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Galveston Pleasure Pier Updates

Coaster

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in Galveston and the Gulf Islands

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Coaster

Coaster

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This will make Galveston an even better place to visit in the summer. It can only help out the local economy by bringing in more tourist. Sure there will be more traffic and I have no idea where people are supposed to park. But who cares, it's not like we get a brand new, restored, old fashioned, amusement park built on the historic site of a legendary amusement park every day.

Amusement park piers are all over the country and now Galveston will have one AGAIN. When it comes to this sort of family destination, the Houston area is WAY behind our peer cities (no pun intended) - I love Fertitta for bringing a little color and light-heartedness to SE Texas. It can't all be about refineries and factories. People need a place to go for fun.

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Coaster

Coaster

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I like it. It looks like it will be as good as Santa Monica Pier and that can be a lot of fun. For an amusement park pier this is pretty good. And it certainly beats watching the Flagship hotel fall into the ocean a little at a time over the next several decades (that was plan B). If you were expecting them to build Walt Disney World on that pier then you were setting yourself up for a major disappointment. People are going to love this.

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asubrt

asubrt

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"PLEASURE PIER??"

That sounds wrong. I'll leave it at that.

I believe that's what it was called when it was a similar entertainment-style concept back in the 1940's and 50's, so they just kept the name. It is a little strange though, but who really cares what the name is? They're almost done demolishing the Flagship Hotel, it's only the last floor left now. Hopefully the construction happens quickly.

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kylejack

kylejack

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You must enjoy staring at the nothing that is left in Houston/galveston...Should he have left that seedy hotel there?

I called it exciting, what more do you want?! Of course we shouldn't have left the hotel there. That's why the good people working for Fertitta dumped it into the ocean.

Edited by kylejack
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sevfiv

sevfiv

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Demolition of the Flagship Hotel was stopped Tuesday after a worker was injured when part of the building collapsed, city officials said.

What triggered the partial collapse at about 3:40 p.m. has not been determined, officials said later Tuesday.

A worker was trapped beneath debris for about 20 minutes. He had extensive injuries, city officials said, and was taken to John Sealy Hospital at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7538439.html

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sevfiv

sevfiv

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A demolition worker who was trapped for 20 minutes beneath a concrete slab that collapsed at the Flagship Hotel died of his injuries, officials said.

The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Tauelangi Angilau, 65, of Salt Lake City, Utah, He died Tuesday after becoming trapped by a 1,000 pound section of slab while the historic hotel at 2501 Seawall Blvd. was being demolised.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/227906

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  • 5 months later...
Mister X

Mister X

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The Galveston Historic Pleasure Pier now has a website and facebook page.

http://www.pleasure-pier.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Galveston-Island-Historic-Pleasure-Pier/177272299004361

No new renderings yet, but on the website there is an illustrated silhouette of roller coasters and some other rides. This could be a very cool local attraction if that can be taken as an indication of the kind of rides they are planning to build.

Edited by Mister X
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Utinga

Utinga

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The fourth largest city in the nation can't build an amusement park, Galveston is building one, and I wonder why. Parking? There are several empty areas, that could become parking lots, in close proximity to the seawall. This doesn't count how much street parking from end to end there that is available. I know it is across that looooong Seawall Blvd but there are plenty of stop lights also from end to end.. Walk people (non-handicapped) it really isn't as terrible as you may be inclined to believe. If you feel it is, stay home or go to the mall. This is a fantastic idea and one more reason people are going to drive through our great city only on their way to Galveston.

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TheNiche

TheNiche

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The fourth largest city in the nation can't build an amusement park, Galveston is building one, and I wonder why. Parking? There are several empty areas, that could become parking lots, in close proximity to the seawall. This doesn't count how much street parking from end to end there that is available. I know it is across that looooong Seawall Blvd but there are plenty of stop lights also from end to end.. Walk people (non-handicapped) it really isn't as terrible as you may be inclined to believe. If you feel it is, stay home or go to the mall. This is a fantastic idea and one more reason people are going to drive through our great city only on their way to Galveston.

Indeed. Houston should feel shame, learn from it, and build its own Pleasure Pier. :wacko:

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Mister X

Mister X

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The fourth largest city in the nation can't build an amusement park, Galveston is building one, and I wonder why. Parking? There are several empty areas, that could become parking lots, in close proximity to the seawall. This doesn't count how much street parking from end to end there that is available. I know it is across that looooong Seawall Blvd but there are plenty of stop lights also from end to end.. Walk people (non-handicapped) it really isn't as terrible as you may be inclined to believe. If you feel it is, stay home or go to the mall. This is a fantastic idea and one more reason people are going to drive through our great city only on their way to Galveston.

Very few large cities have major amusement parks within the city limits. Almost all large theme parks are built somewhere on the outskirts of a large city. In Houston we already have 1 amusement park in Kemah. There is a 2nd one under construction in Galveston. And the BIG one being planned in New Caney (EarthQuest) is still moving forward (at a snail's pace) according to the latest statements from the East Montgomery County Improvement District.

If EarthQuest is ever built, the Houston area will finally have a respectable number of venues for pukarama and family entertainment.

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Utinga

Utinga

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Very few large cities have major amusement parks within the city limits. Almost all large theme parks are built somewhere on the outskirts of a large city. In Houston we already have 1 amusement park in Kemah. There is a 2nd one under construction in Galveston. And the BIG one being planned in New Caney (EarthQuest) is still moving forward (at a snail's pace) according to the latest statements from the East Montgomery County Improvement District.

If EarthQuest is ever built, the Houston area will finally have a respectable number of venues for pukarama and family entertainment.

Very few (perhaps like zero) have the zoning laws nor the amount of empty land that Houston has within her core. I really don't consider any of these options 'close' to Houston, nor of the the scale that a city of our size should be able to support. Denver may not be as large, but she is way more dense and she built one DOWNTOWN on reclaimed land. If we were to build a Walt Disney World type park, then the proximity to Houston would be mute. The park itself would be the destination point. Downtown to Kemah (tiny park) 35 miles. Downtown to Galveston (small park) 51 miles Downtown to New Caney (different theme entirely) 31 miles. And again, none of these would be a draw TO Houston. With the Astrodome incorporated into the old Astroworld turf and acquiring a bit more land (though apts have taken most), that could help Houston proper. IMO

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Mister X

Mister X

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Very few (perhaps like zero) have the zoning laws nor the amount of empty land that Houston has within her core. I really don't consider any of these options 'close' to Houston, nor of the the scale that a city of our size should be able to support. Denver may not be as large, but she is way more dense and she built one DOWNTOWN on reclaimed land. If we were to build a Walt Disney World type park, then the proximity to Houston would be mute. The park itself would be the destination point. Downtown to Kemah (tiny park) 35 miles. Downtown to Galveston (small park) 51 miles Downtown to New Caney (different theme entirely) 31 miles. And again, none of these would be a draw TO Houston. With the Astrodome incorporated into the old Astroworld turf and acquiring a bit more land (though apts have taken most), that could help Houston proper. IMO

I don't consider far North Houston close to far South Houston or far East Houston close to far West Houston. But we are all part of one big happy metropolitan area. If you are waiting for a major park to open anywhere within 20 miles of downtown Houston, you will be waiting for a very long time. Check out where all the amusement parks in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis, and Cincinnati are. The closest one to the downtown area in any of those cities is about 15 miles - and in most cases about 30 miles.

Land is too expensive to build theme parks anywhere except the outskirts. Galveston, Kemah and New Caney are all on the outskirts of Houston. Those cities may have the actual parks, but Houston gets all the credit! Woo-Hoo! Take that suckers!

Edited by Mister X
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Utinga

Utinga

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I don't consider far North Houston close to far South Houston or far East Houston close to far West Houston. But we are all part of one big happy metropolitan area. If you are waiting for a major park to open anywhere within 20 miles of downtown Houston, you will be waiting for a very long time. Check out where all the amusement parks in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis, and Cincinnati are. The closest one to the downtown area in any of those cities is about 15 miles - and in most cases about 30 miles.

Land is too expensive to build theme parks anywhere except the outskirts. Galveston, Kemah and New Caney are all on the outskirts of Houston. Those cities may have the actual parks, but Houston gets all the credit! Woo-Hoo! Take that suckers!

I am a tad too old to be waiting on an amusement park anywhere. I just had an opinion to state. As I stated none of those cities have basically zero zoning. Also, as I clearly stated, if it were going to be a mega Disney, a le' Orlando and Orange County then THAT will be the destination, period. Not one of your "far N,E,S,W Houston's" are even in Harris county. Yes they may be part of our metro, it is not Houston. I agree whole heartily that The Galleria, selling un-needed trinkets galore, justifies the land cost. I am not educated enough to understand where tax dollars from any of those three projects directly benefits Houston, so perhaps I can be enlightened. There is way too much land within the Belt (East side comes to mind) sitting 'wasting away' IMO

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Mister X

Mister X

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I am a tad too old to be waiting on an amusement park anywhere. I just had an opinion to state. As I stated none of those cities have basically zero zoning. Also, as I clearly stated, if it were going to be a mega Disney, a le' Orlando and Orange County then THAT will be the destination, period. Not one of your "far N,E,S,W Houston's" are even in Harris county. Yes they may be part of our metro, it is not Houston. I agree whole heartily that The Galleria, selling un-needed trinkets galore, justifies the land cost. I am not educated enough to understand where tax dollars from any of those three projects directly benefits Houston, so perhaps I can be enlightened. There is way too much land within the Belt (East side comes to mind) sitting 'wasting away' IMO

Huh?

I bet a lot of people are really going to love this attraction.

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tamtagon

tamtagon

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Pleasure Pier: hate the name, but the concept of a small scale amusement park on stilts over the water or a beachside carnival boardwalk is a time tested success everywhere. Nostalgia has potent drawing power for a set-up like this, but mostly people will go because it's fun.

Simple and uncomplicated novelty games and rides are an excellent companion to the seashore.

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NenaE

NenaE

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Yeah...Pleasure Pier is a very old name, from the original one, before the hotel.

I don't like that rendering, looks just like Kemah. I would like to have seen something more nostalgic, Atlantic Boardwalk style, maybe just a restaurant & club. Or a Balinese replica would be nice, in the original location. Who knows what the next hurricane will do, though. Ove the water, always risky, the Balinese had their own reasons for being there. Haha...evidence dump.

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  • 2 months later...
asubrt

asubrt

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I drove by the other day, and saw that they've started putting up some actual buildings. There's a large one that's pretty far along with its wooden structure on the side nearest to the Seawall which I imagine might be for the Chart House and possibly another restaurant. There are also two much smaller buildings a bit further away from shore. I guess we'll find out Monday what those are.

Edited by asubrt
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citykid09

citykid09

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I drove by the other day, and saw that they've started putting up some actual buildings. There's a large one that's pretty far along with its wooden structure on the side nearest to the Seawall which I imagine might be for the Chart House and possibly another restaurant. There are also two much smaller buildings a bit further away from shore. I guess we'll find out Monday what those are.

WOODEN!!! He is just waiting on a hurricane to come and knock down the whole pier.

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Mister X

Mister X

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WOODEN!!! He is just waiting on a hurricane to come and knock down the whole pier.

I bet not one person associated with this project ever even considered for one second that a hurricane might ever hit Galveston. I bet they now wish that they had a person like you working for them so they had not gone to all this trouble. Just because that pier has been standing there for almost 70 years is no guarantee that it will be there for 70 more. I bet they didn't even go to the trouble of refurbishing, retrofitting and strengthening the pier structure during the last 12 months before they started building on it.

You would think that Fertitta would have learned his lesson after Hurricane Ike destroyed most of the Kemah Boardwalk. But no, like the bad businessman he is, he just re-built Kemah where the people come in droves to spend money on an amusement park that is destined to be destroyed again and now has gone on to build another amusement park that is certainly doomed to natural disaster. What must he be thinking? Doesn't Fertitta realize just how rickety a 70 year old pier is?

I wonder where Fertitta is from - that he isn't aware that Galveston gets hit by hurricanes from time to time.

Y'all should check out the construction photos posted on the Pleasure Pier facebook page before a hurricane comes and blows it all into the ocean. Even the facebook page will probably be destroyed soon - so hurry!

http://www.facebook....estonislandpier

Edited by Mister X
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asubrt

asubrt

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I drove by again this evening and was shocked to see that several of the rides had gone up since I last saw it on Monday. There's one of those circular rides where you go all the way around the loop, and another one where it hangs down and swings back and forth like a pendulum (I'm not too familiar with amusement parks so I couldn't tell you the proper names for these rides). I managed to take a picture from a nearby stoplight, it's not great but you can see what I'm about, as well as the large building under construction. There's also what appears to be a staging area that I stumbled upon on 25th street a few blocks away from the shore that has tracks for (probably) the roller coaster: they are blue and white. I'm pretty excited about this development, I think it's going to be a great addition to Galveston.

Edited by asubrt
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Urbannizer

Urbannizer

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Landry’s Corp. is close to Revealing Plans

0128-LOC-Pier-02-KMC.jpg

GALVESTON — When it first opened in the late 1940s, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier was the place for entertainment and fun. By this summer, Tilman Fertitta hopes that cache returns as his Landry’s Corp. marks the return of the historic entertainment pier, with a few modern twists.

The track and loops for a roller coaster already are in place, a ride called the Sky Shooter already stands tall, and the framing for the various amusements, games and eateries are taking shape on the 1,130-foot pier at 25th Street and Seawall Boulevard.

For weeks, crews have been working on the pier that once was home to the Flagship Hotel that was dormant since Hurricane Ike struck in 2008.

By Memorial Day, construction should be complete for the entertainment complex that Fertitta said will rival Chicago’s Navy Pier and Coney Island’s Luna Park.

“It will be the typical Tilman Fertitta, Landry’s project that’s first class,” Fertitta said Friday. “It will be a place where families will go to have fun and feel safe and really enjoy themselves.”

Not wanting to spoil the surprise of what Landry’s officials are calling the “big reveal” Monday, Fertitta is keeping the plans for the Pleasure Pier close to the vest but hinted at what’s to come.

There will be a “shrimp-themed” restaurant at the pier to go along with the rides and amusements games that will line the pier.

The pleasure pier has long held a nostalgic place in the heart of those who remember Galveston as the carefree destination of the Third Coast.

“It’s exciting to bring it back,” Fertitta said. “It’s going to be one of the great amusement piers in the country.

0128-LOC-Pier-07-KMC.jpg

0128-LOC-Pier-01-KMC.jpg

0128-LOC-Pier-03-KMC.jpg

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/288954

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  • The title was changed to Galveston Pleasure Pier Updates

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