AW-history/> 34 cars.<ref name=Diehl-69/> | ||
| Alpine Sleighs | 1983 | Arrow Development | Aero Glide / Dark ride | Alpine Valley | Guests ride sleighs down the Template:Cvt tall "Der Hofheinzberg"<ref name=Time-68>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=Imagineering>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp over a Template:Cvt track and encounter the Abominable Snowman; 16 sleighs with four passengers each.<ref name=Diehl-69/> Replaced with Enchanted Kingdom in 1984.<ref name=Guenther/> The artificial mountain later was repurposed as the Batcave for Batman: The Escape in 1993.<ref name=AW-history/> | ||
| Le Taxi | 1983 | Arrow Development<ref name=Arrow-77/> | Driving simulator | European Village | Similar to Spin Out, but featuring "vintage" French taxis; also designed by Duell. 35 vehicles, track was Template:Cvt long.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Initially announced as French Taxi.<ref name=CCCT-1967/> Replaced with Enchanted Kingdom in 1984.<ref name=Guenther/> Taxi vehicles were moved to Spin Out and that ride was renamed Antique Taxis.<ref name=AW-history/> | ||
| Wagon Wheel | 2005 | Chance Rides | Trabant | Western Junction | Shaped like a wheel from a Conestoga wagon.<ref name=Vintage/><ref name=AW-history/> 20 seats with two passengers each.<ref name=Diehl-69/> Open for the park's final season in 2005.<ref name=ParkMap2005/> | ||
| "610 Limited" Train | 2005 | Guiberson-Harpur Corp. | [[3 ft gauge railways|Template:Cvt]] narrow gauge miniature railroad | Western Junction, Oriental Corner | Two-station perimeter railroad;<ref name=Early/> 10-minute ride on a Template:Cvt track.<ref name=AW-history/> Open for the park's final season in 2005.<ref name=ParkMap2005/> | ||
| Crystal Palace | Template:Unknown | Template:N/a | Live performance venue | Western Junction | 800-seat theater, 10 live shows per day<ref name=CCCT-1967/> until 1982, when performers were replaced by mechanical livestock for the "Great Texas Longhorn Revue" and the venue was renamed the Cow Palace.<ref name=Guenther/> | ||
| Shooting Gallery | Template:Unknown | Template:N/a | Shooting gallery | Western Junction | Electronic shooting gallery, first of its kind.<ref name=AW-history/> Originally branded as "Shoot 'em Up" and "Fast Draw Saloon".<ref name=68brochure/> | ||
| Astroneedle | 1999 | Willy Bühler Space Towers Company | Gyro tower | (Skyrama Plaza) European Village | Template:Cvt tall observation tower, which opened as Skyrama and was renamed Astroneedle.<ref name=Imagineering/>Template:Rp Featured a double-decker cabin with 32 passengers each level — original cabin supplied by Von Roll; retrofitted with Intamin cabin in 1979.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Dismantled in February 2000, with the intent to ship it to Six Flags Mexico.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Mill Pond | 1975 | Arrow Development<ref name=Arrow-77/> | Aquatic bumper car | European Village | Initially announced as Water Bug.<ref name=CCCT-1967/> 40 boats, two passengers each; half were deployed on the course while the other half loaded visitors.<ref name=Diehl-69/> Replaced by Gunslinger, a yo-yo ride.<ref name=AW-history/> | ||
| Maypole | 1977 | Arrow Development<ref name=Arrow-77/> | Teacup ride | Children's World | Replaced by Aquarena Theatre.<ref name=Guenther/> | ||
| Rub-A-Dub | 1976 | Arrow Development | Channel boat ride | Children's World | Initially announced as Storybook.<ref name=CCCT-1967/> Floating tubs in a Template:Cvt long trough themed as a storybook.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> Ride removed and the area was used for the Season Pass processing booth,<ref name=AW-history/> added in 1979.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| Barnyard | 1984 | Template:N/a | Petting zoo | Children's World | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| Boot Slide | 1984 | Slide | Children's World | Enclosed slide Template:Cvt high and Template:Cvt long in a giant boot;<ref name=Diehl-69/><ref name=Guenther/> Featured in a modeling shoot for Life magazine, 1969.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Removed to make room for XLR-8.<ref name=84map/> | |||
| Lost World Adventure | 1988 | River boat | Lost World | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> then The Wetlands in 1985.<ref name=Guenther/> Replaced by Tidal Wave in 1988.<ref name=AW-history>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| The Black Dragon | 1977 | Eyerly | Monster | Oriental Corner | Six arms, 48 passenger capacity.<ref name=Diehl-69/> Relocated to Coney Island and renamed Razz Ma Tazz in 1976.<ref name=Guenther/> |
Bamboo Shoot (a log flume later named Ozarka Splash)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Serpent junior coaster were installed in 1969.<ref name=Looking/><ref name=Hattiesburg-69/> Bamboo Shoot took riders on a Template:Cvt course at speeds up to Template:Cvt; each of the 25 boats carried four adults or six children. Serpent carried 24 passengers on a Template:Cvt track in six cars.<ref name=Diehl-69/> The Alpine Carousel (also known as the Dentzel Carousel,<ref name=ParkMap2005/> after its manufacturer) in Alpine Village<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> also was added for the 1969 season.<ref name=Hattiesburg-69>Template:Cite news</ref> It was originally built in 1895<ref name=AW-history/> and operated from 1907 to 1967 in Forest Park (formerly Eichelberger Park) in Hanover, Pennsylvania. After Forest Park was sold to make way for a shopping center, AstroWorld purchased the carousel and moved it to Houston.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It retained its original pipe organ and drums, and the menagerie of animals included lions, ostriches, pigs, camels, horses, rabbits, giraffes, and tigers.<ref name=Diehl-69/> Some animals on the outside ring were swapped from a D. C. Muller and Bros. carousel that had previously operated at Pen Mar Park between 1907 and 1943;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> August Karst operated both the Pen Mar and Forest parks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Brass Ring Carousel Company of Sun Valley, California, purchased the carousel before the 2006 auction of AstroWorld assets, and restored it for a private museum.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Swamp Buggy (a dark ride with a Template:Cvt drop over a spiral track "wrapped around a huge tree"), Magnetic House (a fun house)<ref name=Hughes70/> and a wooden bridge were added for the 1970 season to an island (themed "Fun Island") in the lagoon between the Astroneedle and Plaza de Fiesta.<ref name=Guenther/> The first major park expansion opened in 1972 with a new area themed Country Fair between Americana Square and Oriental Corner. Country Fair included typical midway attractions and the first major roller coaster in the park, the Dexter Frebish Electric Roller Ride (renamed "Excalibur" in 1981 with the retheming of the expansion to Nottingham Village).<ref name=Guenther/><ref name=Early/> The park added a second antique carousel at this time in Country Fair, originally built in 1907 by Borelli.<ref name=Chernikowski>Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Rp Installed in 1976 as part of the Template:Cvt "Coney Island" expansion,<ref name=Thrilled/> Texas Cyclone was among the largest wooden roller coasters in the U.S. and featured a Template:Cvt drop at 53 degrees, achieving a speed of Template:Cvt.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During construction, a tropical storm damaged a portion of the ride, delaying its opening. After the park closed, the coaster's trains were relocated to La Ronde.<ref name="Demolished">Template:Cite news</ref> Greezed Lightnin', installed in 1978,<ref name=Looking/> could accelerate from 0 to Template:Convert in four seconds.<ref name=":0" /> Joe Bob Briggs (writing under his given name, John Bloom) covered the looping coaster in Texas Monthly that year, noting the ride only lasts 28 seconds, adding the second half of the ride is carried out in reverse: "If there is anything more frightening than entering a 360-degree loop in a coaster car, it is entering a 360-degree loop backwards in a coaster car".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
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Thunder River, installed in 1980,<ref name="Looking">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> has been described as the "first commercially successful river-rapids ride".<ref name="Houstonia">Template:Cite journal</ref> Warp 10 took over the former site of the Astrowheel in 1981; it was later moved to Plaza de Fiesta in 1987 and renamed Warp 2000.<ref name=Guenther/> Warp 2000 was operating as Crazy Legs at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, as of 2016.<ref name=Demolished/> The ten-story Sky Screamer debuted in 1983. Louis B. Parks of the Houston Chronicle said of the ride at the time: "After being shot to the top of the tower in a super fast elevator ride, you are now about to free fall back to the bottom. As you reach the base of the tower, several weeks ahead of your stomach, you will be swooshed along a curving track, changing your horizon and your bearings, and braked to a quick stop while lying on your back." In 2013, the newspaper's J. R. Gonzalez recalled, this "crash course in physics ... wasn't as scary as the Texas Cyclone, nor as drenching as Thunder River, but it did make for a quick thrill". AstroWorld removed the ride during the 1990s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> XLR-8 was installed in 1984. Looping Starship was installed in 1986.<ref name="Memories">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Arrow-Huss originally manufactured Tidal Wave as "Shoot the Chute" for the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans. Six Flags purchased the ride after the fair's bankruptcy and installed it at AstroWorld in 1988, replacing the Lost World riverboat ride.<ref name=Guenther/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was described as "a flume designed to plunge passengers down a series of slides in a small boat" and "dependent upon a stream of pumped water".<ref name=Thrilled/>
Ultra Twister was installed in 1990.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The ride stood nine stories tall and had a vertical drop followed by a series of barrel rolls.<ref name="Thrilled">Template:Cite news</ref> Mayan Mindbender was installed originally as Nightmare at Boblo Island in 1995, becoming the park's first indoor roller coaster. The Template:Convert coaster was housed inside a Mayan pyramid.<ref name=MM/> The ride's trains had twelve cars made by the Dutch company Vekoma, with T-bars used as restraints.<ref name=Thrilled/> In 2004, Josh Harkinson of the Houston Press wrote, "the coaster resembles Indiana Jones skiing Space Mountain: It caroms in total darkness inside a faux Mayan temple. Teens are delightfully horrified."<ref name=Thrilled/> In 2019, the newspaper's Jef Rouner opined, "The line setting was fantastic, too. It wound through a jungle past skeletons in crashed jeeps and was probably the best themed wait outside of Batman: The Escape."<ref name="MM">Template:Cite news</ref> The ride later operated as The Hornet at Amarillo's Wonderland Park.<ref name=MM/> In 1997, AstroWorld added Dungeon Drop, an Intamin drop tower, to Nottingham Village;<ref name=TPI-14>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> that ride let passengers fall, reaching approximately Template:Cvt in three seconds, before slowing the descent via large magnets. The ride's entry was based on a medieval torture chamber.<ref name=Thrilled/> It was repainted and operated as Superman: Tower of Power at Six Flags St. Louis. It closed at the end of the 2020 season and was demolished during the 2021 season.<ref name=Demolished/> Serial Thriller originally operated at AstroWorld starting in 1999. The ride was placed into storage in 2005 and began operating as Ednör at La Ronde in 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
SWAT opened in 2003 in Plaza de Fiesta, along with Diablo Falls, a spinning rapids ride;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> after the closure of AstroWorld, both rides were relocated to Six Flags New England as Catapult and Splash Water Falls, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> S&S Worldwide manufactured SWAT, and only two rides of this type were built; the other was installed at Thorpe Park in England.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
List of roller coastersEdit
| Name | Image | Opened | Closed | Manufacturer | Type | Location<ref name=ParkMap>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batman The Escape | 1993 | 2005 | Intamin | Stand-up roller coaster | European Village | The Batman-themed roller coaster was being stored at Six Flags Darien Lake in Darien, New York, as of 2016,<ref name=Demolished/> and was eventually scrapped.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Excalibur | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | 1972 | 1998 | Arrow Development | Mine train roller coaster | Nottingham Village | Formerly known as Dexter Frebish's Electric Roller Ride, the roller coaster was stored at Frontier City in Oklahoma City, and was eventually scrapped.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | |
| Greezed Lightnin' | 1978 | 2005 | Schwarzkopf | Shuttle Loop | Western Junction | The roller coaster was relocated to Joyland Amusement Park in Lubbock, Texas, and remains in storage in nearby Mackenzie Park.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> Ownership was transferred to Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> | ||
| Mayan Mindbender | 1995 | 2005 | Vekoma | Custom MK-700 | Oriental Corner | The roller coaster was relocated to Wonderland Park in Amarillo, Texas, as Hornet.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Serial Thriller | 1999 | 2005 | Vekoma | Suspended Looping Coaster (689m) | Nottingham Village | The roller coaster was relocated to Montreal's La Ronde amusement park as Ednör – L'Attaque.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Serpent | 1969 | 2005 | Arrow Development | Mini-mine train roller coaster | Oriental Corner | Serpent was the park's first roller coaster and the last junior mine train made by Arrow Development. It was demolished following the park's permanent closure.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Swamp Buggy Ride | 1970 | Template:Circa | Chance Rides | Toboggan | Fun Island | The ride carried guests "55 feet up above the center of a giant swamp tree and then slide dizzily down a spiraled track wrapped around a huge tree".<ref name=HTO/><ref name=Hughes70>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Texas Cyclone | 1976 | 2005 | William Cobb | Wooden roller coaster | USA | Modeled after the Coney Island Cyclone, the coaster was demolished, with trains relocated to Montreal's La Ronde amusement park.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Texas Tornado | 1998 | 2002 | Schwarzkopf | Sit down roller coaster | Plaza de Fiesta | The roller coaster did not operate during 2001–2002, and was later relocated to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, as Zonga.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Ultra Twister | 1990 | 2005 | TOGO | Pipeline roller coaster | European Village | The roller coaster was relocated to Six Flags America in Woodmore, Maryland, and eventually scrapped.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| Viper | 1989 | 2005 | Schwarzkopf | Looping Star | Oriental Corner | The roller coaster operated as Jet Scream at Six Flags Over Mid-America in Eureka, Missouri, from 1981 to 1988.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> | ||
| XLR-8 | 1984 | 2005 | Arrow Dynamics | Suspended roller coaster | Plaza de Fiesta | The roller coaster was demolished, with trains relocated to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, California.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> |
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WaterWorldEdit
WaterWorld, Houston's first water park, opened in June 1983.<ref name=AW-85>Template:Cite news</ref> Although it shared an entrance with AstroWorld, a separate $8.95 admission charge was required for entry; by comparison, the one-day ticket price for AstroWorld at the time was $12.50.<ref name=Gonzales-2011>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Template:Cvt 1.9 million-gallon water park featured a Template:Cvt wave pool called Breaker Beach. According to the Houston Chronicle, other attractions included the Lagoon, "a lush swimming area with waterfalls and diving platforms".<ref name=Remembering/> Water slides included Wipe-Out, Typhoon, Tidal Wave, and Hurricane, which offered twisting and turning rides as long as Template:Cvt while patrons slid back down to earth.<ref name=Remembering/> Wipe-Out, in particular, had a vertical drop of Template:Cvt over a straight Template:Cvt length and claimed to accelerate riders to Template:Cvt.<ref name=Gonzales-2011/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Squirt's Splash was strictly for the kids and parents with water pistols and mazes. Runaway River was an attraction that saw riders float through a series of pools and thrilling drops that eventually lead back to the Lagoon."<ref name=Remembering>Template:Cite news</ref> Two rides were added to the park in 1999, including Big Kahuna.<ref name=Gonzales-2011/>
Peak attendance reached approximately 20,000 people on Saturdays. AstroWorld and WaterWorld merged in 2002.<ref name=Remembering/>
EventsEdit
The park's Southern Star Amphitheater opened in 1980 and hosted a variety of performers, including The Beach Boys, The Cure, Destiny's Child, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Heart (1985), Billy Idol, The Monkees,<ref name=50Years/> and Selena. The music video for the Debbie Gibson song "Staying Together" was filmed at the concert venue in 1987.<ref name="Ride">Template:Cite news</ref> The venue hosted music festivals such as Joyfest, featuring Christian groups Jars of Clay and Point of Grace (1990s).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Six Flags AstroWorld originated the "Fright Nights" special event for the Halloween season in 1986, designed to help drive attendance during the otherwise light fall season.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3" /> The event was renamed "Fright Fest" in 1993, and continued until the park closed in 2005.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> Holiday in the Park was held around Christmas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The park had other seasonal attractions, like Alice Cooper's Brutal Planet.<ref name=Ride/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The singer also performed at AstroWorld.<ref name=":2"/>
PersonnelEdit
Dan Dunn and Jeff Martin worked as a caricaturists at the park.<ref name=50Years/> Daniel Johnston operated River of No Return.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2018, former employees organized the AstroWorld 50th Anniversary Employee Reunion.<ref name=50Years/>
Media and legacyEdit
On December 28, 1968, ABC aired the children's television special The Pied Piper of Astroworld, starring Soupy Sales, Lesley Gore, and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, featuring Patrick Swayze in a bear costume and The Muppets.<ref name="Burke">Template:Cite news</ref> Robert Altman directed Bud Cort as a reclusive inventor living in the Astrodome for the cult classic film Brewster McCloud, released in 1970, with scenes from AstroWorld including the Lost World Adventure riverboat ride.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The model of AstroWorld built by Ed Henderson in 1967 was displayed publicly again at the Houston Public Library Central Library's Julia Ideson Building starting in 2011.<ref name=Turner-2011>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2016, the library announced the model would be exhibited there permanently.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2015, the bar Moving Sidewalk launched an AstroWorld-themed cocktail menu.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
American rapper and singer Travis Scott, born and raised in Houston, called his third studio album Astroworld (2018) to commemorate his hometown.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In an XXL interview, he said of the park's closure and demolition, "They took AstroWorld away from us in Houston."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Scott announced a festival taking Astroworld's name for 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Scott mentioned one of the motivations of the festival was to "bring back the beloved spirit and nostalgia of AstroWorld, making a childhood dream of Travis' come true".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2019, Craig Hlavaty of the Houston Chronicle called the Astroneedle a Houston landmark.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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