Six Flags AstroWorld (2024)

Six Flags AstroWorld or simply AstroWorld was a Six Flags theme park located in Houston, Texas.

The park was created by judge Roy Hofheinz as part of the Astrodomain, and originally opened on June 1, 1968. After seven years of operation under the Hofheinz family, the park was acquired by Six Flags in 1975.

After years of declining patronage and the rising value of the land as well as disputes with the city and other groups, Six Flags decided to permanently close the park in the fall of 2005. The park ceased operation after the final day of Fright Fest 2005 on October 30, 2005.

History[]

Hofheinz family era (1968–1975)[]

Planning and construction[]

It all started with one man's idea: Roy Hofheinz (the youngest judge of Houston who also served as the city's mayor) had the plan to make AstroWorld. AstroWorld's original layout was designed by production designer Randall Duell, who had also designed Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia and later Six Flags St. Louis.

The park name, as well as the names ofthe Astrodome, the HoustonAstros baseball team, and all other Astrodomain properties, were a homage to the nation's manned space programs afterHoustonwas selected to be the home of theJohnson Space Centerin 1965.

Grand opening[]

The grand opening of AstroWorld was on June 1, 1968, and approximately 50,000 guests visited the first weekend.^[1]

The park had eight different themed sections: Americana Square, Oriental Village Corner, Plaza de Fiesta, Children's World, Western Junction, European Village, Alpine Valley, and Modville.

Six Flags era (1975–2005)[]

Park acquisition[]

In 1975, AstroWorld was sold to the Six Flags Corporation after the Hofheinz family decided to sell the property.

Bally ownership ends[]

In 1987, the Six Flags corporation was acquired from Bally by the Wesray Capital Corporation for $610 million.

Time Warner acquisition (1990)[]

In 1990, Time Warner began to purchase the Six Flags parks over a four-year period.

Premier Parks acquisition (1998)[]

On April 1, 1998, the entirety of Six Flags was bought from Time Warner for $1.86 billion.

Closure (2005)[]

On September 12, 2005, Six Flags CEO, Kieran Burke, announced that the company's legendary AstroWorld theme park in Houston, Texas, would be closed and demolished at the end of the 2005 season.^[2] The company cited issues such as declining attendance (especially after the September 11 attacks in 2001), its outdated feel, eyesore complaints, high crime, rising property value, and conflicts involving off-site parking at Reliant Stadium (which houses the Houston Texans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).^[3][4][5] AstroWorld would have its final day on October 30, 2005, and demolition began the next day.^[6][7] Six Flags inspectors had to spend $20 million to demolish the park and clear the land. The company executives had expected to receive $150 million for the land, but instead it had received $77 million.^[8][9] These events prompted a decision to remove Kieran Burke from the position of CEO.^[10] The former park's neighbor the Astrodome had sadly seen a similar fate in 2009, and now sits unused as a warehouse. One structure of the former amusem*nt park still stands: the long pedestrian viaduct bridge that crosses over the Loop I-610 highway.^[11]

Location[]

Areas[]

• Americana Square (1968–2005) - The hub area of the park, themed to resemble a town during the turn of the century. It featured various shops and dining locations.
• Alpine Valley (1968–2005) - An area themed after the Alps.
• European Village (1968–2005) - An area themed after a village in Europe.
• Plaza de Fiesta (1968–2005) - A Mexican-themed area.
• Oriental Village (1968–2005) - An Asian-themed area.
• Western Junction (1968–2005) - A Wild West themed area.
• Fun Island (1970–2005)
• Enchanted Kingdom (1984–2005)
• Children's World (1968–1984) Half of it removed to make way for XLR-8
• Country Fair (1972–1981) Renamed Nottingham Village
• Modville (1968–1977)

Rides and attractions[]

Roller coasters[]

• Batman: The Escape (1993–2005)
• Excalibur (1972–1998)
• Greezed Lightnin' (1978–2005)
• Mayan Mindbender (1995–2005)
• Serial Thriller (1999–2005)
• Serpent (1969–2005)
• Swamp Buggy (1970-1973)
• Texas Cyclone (1976–2005)
• Texas Tornado (1998–2000)
• Ultra Twister (1990–2005)
• Viper (1989–2005)
• XLR-8 (1984–2005)

Rides[]

• Dungeon Drop
• Thunder River
• Swat
• Diablo Falls
• Looping Starship
• Barnstormer
• Tidal Wave

Events[]

Fright Fest[]

Main article: Six Flags AstroWorld Fright Fest

Fright Fest debuted at AstroWorld as "Fright Nights" in 1986, and the park was the very first to ever receive the event. It features many different scare zones, haunted attractions, and Halloween themed shows. Fright Fest typically ran from the first week of October through November. The final day of AstroWorld's operation was the same day as the final day of Fright Fest 2005 at the park.

Holiday in the Park[]

Main article: Holiday in the Park

In 1988, AstroWorld was the second park to introduce Holiday in the Park after its debut at Six Flags Over Texas in 1985. It ran for ten years at the park before being cancelled after the 1997 season, making AstroWorld the first of three parks (The Great Escape and Six Flags Over Georgia being the others) to cancel their Holiday in the Park events. Holiday in the Park was later revived at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2014 and continues to return annually.

Gallery[]

References[]

External links[]

• Six Flags AstroWorld at Six Flags (archived 2005-10-29, 2000-08-15, 1997-05-21)
• Six Flags AstroWorld at the AstroWorld Wiki
• Six Flags AstroWorld at Coasterpedia
• Six Flags AstroWorld at Logopedia
• Six Flags AstroWorld at the Roller Coaster DataBase
• Six Flags AstroWorld at the Roller Coaster Wiki
• Six Flags AstroWorld at Wikipedia