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Astroworld coasting downhill, to a stop
10:20 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 13, 2005
By Jeremy Desel / 11 News
Click to watch video
In 1968, Houstonians flocked to Astroworld to clamber onto high, fast, wildly swooping rides. Now, 37 years later, Six Flags has announced that it is closing the Houston icon forever.
It has always been about thrills and chills and money, of course. That money is now the doom of the park.
"This is a unique situation for us, where the real estate value of the underlying property exceeded the value of the park," says Kieran Burke, CEO of Six Flags.
The property is no doubt prime. There are 109 acres of land situated between 610 and Kirby and Fannin. As a bonus, the Fannin South Light Rail station is on the south side of the property. That is surely a thrill for developers.
The money is big, and some real estate experts say the property could bring as much as $70 million.
A total of 119 full-time and 1,500 seasonal jobs are set to vanish, along with the iconic Texas Cyclone. It is one of the largest wood roller coasters in the world.
KOU-TV
The time-honored tradition of putting your arms up when riding the roller coaster at Astroworld.
The park has more than a dozen major rides. The two latest attractions were added in 2003, but none of that was enough to keep park attendance from dropping.
"I think that it probably has something to do with the age of the park. The relative infrastructure, the parking situation. We've been constrained in terms of what we could invest with the uncertainty of the parking situation," Burke says.
The park is suing Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation over its parking rights in the Reliant Center lot. It says that's caused them to keep their investment in their other properties.
The flagship of Six Flags remains in Arlington and the San Antonio park is thriving.
"We are far from abandoning the Texas market. Frankly, we are very sad today to make this announcement. It's a very emotional day for all of us," says Burke.
Thrill rides are meant to stir up emotions, but sadness normally isn't one of them.
The park will remain open until the end of its Annual Fright Fest, through October 30th.
Park operators expect a significant spike in business from people coming by for one last ride.
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Online at: http://www.khou.com/news/local/houstonmetro/stories/khou050913_cd_astroworld.52baf5f6.html
10:20 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 13, 2005
By Jeremy Desel / 11 News
Click to watch video
In 1968, Houstonians flocked to Astroworld to clamber onto high, fast, wildly swooping rides. Now, 37 years later, Six Flags has announced that it is closing the Houston icon forever.
It has always been about thrills and chills and money, of course. That money is now the doom of the park.
"This is a unique situation for us, where the real estate value of the underlying property exceeded the value of the park," says Kieran Burke, CEO of Six Flags.
The property is no doubt prime. There are 109 acres of land situated between 610 and Kirby and Fannin. As a bonus, the Fannin South Light Rail station is on the south side of the property. That is surely a thrill for developers.
The money is big, and some real estate experts say the property could bring as much as $70 million.
A total of 119 full-time and 1,500 seasonal jobs are set to vanish, along with the iconic Texas Cyclone. It is one of the largest wood roller coasters in the world.
KOU-TV
The time-honored tradition of putting your arms up when riding the roller coaster at Astroworld.
The park has more than a dozen major rides. The two latest attractions were added in 2003, but none of that was enough to keep park attendance from dropping.
"I think that it probably has something to do with the age of the park. The relative infrastructure, the parking situation. We've been constrained in terms of what we could invest with the uncertainty of the parking situation," Burke says.
The park is suing Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation over its parking rights in the Reliant Center lot. It says that's caused them to keep their investment in their other properties.
The flagship of Six Flags remains in Arlington and the San Antonio park is thriving.
"We are far from abandoning the Texas market. Frankly, we are very sad today to make this announcement. It's a very emotional day for all of us," says Burke.
Thrill rides are meant to stir up emotions, but sadness normally isn't one of them.
The park will remain open until the end of its Annual Fright Fest, through October 30th.
Park operators expect a significant spike in business from people coming by for one last ride.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.khou.com/news/local/houstonmetro/stories/khou050913_cd_astroworld.52baf5f6.html
