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Six Flags AstroWorld, with the Texas Cyclone

Six Flags AstroWorld was a theme park that was part of the Six Flags chain. It was located adjacent to and outside of 610 Loop in Houston, Texas, south of the Reliant Park complex. It was the fourth park to be included in the Six Flags family of amusement parks. It was also the first park to be purchased by Six Flags instead of being built. The park was closed on October 30, 2005.

AstroWorld was originally the brainchild of local philanthropist and former Houston mayor Judge Roy Hofheinz, who intended it to complement the Astrodome. The bridge that crosses Loop 610 that connects AstroWorld to its parking lot is the only privately-owned bridge accessible to the public in Harris County, Texas.

History

The theme park opened on June 1,1968. It was designed by Randall Duell, who also designed Six Flags Over Texas. The eight themed areas originally consisted of: Alpine Valley, Americana Square, Children's World, European Village, Modville, Plaza de Fiesta, Oriental Corner, and Western Junction. Original attractions included 610 Limited Train, Alpine Carousel, Alpine Sleigh Ride (dark ride through Der Hohfheinzberg Mountain), Astroway (Von Roll Sky Cars), Astrowheel (double ferris wheel), Barnyard Petting Zoo, Black Dragon (spider/monster ride), Crystal Palace Theater, Orbitor (scrambler), Le Taxi (later Antique Taxis), Lost World Adventure (jungle boat ride through Rio Misterio), Maypole (tea cups), Mill Pond (bumper boats), Shooting Gallery, Skyrama (later Astroneedle), Spinout (car ride), Rub-a-Dub (nursery rhyme themed boat ride), and Wagon Wheel (Chance trabant).

AstroWorld was sold to the Six Flags family of theme parks in 1975. It was renamed "AstroWorld, A Six Flags Theme Park" as to not confuse patrons with the Arlington-based original park Six Flags Over Texas. Similarly, Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas is known officially as "Fiesta Texas, A Six Flags Theme Park".

Six Flags WaterWorld was built adjacent to AstroWorld and opened in 1983. Admission to the water park was separate for almost 20 years, when in 2002 it was decided to allow admission to both parks with one paid ticket.

AstroWorld was home to what once was the only pipe-line barrel roll roller coaster in North America, (Ultra Twister), planned and designed with Intamin AG, the world's first river rapids ride (Thunder River), and the world's first successful suspended coaster (XLR-8). It was also home to Batman The Escape, once was the only stand-up roller coaster in the state of Texas. AstroWorld was also the park to debut the S&S Power "Sky Swatter" ride, dubbed Swat. Diablo Falls was the world's tallest spinning water ride.

Six Flags AstroWorld's major claims to fame were the Texas Cyclone, which, when built, was one of the largest wooden roller coasters in the United States; the Ultra Twister, which was widely regarded as one of the most unique rides in the United States. The park was also famous for Greezed Lightnin, a shuttle roller coaster that accelerated from 0 - 60 mph in roughly 4 seconds. Also unique is that the ride is a shuttle loop type coaster, meaning riders traveled both forwards and backwards during the course of the ride. Greezed Lightnin's 1 millionth ride occurred on October 15, 2005.

The Texas Cyclone

Texas Cyclone at 4:30 p.m. on October 30, 2005, Astroworld's last day of operation

During construction of the Texas Cyclone, a tropical storm destroyed the entire north end turnaround section (as seen in the film Brewster McCloud) causing it to have to be rebuilt and the opening pushed back to June 12, 1976. More than 25,000 gallons of paint were used on the Texas Cyclone. The coaster was constructed of Douglas Fir lumber. It had over a dozen drops and was one of the few full sized roller coasters in the world to operate without a mid-course brake run. In 2001 it was determined that modifications made to the ride deemed the head-rests unnecessary and they were removed enabling riders a greater view during the course of the ride. The Texas Cyclone was demolished March 9, 2006.

The closing of Astroworld

File:AntonSchwarzkopfPlaque.JPG

Anton Schwarzkopf Plaque on front of Greezed Lightnin

On September 12, 2005, Six Flags announced that it would close Astroworld at the end of the 2005 season and would sell the 109 acre park site. Six Flags cited reasons for closure as being the park's overall performance, site constraints and parking rights to Reliant Park, the Houston Texans football team, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Angel/McIver Interests, a Conroe, Texas based land development firm, purchased the cleared tract of land. Six Flags reported the selling price of $77 million in a corporate earnings report. Plans for the former site have not been determined. Local developers feel that the size and location along the 610 Loop near the Reliant Park complex and proximity to METRORail make it ideal for a dense urban type of development.

Many of the park's rides and attractions were relocated to other parks. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas received the scrambler and parts of the troika from Astroworld. SWAT and Diablo Falls were moved to Six Flags New England, Dungeon Drop to Six Flags St. Louis, and Greezed Lightnin' to Joyland Amusement Park in Lubbock, Texas. The carousel was purchased by Brass Ring Entertainment is being refurbished and prepared for an as-yet undisclosed museum location.

Six Flags SplashTown, the final Six Flags park in the Houston area, was sold in January 2007.

External links

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 Many of the park's rides and attractions were relocated to other parks. [[Six Flags Over Texas]] in [[Arlington, Texas]] received the scrambler and parts of the troika from Astroworld. ''SWAT'' and ''Diablo Falls'' were moved to [[Six Flags New England]], ''Dungeon Drop'' to [[Six Flags St. Louis]], and ''[[Greezed Lightnin]]''' to [[Joyland Amusement Park]] in [[Lubbock, Texas]].  The carousel was purchased by Brass Ring Entertainment is being refurbished and prepared for an as-yet undisclosed museum location.
-Ultra Twister was moved and put in storage at [[Six Flags America]], Serial Thriller and Tidal wave were also moved and put in storage at [[The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom]]. Batman The Escape was moved and put in storage at [[Darien Lake]]. It is unknown if Batman will stay at [[Darien Lake]] because of the park's sale in 2007. It was also reported that necessary parts were misplaced in the transport from [[Houston]] to [[Buffalo, New York]]. Even more rides were destroyed and salvaged for parts (''XLR8, Viper, Astroway, Texas Cyclone, Serpent, Bamboo Shoot, Thunder River'', etc.)
 [[Six Flags SplashTown]], the final Six Flags park in the [[Houston]] area, was sold in January 2007.