Six Flags AstroWorld: A Cyclone of Thrills [PART 1]
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- Опубліковано 26 чер 2024
- Houston's premiere thrill park once stood proud next to Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, but now is an abandoned gravel lot. Hear the whole story of this once-prominent Texas park that used to have some of the world's greatest roller coasters! Welcome to Six Flags AstroWorld: A Cyclone of Thrills, Episode 3 of Amusement Anthology.
A project so huge it had to be split into two! In part one of AstroWorld's story, learn about Judge Roy Hofheinz's bold vision for the park, the construction and origins of the park in 1967, as well as all the major attractions up to the year 1990! Featured rides include the Texas Cyclone, Ultra Twister, Alpine Sleigh Ride, and Greezed Lightnin'.
Researched, written, narrated, and edited by Jonathan Baker.
[Chapters]
0:00 Intro/The Great Texas Parks
1:32 Judge Hofheinz' Idea
6:17 More and More Coasters
10:56 Six Flags' Investment
16:21 To Be Continued
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#AstroWorld #AmusementAnthology #Documentary
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Had a season pass in 1990. My mom worked downtown. I would walk over spend the day there. Probably the best times of my young childhood. Loved the rides. Pretty upset about it getting closed.
My mom grew up going to that park and her two favorite rides were Texas Cyclone and Greezed lighting she was wondering what happened to the park so I showed her the two videos of the park and it really sparked a idea for me to find something from the park to keep it alive and i found a brochure of the park from 1979 off of eBay three years ago for twenty bucks and the look on her face when i gave it to her as a BD gift was amazing she loved it a lot.
this place was lit. So many memories!
Straight up..pun intended
More lit then six flags over texas
Yeah it was! I miss the hell out it
😁
So sad that Houston being one of the largest cities couldn’t keep Astroworld alive
who knew that this place 16 years later after closing would be the last place they see "RIP to the 10 people that lost their lives"
I'M STILL BITTER OVER THIS. WE NEED AN AMUSEMENT PARK IN HOUSTON!!
How is the progress of Grand Texas.......do you know?
Sean Lewis It’s first two attractions are opening on the 29th
Jonathan Giron Big Rivers water park
, or the theme park, Grand Texas?
Dalia Guerra I'll believe it, when I FINALLY SEE it.
John Griswold Yeah, you're right. That's all good, but we want Astroworld back!!!!
I cried so hard when it closed. I grew up there and have so many childhood and adolescent memories of my beloved Astroworld. I remember waiting in line for Texas Cyclone and looking at all the "graffiti" people wrote on the railing with their pens, lol. I'm sure I left my mark there, too. My dad and I would bring a washcloth with us and drag it in the water while we ride the bamboo shoot, being careful not to smash our hands as that was part of the fun. That wet rag kept us cooled off as we walked around. They had the best fries all over and amazing funnel cake in the German area. They had a full biergarten! I can hear, see, smell, and feel and taste it all right here. Thank you for the video and the trip down memory lane. Kenny Ryman has a UA-cam channel with tons of Astroworld videos he took. He worked there as well. I always wanted to be one of those teenagers or college kids that worked there. 🥰
My daughter was 5 when Astroworld closed, and the last day we took her, she hugged it goodbye. I still have the picture.
Astroworld was my first job in 1997. It sucked.
@@melanielanphier astroworld sucked in 1997. It never got better after that. That's why it shut down
@@melanielanphier awwwww.
1:18 Thats my mom in yellow! Wow, what a blast from the past!!! 😊Thank you! Been looking for that for a LONG time!😎
OrangeunicorndawnLPS she was in the yellow...
Captain Howdy damn bruh dont go like that he just called yo moms ugly b
Dying Horse not trippin . She wasn’t ugly.
Here before Astroworld the album
Hey lol
Here after all that
@@darthkrator9366 what a ride it was... all the ups and downs of A rollercoaster you could say
😬
If AstroWorld still existed, Hurricane Harvey would've completely destroy the park like Six Flags New Orleans when it was destroyed by Katrina
Depends on the elevation.
Axel Martinez i doubt it
Lol no. New Orleans got fucked cause they built the sixflags on a seam right next to a big ass lake that overflew. Astroworld would have been fine after Harvey
@@Protronica Also people forget Astroworld survived tropical storm Allison, which was in many cases, just as bad as Harvey.
Thats true man i live in houston texas. Real shit man
Part 2 will be posted on October 30. Those of you familiar with AstroWorld will probably know the significance of that date. Enjoy the video, everyone!!
Closing was on October 30th, on our favorite year! (sarcasm) 2005. YAY!!! (sarcasm)
RIP Astroworld and SFNO
RampagingRex Productions Clever upload time
RampagingRex Productions I
RampagingRex Productions could've sworn i heard a sonic unleashed song
I swear, I had never known Travis Scott existed when I found out about Astroworld. I’m a coaster enthusiast btw
Nor did I
talentless sellout
I live at Montreal so I go to Laronde a lot during the summer and when I go on the Monstre, I can see the old Texas cyclone train cars. I always wondered where they came from.
We also have the old serial thriller now named Ednör.
I’m kind of happy to have old relics from Astroworld.
I wished I could have gone there but I was 4 when it closed.😭😭
I loved the Texas Cyclone lol! The wood made it creepier lol!
I remember visiting as a kid in the summer of '76, and seeing the Cyclone for the first time on the drive approaching the park. I was flat out amazed. What a blast to ride. There was an arena with inflated walls right next to the Cyclone that had a great magic show. I probably visited AstroWorld 10-15 times over the years, but that trip was the most memorable.
Astro world my planet , my home , got to high the fumes , to strong .
Dark Justice Media mix this cup for way too long
Cactus jack my g
Add it up don’t subtract it
Thank you for making this! Astroworld was my home park. I grew up going to Astroworld and had some of my earliest memories there. The Serpent, Excalibur, and XLR8 were my first coasters, Viper was my first looping coaster, and Greezed Lightnin was a childhood favorite. There is a lot of great stuff in this including many things I did not know about such as the underground AC and the Alpine coaster. Can't wait for part 2!
Same! Serpent was my very first Rollercoaster! And XLR8 was my favorite. I'm sad that I never got to ride greased lightning or the Texas cyclone :(
The Mayan Mind Bender was the best (but most terrifying) ride of Astroworld
I'm glad it's still operating, but I think a part of the thrill was lost when Wonderland Park decided not to keep it as an indoor coaster.
Ironic this is in my feed now after the incident
Will Travis still bring back Astroworld after what happened at his show?
La Flame
I remember me my dad and brother going to Astroworld. We had so much fun. I couldn't have been more than 6 years old but was able to ride The Texas Cyclone. We also played little league . Our team was the Houston Astros. I use to love my Astros baseball jersey. Great memories but then we ended up moving to Fla
I love these documentaries.
Wish You Were Here
Anyone remember the horizon theatre that had a domed ceiling and a video projected onto it? The videos were kind of creepy and had a lot of character. One of the coolest experiences I had during fright fest was at this theatre with their horror themed shows.
I memba 🍇
STRAIGHT UP!
JOPE chill out la flame
ISS LIT
I know a lot of people place the Texas Cyclone at the top of the list, but I had a soft spot for Greased Lighting! That rush when you first took off, nothing better. Also had fond memories of the Alpine sleigh ride when I was a kid back in the 70's. Good times.
Greezed Lightnin' may no longer be around, but the same model of coaster is still around as Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm. The flywheel launch Schwarzkopf coasters are getting very hard to find.
I was able to visit Astroworld during the final few years. Ultra Twister was probably the most unique ride at the time. Ultimately the lack of a parking agreement with the Astrodome may have been the tipping point towards the park being sold. Now all I have are a few souvenirs including brochures, a wall calendar, and a 2004 souvenir cup! (SF parks' souvenir bottles were custom for each park back then.)
Well, they went and built that whole new NFL stadium in the Astrodome parking lot, which really did not help the already-bad parking situation. Looking back, probably should have kept Astroworld and let the Texans go to San Antonio and the Alamodome. Houston just has no luck with pro football teams.
@@selanryn5849 Six Flags ended up losing money on the real estate sale. So not only was it a bad deal, they essentially forfeited an entire park. Astroworld was a special place.
Dam they had AC in the open air
Disney world barley can cool its indoor rides
10:57
Love the restoration of this Commercial. I don’t hear any tape hissing and it sounds like it was just released yesterday. Nice work
I remember the serpent and the bamboo ride! I miss the park so much!
Elizabeth Tran
The viper
This right here is astronomical.
Never knew there was a six flags in houston cool
Rollin rollin rollin got me stargazing
Travis Scott thanks bro hope Another theme park comes rip Astroworld
On the southside of town, gettin me a ball fade
Ayeee
Not with all that talking turned into a closed gate
Really wish I could've came here. This place had such a bright future
I love all 3 of your amusement park documentaries so much! Keep up the great work!
I loved Viper!!!!!
jordynliketheriver Viper Came From my home park Six Flags St. Louis then known as Six Flags Over Mid-America Viper Was Called Jetscream then
Great Videography. Thanks for the fond memories. 1972 was my first time going. 1989 was the last. 2-3 times in between,
ITS LIT
There were a few rides that they did not mention such as Warp 2000, Condor or Adventure Rivers. I spent a lot of my childhood there and I was blessed to see it at its peak. I was supposed to meet Robert Englund there in 1989 but the park closed down due to such a high volume. I remember when 93Q sponsored the season passes (I still have one of them from 1988) and they used to have a tv show there every week featuring music videos (I can't remember the name of it but I remember walking through it when we had our season passes done year after year), It was such a fun place!
This covers my era of the park (Cyclone, etc.). Nice overview. I never recalled AC on the boat ride,
this video needs more likes
Texas Cyclone was a very good ride.
The Serpent! I remember while everyone and their mother was waiting in line for three hours to ride the more shiny coasters, my sister and I rode the Serpent over and over again. It wasn't the most insane ride ever, but it was a nice little coaster that was fun to ride on.
My heyday at Astroworld was 1978-1990, when I was 8-20, though I have memories of the park from both earlier and later. I remember being very young riding the Serpentine with my Mom, probably about 1974. I also remember the Spinning Barrell, which would spin so fast the occupants of the chamber would stick to the walls! That one did not last long, as I recall. I remember the Wacky Shack, the Alpine Sleigh Ride with its dwarf miners and cool AC, and all the rides seen in the video. The XLR8 was too slow for my tastes! The Sky Screamer was terrifying. My favorite coaster was the Excalibur, because it was fast but not TOO fast! The Cyclone would wrench your neck and rattle your bones. My sister loved Greased Lightnin' but I thought it was too short. In 1990 the Viper really impressed me, and whenever I visited from college I would be sure to take my girlfriend to the park, and we would ride the Viper over and over. Years and years of memories here.
Thanks for sharing! AstroWorld's coasters were definitely memorable, and it's a true shame that most of them never got to reopen at other parks. A good deal of them were Schwarzkopf designs, which are getting increasingly hard to find at most parks.
We would ride the Sky Screamer and place quarters at our feet and watch them levitate as we dropped. #goodtimes
Share your AstroWorld stories in the comments! Did you get to experience any of the rides mentioned in this video? What are some of your fondest memories of AstroWorld? Share your memories here and let's make sure this park is never forgotten!
I worked at Astroworld from 1980-1988, 7 operating seasons. I skipped the 1984 season. The XLR8 coaster was actually designed to go much faster than its relatively slow final speed.
What happened was during the one of the coaster's trial runs, a rides supervisor ran the coaster excessively fast (by disabling the trim brakes all throughout the ride). Basically, it blew past the second lift. As a result of the overly excessive speed the coaster achieved, the front of the coaster slammed into one of the pylons and cracked the front of the ride and damaged part of the queue house. Thankfully, the coaster was empty. However, we would eventually come to find that it wasn't a design flaw. Initially, I understand this supervisor had lied to management about how the accident occurred. Thinking it was a design flaw, the park contracted to have some of the pylons changed to slow the ride down to 'prevent' a recurrence of that event. This 'accident' almost threatened to not allow the coaster to open.
What happened next was ... that ride supervisor had taken photos (known as selfies today) of what happened and this person began circulating them around the park employees 6-12 months later. This supervisor was actually proud of it and stupidly began passing the photos around for all the world to see. Yes, I got to see them. Eventually the truth surfaced even among the upper management. Unfortunately, the damage was already done (literally). The coaster's damaged car (and the queue house) was repaired and part of the ride was redesigned to 'slow the ride' and prevent it from going too fast thus avoiding any other ill-fated runs. I believe additional trim brakes were also added to slow the ride further. It was definitely not a design flaw that caused that 'accident'.
This wasn't the only ride incident caused by this supervisor. Prior to XLR8, this supervisor had bumped trains in the queue house at Excalibur (causing a few guests to have chipped teeth). This supervisor was also reckless driving a number of other coasters including the Texas Cyclone. Unfortunately, even after this information came to light, the supervisor wasn't fired. Instead, this person was transferred to the Shows department and allowed to remain a supervisor. We all regarded this person as a bit mentally challenged at this point, but Astroworld chose not to take action against this employee.
Note that even before the XLR8 incident, this supervisor was already known for being reckless while driving rides. Why this person was not investigated or fired after what happened on XLR8, I don't know.
While Thunder River might have been universally loved by guests, it was universally hated by people who had to work it. While XLR8 may not have had a design flaw, Thunder River most certainly did... and quite a number of them, which is why we hated working this ride. I even have a scar left over from helping to operate that ride.
The problem was the wild rapids were not contained and the the water currents would end up pooling into eddies which boats would get stuck swirling around in. Another boat would come along, break up the eddie and both would get stuck trying to get past a small neck in the rapids. We as ride operators would have to let the ride driver know to stop sending boats and then a number of us would all jump on the boats and try to get them unstuck. We called these 'jam ups'. Let's just say that from 1980-1981, that's pretty much all we did regularly. This was not only dangerous for us, there were times where the boats appeared to be sinking. Thankfully, after 5-8 minutes we could usually get the boats free and on their way.
Eventually, Intamin and the park engineers devised a way to break up the eddies by shooting water streams and by carefully adding directed wood planks so boats wouldn't pool and would keep moving on their own. It took several years before this 'prototype' worked out its kinks. I was never fond of operating this ride. Having to jump into the water or on boats regularly was not exactly my idea of fun at the workplace.
RampagingRex Productions I used come here all the time as a kid. Favorite rides as mentioned in the video were the texas cyclone, Viper, greezed lightning, Ultra twister, Bamboo shoot and mind bender never really like xlr8 it was slow with a very weak drop.
My mom took me when i was lil like really lil so i dont remember anything about it. I'm 15 now and we past by the empty lot that used to be astro world 24/7. They now use the lot for rodeo parking and parking for some events by the NRG stadium ( used to be known as the reliant stadium ). Lol my mom told me when she took me i jumped into a lil pond lol. Down here in Houston we have alot of things but.... it's still a saddens we have down here for fun times uk. We need an astro world back. We are the 4th largest city in the United Stares and is a tourist city and i main attraction is gone smh. The astro world lot is just a huge field just there...they should just put it back
They had Grad Night at Astroworld. I got to go twice. We got season passes for at least four years in a row as kids. Also to Water World. It was fun times.
The Ultra Twister was great because that first drop was a climb up and the car always lingered for a good few seconds before it dropped. Of course the favorite of most people was Greased Lightning. Quick and fun.
Man I miss this place!! 😭
Great memories!
Cajun Scorpion Travis just might bring it back, ESPECIALLY with that Billionaire wife of his!!
Ah over texas. The first and only Six flags park I've ever been to. Man I need to go to San Antonio
OH and I went to Huston and We saw the old Astroworld site... Man I'm so depressed will all of that dirt... If only they didn't demolish it...
thanks so much for making this
Your production company is top notch. You'll do well. Thanks for putting so much info about this beloved place in the series.
Thanks so much! I knew AstroWorld is a special place to those who experienced it, so I tried my best to cover it with the respect it deserves.
Great video, love hearing the stories about these parks, in future vids could you keep them to one video, I think it's better when the story is not broken up. thanx, hope to see more parks that have sadly fallen.
Thanks for the feedback. This was a difficult decision for me, but I thought my Geauga Lake documentary was long enough, and that anything longer would have to be split up. If I kept both parts of this video together, it would be over a half hour long. I know there are people who would have no problem with watching a 30 minute video, but for most, dividing it up into smaller videos is more manageable. Future documentary videos will be one part only.
Six Flags have recovered from bankruptcy back 6 years ago. They can't rebuy land because if you think about it... It's partly city owned now, because Cedar Fair ruined the park that was 6 years ago. (2001)
RampagingRex Productions part 2 comes up as private video, will not play?
+The Hedgehog Trio Which amusement park chain is better to you, Cedar Fair or Six Flags?
***** Really doesn't matter to me personally, as long as they have rollercoasters. BTW, wherebouts is Huron in Ohio?
Miss this place
Man I really wish I could have just gone to this place once, but I didn't move to Houston until 2007 and I was already about 2 years too late. :(
I remember Grease Lightning. I was a little kid then, but I remember. My dad went on it with me.
Thank you :3
So many memories!! So sad instead of my children enjoying AstroWorld all that is left is an empty, flat piece of undeveloped land. Such a shame!!
Here we are! An episode 5 days early. During the bad times of a theme park, some get a chance of revival, but some are lesser-known. It's quite sad.
YAY I LOVE THESE VIDEOS :D
Great documentary! You should make one for Six Flags as a whole, or maybe other parks like Over Texas.
The first time I rode this was with Kieran Burke, we rode it 3 times in a row and he convinced me to invest in the company.
Great times.
Memories!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In 1970 MASH director Robert Altman filmed the strange movie Brewster McCloud around Houston including Astroworld. My friends and I went to Astroworld during filming and, walking along, saw one of the film’s stars. He had played the role of Painless in the MASH movie. As he passed by, I casually said “Hi, Painless.” What a big smile when he realized he’d been recognized! My Astroworld Days ended when Six Flags took over, although I first met Weird Al and his band there in the early 1990’s. It was no reserved seating at the Al show, so I figured I’d never get a good seat. I told some young guys that I’d pay $20 if they saved me a seat up front. To my surprise, after the big crowd roared in, I saw one young man in the second row, indicating he saved that seat for me. Best $20 ever spent!
I’m from New Orleans I always travel with my parents here it brings back old memories 🤦🏾♂️😭😭😭😭
I'm enjoying your videos so much!!!!
Could you maybe do Celebration City in the Ozark Mountains? It closed in 2008 after I believe only 8 years.
Everytime I see these videos of Astroworld I get sad. Astroworld was so much fun and I'm glad it was around when I was a kid.I think closing this park was the WORST IDEAL EVER!! Astroworld gave kids and families somewhere to go during holidays,spring break and summers.Kept kids out of trouble.Then middle schools and high schools had physics day at Astroworld.Astroworld location was perfect and it gave our city a certain appeal,now we got a horrible eye sore and if we want to go to a theme park we have to go to Galveston for those sorry and minimal rides or we have to wait til the rodeo carnival or leave the city.I don't think that's fair at all.We need Astroworld back.
Christopher Clark Aren't you guys getting Grand Texas in New Caney? How is that project coming along?
I lived in Astroworld every summer. I used the living hell outta my season pass each year.
10 : 58 song that plays in the beginning of Travis Scott’s concert
AstroWorld was always enjoyable. I grew up back and forth between the Natti and Houston which means I also went to both parks of Kings Island and AstroWorld. I'd have to rate both parks about an equal similarity except for one thing. The Cyclone was fun. But it was no where near the #1 coaster as it claimed back in the day. I know every park likes to say their's is the best coaster, however the Cyclone couldn't compare to the Beast at Kings Island. Much Bigger 1st and 2nd Hills and a longer ride. The speeds were about identical.
Six Flags have destroyed or ruined more parks than imaginable. If you like Darien lake or frontier city enjoy while you can since six flags took over this year coming up.
jayrsmitty Kieran Burke and Premier Parks is responsible
Revisiting in 2022
This park had such a unique identity to it even as a Six Flags park. Six Flags should've just sold it back to the city of Houston.
Who ever is doing this park of the past videos. There are really good and I was wondering if you could to Opryland USA.
Josh Mathis Hell Yes! Opryland was so fun. I'm 43 and practically grew up at Opryland.
0:40 Titan, my first coaster, scared me so bad at 12 years old, I thought I was going to fall out of the car.
once a legend
What about the Astrodome!? Couldn't the dome be converted to an indoor amusement park???
Went several times in the 90’s, a lot of great memories. Even went to concert their and watched Billy Ray Cyrus.... Hated that they shut it down
Great video. Brings back memories. I used to go there as a kid and a few times an adult. Always a fun time. I think Houston should sue Kieran Burke for taking it's Six Flag park away and the lost revenue. Very sad to see how corporate greediness can have such an impact. AstroWorld made Houston a destination.
John Scott We need it back.....badly!!!!!
Didn't expect to hear the BGM to Amazing Arena lol
I’m a Jersey Boy. I’ve never knew we have the 2nd biggest amusement park in the world. 1st is Japan. 2nd Great Adventures.
Travis dropping Astro esketit
The only reason astroworld closed was because of reliant stadium
Nathan Rocha not true
katrina caused it to close down
Barbara Walters that was six flags new Orleans
Keymaster TheKeyboardWarrior oh gotcha
They said it was supposed to be something else at the end it became a parking lot
This reminds me of Ohio with Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Geauga Lake just on a bigger scale
RIP Astroworld😢
Please make more of these amusement park documentaries
Sml music right there 2:49
YO LOOK AT HOW FAR WE’VE COME WITH THESE COASTERS!!! WAAOOWWW
XLR8
Fun coaster
Jeez 2’000 tons of Air conditioning?
Isn't the "AstroWheel" used in Beverly Hills Cop 3?
Or were there several such attractions?
I think it was the tripple wheel at CGA in California
Looks fun but now we have to drive to San Antonio
Its now been 50 years since the park first opened
Go Greased Lightnin'
The humidity and heat is what killed the park it's way to hot to have an amusement park in the middle of a swamp
I would have want to go to this park it has so many good costers that I would have wanted to ride (do a video over bells amusement park)
How many times you get stuck on Dexter? Later known as Excalibur? How many did things they were not suppose to do on the Alpine ride? Lol
Do a documentary about Nara Dreamland
It started with one man’s idea:
Jacques Webster was a popular rap artist of the late 2010’s
I got to go here back in 2002 in the park was so neglected half the roads were shut down and there was a gum all over the place and I’m not kidding gum was stuck to everything. The Batcave for the Batman ride was off-limits because there was a murder in there end it was basically a show of a park at that point… What a shame… Shame on Six Flags
I miss astroworld