Bye bye Astroworld!

Please nobody save Astroworld. It was a horrible park with a dismal coaster selection. It was too cramped, dirty, and crowded. The best ride there was dungeon drop which scared me everytime. Aside from that, torch the damn park!! The should move it toward I-45 North. There is soo much land out there and the park has a greater potential to get new attractions, rides, and better attendance. I don't think Six Flags is stupid. I think this was their plan all along because Houston has a large market (similar to Dallas) and they can't go without a theme park for long. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw development out there already.

jrhodes07 said:
I don't think Six Flags is stupid.

I will bet $100.00 your alone on that thought!

Stupid is a kind word for them!

jrhodes07 said:

this was their plan all along because Houston has a large market ,I wouldn't be surprised if I saw development out there already.

Plan to be surprised. Demolition is already getting lined up! In no time , per your wish, SF's will be gone from Houston forever!

Do you really see someone coming in and building a new park in the Houston area?

C'mon, new parks don't get built anymore outside of Disney. The last parks I have seen built were jazzland and Visionland, and based on those parks, I would rather keep Astroworld.

New Parks get built. Aside from that Wild West World, Hard Rock Park is almost set to go in Myrtle Beach.

Well, I hope your right and I am wrong. I am just afraid Houston will suffer the same fate as Memphis when it comes to getting a new park.

I don't see who will step up and build one.

Well, I took the plunge and committed to a trip down to Texas, Oct. 21-24, to make my first/last visit to Astroworld. I'm flying in and out of Dallas/Ft. Worth, hitting SFOT on Friday & Sunday, and driving down to Astroworld on Saturday. If anyone is interested in tagging along, please let me know.

Hello? Snyder wanted to sell SFAW himself! They beat him to it!

Show me where he says it's a crime to sell this wonderful park cuz it had such potential and he was gonna turn it around. Go on. Show me.

-CO

*** Edited 9/19/2005 1:02:56 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

I highly encourage everyone to petition Six Flags not to break up and sell the 1895 Dentzel Carousel which contains several Muller carved animals including the only Hippocampus on an operating carousel. The Smithsonian has a photo of this very Hippocampus taken in the early 1900's.

Oh...wow....a petition. That will probably work as well as some of the other petitions you wanted us to all send out. (head-desk)(head-desk)(head-desk)

A What? What's Hipp whath ya call it?

Funny you ask. I went to find out myself just yesterday

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a23/Mark_Bailey/63e84910.jpg *** Edited 9/20/2005 1:55:57 AM UTC by Markieb***

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redman822 said:
Oh...wow....a petition. That will probably work as well as some of the other petitions you wanted us to all send out. (head-desk)(head-desk)(head-desk)

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I challenge you to identify a single petition I have ever called for before.

Anyway, this is an extremely historic ride that doesn't deserve to be chopped to pieces for collectors just because Six Flags could make a little more money than relocating it to another of their parks. The bean counters at SF might be persuaded to keep the ride in one piece if they receive enough correspondance that the public cares about antique carousel heritage.

There is a small pavilion in Astroworld that was new this year called the Carousel Livery where you could watch the restoration process and acts as a small museum. They had plans to build out the museum aspect more next year until they were told the park is closing. A full time park employee sent us this plea yesterday to generate a buzz regarding an effort to save the carousel from dismemberment:

I would encourage everyone to take one last look at/ride on AW's 100 year old antique Dentzel Carousel. Gustav Dentzel introduced the carousel to America. His premier carver was Daniel Muller, recognized as probably the best who ever lived. Many of the animals on the outside row were carved in 1907 by Daniel Muller himself. The others are Dentzels from the 20's.

Our magnificent Hippocampus is one of only 3 in existence, one of only 4 ever carved!! The Smithsonian has a photo of OUR VERY Hippocampus taken in the early 1900's. You don't get more special than that! And for the next few weeks, you have the unique opportunity to RIDE on it!!

Not only do they not make them like this anymore, the few surviving antique carousels still in operation risk the same fate that ours now faces: possible dismantling for auction to private collectors!! Can you imagine these animals that were lovingly hand-carved for the enjoyment of children and amusement park guest collecting dust in some collector's living room?! The thought of no child ever sitting on them and squealing with delight at the magical experience that is The Carousel breaks my heart...

VOICE YOUR OBJECTION TO THE CAROUSEL BEING DISMANTLED AND AUCTIONED TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN!!! Especially SF, the local media and on this board.

If you'd like more info about our carousel, please drop by the Carousel Livery in Western Junction (across from First Aid). If I'm not there, I'll have my return time posted.

I hope everyone will come out to the park as often as possible to show the world how beloved this park really is!!

And don't forget to log onto http://www.nca-usa.org They give grants to endangered carousels using YOUR donations. Unfortunately, the news of Astroworld closing came 3 weeks too late for us to receive any. Make sure you let them know it's AW's carousel you're concerned about. Maybe if we all do our little part, we can make a BIG difference!!

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jrhodes07 said:
Please nobody save Astroworld. It was a horrible park with a dismal coaster selection. It was too cramped, dirty, and crowded. The best ride there was dungeon drop which scared me everytime. Aside from that, torch the damn park!! The should move it toward I-45 North. There is soo much land out there and the park has a greater potential to get new attractions, rides, and better attendance. I don't think Six Flags is stupid. I think this was their plan all along because Houston has a large market (similar to Dallas) and they can't go without a theme park for long. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw development out there already.

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what the hell are you talking about? astroworld is not a horrible place its just the horrible people that go there.(like somebody ^ )

I agree, it's got a small footprint that can seem crowded on a busy day, but as long as you dont visit a Saturday the crowds have never been unbearably cramped. This crowd complaint also contradicts the other charge that attendance was too weak. And further, I strongly disagree with the dirty accusation, escpecially from 2004 onwards when the park made exceptional efforts to paint and clean the place up.

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Acoustic Viscosity said:
Well, I took the plunge and committed to a trip down to Texas, Oct. 21-24, to make my first/last visit to Astroworld. I'm flying in and out of Dallas/Ft. Worth, hitting SFOT on Friday & Sunday, and driving down to Astroworld on Saturday. If anyone is interested in tagging along, please let me know.

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I live in Fort Worth and am interested in heading down for the trip. We (me and my fiance) were planning on driving too, but saving gas is always awesome. We might join for one day at SFoT too. PM or e-mail me.

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skuller said:
what the hell are you talking about? astroworld is not a horrible place its just the horrible people that go there.(like somebody ^ )

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What the hell are you talking about? You can't face the facts that many of us do or at least did find the place to be horrible? Not everyone loves the park ya know ;)

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ApolloAndy said:
I live in Fort Worth and am interested in heading down for the trip. We (me and my fiance) were planning on driving too, but saving gas is always awesome. We might join for one day at SFoT too. PM or e-mail me.

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Awesome. Sending you some mail.

I would think twice about this weekend. With Hurricane Rita looming in the gulf, the park might not be open. Just keep an eye on the storm.

Anyone else here plan to make a farwell trek to Astroworld? I'm from Cleveland and I plan on making it down before the end of the season.

I'll be flying from California for a two-day visit to the park. I've never been to SFAW before and I'm sure I'd be really bummed if I had made the decision not to go. I got a pretty good airfare on Southwest with nonstop flights from Oakland and got a room at the Holiday Inn & Suites next to the Medical Center for a reasonable price. Now, I'm hoping that the park doesn't close early for the season with the approaching hurricane. I feel so bad for the Katrina survivors who are now being moved again from Texas to Arkansas.

Kevin

Well with the hurricane and housten flooods alot you may not get the chance since if there is alot of damage to it then there will be no point sicne they wont even open it agian i mean why bother?

Why bother? Well, I've never been to the park before and I did not realize a hurricane was heading toward Houston when I made me reservations. Is that answer good enough?

Kevin