Astroworld in Houston to close

[szmike]

October 30 will be its last day. (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3351145)

[mbrookes]

Moved to Amusement Park Industry Discussion.

Michael

[jonnyrocks]

Tjis is a bummer........there are some great rides there, liek the woodie and stuff.........will be a shame to see it go!

[Harpo]

It is a shame. It's a park I would very much have liked to have seen under different ownership. On my 2003 visit, I thought it had some neat rides, but was horribly maintained and operated. I think it would have been an excellent visit if the park were well run and maintained.

[FLIPDUDE]

I jsut hope the rides will be transferred to toher parks, instead of being ocmpel,tely demloished.

especially some rollercoasters and the sky swat

[Kadillac]

If you want the Texas Cyclone to survive please sign my petition. Link in my sig.

[Harpo]

I'm hoping that somehow Mayan Mindbender, formerly Boblo Island's Nightmare, gets saved.

There is so little left of Boblo Island Amusement Park. It was a nice park at one time, purchased by AAA of Michigan, which had absolutely no clue about how to run an amusement park. So, they made a bunch of boneheaded decisions which led to the permanent closure of Boblo.

The name of the island was originally Bois Blanc, which is French for white woods. The English speaking people who took over the area had too much trouble pronouncing it, so it became Boblo. The amusement park opened in 1898. AAA bought it in 1983. The park closed in 1993.

Unfortunately, on my one visit to AstroWorld, Mayan Mindbender was closed for the day, so I couldn't revisit this old Boblo ride. I hope it'll find a new home somewhere else, thereby helping keep a piece of Boblo alive.

Boblo Island is now a housing project. (That doesn't really do it justice -- the housing there is VERY expensive! I understand the old tower ride still stands, and is sometimes used for special parties.) The island is located in the Detroit River. The only access is by boat. For the amusement park, old steamships used to take passengers from docks in downtown Detroit to the island. People who lived in the area in the 1970's often recall the Faygo Boat Song, which was led by old radio personality The Great Gildersleeve aboard one of the Boblo Boats. "Remember when you were a kid? Well, part of you still is! And that's why we make Faygo."

[KingdaKa1]

Astroworld was great. It will definitly be missed. They're gonna make some profit of that park, but then again, I think that money will go into repairing if not taking down SFNO.

[Kadillac]

Hey I have many memories of AW, but it isn't kept up well and is a magnet for gangs. I still love AW tho

[SFA PKD Fan]

After seeing pics of Viper,as well as B:TE they can send either one(or god willing both)to SFA,I certainly wouldn't mind having either one at my homepark.


TC looks to be a good ride but those morgan trains look god awful from a comfort standpoint....it's bad enough on Roar & that thing's got PTC's when it really needs a good set of M-flyers from GCI.

After seeing pics of the damage at SFNO up close it's doubtful that that park will ever open again.....looks like someone may be the recipient of a B:TR....too bad not SFA.

[lewis31lewis52]

You could kind of see this coming, though. With SFI's recent money problems, and the lack of new rides, the parking situation was basically the last straw.

Having never been there, I'm not as disappointed as I could be, but this was one of the original amusement parks built just for rides.

R.I.P. Astroworld.

[Harpo]

Interesting update. Dan Snyder, who made an offer to buy Six Flags at $6.50 per share, is upset about the sale of AstroWorld in light of the upcoming Six Flags "auction."

Don't know if it'll mean anything, but I wouldn't be too surprised if Snyder tries to use legal means to block the AstroWorld sale. If he's successful, it could mean that there's still hope for the park (although that'd be far from certain).

Stay tuned -- it could get very interesting, and possibly very ugly.

[KingdaKa1]

SFAW Will be missed. I thought thay'd take down a smaller park like SFEG.

[Kadillac]

Originally posted by Harpo
Interesting update. Dan Snyder, who made an offer to buy Six Flags at $6.50 per share, is upset about the sale of AstroWorld in light of the upcoming Six Flags "auction."

Don't know if it'll mean anything, but I wouldn't be too surprised if Snyder tries to use legal means to block the AstroWorld sale. If he's successful, it could mean that there's still hope for the park (although that'd be far from certain).

Stay tuned -- it could get very interesting, and possibly very ugly.

That would be awesome. And if he is pissed enough, he'll make the park really good. I just can't imagine them demolishing AW.

[Harpo]

I just saw an article indicating that Dan Snyder intends to fight the closure and sale in every way possible. He cited interest by Cedar Fair in purchasing the park as one reason for fighting the closure, although I haven't seen anything from Cedar Fair that confirms the interest.

One small article is on PointBuzz, here: http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=724

A larger article is here:
http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=3868189&nav=6uy6

[JasonPC]

This is what I think of Six Flags and their stupid mascot!

http://members.cox.net/j_cambre/sixextermination.png

I hope Cedar Fair or someone scoops up Astroworld.

[Justin556]

Why Is This Park CloseIng

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/3597/fastlane11un.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[gigafreak30]

tis a shame.... i am from new york, the park looks fun. It is a shame that the only pipeline in the us is gone, the first coaster EVER to go under the track, and also an important ride for arrow. one of the first screamin' swings, and the tex cyclone. I'd buy it if i could..... $400 could proably buy me a car off the suspended coaster.... (not)

[Kadillac]

Well, it's done, Six Flags is already getting ready to demolish it...thanks a lot Cedar Fair...

[gigafreak30]

whaddya mean 'thanks to cedar fair?'

[-MoNtU]

Originally posted by gigafreak30
whaddya mean 'thanks to cedar fair?'
Becaus they might have bought it. He's just upset that they didn't.

[Kadillac]

I put "thanks a lot Cedar Fair" because they had interest in buying it, but they decided not to.

[SFA PKD Fan]

Originally posted by gigafreak30
tis a shame.... i am from new york, the park looks fun. It is a shame that the only pipeline in the us is gone, the first coaster EVER to go under the track, and also an important ride for arrow. one of the first screamin' swings, and the tex cyclone. I'd buy it if i could..... $400 could proably buy me a car off the suspended coaster.... (not)

Umma arrow's pipeline never made it past the prototype stage,you're reffering to ultratwister which is a togo product,which I hope isn't coming to SFA next year as rumored.


Granted we could use a new coaster at the park,just not that POS imo.

[MrPKI]

I've actually heard alot of good reviews from last-minute trips this month. These people said that the drop is fun, and it has some good air. I know if Ultra Twister were coming to SFKK I would be happy.

[SFA PKD Fan]

Well just look on screamscape to see where it might possibly end up....rest assured it isn't SFKK & didn't you guys just get GL from SFOG two years ago?

[MrPKI]

Yes we got GL from SFOG in '03 and I know SFKK isn't rumored to get the ride. I was just saying that I would be fine if that was true. If we get anything next year it will probably be a flat ride or something.

[SFA PKD Fan]

Well as of today SFAW is history :( sad to see any park no matter how bad it might've been fall victim to the wrecking ball.


Now if SF were smart(which we know they're not) theyd relocate each & every possible ride,not just a handful of them as this could mean new attractions chainwide for 06 & beyond,I'll bet SFFT is salivating at the thought of getting hold of SFAW's hang n bang LOL.


Here's to hoping we get anything but ultratwister at SFA,I'm still hoping GL,Viper or B:TE will find a new home there but of course if they do end up getting UT I won't complain.