465 replies to this topic

[belmontdrew]

Does anyone remember these old amusement places in Houston? what they were called? where there may be pictures of them?

The ski slope at the intersection of 610 West Loop and Southwest Freeway which later became...

The waterslide at the intersection of 610 West Loop and Southwest Freeway which finally became...

Lone Star Amphitheatre at the intersection of 610 West Loop and Southwest Freeway

OR HOW ABOUT...

Malibu go-cart raceway and arcade at the Southwest Freeway

Games-People-Play...I believe it was on Fondren....big 80's hangout with arcade, waterslides and go carts..

The little go cart place off westpark (Southwest Freeway ran in front of it)..the track was lined with red and white tires...

[Original Timmy Chan's]

I grew up on the southeast side, so the only place I remember is the Lone Star Amphitheater, where I saw some good shows during college and the years after...Butthole Surfers, Rev. Horton Heat, Porno for Pyros are the ones I remember off the top of my head.

On the southeast side we had Pipe Organ Pizza (one of my all-time favorite birthday parties took place there), SuperTrack (which FINALLY closed recently, unfortunately), Sea Arama in Galveston was always popular, whatever the waterpark was next to Sea Arama, and of course I spent a lot of time at the Wilson Park and Beverly Hills Park pools.

[ricco67]

Let's not forget the little kiddie park over on Main @ OST (or thereabouts) that was closed as recently as 15 yrs or so ago.

Ricco

[texas911]

I remember the kiddie place on south Main. Had pony rides and just down the street on the corner of Main and Breaswood was a Putt Putt place with a small arcade. Also the Perpermit Parks that dotted the Houston scene. I still pass one on the SW Freeway, its a body shop now, but they kept the red/white striped look of the building. Fame City is still there.

[VicMan]

I went to Kiddie Wonderland several times... I didn't really like the pony riding, though.

It's now a Kroger..

[hellbilly]

VicMan, on Friday, June 24th, 2005 @ 8:31pm, said:

I went to Kiddie Wonderland several times... I didn't really like the pony riding, though.

It's now a Kroger..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i stumbled on this forum looking for old photos of hanna barbara land. games people play was on 1960. it has been closed for about 7 to 10 years now. you can still see some off the putt putt golf, part of the go cart track, and not much else. i had birthday parties there as a kid.

somewhere in all of my pictures i have some pics of me with scooby and fred flintstone at hanna barbera land. all of the buildings at splashtown are the original buildings from hanna barbera land.

i cannot remeber the name of the indoor amusement park off of 610 near 290 but i think my wife will. i went there as a kid a few times for parties and such. my wife grew up over there so i will ask her.

[tomv]

A friend of mine mentioned a kiddie place called Wee Wild West. I went there as a kid (60's) but have no idea where it was. Anybody remember that one?

[Ashikaga]

When I lived in Houston (1962-64), my parents did a lot of their shopping at what was then called Gulfgate Shopping Center (now Gulfgate Mall). I remember us going to an amusement park next to it. I think the name of it was either "Playland Park" or "Peppermint Park."

Does anyone out there know what I'm referring to?

Chet Cuccia

[gnu]

Ashikaga, on Thursday, July 14th, 2005 @ 8:54am, said:

When I lived in Houston (1962-64), my parents did a lot of their shopping at what was then called Gulfgate Shopping Center (now Gulfgate Mall).  I remember us going to an amusement park next to it.  I think the name of it was either "Playland Park" or "Peppermint Park." 

Does anyone out there know what I'm referring to?

Chet Cuccia

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was Peppermint Park and it was at Reveille and Arnim. where the dodge body shop is now. If you search the threads, i think Peppermint park has been discussed some in the past. there were several locations in houston. One near 290 and the loop and one on the SW freeway.

[Ashikaga]

gnu, on Thursday, July 14th, 2005 @ 6:11pm, said:

It was Peppermint Park and it was at Reveille and Arnim.  where the dodge body shop is now.  If you search the threads, i think Peppermint park has been discussed some in the past.  there were several locations in houston.  One near 290 and the loop and one on the SW freeway.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks. I thought that I remembered that park. I remember the big words "PEPPERMINT PARK" painted on top of the roof.

Chet Cuccia

[tomv]

Playland Park was on S. Main near where Reliant Stadium is now. It was our "Astroworld" before there was an Astroworld. It had 2 great roller coasters, and lots of other carnival-style rides and attractions.

[Ashikaga]

tomv, on Thursday, July 14th, 2005 @ 9:03pm, said:

Playland Park was on S. Main near where Reliant Stadium is now.  It was our "Astroworld" before there was an Astroworld.  It had 2 great roller coasters, and lots of other carnival-style rides and attractions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe I remember a Playland Park, too. I remember us going to another amusement park, and I thought that I could see from it the neon "rock" of the logo of the Prudential building. Is that possible? Was Playland Park near that Prudential building? If it was, then it's possible that my memory is still good after over 40 years.

Chet Cuccia

[Heights2Bastrop]

Playland Park had a small train that would take you along the Murworth side of the park. When Playland closed, the train was transferred to Hermann Park. Every time I go to Hermann I try to ask someone if that train is one of the ones still in use, but no one knows.

Playland had a funhouse, and at the entrance was an animated clown who would kinda roll with laughter. As a small kid, that freakin’ clown used to scare the carpundence outta me!

My granddad took me to the car races there a couple of times, and I remember AJ as being one of the top racers. The best out there was Roger Wade. He was later killed testing Firestone tires.

[57Tbird]

Heights2Bastrop, on Friday, July 15th, 2005 @ 7:18pm, said:

The best out there was Roger Wade. He was later killed testing Firestone tires.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think that was Billy Wade. I could be wrong. I used to go there very often. He was one of my favorites.

[Heights2Bastrop]

Roger Ward, big Indy racer.
Billy Wade, local sensation.

You are so right, Tbird. Even as I wrote that, something didn't seem right. Thanks for the correction.

BTW, Billy's brother was my once upon a time father-in-law.

[57Tbird]

Heights... Do you, or anyone else, remember a bad accident at Playland's race track that happened in the early 60's, I think it was? Maybe the very late 50's. I was there. During warm-ups, a wheel came off Blackie Lothringer's car coming into the first turn where the entrance to the raceway was. I was standing at a refreshment stand between the gate area and the race track, which had only a very small wall around it. I heard a loud bang and looked up in time to see the wheel come flying over ther wall...followed immediately by Blackie's car. I was about 50 feet from where the car landed. Three people were killed and many injured, as they were headed from the gate area to the stands. If I hadn't stopped for a Coke, I would probably been where the car came down. I have tried to find out if there is anything about this accident on the internet, but have not been successful.

Do you also remember the figure 8 races, the powder puff races for the girls, and the demolition derbies that they had there?

[Heights2Bastrop]

Even though I have a clear recollection of things when I was 3 and 4 years old, my memories of the Playland races are a bit fuzzy. But there may have been underlying reasons for that. I remember the very first circus I went to, and all I remember from the event is standing on the steps of the house still crying about the poor guy who someone had shot out of a cannon.

I may have been frightened of the races, or maybe by a crash or two. I just don’t know. However, I do recall seeing the figure 8 races. Later I remember wondering if I really did see that. I mean, how can you run a race on a figure 8 track without people crashing into one another. In other words, it was a time when the line between what was real and what was imagined is not distinct.

As to the crash you mentioned, I don’t recall that event at all, nor do I recall the name Lothringer. That must have been quite an experience. I really got into drag racing later spending many nights in Dickinson, but track races never interested me.

[Ashikaga]

Heights2Bastrop, on Saturday, July 16th, 2005 @ 11:31am, said:

Even though I have a clear recollection of things when I was 3 and 4 years old, my memories of the Playland races are a bit fuzzy. But there may have been underlying reasons for that. I remember the very first circus I went to, and all I remember from the event is standing on the steps of the house still crying about the poor guy who someone had shot out of a cannon.

I may have been frightened of the races, or maybe by a crash or two. I just don’t know. However, I do recall seeing the figure 8 races. Later I remember wondering if I really did see that. I mean, how can you run a race on a figure 8 track without people crashing into one another. In other words, it was a time when the line between what was real and what was imagined is not distinct.

As to the crash you mentioned, I don’t recall that event at all, nor do I recall the name Lothringer. That must have been quite an experience. I really got into drag racing later spending many nights in Dickinson, but track races never interested me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Last week someone told me that my memory was correct about an amusement park called "Peppermint Park" near Gulfgate Shopping Center. Something now is coming into my mind about another amusement park that we went to. I envision it in the vicinity of that tall Prudential Insurance building. Was there some kind of an amusement park near that structure?

Chet Cuccia

[Heights2Bastrop]

It was at South Main at Beaeswood. It was for small kiddies and had horses you could ride around a circuit as to opposed to parks where you rode tethered horses.

[TexasHome]

Wasnt there one in Pasadena named Candyland? Maybe on Shaver?
It was very small but was there for quite a number of years.

[77017]

Man it really trips me out how many of yall are from southeast, I feel like I'm hearin family members talk when I read yalls posts. I'm 3rd generation southeast myself. My grandparents lived in the magnolia/manchester area and my parents were from right there off broadway by milby, sellers bros., ingrando park, etc. Am I the only one who swam at glenbrook public pool, and jumped off the dreaded "hightower"? When I was up there as a kid I used to look out in the distance and see the skyline and think, "man I wanna live there one day, and now I do so ha, take that "your supposed to stay in the hood" mentality! Does anyone remember a place called "the mark" across the street from milby in the early 80's during the explosion of breakdancing? It was an arcade and a place to battle (breakdance "fight"). Supertrack closed???? Wow that's the end of an era.

[Ashikaga]

77017, on Tuesday, July 26th, 2005 @ 4:49pm, said:

Man it really trips me out how many of yall are from southeast, I feel like I'm hearin family members talk when I read yalls posts. I'm 3rd generation southeast myself. My grandparents lived in the magnolia/manchester area and my parents were from right there off broadway by milby, sellers bros., ingrando park, etc. Am I the only one who swam at glenbrook public pool, and jumped off the dreaded "hightower"? When I was up there as a kid I used to look out in the distance and see the skyline and think, "man I wanna live there one day, and now I do so ha, take that "your supposed to stay in the hood" mentality! Does anyone remember a place called "the mark" across the street from milby in the early 80's during the explosion of breakdancing? It was an arcade and a place to battle (breakdance "fight"). Supertrack closed???? Wow that's the end of an era.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Talk about how time flies! The last time I went to any amusement park was to Astroworld back during the summer of 1978. 27 years ago!

Chet Cuccia

[Trophy Property]

Ashikaga, on Wednesday, July 27th, 2005 @ 10:11am, said:

Talk about how time flies!  The last time I went to any amusement park was to Astroworld back during the summer of 1978.  27 years ago!

Chet Cuccia

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is not really on topic, but what about the Blimp Hangar out on I-45. I remember when we used to drive to Ftl Worth to seem my Grandparents we would pass by the Hangar and sometimes the blimp was out there. I have no clue where this was or what is there now.

[Heights2Bastrop]

The blimp base was at 45 and Holzwarth.

A bit of trivia. As you head north on I-45, just as you cross Cypresswood, there is a small stand of pine trees next to the highway. That is an old cemetery. You used to be able to see it from the freeway, but the new freeway was built over and around it.

[pineda]

Quote

As you head north on I-45, just as you cross Cypresswood, there is a small stand of pine trees next to the highway. That is an old cemetery. You used to be able to see it from the freeway, but the new freeway was built over and around it.

This is the Wunsche Cemetery, just south of Spring High School on the east side of the freeway. Perhaps you've heard of the Wunsche Cafe in Spring...

[Ashikaga]

pineda, on Thursday, July 28th, 2005 @ 2:59pm, said:

This is the Wunsche Cemetery, just south of Spring High School on the east side of the freeway. Perhaps you've heard of the Wunsche Cafe in Spring...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As probably all of you know by now, I lived in Houston from 1962-64. I do remember one night my parents and I were sitting in the parking lot at the then-Houston International Airport (now called Hobby) and watching a Good Year blimp landing. It was quite a sight to see in the dark. I remember seeing the lit up "flying shoe" logo.

Chet Cuccia

[Heights2Bastrop]

I know of the Wunsches, but I never knew that was their cemetary. That's nice to know.

I rode the Goodyear blimp out there once. It was a fun thing to do, but not as thrilling as one might think. Once, while in the Navy, I was catapulted off the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. Now that was a trip!

[H-Town Man]

I've got 8mm film of Astroworld in the late 60's, when it first opened. I wonder if people would be interested in something like that.

As a child, I was traumatized when they changed Hannah Barbera Land to Splashtown. Long after I had forgotten about Hannah Barbera Land, there was something that seemed evil about Splashtown - bad vibes you might say. Now I remember why.

It's great to see HAI Forumers exploring their inner child. I wonder if somebody has broken out bawling over this thread.

[Ashikaga]

H-Town Man, on Sunday, July 31st, 2005 @ 12:05am, said:

I've got 8mm film of Astroworld in the late 60's, when it first opened.  I wonder if people would be interested in something like that.

As a child, I was traumatized when they changed Hannah Barbera Land to Splashtown.  Long after I had forgotten about Hannah Barbera Land, there was something that seemed evil about Splashtown - bad vibes you might say.  Now I remember why.

It's great to see HAI Forumers exploring their inner child.  I wonder if somebody has broken out bawling over this thread.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, it would be interesting to see a film like that. I would think that most everything you would see (the rides at the time, etc.) would be gone now, replaced by other rides.

Chet Cuccia

[lowspark]

Ashikaga, on Sunday, July 31st, 2005 @ 7:47am, said:

Yes, it would be interesting to see a film like that.  I would think that most everything you would see (the rides at the time, etc.) would be gone now, replaced by other rides.

Chet Cuccia

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We could probably start a whole new thread on old rides at Astroworld that are no more.

Let's see, off the top of my head:
Astro wheel
Needle
Barrel of Fun
Black Dragon