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Originally posted: 11/16/2002 |
Last updated: 3/13/2005 |
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Six Flags AstroWorld By Panther Modern
This timeline is courtesy of
SixFlagsHouston.com. Used with permission.
Additions, corrections and comments should be emailed
here. AstroWorld 1968: Judge Roy Hofheinz (former county judge, Houston mayor (1952-1955), and Houston Astro's team owner) opens Astroworld, Houston's first major theme park. The eight themed areas
consist of: Alpine Valley,
American,
Children's World,
European Village,
Modville,
Plaza de Fiesta,
Oriental Corner, and
Western Junction. 1969: Bamboo Shoot log flume opens in Oriental Village. The Serpent, a junior steel children's coaster, opens in Oriental Village as Astroworld's first roller coaster. 1970: Fun Island themed area opens. Wacky Shack funhouse opens on Fun Island. The Happening scrambler is renamed The Orbiter and enclosed in a Modville walled structure. 1971: Barrel of Fun rotor ride is added to Modville. Mod Shop opens in Modville. 1972: Country Fair themed area opens, featuring:
o
Dexter Freebish Electric Roller Ride (steel mine train roller
coaster), Marvel McFey, Astroworld's official mascot, debuts. Seal Pond added to Children's World. 1973 – Swamp Buggy Ride (a Chance toboggan ride themed in a hollow tree) opens on Fun Island. 1974: Marvel McFey theater opens in Childrens's World. "Dancing Waters" and "Fantasy of Fire" shows added to the Lagoon Theater. Concert stage constructed at the base of the Skyrama. Six Flags AstroWorld 1975: Mill Pond removed. Gunslinger swinging chair Yo-Yo ride opens at site of Mill Pond. Swamp Buggy removed. Six Flags Corporation leases Astroworld. 1976: Coney Island themed area opens. Airena Theater opens in Coney Island. Astroworld Season Passes debut this season. Lost World River Adventure is renamed The River of No Return. The Texas Cyclone (wooden twister roller coaster) opens. Horizons Theater opens in old Orbiter structure. The Orbiter is renamed Runaway Rickshaws and moved to Oriental Village. Black Dragon is moved from Oriental Corner to Coney Island and renamed Razzmatazz. Maypole is removed as a result of a park accident. Rub-a-Dub is removed. Bamboo Shoot is renovated and given new control mechanisms. Seatbelts are added to last car in Texas Cyclone. 1977: Aquarena Theater is built and features dolphin performances (Skipper and Dolly). Boogie Fog Disco is added to Country Fair area. Country Fair Carousel is removed. Modville area is renamed International Plaza. Seatbelts are added to all Texas Cyclone seats. 1978: Greezed Lightnin' (Schwarzkopf steel shuttle loop roller coaster) opens in Western Junction. Razzmatazz is removed. Whirling Dervish (flying bobs) is added to Coney Island. A Greezed Lightnin' railroad crossing is added. Serpent is re-profiled to remove a dip. Seat dividers are added to Texas Cyclone trains. Airena Theater is enclosed and renamed Showcase Theater. 1979: Lagoon Grandstand opens with stunt skier performances. Barrel of Fun is removed. "A Touch of Elvis" show runs in Showcase Theater. The track on the south bend of Texas Cyclone is lowered 2 feet so the trains won't stall in high winds. A new brake system is added to Texas Cyclone. Air operated gates are added to the Greezed Lightnin' queue. Astroneedle receives a new cabin (Intamin). 1980: The Big Red Barn company picnic facility opens. Thunder River, the world's first river rapids ride, opens. A Thunder River railroad crossing is added. Dexter Frebish roller coaster is damaged by dump trunk during Thunder River construction. Dexter Frebish brakes are reversed to allow quicker stopping of the train. 1981: Country Fair is remodeled into Nottingham Village themed area. Dexter Frebish Electric Roller Ride is renamed Excalibur. Astrowheel is removed. Der Fender Bender is renamed Joust About. Warp 10 (Huss Troika) is added to International Plaza. Astroway recieves all new cars and a computer control system. Texas Cyclone rolling stock (PTC trains) are changed following an injury lawsuit. 1982: Crystal Palace introduces "The Great Texas Longhorn Revue" robotic cow show. Showcase Theater debuts "Here's Hollywood" show. Joust About is removed and the building is converted into Festhalle. Construction begins on WaterWorld. Texas Cyclone's 3" and 5" wide track rails are all replaced with 6" wide track rails. 1983: SkyScreamer (10-story Intamin freefall ride) opens in Plaza de Fiesta. WaterWorld water park opens adjacent to Astroworld. Double chairs are removed from Gunslinger. A Waterworld railroad station is added. Greezed Lightnin's track is re-profiled and the drive panel is modified. Texas Cyclone's transfer track is modified after an employee accident. 1984: XLR-8 (Arrow suspended roller coaster) opens. The Alpine Sleigh Ride is removed. The Magical World of Marvel McFey (children's area) is closed. The Enchanted Kingdom children's area opens adjacent to European Village. Discovery Mountain opens at the site of Alpine Sleighs. The River of No Return is removed. Whirling Dervish is removed and replaced by a Tilt-a-Whirl. Spinout is removed. Le Taxis is moved to International Plaza area and renamed Antique Taxis. The River Ride educational boat ride opens at the site of River of No Return. 1985: Southern Star Amphitheater opens. Lapbar straps are added to Excalibur. The River Ride is renamed The Wetlands. Bugs Bunny and other Warner characters replace Marvel McFey and friends. The Shanghai Chinese Acrobatic Troupe performs at Showcase Theater. Videocity dance club opens in Coney Island. New brake system is added to Texas Cyclone. 1986: Looping Starship, an inverted swinging ship, replaces Warp 10 in Int'l Plaza. The Chonqing Chinese Acrobats perform in Showcase Theater. The Bugs Bunny Wonder Circus debuts in Enchanted Kingdom. "Fright Nights" Halloween event debuts. One of the original two railroad steam engine trains is sold. Air operated gates are installed in the Texas Cyclone queue. 1987: The U.S. High Diving Team show replaces the ski show. A Laser/Fireworks show is added. The Wacky Shack is closed. Warp 10 returns as Warp 2000 in Plaza de Fiesta. "A Midsummer Night's Scream" show plays in Showcase Theater. John Bull and General Electric railroad trains added. Texas Cyclone's transfer track is rebuilt as a complete loop. Texas Cyclone is retrofitted with new Morgan "Coffin Car" trains (following yet another injury lawsuit). 1988: Tidal Wave (shoot-the-chutes water ride) opens in Plaza de Fiesta. Astroworld "Holiday in the Park" winter event debuts. Videocity is removed. The Wetlands boat ride is removed. A Waterworld in-park railroad crossing is constructed. 1989: The Viper (Schwarzkopf looping star roller coaster) is added to Oriental Village. The Runaway Rickshaws is moved to Knottingham Village and renamed Joust-a-bout. The "Stars of the U.S.S.R." show premiers in Showcase Theater. Excalibur receives a new lapbar system. The Antique Taxis track is shortened. "Diapers" are added to XLR-8 (to keep oil and crud off park guests). 1990: Ultra Twister, a unique TOGO heartline rollercoaster, opens near European Village. "Ghost Town" is removed from the 610 Limited track. A filtration system is added to Tidal Wave to keep the water clean. A Bugs Bunny 50th birthday celebration takes place. 1991: The Condor, a portable tower flat-ride, operates for one year in Coney Island. Whirling Dervish/Tilt-a-Whirl is removed. Sid and Marty Krofft's "Blast!" show begins a two year run in Showcase Theater. Air conditioning is added to the Astroneedle. Gunslinger receives new computer console and PA system. Texas Cyclone's north bend is smoothed and leveled and the lapbar straps are removed from the trains. Ultra Twister receives a new dispatch system. 1992: Adventure Rivers of Texas (waterslide ride) is added to Coney Island. A Batman fireworks show debuts in Lagoon Theater. John Bull railroad train is removed. 1993: Batman: The Escape (Intamin stand-up steel roller coaster) opens in European Village. Enchanted Kingdom Discovery Mountain closes. An "Incredible Acrobats of China" show plays in the Showcase Theater. The "Dennis the Menace Screen Test" show plays in Showcase Theater. The "Legends in Concert" show plays in Showcase Theater. The "Fright Nights" Halloween event is renamed "Fright Fest". International Plaza themed area is renamed USA. A Batman railroad crossing is added. Excalibur's brakes are reversed again. The Plaza de Fiesta themed area is renamed Mexicana.
1994: The World Globe is removed from the entry fountain. The side guard is removed from Batman trains. The Police Academy stunt show
debuts. 1995: Mayan Mindbender (indoor rollercoaster) is added to Oriental Village, replacing the mini-golf course. Antique Taxis' double tracks are combined into one track.
Ratcheting lapbars are
added to Tidal Wave. 1996: Looney Toons Land displaces the Enchanted Kingdom. Dungeon Drop, a 20 story free-fall ride, is added to Knottingham Village. Barnstormer sky-coaster is added. Adventure Rivers is closed. Trough of first Texas Cyclone drop is raised 6 feet. All railroad crossing arms are automated by switch on track.
"Spring Break Out Extreme!" sports event takes place
in Lagoon. 1997: Joustabout scrambler is removed. "Dive!" acrobatic diving show debuts. A new computer system is installed on Greezed Lightnin'.
XLR-8's restraints are modified. 1998: Taz's Texas Tornado, a four loop Schwarzkopf coaster, opens in Mexicana. SkyScreamer is removed. AquArena Theater is removed. Gunslinger is moved 100 ft to AquaArena location and the water pond is filled in. Dentzel Carousel is refurbished and given a new control and drive system. Runaway Rickshaws scrambler returns to Oriental Village. "Holiday in the Park" winter operations are cancelled. Bamboo Shoot flume is re-built with a concrete structure. Viper receives a new computer control system.
A Taxis railroad crossing is added. 1999: Six Flags Astroworld receives a $16 million capital improvement package which is the largest single year investment in the park's history (much of this is spent on Waterworld). Serial Thriller, a Vekoma suspended looping rollercoaster, is added near Knottingham Village. A Serial Thriller railroad crossing is added. After Serial Thriller trains are dropped off the transfer track, a new track and bumper is constructed. Antique Taxi track is shortened and the entrance is moved to Coney Island to make room for the Go Karts. Go Karts is added to USA area. Elizabeth Diesel Hydraulic railroad train is added. Taz's Texas Tornado is renamed Texas Tornado and its ability to run 5 trains is reduced to 4 and new anti-rollbacks are added after a train rolls down the hill. Excalibur is removed. Wagon Wheel is removed due to structural problems. Astroneedle is closed. Shooting Gallery is closed. The last car of each Batman train is removed to make a third train. Adventure Rivers (closed for 3 years) is removed. Thunder River receives rafts from Opryland's Grizzly River Rampage ride and briefly closes after an accident at Six Flags over Texas. The Batcave portion of Batman: The Escape queue is closed. "Fright Fest" features the only free Alice Cooper's Brutal Planet spookhouse (with Astroworld admission).
Big Kahuna and Hook's Lagoon is added to revamped Waterworld. 2000: The Astroneedle is removed (and not sent to Mexico). The Wagon Wheel is re-installed. "Rock this Country", a country and western show, is added. "The Great Texas Longhorn Revue" is removed. The "Fantasy of Fire" fireworks show is reinstated. "American Rock" performs at Showcase Theater. The Grease Monkeys sing at Juke Box Hill in USA area. The Big Red Barn picnic area is renamed A&W Ranch.
The Alpine Clock is repaired. 2001: Bamboo Shoot is renamed The Ozarka Splash. Texas Cyclone's trains are rebuilt for its 25th birthday and the oversized headrests are removed. New Schwarzkopf OTSR restraints are installed on rebuilt Texas Tornado trains. Fast Lane reservations begin for Cyclone, Batman, Serial Thriller, and Ozarka. Prime Time exclusive hours operation is introduced. Showcase Theater acts include Tommy Drake, Mapapa African Acrobats, Q Productions, Radio Active, and Ken Whitener. The Grease Monkeys sing and Rockabilly bands play at Juke Box Hill in USA area. Yogi Baird (contortionist fiddler) and "Rock This Country" acts are at Crystal Palace. Looney Tunes Town Big Top and "What's Up Rock?" play at Looney Tunes Theater. Warp 2000 is painted dramatic new colors. A goldfish pond is added to Oriental Village. Daffy Dollars park discounts are introduced.
Texas Tornado and Thunder River are closed for most of the season. 2002: An ACE plaque is added to Greezed Lightnin'. Thunder River re-opens. Nottingham games are completely gutted and revamped. Eurobungee opens in Mexicana. WaterWorld becomes themed section of Astroworld (2 parks, now 1 ticket). Showcase Theatre is renamed 'Reliant Energy Showcase Theatre'. A pool game is added to old Shooting Gallery in Western Junction. Quarterback Corral is replaced by a Bobs Space Racer game. The lift of Ultra Twister is painted. "Gravity Hill" is re-tracked on Texas Cyclone. The handrails along Texas Cyclone's track are repainted a deep red. Astroway cars are repainted Red, White and Blue. Cyclone trains are repainted. Wok-N-Roll replaces Shanghai Grill in Oriental Village. Yin-Yang is designed into pavement in Oriental Village. Horizons building roof is rebuilt. Batman's queue area gets new landscaping. Foot massagers are added in Western Junction. Mayan Mindbender train is repainted. Water canons are added to Bamboo Shoot. "Fantasy of Fire" is retired and replaced with the "Celebrate!" laser show. The Humongous Pass is introduced. The Mapapa Acrobats return for a limited engagement. The "Blazing Idiots" show is added in Western Junction. "Rockin' Country" show is added in Crystal Palace. "Gabby's" BBQ is replaced with Western Smokehouse. Lift Structure of Tidal Wave is rebuilt. "Sugar Ray" gets drunk and nearly incites a riot at Southern Star. "Time Terror" haunted house replaces "Brutal Planet" for Fright Fest. XLR-8 trains 2/3rds reversed during Fright Fest, never before attempted. Texas Tornado is removed at the end of the season and is sent to Six Flags Marine World where it will run in a slightly modified form as Zonga. 2003: AstroWorld opens for its 35th season on March 8, 2003. Batmobile removed from AstroWorld, sent to Six Flags New Orleans for theming. Batman The Escape has loop repainted. Carousel horses repainted, roof repaired. XLR-8 receives new queue line, exit path, continues 1/2 and 1/2 operation. Ultra Twister has switchback (North End) repainted. Mayan Mindbender has seatbelts installed. Looping Starship has exit path redone. Greezed Lightnin' turns 25. New wooden queue rails line Thunder River. Chaperone Lounge added on Main Street for events. Mini-Loafs are offered as a 35th Anniversary treat! Foot Massagers added to European Village. Fast Lane booth removed from Main Street. Various Main Street buildings repainted. The Serpent train is repainted. Dungeon Drop cars are repainted. Front Gate receives new (faster) registers to help move lines. 2003 map revamped from previous years. Swat (S&S "Sky Swatter") opens.
Diablo Falls opens. 2004:
Batman: The Escape is repainted with midnight blue supports and yellow
track. Viper's tunnel is repainted. A new canopy is installed at the front gate. New Six Flags AstroWorld sign is erected over front gate. New Six Flags welcome sign and electronic LED scroll sign added to parking toll plaza. Freeway side of Reliant Showcase Theatre repainted. Old Excalibur theming returns to Nottingham Village.
Admission this year is $41.99. Parking is $8.00. 2005: Serial Thriller and Ultra Twister are repainted.
Admission this year is $41.99. Parking is $8.00. |
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