purelife

I was a kid when Fame City/Waterwords opened. Back then, it really was in the middle of nowhere, but a truly novel idea. I remember going there nearly every day during the summer with my best friends in middle school - late 80s and early 90s. We had several friends that worked there during high school too as life guards, at the mini-golf course, and the bowling alley. It was still nice until about the mid 90s. For a while, a church held services there, probably in the little theater/party room they had in the middle. When they opened, they had these tanks across the street. I don't remember if they were on a track or how they worked. I went to see fireworks there every summer when I was little - it was in the middle of a huge field, and we'd park on the grass across from the main building. Good times. It's kind of sad to see the water park torn down, but during it's last years, it never really looked safe to get on any of the rides anyway. It's unfortunate, because now there is so much new home construction along Beechnut, that it could be something good for the area. I don't see Funplex renewing itself again though.

i love hearing about everyone's memories of alief - i grew up in the area, and have seen it change so much. rather than re-writing the whole thing, i have a blog posting about what used to be in alief. i wish i had photos. http://v-adventures.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

This is actually Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (www.olghouston.org), and it was started around 1912. I think the cemetery on the grounds may be named St. Vincent's though....

Thanks for the info! I'd love to see some photos if you can post them!

i'd be interested in seeing something like this too, being a native alief-ite (?) - it's changed so much even in the past 10 years!

My parents used to talk about a club on north main called the "P.A" or Pan American Nite Club. My mom and her sisters would go to the Matinee in the 50s and 60s. I know that a lot of prominent Latin groups like Tito Puente and Perez Prado would play there. My dad even played with a band to two. I think the building may still be there, but I'm sure it was closed by the 80s. Does anyone know anything about it or have any photos of the interior? I've heard about a really beautiful fountain that was near the entrance. My folks and aunts and uncles would love to see.