High crime wasn't a major reason for the park closing, it was property values. CEO of six flags at the time Kieran Burke told investors that the property was worth upwards of $150 million (just land alone!). However, after the demolition, they only got $77 million, leading the board to remove Kieran from his position and many people hating him and six flags for making that (stupid) decision
Theme Park Crazy There was crime and gang violence in the area (and the park), but it's not really a theory. It's pretty much accepted that it was closed for the land, and it wound up being a loss for all. But please don't bother taking down the video to correct the mistake, we all appreciate your integrity but it's really not worth it.
Does anyone else remember taking an empty Coke can for the admission discount?? Ohhh the good memories of AstroWorld. Bamboo shoot.... looping starship...TidalWave! Begging for the water to soak you cause it was hot as hell in the summer. Ahhh... teenager of the 80s and 90s
Dont forget the giant swing.. Dungeon Drop, the Sky screamers.. Then the waterworld side of the park.. Fuck I loved that place.. And Since you remember the coke cans... what about the dancing old bald guy from the commercials... Hell I remember as a early teen, always took the girls to the Mayan Mindbender for a little 1st and 2nd base in the dark.. Our parents would drop us off there when it opened, and pick us up when it closed..
another not so known reason it closed was because all the land around it was bought up by various businesses giving it no room to expand. In other words it was land locked.
I can’t believe they said it was shut down for high crime in the area & parking issues. That sucks!! Houston should open another ride park here, maybe in another area. We need a good amusement park here again like Astro World!! Just open another Astro World
The reasons for Astroworld's closure are often hotly disputed, but the CEO of Six Flags Kieran Burke at the time convinced the company to sell as they would get $150 mil. for it. Although questionable, Six Flags decided to plump for Burke's decision and sold the land only to receive half of what Burke said they would get AND they had to spend an extra $20 mil. just to clear the land. Because this decision was disastrous, Burke was fired for this boneheaded move. He basically robbed Houstonians of a park they held close to their heart and had fond memories of!
And houston, the soon to be third largest city in the nation, still does not have a theme park. Luckily, Fiesta Texas and Six Flags over Texas aren't too far away, but still hard for a day trip. But, I guess we made up for it since we have 3 water parks in the Greater Houston Area. But man do I miss Astroworld!
Houston has enough waterparks. And aside from Kemah with The Boardwalk Bullet and The Iron Shark(Pleasure Pier), Houston is in a desperate NEED of a MAJOR THEME PARK!!!
Even those waterparks are, imo, crappy compared to the awesome Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels. After going there almost every summer as a kid, I’m officially ruined for these dinky water parks with not enough shade where you burn your feet on the concrete. I hated when they closed Astroworld, we went every August right before school started as our end of the summer trip.
grew up as a SEASON PASS holder, h-town 80’s baby....so blessed to have grew up in a era without social media & smart phones!! we went to astroworld/waterworld FAITHFULLY....right across the way we had the OILERS i miss that era those times were the best!!! 🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾
I graduated high school in 84'. Always went with youth groups, family and later with employers who purchased whole park private tickets. I was there when CHEAP TRICK rocked the outdoor amphitheater and the stage caught on fire! Yup....those were the times you spoke to somebody face to face and SOCIAL EVENTS were a way of life (and not social media). Good Times!
You covered the history of these coasters really well. AstroWorld closed while I was still relatively young, but it truly deserves the recognition it's getting now for its amazing coaster lineup.
RampagingRex Productions same, it closed the same year I was born. Instead of growing up with Astro world like my siblings, I grew up at six flags fiesta texas
The closure of Astroworld has to be one of the most disappointing closures in the history of amusement parks. The fact that the land sold for half of what they expected to get for it and that it’s still an empty lot to this day is a painful simultaneous punch to the gut and knee to the crotch. There’s a new park scheduled to open in Houston area that is supposed to start with 4 or 5 new coasters if I’m not mistaken. I’m dying to know what they are planning on building. I guess a positive of Astroworld’s closing is that I doubt Fiesta Texas would have become what it is today if Astroworld stayed open. Boy, did Fiesta Texas ever suck in the 90’s?! It’s amazing how it’s gone from a crappy park that I never wanted to go to again into one of the best parks in the Six Flags chain.
I remember going to Astroworld as a kid... Whenever my family visited Houston, we'd always go there with my cousins. We were so sad when it closed down.
They look very nice. I would recommend you change the stat year opened to operatoin period and use that to show when the coaster opened and when it closed (Example Operation Period: 1985 - 2014)
We went every summer as kids. Parents dropped us off at opening and picked us up close to midnight. We were 10-13 years old. Had a great time, felt safe and enjoyed every moment. In the later years it started getting sketchy, kind of a daycare for juvenile delinquents. It didn't feel safe or as fun anymore as the gangs roamed the park intimidating others, fighting rival gangs and just ruining it for everyone. Eventually it just wasn't worth the high ticket price to be harassed and bullied by thugs in a family theme park. I miss it. When it was in it's prime.
When I was a kid my mom took my brother and I to Astroworld on a summer weekday and since the place was mostly empty we got to ride the Greezed Lightning as many times as we wanted. The dude fired it up and didn't stop it until we asked him to stop it. It was straight out of a movie. I get all misty thinking about it.
Thanks for the video! I really miss this park. Texas Cyclone was so underrated. The park totally refurbished it just a couple of years before the park closed. It was an awesome ride. I think it was the greatest loss. I recall it couldn't be relocated because it did not meet current standards for car clearances. Apparently, it was grandfathered in when the laws changed. It was a wild layout with tons of close headchoppers.
Thank you so much for making this video. My dad worked at the park, and he was one of the builders of serial thriller and Texas cyclone. It’s nice to see memories of his home park. Heck, that’s how my mom and dad met! My dad used to be a show technician also and my mom worked in the shows. Astroworld will always have a place in my family’s heart. (Few fun facts: the big rotating tower there was torn down “for unknown reasons,” but actually it was torn down due to it swaying too often in the wind, I.e. safety. Also,the bat cave on Batman the ride was originally part of the alpine bobsled ride. I have plenty more of u want some. Just comment down below asking for more)
Just a quick note... I worked there in the mid 70's - it was the "Alpine Sleigh Ride" - I worked the alpine astroway except on saturday's - I worked the sleigh ride from noon til 10pm
Seeing this video brings back so many memories. I remember waking up ass crack of dawn to get on a bus and head there with my classmates in the mid - late 90s. I went 4 or 5 times. Makes me remember so many things seeing this. I know the queue line for batman was cold inside and on the ride you sat on a bike seat type of thing. Ultra twister, xlr8, viper, cyclone, batman all great rides.
Came here to relive my teenage years real quick and say hi to the Serial Thriller. Fond memories as a 17-year old and working with the team assigned to Serial Thriller and Dungeon Drop. Hired in Feb. and by summer the entire 12 team crew had either been fired or quit. But what a fun summer job to meet people and make friends.
Ughhhhh I miss Astroworld soooo much! It was way better than the six flags in Arlington. Now we have to go to San Antonio for a good theme park. Had some of the best times here!!
Man I miss Astroworld. I've had so many fun memories visiting that park with my family when I was a kid back in the 80s & 90s. Those were the days😎👍 I was very disappointed when it closed. I wish I had a time machine & go back & enjoy those good o days there again. Houston isn't the same without it. RIP Astroworld😔
While not roller coasters, honorable mention of Sky Screamer, Dungeon Drop, Looping Starship, the Taxi Cars and Thunder River would be a great addition to this video. I remember going to Sky Screamer to try to pick up as much loose change as I could find in the seats. We would put pennies on our knees and watch them levitate when we dropped. I miss Astroworld so much. Thanks for the memories!
[edited for grammar] I always look out for videos like this because I cut my teeth (and grew up) on the rides of Astroworld. We lived in San Antonio, but every year from 1979 through 1989, we would drive the 189 miles to Houston to spend the weekend enjoying Astroworld and the other attractions in Houston. I cry when I see stuff like this - before Six Flags bought out Astroworld it was truly a one-of-a-kind family owned park. You could see stuff there that you wouldn't find anywhere else. I was on the second run of XLR8 - the wet ride, Bamboo Shoots was a "Kodak photo stop" where you could have a picture and go down a unique flume-ride. The Cyclone gave me my first back injury, but I loved every single second of it. When they opened Thunder River, I am (as a kid) featured in the photo with the [then] current Mayor of Houston. When they closed this park, Houston lost a true gem that made millions of Texans (and several generations) happy. It's a shame - nothing Six Flags has done has ever generated the memories and following that Astroworld had. 😢
I could smell the funnel cake the whole video. I grew up in League City just south of Houston, so I was fortunate to be able to go often. I even still have my season pass from 97. However, I was terrified of rides so although I went often, I didn't get on the rides until my last 2 times going when I was an early teen. It makes the nostalgia that much thicker tho, having watch Greezed Lighting a billion times but having that super fond memory of it being my first ride and actually experiencing it maybe 2 or 3 times. Man.. I really do miss that place. Nothing but great memories.
Texas Cyclone, Greezed Lightnin, and Ultra Twister were amazing! Its a shame so many rare coaster models closed along with this park. Those Schwarzkopf shuttle loop models are short but so, so thrilling
I was in High School and worked at Six Flags Astroworld for two Summer's - '75 at the Alpine Astroway & '76 - A New Rollercoaster - "THE TEXAS CYCLONE"...! I worked the Mid-Shift, 12 pm to 10 pm, and since the park stayed open til 12 am, sometimes I would finish my shift and come back into the park if friends from school were there or family and enjoy it with them. I enjoyed those '2' summers immensely and have never forgotten how special those times were way back when.... I live in San Antonio now and have seen on the internet - by chance - they are going to open a new Theme Park in the New Caney area "Grand Texas" - a water park has already opened near it, so it looks like the Houston area will have another park - finally I hope it does well and the people in the Houston area have some great memories as I did with the 'Old Astroworld'.....
I remember going to Astroworld every year when I was a kid. XLR-8, Texas Cyclone, Greased Lightning, the Ultra Twister, The Viper, f$&@ing classics!!! Waterworld and Splashtown, the Astro arena, all filled with both fond and horrifying memories.
I had a chance to ride most of those (and I'm especially pleased I got to ride Ultra Twister, Texas Cyclone, and Batman The Escape). I can confirm the park was closed because of the erroneous belief that the land was more valuable than the park. But the land hasn't been used for anything since, and it's considered one of Six Flags' greatest blunders.
I love history and now I apparently love roller coasters. I've been playing all the roller coaster games since I was a kid but I've never been on anything more intense then a crazy mouse, it's sad. Your channel has given me a whole new appreciation for the artistic engineering behind this crazy shit.
High crime in the area? Don't get me wrong there are bad parts of Houston but Astroworld was away from it. You had to park near Reliant Stadium and then walk across a dedicated bridge to the theme park. Didnt have to pass through any bad areas to get there. I would chalk the closure up to Six Flags failing as a company At the time, out of all the Six Flags parks this one just happened to be making less than the others compared to how much was being put into it.... Refusing to use the empty grassy spot next to it was a dumb thing though because sharing a parking lot with an event center/ football stadium and the rodeo there was really no room but they weren't making enough to build a parking lot.. if that says anything
I was in Iraq that last year Astroworld was open. I went home on r&r on that last fright fest. I didn't know it was closing after that season. I wish I had known and gone.
Astro World was my entire childhood. I miss it so much and wish my kids could experience it. Everything about it was magical, like a Looney Toons version of our very own “Disney world.” I remember my parents dropping me off on their way to work every morning during the summer and spending my entire day there, taking my season pass picture every year, and having the most memorable fun times of my life with my family and childhood friends. I still remember the last time I went was Fright Fest, Saturday October 22, 2005 right before they closed for good 😢 Can we just have it back!!!! 🥺
I mean the Rodeo is great and all but they’re the ones holding on to the land for parking. If we can get them to sale the land back to someone wealthy willing to make some sort of amusement park out of it that would be great. Also the old astrodome could be turned into a giant parking area for the park since no one is using that anymore either. If I ever win the Mega millions that’s something I’d definitely attempt to do. But we deserve multiple roller coasters not just one and not just kiddie family rides like some other crappy amusement parks in the area have attempted.
If I were to build a new theme park in Houston, I would have a Chance Hyper GT-X, Gravity Group Woodie, B&M Mini Dive, Gerstlauer Spinner, S&S Family Inverted Coaster, and Zamperla Family Gravity Coaster. My headlining flat rides would include a Funtime Starflyer, Larson SuperLoop, S&S Space Shot, Chance Unicoaster, Chance Freestyle, and Zamperla Giant Discovery.
“Moving conveyor, please watch your step.” Hello from a former Astroworld rides foreman at Ultra Twister ‘91. Man, so many hats, hair weaves and black and neon Rayban ripoffs that were lost on that ride at the bottom of the track each night. By the way, there was a feral orange cat we named Twisty that lived somewhere in the Alpine mountain right next to our ride and where our storage closet was. He would come out to visit the ride operators in the morning and also when we closed the ride at night and even walk on the conveyor belt sometimes. There was no other job quite like it, and being a teen/young adult with such great responsibility of running a big ride and crew made it even more exciting. Good memories working there.
I loved astroworld and was so sad when it closed. My one credit was xlr8 as I was too chicken to ride anything else there as a child in the 90s. But by 2005 when I was finally a thrill junkie, they closed it down. I cut my teeth on my home park coasters at fiesta Texas, but I still wish my parents had made the few more hour drive to Houston for our family vacation in 2004.
You forgot one of the coolest rides to ever grace Astro World in SKY SCREAMER. It would take you and three of your friends up in an elevator type car and drop you over 100 feet in a free fall. It was short but super intense. I wonder where that one ended up. By far our favorite attraction there was The Bayou Buzzard. He was a puppet that put on a comedy show from this little covered wagon. He used his audience for material. We would go just so we could all get roasted by him and laugh at each other. Ah, good times.
They then replaced it with another coaster that basically did the same thing but higher and your feet dangled in the air. I can't remember what is was called.
2023 update! There have been talks about opening another theme park in Houston, TX. However, Six Flags doesn’t plan to have Astroworld come back. Also, out of respect of the fans who lost their lives at the Astroworld concert. People here have said if it were to return, the name must be change due to the fact.
I had someone ask me about the Alpine Sleigh ride, and while it was a fascinating attraction, it was officially classified as a dark ride rather than a roller coaster. It did have roller coaster-like elements, but it is more of a dark ride. It is not featured on RCDB. Also, the Mayan Mindbender's speed seems weird for being so short, but it was what I researched. Take those specific stats with a grain of salt. facebook.com/pg/Astroworld-659032460851347/photos/?tab=album&album_id=659461547475105
Alpine Sleigh Ride was my favorite ride at the park. Unfortunately, it didn't last. Here's a link to the huge article I wrote for the DAFE newsletter Barrel O'Fun many years ago. I had fun tracking down former ride operators for my research. www.dafe.org/articles/darkrides/alpineSleighs.html
When I took my regular visit to Astroworld (I live near Dallas), I was VERY disappointed to discover Alpine Sleigh Ride was gone forever! I have fond memories of my parents and I riding it when I was young.
This was my parents home park growing up in the 80s and my uncle worked their as a teen in the early 2000s. My mom worked for a personal injury lawyer in the 90s who had a greezed lightning case and was terrified of my siblings and i getting on coasters when we started going to our home park (K.I.) several years ago!
I love watching your videos but the real reason Astroworld was shut down wasn’t just due to parking and crime. The main factor was a critical financial mistake made by Six Flags CEO at the time and he was fired as soon as Astrowrold was shut down. Check out the video about why Astroworld was closed. It’s great
I’ve been on the toboggan at Little Americka 👍🏼. also what do you have against mount olympus? 😂😂the wave pool is great and hades 360 is pretty fun as well
I grew up at Astroworld and worked there the summer of '77 for a couple of months on the Train that circled the park. I was in maintenance so i was one of the invisible people and wasn't allowed in public areas. I was sad to see the park go and yeah, there were crime problems inside and outside the park.
There is a Togo Pipeline coaster at my current homepark, Mitsui Greenland, and it wasn't too bad for a togo coaster. It featured a vertical lift which are always fun and was actually rather smooth besides the slam into the breaks where the cart goes backwards. Very unique rides and I wish there were more in America.
I remember seeing Zonga at six flags discovery kingdom when I was a little kid and thinking it was really pretty, and then one year they just took it down. I saw it laying in pieces in the parking lot and I was so confused because I didnt know you could take them down and rebuild them 😅
High crime wasn't a major reason for the park closing, it was property values. CEO of six flags at the time Kieran Burke told investors that the property was worth upwards of $150 million (just land alone!). However, after the demolition, they only got $77 million, leading the board to remove Kieran from his position and many people hating him and six flags for making that (stupid) decision
+KarnageKamikaze there are many reasons and theories. I think crime did play a role, but your explanation makes a lot of sense.
they got 77 million but spent 10's of millions clearing the rides and park off the land
Theme Park Crazy There was crime and gang violence in the area (and the park), but it's not really a theory. It's pretty much accepted that it was closed for the land, and it wound up being a loss for all. But please don't bother taking down the video to correct the mistake, we all appreciate your integrity but it's really not worth it.
I've also heard Hurricane Katrina may have played a small role, as the closure announcement came not long after Katrina hit New Orleans
KarnageKamikaze if
Does anyone else remember taking an empty Coke can for the admission discount?? Ohhh the good memories of AstroWorld. Bamboo shoot.... looping starship...TidalWave! Begging for the water to soak you cause it was hot as hell in the summer. Ahhh... teenager of the 80s and 90s
I remember that!
It wasn't free, it was a $10 discount.
Sure do. Miss them days. Fun childhood.
Dont forget the giant swing.. Dungeon Drop, the Sky screamers.. Then the waterworld side of the park.. Fuck I loved that place..
And Since you remember the coke cans... what about the dancing old bald guy from the commercials...
Hell I remember as a early teen, always took the girls to the Mayan Mindbender for a little 1st and 2nd base in the dark.. Our parents would drop us off there when it opened, and pick us up when it closed..
Being from Houston RIP ASTROWORLD ...we will always remember you
So sad that this closed for nothing. The park had such a bright future. Same with Geauga Lake
another not so known reason it closed was because all the land around it was bought up by various businesses giving it no room to expand. In other words it was land locked.
Also Six Flags had over 2 million in debt. So they had to sell
Crime and parking problems isn’t a bright future with no reason to close...
I can’t believe they said it was shut down for high crime in the area & parking issues. That sucks!! Houston should open another ride park here, maybe in another area. We need a good amusement park here again like Astro World!! Just open another Astro World
The reasons for Astroworld's closure are often hotly disputed, but the CEO of Six Flags Kieran Burke at the time convinced the company to sell as they would get $150 mil. for it. Although questionable, Six Flags decided to plump for Burke's decision and sold the land only to receive half of what Burke said they would get AND they had to spend an extra $20 mil. just to clear the land. Because this decision was disastrous, Burke was fired for this boneheaded move. He basically robbed Houstonians of a park they held close to their heart and had fond memories of!
And houston, the soon to be third largest city in the nation, still does not have a theme park. Luckily, Fiesta Texas and Six Flags over Texas aren't too far away, but still hard for a day trip. But, I guess we made up for it since we have 3 water parks in the Greater Houston Area. But man do I miss Astroworld!
Houston has enough waterparks. And aside from Kemah with The Boardwalk Bullet and The Iron Shark(Pleasure Pier), Houston is in a desperate NEED of a MAJOR THEME PARK!!!
Something Smart We have Kemah and Pleasure Pier, but even those can't compare to Astroworld.
And the future Grand Texas, while it has a ton of potential, is still too far, in New Caney.
Cayenne It beats driving 2-3 hours to San Antonio or Arlington for a theme park.
Even those waterparks are, imo, crappy compared to the awesome Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels. After going there almost every summer as a kid, I’m officially ruined for these dinky water parks with not enough shade where you burn your feet on the concrete. I hated when they closed Astroworld, we went every August right before school started as our end of the summer trip.
grew up as a SEASON PASS holder, h-town 80’s baby....so blessed to have grew up in a era without social media & smart phones!! we went to astroworld/waterworld FAITHFULLY....right across the way we had the OILERS i miss that era those times were the best!!! 🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾
We had so much fun back then....we actually WENT OUTSIDE
U remember waiting in that long ass season pass line on your first day to get your pic taken when all u wanted to do was ride rides?
I graduated high school in 84'. Always went with youth groups, family and later with employers who purchased whole park private tickets. I was there when CHEAP TRICK rocked the outdoor amphitheater and the stage caught on fire! Yup....those were the times you spoke to somebody face to face and SOCIAL EVENTS were a way of life (and not social media). Good Times!
You covered the history of these coasters really well. AstroWorld closed while I was still relatively young, but it truly deserves the recognition it's getting now for its amazing coaster lineup.
RampagingRex Productions the documentaries you made are really well done especially Geauga Lake
RampagingRex Productions same, it closed the same year I was born. Instead of growing up with Astro world like my siblings, I grew up at six flags fiesta texas
Yes!! Wooden, and Lightning.
The closure of Astroworld has to be one of the most disappointing closures in the history of amusement parks. The fact that the land sold for half of what they expected to get for it and that it’s still an empty lot to this day is a painful simultaneous punch to the gut and knee to the crotch.
There’s a new park scheduled to open in Houston area that is supposed to start with 4 or 5 new coasters if I’m not mistaken. I’m dying to know what they are planning on building.
I guess a positive of Astroworld’s closing is that I doubt Fiesta Texas would have become what it is today if Astroworld stayed open. Boy, did Fiesta Texas ever suck in the 90’s?! It’s amazing how it’s gone from a crappy park that I never wanted to go to again into one of the best parks in the Six Flags chain.
I remember going to Astroworld as a kid... Whenever my family visited Houston, we'd always go there with my cousins. We were so sad when it closed down.
Travis I know you reading these comments.
Drop the album fam😭
hes never gonna drop it smh
@@MS-hl4dr tf you mean hes dropping it later this year
This comment is very very ironic now
R.I.P. old static graphics.
They look very nice. I would recommend you change the stat year opened to operatoin period and use that to show when the coaster opened and when it closed (Example Operation Period: 1985 - 2014)
I was going to do that, but I thought it would be redundant since 10/12 of the rides closed in 2005 haha. But I will do it in the future.
Awwwwwww sad
We went every summer as kids. Parents dropped us off at opening and picked us up close to midnight. We were 10-13 years old. Had a great time, felt safe and enjoyed every moment. In the later years it started getting sketchy, kind of a daycare for juvenile delinquents. It didn't feel safe or as fun anymore as the gangs roamed the park intimidating others, fighting rival gangs and just ruining it for everyone. Eventually it just wasn't worth the high ticket price to be harassed and bullied by thugs in a family theme park. I miss it. When it was in it's prime.
R.I.P Astroworld you deserved better! glad I got those coaster credits! little did I know they would become some of the rarest in the world!
When I was a kid my mom took my brother and I to Astroworld on a summer weekday and since the place was mostly empty we got to ride the Greezed Lightning as many times as we wanted. The dude fired it up and didn't stop it until we asked him to stop it. It was straight out of a movie. I get all misty thinking about it.
Thanks for the video! I really miss this park. Texas Cyclone was so underrated. The park totally refurbished it just a couple of years before the park closed. It was an awesome ride. I think it was the greatest loss. I recall it couldn't be relocated because it did not meet current standards for car clearances. Apparently, it was grandfathered in when the laws changed. It was a wild layout with tons of close headchoppers.
ASTROWORLD
MY PLANET
MY HOME
@LeonIstCool lmao i forgot about this
Used to be my home park. Now Houston has no park.
What about the new Grand Texas in New Caney, do you know of any progress on that park?
Hennisphere Grand Texas😝 coming soon
i wasnt alive in 2005
Can't come soon enough!
Ay just take a quick (3 hour) drive to san antonio
The heat and humidity during a Houston summer made AstroWorld hell on Earth.
The Viper was my very first coaster! Man I had some good times at Astroworld and Waterworld.
Chris M mine tooooo ♥️
Mines too
Mine too
Mine too! I was 8 or 9 years old and we went on Easter Sunday so the park was pretty much empty. Great coaster, very smooth ride.
Thank you so much for making this video. My dad worked at the park, and he was one of the builders of serial thriller and Texas cyclone. It’s nice to see memories of his home park. Heck, that’s how my mom and dad met! My dad used to be a show technician also and my mom worked in the shows. Astroworld will always have a place in my family’s heart. (Few fun facts: the big rotating tower there was torn down “for unknown reasons,” but actually it was torn down due to it swaying too often in the wind, I.e. safety. Also,the bat cave on Batman the ride was originally part of the alpine bobsled ride. I have plenty more of u want some. Just comment down below asking for more)
Just a quick note... I worked there in the mid 70's - it was the "Alpine Sleigh Ride" - I worked the alpine astroway except on saturday's - I worked the sleigh ride from noon til 10pm
Nice story man
anything about warp 10/2000?
Pretty cool story
Seeing this video brings back so many memories. I remember waking up ass crack of dawn to get on a bus and head there with my classmates in the mid - late 90s. I went 4 or 5 times. Makes me remember so many things seeing this. I know the queue line for batman was cold inside and on the ride you sat on a bike seat type of thing. Ultra twister, xlr8, viper, cyclone, batman all great rides.
You forgot Dungeon Drop!!!
Sky Screamer also
Looping starship, Wagon wheel, and the real old Alpine Sleigh.
He was doing rollercoasters only for the video, not flats.
Myan Mindbender was that we tried to find girls to ride with us. Good times, good times. It closed right when I was finally old enough to work there.
The Ultra-Twister was my first roller coaster. These rides bring so many great memories, but the Mayan Mindbender was my favorite. RIP Astroworld.
Wasn't my first. But Ultra-Twister
was my favorite.
Came here to relive my teenage years real quick and say hi to the Serial Thriller. Fond memories as a 17-year old and working with the team assigned to Serial Thriller and Dungeon Drop. Hired in Feb. and by summer the entire 12 team crew had either been fired or quit. But what a fun summer job to meet people and make friends.
Ughhhhh I miss Astroworld soooo much! It was way better than the six flags in Arlington. Now we have to go to San Antonio for a good theme park. Had some of the best times here!!
Man I miss Astroworld. I've had so many fun memories visiting that park with my family when I was a kid back in the 80s & 90s. Those were the days😎👍 I was very disappointed when it closed. I wish I had a time machine & go back & enjoy those good o days there again. Houston isn't the same without it.
RIP Astroworld😔
I remember when Excalibur was Dexter Frebish's Electric Roller Ride! Yes, I loved that name (although the ride itself wasn't too good).
While not roller coasters, honorable mention of Sky Screamer, Dungeon Drop, Looping Starship, the Taxi Cars and Thunder River would be a great addition to this video. I remember going to Sky Screamer to try to pick up as much loose change as I could find in the seats. We would put pennies on our knees and watch them levitate when we dropped. I miss Astroworld so much. Thanks for the memories!
[edited for grammar] I always look out for videos like this because I cut my teeth (and grew up) on the rides of Astroworld. We lived in San Antonio, but every year from 1979 through 1989, we would drive the 189 miles to Houston to spend the weekend enjoying Astroworld and the other attractions in Houston. I cry when I see stuff like this - before Six Flags bought out Astroworld it was truly a one-of-a-kind family owned park. You could see stuff there that you wouldn't find anywhere else. I was on the second run of XLR8 - the wet ride, Bamboo Shoots was a "Kodak photo stop" where you could have a picture and go down a unique flume-ride. The Cyclone gave me my first back injury, but I loved every single second of it. When they opened Thunder River, I am (as a kid) featured in the photo with the [then] current Mayor of Houston.
When they closed this park, Houston lost a true gem that made millions of Texans (and several generations) happy. It's a shame - nothing Six Flags has done has ever generated the memories and following that Astroworld had. 😢
Hey, that's me at 8:00. Working at Astroworld was the best
I could smell the funnel cake the whole video. I grew up in League City just south of Houston, so I was fortunate to be able to go often. I even still have my season pass from 97. However, I was terrified of rides so although I went often, I didn't get on the rides until my last 2 times going when I was an early teen. It makes the nostalgia that much thicker tho, having watch Greezed Lighting a billion times but having that super fond memory of it being my first ride and actually experiencing it maybe 2 or 3 times. Man.. I really do miss that place. Nothing but great memories.
greezed lightning kicked ass, still by far my fav coaster till this day
Texas Cyclone, Greezed Lightnin, and Ultra Twister were amazing! Its a shame so many rare coaster models closed along with this park. Those Schwarzkopf shuttle loop models are short but so, so thrilling
I was in High School and worked at Six Flags Astroworld for two Summer's - '75 at the Alpine Astroway & '76 - A New Rollercoaster -
"THE TEXAS CYCLONE"...! I worked the Mid-Shift, 12 pm to 10 pm, and since the park stayed open til 12 am, sometimes I would finish my shift and come back into the park if friends from school were there or family and enjoy it with them. I enjoyed those '2' summers immensely and have never forgotten how special those times were way back when....
I live in San Antonio now and have seen on the internet - by chance - they are going to open a new Theme Park in the New Caney area
"Grand Texas" - a water park has already opened near it, so it looks like the Houston area will have another park - finally
I hope it does well and the people in the Houston area have some great memories as I did with the 'Old Astroworld'.....
I remember going to Astroworld every year when I was a kid. XLR-8, Texas Cyclone, Greased Lightning, the Ultra Twister, The Viper, f$&@ing classics!!! Waterworld and Splashtown, the Astro arena, all filled with both fond and horrifying memories.
My mom always talks about riding the cyclone. Sad.
Jack Rota there still is one on coney island
@@balthazarbratt8194 I've been a BAAAAAD BOY
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!! This park will forever be such a HUGE part of my childhood! I miss it so much!!
Holy crap... seeing that footage of Serpent brought up memories I forgot I even had
I had a chance to ride most of those (and I'm especially pleased I got to ride Ultra Twister, Texas Cyclone, and Batman The Escape). I can confirm the park was closed because of the erroneous belief that the land was more valuable than the park. But the land hasn't been used for anything since, and it's considered one of Six Flags' greatest blunders.
I almost died on ultra twister, being born n raised n houston Astroworld will always be a Houston landmark, had great times and memories there
I love history and now I apparently love roller coasters. I've been playing all the roller coaster games since I was a kid but I've never been on anything more intense then a crazy mouse, it's sad. Your channel has given me a whole new appreciation for the artistic engineering behind this crazy shit.
High crime in the area? Don't get me wrong there are bad parts of Houston but Astroworld was away from it. You had to park near Reliant Stadium and then walk across a dedicated bridge to the theme park. Didnt have to pass through any bad areas to get there. I would chalk the closure up to Six Flags failing as a company At the time, out of all the Six Flags parks this one just happened to be making less than the others compared to how much was being put into it.... Refusing to use the empty grassy spot next to it was a dumb thing though because sharing a parking lot with an event center/ football stadium and the rodeo there was really no room
but they weren't making enough to build a parking lot.. if that says anything
Mayan Mindbender gave me nightmares as a kid and still gives me nightmares at age 30, I get chills looking at that video of it
Thanks for the nostalgia trip man.
I was very lucky to grow up in the 90s - 2000s and enjoy all but 1 of these great coasters. 😁👍
I went during the last Fright Fest, and I remember it so vividly, it’s wild to me the park’s already been closed for so long. RIP
I was in Iraq that last year Astroworld was open. I went home on r&r on that last fright fest. I didn't know it was closing after that season. I wish I had known and gone.
Thank you so much for covering this!! I love coaster history lessons! ☺️🎢🤓
Love your channel! These videos are great. They're short yet packed with information. They are also very frequent!
I was born in Houston and the very first roller coaster I rode on was Greazed Lightning. Loved it!
I grew up with this park and I miss it terribly! Thank you for this video!
R.I.P. Six Flags AstroWorld
You're more loved than ever.
Astro World was my entire childhood. I miss it so much and wish my kids could experience it. Everything about it was magical, like a Looney Toons version of our very own “Disney world.” I remember my parents dropping me off on their way to work every morning during the summer and spending my entire day there, taking my season pass picture every year, and having the most memorable fun times of my life with my family and childhood friends. I still remember the last time I went was Fright Fest, Saturday October 22, 2005 right before they closed for good 😢 Can we just have it back!!!! 🥺
I mean the Rodeo is great and all but they’re the ones holding on to the land for parking. If we can get them to sale the land back to someone wealthy willing to make some sort of amusement park out of it that would be great. Also the old astrodome could be turned into a giant parking area for the park since no one is using that anymore either. If I ever win the Mega millions that’s something I’d definitely attempt to do. But we deserve multiple roller coasters not just one and not just kiddie family rides like some other crappy amusement parks in the area have attempted.
Same ..it's like a piece of me went with the park..To this day I wish my Goddaughter would've been able to have gone..I miss Astroworld so much..
There is a Looping Star at Busch Gardens Tampa called Scorpion. Been there since 1980.
Christopher Williams Not the same model.
XLR8 was and still is my favorite coaster of all time
I’m now 22 years old and these memories from when I was 6 and 7 are hitting hard
Ultra twister was very good. Sorry it didn't get more use. Batman the escape was really awesome too.
If I were to build a new theme park in Houston, I would have a Chance Hyper GT-X, Gravity Group Woodie, B&M Mini Dive, Gerstlauer Spinner, S&S Family Inverted Coaster, and Zamperla Family Gravity Coaster. My headlining flat rides would include a Funtime Starflyer, Larson SuperLoop, S&S Space Shot, Chance Unicoaster, Chance Freestyle, and Zamperla Giant Discovery.
Hopefully we will
Excellent compilation, glad you found use for my footage. SIGH I miss it all.
"cOnSiDeR tHiS a NoTeWoRtHy CrEdIt"
“Moving conveyor, please watch your step.” Hello from a former Astroworld rides foreman at Ultra Twister ‘91. Man, so many hats, hair weaves and black and neon Rayban ripoffs that were lost on that ride at the bottom of the track each night. By the way, there was a feral orange cat we named Twisty that lived somewhere in the Alpine mountain right next to our ride and where our storage closet was. He would come out to visit the ride operators in the morning and also when we closed the ride at night and even walk on the conveyor belt sometimes. There was no other job quite like it, and being a teen/young adult with such great responsibility of running a big ride and crew made it even more exciting. Good memories working there.
Do six flags over Texas former rides
JMoney 87 Yes,Yes,Yes and more yes
You're bringing back childhood memories.
Nice addition of the stats, that's really interesting to learn
ITS LIT
My dad rode Cyclone as a kid. Said it was the most terrifying ride experience of his life. Convinced him to get on X2 this past November.
I love this channel! RIP Astroworld
I loved astroworld and was so sad when it closed. My one credit was xlr8 as I was too chicken to ride anything else there as a child in the 90s. But by 2005 when I was finally a thrill junkie, they closed it down. I cut my teeth on my home park coasters at fiesta Texas, but I still wish my parents had made the few more hour drive to Houston for our family vacation in 2004.
Woo! Shout out to Lakemont Park! I live in Texas but was born in Central PA and went to Lakemont and Blands(Delgrosso) Park all the time!
It is also funny that both Six Flags Serial Thrillers both end up as McDonalds Coasters
Dr Awsome The Wizard i never noticed that and they both went to the company's lowest park
Both six flags parks I've been to or seen in person are dead. (New orleans and Astroworld)
Screw hurricane Katrina
You forgot one of the coolest rides to ever grace Astro World in SKY SCREAMER. It would take you and three of your friends up in an elevator type car and drop you over 100 feet in a free fall. It was short but super intense. I wonder where that one ended up. By far our favorite attraction there was The Bayou Buzzard. He was a puppet that put on a comedy show from this little covered wagon. He used his audience for material. We would go just so we could all get roasted by him and laugh at each other. Ah, good times.
They then replaced it with another coaster that basically did the same thing but higher and your feet dangled in the air. I can't remember what is was called.
You're editing is fantastic.
LaFlames gonna bring it back
So many memories there.
Six Flags Astroworld is one of my most missed theme parks!
Thank you this brought back memories.
2023 update! There have been talks about opening another theme park in Houston, TX. However, Six Flags doesn’t plan to have Astroworld come back. Also, out of respect of the fans who lost their lives at the Astroworld concert. People here have said if it were to return, the name must be change due to the fact.
I had someone ask me about the Alpine Sleigh ride, and while it was a fascinating attraction, it was officially classified as a dark ride rather than a roller coaster. It did have roller coaster-like elements, but it is more of a dark ride. It is not featured on RCDB. Also, the Mayan Mindbender's speed seems weird for being so short, but it was what I researched. Take those specific stats with a grain of salt.
facebook.com/pg/Astroworld-659032460851347/photos/?tab=album&album_id=659461547475105
+Coliwood Studios the unlisted version was posted earlier and had a few mistakes that I corrected here.
I actually plan on having a page on my website where you can find all of the lost videos that I've amended.
Alpine Sleigh Ride was my favorite ride at the park. Unfortunately, it didn't last. Here's a link to the huge article I wrote for the DAFE newsletter Barrel O'Fun many years ago. I had fun tracking down former ride operators for my research. www.dafe.org/articles/darkrides/alpineSleighs.html
When I took my regular visit to Astroworld (I live near Dallas), I was VERY disappointed to discover Alpine Sleigh Ride was gone forever! I have fond memories of my parents and I riding it when I was young.
It should be mentioned that portions of the Alpine Sleigh Ride's mountain was re-used as the bat cave portion of the Batman - The Escape queue line.
Had been hoping for this one for ages
Soooo this is where the new Travis album name came from
huge forehead yep....he's from Houston( Missouri City)
In photo of Ninja you can see the drop tower that was relocated from Astroworld
This was my parents home park growing up in the 80s and my uncle worked their as a teen in the early 2000s. My mom worked for a personal injury lawyer in the 90s who had a greezed lightning case and was terrified of my siblings and i getting on coasters when we started going to our home park (K.I.) several years ago!
7:13 I love how they drew a tornado twisting instead of the word "twister"
This video just makes me really sad, im sure my fellow Houstonians feel my pain
Man idk I remember the batman having all the bat cave stuff till at leat 02. Shame about tazs Texas tornado. What a fun ride.
I love watching your videos but the real reason Astroworld was shut down wasn’t just due to parking and crime. The main factor was a critical financial mistake made by Six Flags CEO at the time and he was fired as soon as Astrowrold was shut down. Check out the video about why Astroworld was closed. It’s great
The shade thrown at my home park. Mount Olympus
You should make one of these videos about Kennywood. I think it would be very interesting just because how old the park is.
Jason Hess That is my home park. I love it. There are a bunch of closed coasters.
DragonFyre Studios It's my home park as well and I love it so much.
this use to be my home park before they destroyed it D:
@@Joemobo Kennywood is still there
I’ve been on the toboggan at Little Americka 👍🏼. also what do you have against mount olympus? 😂😂the wave pool is great and hades 360 is pretty fun as well
Great video I like how you tell us where the rides got moved to.
Great video this was peak childhood for me
I grew up at Astroworld and worked there the summer of '77 for a couple of months on the Train that circled the park. I was in maintenance so i was one of the invisible people and wasn't allowed in public areas. I was sad to see the park go and yeah, there were crime problems inside and outside the park.
The viper was my first coaster😎
Ahhh Astroword r.i.p.!!!! I was on the crew that dismantled batman! Good memories!
Texas Cyclone was my first rollercoaster at age 6
Dang I wish this place was still here. 3 six flags in Texas would have been amazing
There is a Togo Pipeline coaster at my current homepark, Mitsui Greenland, and it wasn't too bad for a togo coaster. It featured a vertical lift which are always fun and was actually rather smooth besides the slam into the breaks where the cart goes backwards. Very unique rides and I wish there were more in America.
If you like a TOGO, there is something wrong with you
If you like a TOGO, there is something wrong with you.
Ultra twisters are good togo rides
4:10 What?
Mad props if he got that in one take 😂
Thanks buddy for your video,
Peace out ✌🏿
I remember seeing Zonga at six flags discovery kingdom when I was a little kid and thinking it was really pretty, and then one year they just took it down. I saw it laying in pieces in the parking lot and I was so confused because I didnt know you could take them down and rebuild them 😅