This page will be longer than my average.  Yes, there are more pictures - but what really makes it longer than average is how much I plan to ramble.  This is my "farewell to AstroWorld" page.   After October 30, 2005 - AstroWorld will be gone forever.

You see, AstroWorld has been a fixture of the Houston landscape since 1968.  I was four years old when it opened.  I'm not exactly sure how many times I enjoyed AstroWorld over the years - more than I can count on my fingers and toes - that's for sure.  My parents took me many times, and in the 70's when I was in Junior high, a bunch of friends and I had season passes.  Our parents would take turns driving us to AstroWorld and dropping us off for the day.  I can also remember going to AstroWorld with my High school girlfriend several times in the early 80's.

I should stop here to mention a great website I've found - www.sixflagshouston.com.  This site is all about the AstroWorld I grew up with.  It has a ton of old pictures and forum where many AstroWorld fans and even ex-employees hang out.  But for me, the most interesting part of the site is the time-line.   For some reason, when I was growing up I never really 'watched the clock'. What I mean is, I never really knew exactly what year it was - or what year some specific thing happened. Honestly, it wasn't until around High school graduation that I started being able to say specifically what year it was. I was a graduate of '83 *ping* - a certain mark in time. Anyway, reading over the timeline was like stepping back in time.  Almost every year listed brought back a new memory for me.  For example, I remember all the original rides, and I can clearly remember riding the Swamp Buggy ride - which was only open from 1973 to 1975.  And of course, in 1976 - when I was 12 - my dad took me to AstroWorld for the opening day of the TEXAS CYCLONE.  I can almost remember it like it was yesterday.

Like Houston, AstroWorld has changed a lot over the years.  New rides came - new roller coasters - and some of the the older rides were closed to make room.  At the time I didn't keep up with the changes - it would just be weird when I would arrive at a spot and wonder "what happened to the River of No Return"?  ...or the Alpine Sleigh Ride? Or the Astro Needle? etc. etc.   But again, reading over the timeline was like reading from a journal of my life.  I know for certain that I took my girlfriend (now my wife) to AstroWorld in 1991 - because we rode the Condor - which was at AstroWorld for just that one year.

Last year (2004), I took my 3 year old daughter.  I posted some pictures and my thoughts from that day ON THIS PAGE.  If you read it, you can see how I was getting sentimental about AstroWorld last year.  Well, now that the park will be closing for good, I've been close to tears a few times - and I knew I had to make one last visit.  One last opportunity to watch the excitement in my child's face - just as my parents watched it on mine. One last time to look around and let all the memories of past visits flood over me.   ...so many memories.

Welcome to AstroWorld!!!

...on your right, you can see the Texas Cyclone - and a GIANT SPIDER - AHHHH!
Yes, AstroWorld can be scary during October's "Fright Fest"

I wonder if this is where all the ex-employees are laid to rest?

Saturday, October 15th 2005 was a beautiful day to visit AstroWorld.  It was me, my wife, our 4 year old daughter Lauren - and my good friend Jay who I've known since the 2nd grade and was with me on a few visits to AstroWorld back when we were just weeeee tikes - and his wife Sherrie and their 3 year old daughter Claire.  It was packed.  I think there were more people at AstroWorld than I've seen in a looong time.  So many in fact, that I let everyone out of the car as we waited in traffic to park.  So they all went ahead, and I parked and caught up to them at the "Le Taxi" ride - one of the original 1968 rides and very kid friendly.  What was not kid friendly was waiting almost 45 minutes in line for the taxis... c'mon TAXI   Of course, once it's YOUR turn you don't mind holding up the line just a second or two longer while you ask the attendant to take your picture.
 

Lauren and I ride in Le Taxi.

A view of the Texas Cyclone from the Taxi.

Going the other way...

...and back again.

I pushed the gas peddle, but Lauren was driving!!

Jay, Sherrie and Claire get loaded into their Taxi

HOWDY!

After the ...thrill of the Taxi ride, I was anxious for something a little more exciting. I would have LOVED to ride the Texas Cyclone one last time, but the lines were HUGE and the kids were too short anyway, so we made our way to the Greezed Lightnin - a one loop coaster.  As we walked across the park, we stopped to take a few pictures....

On the bridge over Le Taxi

In the Alpine Valley

YES!!  Lauren rode this!
She wasn't scared - got right on.  But when the acceleration started the look on her face was pure panic.
After it was over, she said "I hated that ride"
So, we made our way to the Warner Brothers/Toon Disney Kiddie Area
. ..and took more pictures along the way.

What a beautiful fountain - we must get a picture!

A plane ride - Weeeeee!!!!

Around and around and up and down and around

I took this picture because I faintly remember riding those motorcycles a looooooong time ago.

After a few more kiddie rides, we were ready for something more.

Lauren was ready to be KING

TAA DAA  -  KING LAUREN !

We make it to the Gun Slinger - but King Lauren has lost all her energy.

OK, before you laugh and say "your thumb is in the shot" - remember that I am strapped into one of these seats,
and arching around backwards trying to take a picture and not drop the camera.
You try it.

Here we go!

YEAH, WE'RE GOING NOW!
Hey - is that my elbow?

See - the hard work paid off - this was my favorite picture from the day.

Hmmm, it's not what I wanted to take - but you can see SWAT and Viper.

Darn - would have been a good picture.

Slowing down....

Say good-bye to the Gun Slinger.

Jay enjoys The Serpent!
It was Astroworld's first roller-coaster - Installed in 1969.  It's very 'kid friendly'.

I think it may be Lauren's favorite ride.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

ZOOOOOOM!!

OK, the kids are starting to look tired again....

...and they aren't paying attention - I think we need some food or something.

Food?  No dad - we want BLUE SNOW CONES!
YES - NOW WE ARE READY!
...can you see the blue mouths?

Ahh yes, a little bit of sugar and King Lauren is back!
Ready to ride the old Warp 10 / 2000
Sadly, this had to be our last ride of the day, as the sun was setting on our AstroWorld experience.

The Viper as seen from Warp 2000

HOWDY AGAIN!

Leaving AstroWorld

We had a great time!

One last shot from the pedestrian bridge as we walked back to the car.

Farewell AstroWorld...