Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are shutting AstroWorld down for good at the end of October, and putting the land up for sale. I thought this would get more media coverage than what I could observe on the Houston media websites. Is anyone raising a fuss down there? Is this a hot topic on the local radio talk shows? I can't believe that there's no protesting from even half the population in the Houston area.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by PyThomas on 09/15/05 06:14 PM.</FONT></P>
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Is anyone talking about the demise of Astroworld?
- Thread starter PyThomas
- Start date
C
CinnamonRoll
Guest
I'm willing to bet that most people may be saddened by the closing but have an "oh well" attitude because they either A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for the past few years anyway.
I haven't heard anyone talking about it, but a friend of mine posted a rant in his blog.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/fiercepancake/301533.html
There is also a message board at http://www.sixflagshouston.com/ but I haven't read any of it.
Of course neither of these have anything to do with radio, but there may be some stuff of interest there if you're interested in more than what the news gives you.
> Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are
> shutting AstroWorld down for good at the end of October, and
> putting the land up for sale. I thought this would get more
> media coverage than what I could observe on the Houston
> media websites. Is anyone raising a fuss down there? Is this
> a hot topic on the local radio talk shows? I can't believe
> that there's no protesting from even half the population in
> the Houston area.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Because you dance to disco but you still like rock.</P>
I haven't heard anyone talking about it, but a friend of mine posted a rant in his blog.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/fiercepancake/301533.html
There is also a message board at http://www.sixflagshouston.com/ but I haven't read any of it.
Of course neither of these have anything to do with radio, but there may be some stuff of interest there if you're interested in more than what the news gives you.
> Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are
> shutting AstroWorld down for good at the end of October, and
> putting the land up for sale. I thought this would get more
> media coverage than what I could observe on the Houston
> media websites. Is anyone raising a fuss down there? Is this
> a hot topic on the local radio talk shows? I can't believe
> that there's no protesting from even half the population in
> the Houston area.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Because you dance to disco but you still like rock.</P>
M
Mediafrog
Guest
> I'm willing to bet that most people may be saddened by the
> closing but have an "oh well" attitude because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway.
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath have pretty much dominated Houston news for the past couple of weeks. We're only now starting to see a more normal mix of topics beings covered.
Astroworld was a Houston institution, but like the Astrodome across the street, it was getting tired and out of date. Houstonians may be saddened by its demise, but probably understand the reasons. The Six Flags operations in San Antonio and DFW are probably much better draws anyway, in areas that are more of a tourist destination. Astroworld would have needed a complete and very expensive makeover to stay in the mix (which they probably lacked the land for) and would have faced very shakey chances for future success.
> closing but have an "oh well" attitude because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway.
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath have pretty much dominated Houston news for the past couple of weeks. We're only now starting to see a more normal mix of topics beings covered.
Astroworld was a Houston institution, but like the Astrodome across the street, it was getting tired and out of date. Houstonians may be saddened by its demise, but probably understand the reasons. The Six Flags operations in San Antonio and DFW are probably much better draws anyway, in areas that are more of a tourist destination. Astroworld would have needed a complete and very expensive makeover to stay in the mix (which they probably lacked the land for) and would have faced very shakey chances for future success.
B
blaine965
Guest
Knowing this very well has absolutley nothing to do with the subject matters on this board, I feel obligated to respond to these two points
"because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway."
Many of Six Flag's parks were given plenty of budget for improvements, but when it came time for AW to get theirs it was always treated like a bad step child.
The folks over at AstroWorld are a dedicated and tremendous staff. I hope the best for all of them.
End of my soapbox.
> I'm willing to bet that most people may be saddened by the
> closing but have an "oh well" attitude because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway.
>
> I haven't heard anyone talking about it, but a friend of
> mine posted a rant in his blog.
> http://www.livejournal.com/users/fiercepancake/301533.html
>
> There is also a message board at
> http://www.sixflagshouston.com/ but I haven't read any of
> it.
>
> Of course neither of these have anything to do with radio,
> but there may be some stuff of interest there if you're
> interested in more than what the news gives you.
>
> > Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are
> > shutting AstroWorld down for good at the end of October,
> and
> > putting the land up for sale. I thought this would get
> more
> > media coverage than what I could observe on the Houston
> > media websites. Is anyone raising a fuss down there? Is
> this
> > a hot topic on the local radio talk shows? I can't believe
>
> > that there's no protesting from even half the population
> in
> > the Houston area.
> >
>
"because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway."
Many of Six Flag's parks were given plenty of budget for improvements, but when it came time for AW to get theirs it was always treated like a bad step child.
The folks over at AstroWorld are a dedicated and tremendous staff. I hope the best for all of them.
End of my soapbox.
> I'm willing to bet that most people may be saddened by the
> closing but have an "oh well" attitude because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway.
>
> I haven't heard anyone talking about it, but a friend of
> mine posted a rant in his blog.
> http://www.livejournal.com/users/fiercepancake/301533.html
>
> There is also a message board at
> http://www.sixflagshouston.com/ but I haven't read any of
> it.
>
> Of course neither of these have anything to do with radio,
> but there may be some stuff of interest there if you're
> interested in more than what the news gives you.
>
> > Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are
> > shutting AstroWorld down for good at the end of October,
> and
> > putting the land up for sale. I thought this would get
> more
> > media coverage than what I could observe on the Houston
> > media websites. Is anyone raising a fuss down there? Is
> this
> > a hot topic on the local radio talk shows? I can't believe
>
> > that there's no protesting from even half the population
> in
> > the Houston area.
> >
>
> I'm willing to bet that most people may be saddened by the
> closing but have an "oh well" attitude because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway.
>
I don't know. I was at a crowded rock show last night and I happened to walk inside the venue for a moment, away from the music. Someone mentioned Astroworld just as I was walking in, and the whole place broke out in animated conversation over it. People are seriously bummed out over big corporations coming in out of nowhere to strip away their Houston landmarks.
I think a lot of people continue to take their kids there, as it's always been a nice reward for good grades and for many, a yearly family tradition. I've seen many a show there, as well. It's sad that the landmark is going, and people are upset about their children not being able to go like they did. In the end, nobody I heard questioned the big $$$ real-estate location, though. That's the grim bottom line, the hell with our kids, seemed to be the consensus.
The crimes which have pockmarked its reputation in recent years didn't seem to be a big factor in anyone's opinion---then again, I admit, it was the most decidedly unscientific way of collecting information. You know, listening to people. I do predict that this is going to be Astroworld's busiest month in years.
*loading the kids into the car one last time*
> I haven't heard anyone talking about it, but a friend of
> mine posted a rant in his blog.
> http://www.livejournal.com/users/fiercepancake/301533.html
>
> There is also a message board at
> http://www.sixflagshouston.com/ but I haven't read any of
> it.
>
> Of course neither of these have anything to do with radio,
> but there may be some stuff of interest there if you're
> interested in more than what the news gives you.
>
> > Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are
> > shutting AstroWorld down for good at the end of October,
> and
> > putting the land up for sale. I thought this would get
> more
> > media coverage than what I could observe on the Houston
> > media websites. Is anyone raising a fuss down there? Is
> this
> > a hot topic on the local radio talk shows? I can't believe
>
> > that there's no protesting from even half the population
> in
> > the Houston area.
> >
>
> closing but have an "oh well" attitude because they either
> A. didn't go there anymore or B. thought it has sucked for
> the past few years anyway.
>
I don't know. I was at a crowded rock show last night and I happened to walk inside the venue for a moment, away from the music. Someone mentioned Astroworld just as I was walking in, and the whole place broke out in animated conversation over it. People are seriously bummed out over big corporations coming in out of nowhere to strip away their Houston landmarks.
I think a lot of people continue to take their kids there, as it's always been a nice reward for good grades and for many, a yearly family tradition. I've seen many a show there, as well. It's sad that the landmark is going, and people are upset about their children not being able to go like they did. In the end, nobody I heard questioned the big $$$ real-estate location, though. That's the grim bottom line, the hell with our kids, seemed to be the consensus.
The crimes which have pockmarked its reputation in recent years didn't seem to be a big factor in anyone's opinion---then again, I admit, it was the most decidedly unscientific way of collecting information. You know, listening to people. I do predict that this is going to be Astroworld's busiest month in years.
*loading the kids into the car one last time*
> I haven't heard anyone talking about it, but a friend of
> mine posted a rant in his blog.
> http://www.livejournal.com/users/fiercepancake/301533.html
>
> There is also a message board at
> http://www.sixflagshouston.com/ but I haven't read any of
> it.
>
> Of course neither of these have anything to do with radio,
> but there may be some stuff of interest there if you're
> interested in more than what the news gives you.
>
> > Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are
> > shutting AstroWorld down for good at the end of October,
> and
> > putting the land up for sale. I thought this would get
> more
> > media coverage than what I could observe on the Houston
> > media websites. Is anyone raising a fuss down there? Is
> this
> > a hot topic on the local radio talk shows? I can't believe
>
> > that there's no protesting from even half the population
> in
> > the Houston area.
> >
>
As a former employee of Astroworld (1st year it opened), it saddens me. I lied about my age. I told them I was 17. However, I remember before Astroworld was built there were a lot of people upset at the closing of "Playland Park," which was located on Main a few blocks from OST.
Playland Park had a huge roller coaster, which KNUZ's Arch Yancey set a world's record for riding it the longest. KNUZ was the Top 40 station fighting the very young KILT 610 for dominance, a battle which KNUZ would eventually lose. (Notice how I slip in the relevance to radio?) In the late 1960s, KNUZ's Larry Vance would sit atop the Astroneedle in a Viet Nam style hooch for several days, setting a record, as well.
Of course, those records have been supplanted through the years. I imagine most of you have never heard of Playland Park.
Playland Park had a huge roller coaster, which KNUZ's Arch Yancey set a world's record for riding it the longest. KNUZ was the Top 40 station fighting the very young KILT 610 for dominance, a battle which KNUZ would eventually lose. (Notice how I slip in the relevance to radio?) In the late 1960s, KNUZ's Larry Vance would sit atop the Astroneedle in a Viet Nam style hooch for several days, setting a record, as well.
Of course, those records have been supplanted through the years. I imagine most of you have never heard of Playland Park.
The Chronicle reported that industry observers expect another park to be built in one of Houston's suburbs.
> As a former employee of Astroworld (1st year it opened), it
> saddens me. I lied about my age. I told them I was 17.
> However, I remember before Astroworld was built there were a
> lot of people upset at the closing of "Playland Park," which
> was located on Main a few blocks from OST.
>
> Playland Park had a huge roller coaster, which KNUZ's Arch
> Yancey set a world's record for riding it the longest. KNUZ
> was the Top 40 station fighting the very young KILT 610 for
> dominance, a battle which KNUZ would eventually lose.
> (Notice how I slip in the relevance to radio?) In the late
> 1960s, KNUZ's Larry Vance would sit atop the Astroneedle in
> a Viet Nam style hooch for several days, setting a record,
> as well.
>
> Of course, those records have been supplanted through the
> years. I imagine most of you have never heard of Playland
> Park.
>
> As a former employee of Astroworld (1st year it opened), it
> saddens me. I lied about my age. I told them I was 17.
> However, I remember before Astroworld was built there were a
> lot of people upset at the closing of "Playland Park," which
> was located on Main a few blocks from OST.
>
> Playland Park had a huge roller coaster, which KNUZ's Arch
> Yancey set a world's record for riding it the longest. KNUZ
> was the Top 40 station fighting the very young KILT 610 for
> dominance, a battle which KNUZ would eventually lose.
> (Notice how I slip in the relevance to radio?) In the late
> 1960s, KNUZ's Larry Vance would sit atop the Astroneedle in
> a Viet Nam style hooch for several days, setting a record,
> as well.
>
> Of course, those records have been supplanted through the
> years. I imagine most of you have never heard of Playland
> Park.
>
D
dsadof
Guest
I am also a former Astroworld employee and
I was very surprised to hear the news.
I worked there from 1979 to 1982 on The River
Of No Return (my first gig with a microphone...
and a lot of bad jokes)and again in 1986 (after
graduating from college)as a Conductor on the train.
I actually worked at Astroworld and KLOL until I was
offered a full-time position at KLOL.
I was very surprised to hear the news.
I worked there from 1979 to 1982 on The River
Of No Return (my first gig with a microphone...
and a lot of bad jokes)and again in 1986 (after
graduating from college)as a Conductor on the train.
I actually worked at Astroworld and KLOL until I was
offered a full-time position at KLOL.
Believe it or not, this can relate to radio..
Astroworld: People used to love to go there as a kid, but it's become run down and has been ruined by Six Flags ownership.
KLOL: People used to listen to it in high school, but it had sucked the last few years and had been ruined by Clear Channel ownership.
Astroworld = KLOL. Think about it.
Astroworld: People used to love to go there as a kid, but it's become run down and has been ruined by Six Flags ownership.
KLOL: People used to listen to it in high school, but it had sucked the last few years and had been ruined by Clear Channel ownership.
Astroworld = KLOL. Think about it.
C
CinnamonRoll
Guest
Re: Six Flags Sugarland?
I thought they were planning a Diney Park near Tomball where they hold the Renaissance Festival.
Not sure whatever came of that though.
> or maybe DisneyWorld Katy?
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Because you dance to disco but you still like rock.</P>
I thought they were planning a Diney Park near Tomball where they hold the Renaissance Festival.
Not sure whatever came of that though.
> or maybe DisneyWorld Katy?
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Because you dance to disco but you still like rock.</P>
K
Kevinc
Guest
> I imagine most of you have never heard of Playland
> Park.
>
Is that the same as Peppermint Park? I have heard of that one and I think it was in the same location, unless I am just getting the name wrong.
Oh well... Here's my suggestion. Move all the rollercoasters into the dome... an air conditioned theme park! Now that I might actually go to in my old age.. otherwise its too darned hot for an old geezer like me to stand in lines for rides.
Kevin
> Park.
>
Is that the same as Peppermint Park? I have heard of that one and I think it was in the same location, unless I am just getting the name wrong.
Oh well... Here's my suggestion. Move all the rollercoasters into the dome... an air conditioned theme park! Now that I might actually go to in my old age.. otherwise its too darned hot for an old geezer like me to stand in lines for rides.
Kevin
Re: Six Flags Sugarland?
> I thought they were planning a Diney Park near Tomball where
> they hold the Renaissance Festival.
>
> Not sure whatever came of that though.
>
> > or maybe DisneyWorld Katy?
> >
>
There have been rumors of a Disney Texas being built in the Tyler-Longview area for at least 30 years.
How about Six Flags Cut and Shoot?
> I thought they were planning a Diney Park near Tomball where
> they hold the Renaissance Festival.
>
> Not sure whatever came of that though.
>
> > or maybe DisneyWorld Katy?
> >
>
There have been rumors of a Disney Texas being built in the Tyler-Longview area for at least 30 years.
How about Six Flags Cut and Shoot?
C
C414
Guest
Re: Six Flags Sugarland?
> There have been rumors of a Disney Texas being built in the
> Tyler-Longview area for at least 30 years.
>
I've lived in the Tyler-Longview area nearly all my life and this is the first I've heard of this.
> How about Six Flags Cut and Shoot?
>
Heh, I'd go.
<P ID="signature">______________
Failure to plan on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part.</P>
> There have been rumors of a Disney Texas being built in the
> Tyler-Longview area for at least 30 years.
>
I've lived in the Tyler-Longview area nearly all my life and this is the first I've heard of this.
> How about Six Flags Cut and Shoot?
>
Heh, I'd go.
<P ID="signature">______________
Failure to plan on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part.</P>
Re: Six Flags Sugarland?
> or maybe DisneyWorld Katy?
>
Disney Ranch, maybe?
This would be a perfect opportunity for the Disney company to stake a claim in Six Flags' home turf. (Yes, I know management moved to Oklahoma, but still...)
Before this breaking news I thought it would be cool if Disney built a park in Austin. But Houston'll do just fine.
> or maybe DisneyWorld Katy?
>
Disney Ranch, maybe?
This would be a perfect opportunity for the Disney company to stake a claim in Six Flags' home turf. (Yes, I know management moved to Oklahoma, but still...)
Before this breaking news I thought it would be cool if Disney built a park in Austin. But Houston'll do just fine.
D
DJboutit2
Guest
Re: Six Flags Sugarland?
Houston has the worst tourism of the top 10 largest cities in the US. Houston does not promote tourism @ all so another theme park would just suck here so and thing elese is a bad idea. Galveston is gettin schlitterbahn water park that is the closest the thing to a theme park we will get and need.<P ID="signature">______________
Radio Pirates Forum http://www.phpbbforfree.com/forums/index.php?mforum=radiopirates Phat Beats Radio http://209.82.178.23:9000/listen.pls 128kbps http://209.82.178.23:9100/listen.pls 56kbps</P>
Houston has the worst tourism of the top 10 largest cities in the US. Houston does not promote tourism @ all so another theme park would just suck here so and thing elese is a bad idea. Galveston is gettin schlitterbahn water park that is the closest the thing to a theme park we will get and need.<P ID="signature">______________
Radio Pirates Forum http://www.phpbbforfree.com/forums/index.php?mforum=radiopirates Phat Beats Radio http://209.82.178.23:9000/listen.pls 128kbps http://209.82.178.23:9100/listen.pls 56kbps</P>
> > I imagine most of you have never heard of Playland
> > Park.
> >
> Is that the same as Peppermint Park? I have heard of that
> one and I think it was in the same location, unless I am
> just getting the name wrong.
Peppermint Park was in the vicinity of 610 and TC Jester IIRC. I went there as a small child, so it was around till the mid-70s at least.
> > Park.
> >
> Is that the same as Peppermint Park? I have heard of that
> one and I think it was in the same location, unless I am
> just getting the name wrong.
Peppermint Park was in the vicinity of 610 and TC Jester IIRC. I went there as a small child, so it was around till the mid-70s at least.
W
WBWorld
Guest
Re: Six Flags AstroDOME !
How about in a year or two when everyone from
New Orleans finally moves out converting the
Astrodome to an indoor theme park? The summers
in Houston get pretty humid but an indoor air
conditioned park might do well here. The Mall
of America has a small indoor park that is
packed year round. Just an idea!
How about in a year or two when everyone from
New Orleans finally moves out converting the
Astrodome to an indoor theme park? The summers
in Houston get pretty humid but an indoor air
conditioned park might do well here. The Mall
of America has a small indoor park that is
packed year round. Just an idea!
Re: Six Flags AstroDOME !
> How about in a year or two when everyone from
> New Orleans finally moves out converting the
> Astrodome to an indoor theme park? The summers
> in Houston get pretty humid but an indoor air
> conditioned park might do well here. The Mall
> of America has a small indoor park that is
> packed year round. Just an idea!
>
For years there have been rumors about Disney buying up farm land between Houston and Beaumont near interstate 10. The key here would be that whoever builds a theme park would want relatively cheap land to start with, and have a large block of it available.
> How about in a year or two when everyone from
> New Orleans finally moves out converting the
> Astrodome to an indoor theme park? The summers
> in Houston get pretty humid but an indoor air
> conditioned park might do well here. The Mall
> of America has a small indoor park that is
> packed year round. Just an idea!
>
For years there have been rumors about Disney buying up farm land between Houston and Beaumont near interstate 10. The key here would be that whoever builds a theme park would want relatively cheap land to start with, and have a large block of it available.
> Six Flags announced a couple of days ago that they are
> shutting AstroWorld down for good
For Good is an oxymoron...I hate that expression...because most of the "FOR GOOD" is not really for anyone's good..permenantly would be a better word. Still I wonder who is the closing of Astroworld good for? Who benefits?
Six Flags tried running this place to the ground so they could do just this. ANyhow Cedar Fair wanted the park and 6 Flags refused to sell it to them. Instead they want to shut it down..WHY???
> shutting AstroWorld down for good
For Good is an oxymoron...I hate that expression...because most of the "FOR GOOD" is not really for anyone's good..permenantly would be a better word. Still I wonder who is the closing of Astroworld good for? Who benefits?
Six Flags tried running this place to the ground so they could do just this. ANyhow Cedar Fair wanted the park and 6 Flags refused to sell it to them. Instead they want to shut it down..WHY???
- Status