Historic Houston Amusement Parks & Places

[Sara Cooper]

Hi T-Bird,

Those are not Sprints. They are Midgets. I was told that the fellow all crossed up in the pic is A.J. Foyt. My best guess is that the man in the 9 car is Billy Griswold. You have to remember that the old fences changed a few times over the years. Anyway, great discussion. Maybe Mark can shed some light on this.

Hey y'all, I think the photo might be of PLayland Park in Omaha…

However, I do have photos of Playland Park in Houston before the track was built- there were houses behind the park because my grandparents, Louis and Myrtle Gordon, raised my momma, aunt, and uncle there until buying a house over on Hatton Street (amazingly, this house is still right where it should be!). I'll try to get around to posting these photos, but I should tell you I have three ALBUMS of them- my grandmother owned the 'mug joint', which others may have calle the picture booth, at Playland Park.

My Mother and Grandmother were supposed to have worked the concessions at the track entrance the night Mr. Blackie's car went over the top… and Sam usually carried me around with him when both Momma and Nonnie were working. I still remember, although am not in touch with, a lot of the other concession owners. That Park was my family, and I sure miss it. If any of you remember me, or my family, please email. The family was 'Lefty' Lou and Myrtle Gordon, and their kids Judith, Bettie Jean, and David Gordon.

[Sara Cooper]

To Mark Barnes -

WOW!! I found this site this morning (was looking up info on Kitirik - I was on the show once), and I am also just blown away by your photos and info - same for jakdad and the others…

Did anyone else have breakfast on the train with Santa and Cadet Don and Kitirik at Christmas time? BTW, I was on her show once also--as a 2-3 year old, hehe

[SchwinnChopper68]

Never had breakfast on the train with KiTiRiK but went to 3 or 4 live broadcasts and sat in the bleachers while she sashayed by.

Back then during the Jerry Lewis telethon channel 13 kept the studio doors open. Anyone could breeze in and grab yourself live photo ops that were broadcast all over the city. My friends and I used to be camera hogs to see who could get the most airtime with us looking busy in the background.

[24zulu]

Did anyone else have breakfast on the train with Santa and Cadet Don and Kitirik at Christmas time? BTW, I was on her show once also--as a 2-3 year old, hehe

I got kissed by Kitirick the day they broke ground for the Heights Savings and Loan @ 20th & Yale. They had hay bales all around, and broke them open all over the grass. Kitirick got in a cherry picker bucket, and was raised up in the air with several bags of change. She dropped all that money into the hay & they made us all wait until Sgt. Babe Seres of HPD, blew his whistle. We jumped all in that hay finding pennies, and dimes, and quarters! I never have washed my left cheek after that kiss .....Wow....

I went to P.P. a few times, but never met Cadet Don, or Santa on the train. I was always working as a kid, and never got to go many places like that. Please post some photos, and stories. Those were mighty good days.

[57Tbird]

Hi T-Bird,

Those are not Sprints. They are Midgets. I was told that the fellow all crossed up in the pic is A.J. Foyt. My best guess is that the man in the 9 car is Billy Griswold. You have to remember that the old fences changed a few times over the years. Anyway, great discussion. Maybe Mark can shed some light on this.

jakdad,

I don't think you are referring to the same post that I referred to.

My reply to Mark's post was on July 31, 2006. Mark's post that I replied to and referenced in my post was dated July 29, 2006, 8:20 PM. I guess that post and accompanying pictures have been deleted by Mark, because I no longer see it. It had pictures of a race track and some sprint cars that Mark said was Playland Park in Houston. I investigated and found that it was a Playland Park in Coucil Bluffs, IA. Mark later responded and agreed. That post has been deleted also.

I think you are talking about a post dated August 1, 2006, 2:45 AM, that

shows a picture of AJ turned sideways at Playland. Of course, those are midgets.

[Jeani]

>"arrow" never made it to the Bubble at Gateway swimming pool and wants to know how you could breath in it.

Gateway swimming pool, that's why I'm here. It was a large aquatic complex located on Main street near Kirby. Now there is a mini-storage facility built on the front part of that property, the back part and adjoining lot are overgrown and might still yield some Gateway artifacts.

*The Bubble: Gateway pool featured diving boards and a high dive, the deep end was 18 feet, that's about the deepest pool I've ever seen. At the bottom of the deep end was a "bubble," which was a clear dome made of fiberglass or plexiglass, rimmed with a metal band. Maybe 3 feet in diameter and about 1.5 feet from the rim of the dome to its highest point in the center...that is, just enough for you to stick your head up in it. It floated about 3 feet above the bottom of the pool, being chained to the bottom of the pool with 3 chains that were stiffend with metal sheathing. Directly below the dome the bottom of the pool was pierced with a hole from which air bubbled. The air rose toward the surface of the water and got trapped under the dome, forcing water out of the dome and creating an underwater air pocket. You swam down to the bottom and popped your head up into the dome. The water level stayed beneath your chin and you could then stay down there as long as you liked, breathing fresh air and watching surface action thru the clear dome. The bubbles kept the air fresh. Some kids told me about smoking down there, that would have taken some ingenuity with plastic baggies. 18' is a long way down, it took me several years to be able to make it. The first time I made it I was so surprised. I was afraid to go into the bubble, so I swam a circle around it, examining it warily. The next dive I went ahead and entered it and then enjoyed it from there on out. I've never seen nor heard of anything like this. It seems like it would carry a lot of risk. For one thing, there's no way the life guards can monitor people who are spending extended periods of time 18' down. For another, it seems like there would be a risk of surfacing too fast with a lung full of air under 18' of pressure. Anyway, I can tell you this, it was great fun and it made me a good deep water swimmer.

*The bobber: This was some sort of converted deep sea buoy. It was anchored by steel tethers in 5' of water. It was shaped like a ball with half of it submerged and half out of the water. On top, jutting towards the sky, was a pole with a ladder, rising up about 6' from the ball with a crow's nest on top. You climbed up into the crow's nest and tried to rock the bobber back and forth. The goal was to rock it 90 degrees and touch the water. I didn't even weigh 100 lbs at the time, so I never could rock it very much.

*There was a large, rectangular trampoline.

*There was a large table set with a maze, thru which I think you started tops spinning and they battled it out. I never saw this in operation so I'm not sure what it was.

*There was a seperate indoor facility that housed a large pool and was used for swim meets and training.

>Regarding the Playland park:

The one in Houston was Texas first amusement park. There was a sister park in San >Antonio from 1947 to 1980. The giant 2 humped rollercoaster that was the Houston landmark served as the logo of the corporation. There is a wikipedia articla and a book on the San Antonio park: http://www.playlandparkbook.com/index.html

>TexasCE "I can't believe so many people remember Kiddie Wonderland.

Kidde Wonderland on S. Main near Braeswood: I would be amazed if many people didn't remember it. That thing seemed to hang on and on and on. Someone here mentioned that it opened in the early 50s. I went to it as a kid in the early 60s. I was amazed that it continued to hang around in the late 70s, having most of it packed up in the early 70s and just the pony ride left. When it continued to hang around into the 80s, I was utterly shocked. I don't know when it finally closed down, but it was there for at least 30 years.

>"Norhill Dennis" asks about the baseball stadium formerly located on the site of Finger's: The Finger's Fabulous Furniture showroom near 45 and Cullen has a snackbar that doubles as a sports museum dedicated to the baseball stadium that was home to the Houston Colt 45s. There is a home plate there that is in the same location as the former stadiums home plate. Stop by and visit the museum anytime during business hours.

>Roym posts a picture of a 3 hump coaster.

That's a fabulous photo, but the one at the Playland here in Houston was only 2 humps.

>BigDukem69 wants to know where S.Main drive in was and kiddie park underneath the screen.

South Main drive-in was located at the Y intersection of S. Main and Stella Link. That lot is now occupied by a commercial warehouse strip center.

>hbcu mentions Peppermint park, and someone else mentions confusing Peppermint and Playland parks:

Both parks were instantly recognizeable Houston landmarks: Playland Park featured 2 giant rollercoaster humps, and Peppermint Park was an indoor park that was housed in a giant tin single-story building that was painted in vertical pink and white candy stripes. That tin building was moved and still stands, candy stripes and all, as an automotive body shop, visible from 59 but further south, down closer to highway 90. I don't see how anyone can confuse a candy stripe painted building called "Peppermint Park" with anything else.

>Someone mentions Westwood mall and its 2-story merry go round:

That same, or a similar, Merry Go Round is now housed in Memorial City mall.

>belmontdrew wants to know if anyone remembers Games People play.

Yeah, I remember that. That's actually still there and was still operating until recently (as of 2008). It's main attraction was batting cages for the next 20 years after its "games people play" heyday. It also feature the mini-golf course for many more years.

[Jeani]

Larry - I know your post was a couple of years ago, but I searched out Gateway swimming pool and found HAIF and you. I'm so glad to find someone who remembered it and the "bubble." I tell people about it and they think I'm crazy. It took me forever to get down that deep. My ears would never adjust. I finally did once and it was such a thrill. I don't think I've ever heard of another in any other pool. One other piece of trivia about the pool was the large sliding board. When you got to the top of it, the only street you could see through the trees from there was the street I lived on - Ashwood. That was the coolest thing. I remember as kids in the 50's, we would just walk to the pool without a care in the world - no parents or adults to protect us - we would just go for the day and walk home when we had enough. I also used to love to go to the place with the horses next to the Indian Chief motel. I don't remember the name unless that was Kiddie Country. Anyway, thanks for explaining the dynamics of the bubble. I was trying to explain it to my husband and you did a much better job. If anyone reads this post and went to Longfellow Elementary school during the years of 1956 to 1962, please let me know.

[4PROP]

Larry - I know your post was a couple of years ago, but I searched out Gateway swimming pool and found HAIF and you. I'm so glad to find someone who remembered it and the "bubble." I tell people about it and they think I'm crazy.

If your crazy, I am too. See the pool bubble here!

http://www.historica....aspx?poi=10978

[Whitesman]

Switch to the North side for a minute, and tell me the name of the kiddie park on North Shepherd, just North of the old Sears store. It was on the West side of North Shepherd, but I forget the cross street - it wasn't Lehman, but it was close to it. Now they had some great ponies, and did riding lessons in a big pen as well. lots of fun, and if memory serves me, they had a red & white striped big top tent. I always thought it was a branch of Peppermint Park. Anyone ever go there ?? Photos ??

I remember going there.

It had pony rides and also some trampolines set into the ground.

I remember the red/white tent and I think it was Playland Park... but I could be wrong on the name.

I think it was just north of Pinemont????....it had lots of trees if I remember correctly.

[dakotafleming]

http://www.abandonedbutnotforgotten.com/abandoned_malibu_grand_prix_in_houston.htm

Malibu Grand Prix photos

[Fringe]

http://www.abandoned..._in_houston.htm

Malibu Grand Prix photos

Any idea when those photos were taken? Is all that stuff still just sitting there today? 

[Tigerjag]

If your crazy, I am too. See the pool bubble here!

http://www.historica....aspx?poi=10978

I know this post was awhile ago, but I was amazed at the description of the pool and the bubble. Could you tell me where this was located? I grew up in Spring Branch. I remember as a kid (8 or 9) going to my friends house and she had teenage brothers. I remember hearing them talking about going to the pool where you could breathe underwater! It was far away, so plans were discussed for days in advance. I rarely said a word to these boys, so I never asked questions. My friend lived two houses down, so when this "big trip" was being planned, I went every day to hear all I could about the adventure. I couldn't conceive of a pool where you could breathe underwater, and to my young mind, it seemed as far away and as magical as Disneyland. This just has to be the pool they were talking about and planning to go to.

Unfortunately, I only remember the planning. I don't remember them talking about it after, although I'm sure they did! I'm sure that they also got home long after dark, so my young self was home in bed.

That's just amazing. I can't believe that after all this time, I found out what those boys were talking about. It just has to be the Gateway Pool.

ETA: Main near Kirby. That was a looong way away from my house in Spring Branch when I was 8 years old!

Edited July 18, 2010 by Tigerjag

[Subdude]

If your crazy, I am too. See the pool bubble here!

http://www.historica....aspx?poi=10978

I thought the Gateway pool was enclosed by that time?

Does anyone know what the maze-like thing is at the SW corner of Main and Braeswood? I am baffled.

[4PROP]

Does anyone know what the maze-like thing is at the SW corner of Main and Braeswood? I am baffled.

I think that was a miniature golf course. Next question; What was the name? "Goofy Golf" maybe.

[kylejack]

Anyone know where I can find some Games People Play photos? I'd like to take some Then And Now photos, but I'm having a hard time finding old photos.

[Subdude]

Does anyone know what the maze-like thing is at the SW corner of Main and Braeswood? I am baffled.

I think that was a miniature golf course. Next question; What was the name? "Goofy Golf" maybe.

Thanks! That makes sense. I had no clue what that could be.

[mojo1158]

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?

I remember it! It was off of 290 near Windfern I believe...I was just talking about it the other day!

[Sparky]

Hi Friends. I have been away for quite a while. I stand corrected. There was a kiddie coaster at Playland. I talked to my brother and he reminded me where it was in the kiddie section of the park. If you look in the lower right section of the picture of Playland you can see it. Don't know why I didn't remember it.

[4PROP]

Hi Becky, Great to hear from you again. We look forward to some more of your park photos. I don't recall what years you lived at Playland, but have you seen the lastest Google Earth vintage shots. The 1944 view shows Playland before the race track was built. You may have been outside looking up for the plane taking the picture (Or wondering if Hilter was dropping a surprise on Houston!).

[Cemeterywolf]

Looking for pictures of the Super Slide that was located on Telophone Rd. and Almeda Genoa Rd.

Went there as a kid. Slid down on burlap sacks. It was a ruin for many years and I wished I had taken pictures of it.

Thanks for any help!!!!!!!!!?????????????

[NenaE]

Looking for pictures of the Super Slide that was located on Telophone Rd. and Almeda Genoa Rd.

Went there as a kid. Slid down on burlap sacks. It was a ruin for many years and I wished I had taken pictures of it.

Thanks for any help!!!!!!!!!?????????????

I remember the one that sat on Telephone, east side of road, close to an old 1950's style burger place. Part of of Almeda-Genoa ran to the west of the super slide.

(By the way, I saw some Astroworld Ferris Wheel baskets on that road, they were sitting in a yard, was years ago).

I remember it becoming a scrap/ junk yard, with the slide slowly deteriorating around it. Sorry, I don;t have any pictures.

I was kinda scared of it, it was sooo big.

[Goatman79]

I remember both the Hockley Oil Ranch, and Physical Whimsical. I got to take a trip out to the oil ranch several times either through school field trips or Cub Scout outings. It was probably the single most awesome rope swing I had ever used. At the top of the barn with the rope swing was also a maze made from hay bails that kids could crawl in and out of.

The Physical Whimsical had two locations, the one on 1960 and 249, and another one inside Sharpstown Mall. I tended to visit the Sharpstown location more often, for birthdays and such, but I do recall the FM 1960 location quite well.

It had a lot of moonwalks, including one that resembled an old western saloon, and the place smelled like Wild Berry Skittles candy.

The Sharpstown location was much better in my opinion. More things to do. There were two stories, and you could climb a giant net to get to the top floor, and ride the spiral slide down. There was also a room that had glow-in-the-dark walls. While the light was on, you held a position, and then the lights would go out, and you could see your shadow still on the wall for a minute or two. There was also lots of jungle gyms, a ball pit, a maze of giant padded-vinyl blocks (that we used to hit eachother with), and those little roller racers you sat on and pivoted the steering handle back and forth to move around the floor. Ah, such fond memories. I think both locations were closed by the early 1990's.

[4PROP]

Looking for pictures of the Super Slide that was located on Telophone Rd. and Almeda Genoa Rd.

Went there as a kid. Slid down on burlap sacks. It was a ruin for many years and I wished I had taken pictures of it.

Thanks for any help!!!!!!!!!?????????????

Here's one like it. (Mi-Tee-Slide) Not sure where this one was.

[NenaE]

Cool picture of the slide, groovy side panels, reminds me of the Laugh-In show.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-for-sale-giant-slide-at-state-fairgrounds-20110622,0,5315982.story

Here's a short article of the inventor of the giant slide. says there were 42 of them, at one time.

Edited September 9, 2011 by NenaE

[plumber2]

I remember it! It was off of 290 near Windfern I believe...I was just talking about it the other day!

Wee Wild West was at the corner of Westheimer and Yorktown. It later became a Putt Putt Golf.

[sinister1]

Boy Downtown has changed some!!!

And it's going to change again if they go ahead and go through with the expansion of 45. : (

[Alex Rigsby]

Does anyone have or able to provide access to photographs of old amusement parks in Texas? I love amusement parks and roller coasters and travel each year to visit parks. This past July, I travelled to Germany for two weeks to do such and do other sightseeing, as well.

Within Houston, I know there were

1. AstroWorld (of course)
   
2. Playland Park (near the old AstroWorld site, though I don't know exactly where)
   
3. Hanna Barbera Land (became Splashtown in Spring)
   
4. Oak Park (near the intersection of Washington and Houston Avenue)
   
5. Peppermint Park (apparently there were several, with one near the old Gulfgate Mall)
   
6. KiddieLand (where Kroger is now at Kirby and S. Main)
   
7. Electric Park (I think this was at what is now White Oak Park off Houston Avenue, just north of I-10. This was one of the trolley parks that opened at the turn of the 20th century. I remember reading that the park would not hire union labor and that, supposedly, some union members set of dynamite on trolleys in retaliation. I can find the article on the internet again if anyone would like to read about it. Information about this park has been extremely difficult to come by.)
   

Elsewhere in Texas there was:

1. A park purportedly in Corpus Christi
   
2. Electric Park in Galveston
   
3. Some other park in Galveston
   
4. Exposition Park in San Antonio
   
5. Lake Worth Park in San Antonio
   
6. Lake Side Park in Wichita Falls
   
7. Playland Park in San Antonio (their old wooden rollercoaster called "The Rocket" was moved an opened at Knoebel's Amusement Park in 1985)
   
8. Pleasure Pier in Port Arthur
   

This last latter is referenced (but not in detail) at http://defunctparks..../TX/indexTX.htm

I would also love to find photos or video of Ponchartrain Beach in New Orleans (which I visited in 1982) and the not-so-well-known Lincoln Park in New Orleans which was built to cater to the black community during segregation.

I know some people have commented on such in other posts, but many date back several years. If you have footage of your own on, say, 8mm, I may be willing to help pay for the conversion. If any of you have questions, about these or other parks, I'll be delighted to answer to the best of my ability. And, in case you don't know, Landry's is turning the pier that the old Flagship Inn was on into the "Galveston Pleasure Pier" with amusement rides and restaurant(s). That is tentatively expected to open in May, 2012, and there is lots of local news coverage and articles on it.

Thanks!

Alex

[devonhart]

I'm assuming you've searched the internet and Youtube for these?

[Alex Rigsby]

Yes. I've found a few links and photos. I'm trying to find everything I can.

[blue92]

As a kid growing up in southwest Houston in the 50s and 60s I went to sleep in the spring and summer months listening to the screams of the people on the roller coaster at Playland. We lived within walking distance to the park, that was across the street from Gaido's Seafood restaurant. On Saturday nights I could hear the race cars roaring around the track. When I was 8 years old my dad would take me to watch the races. They raced there up into the early 60s then moved the racing to Meyer's Speedway out on S.Main past the South Main Drive In. I watch A.J.Foyt more or less start his racing career at those 2 tracks. Here's an overhead shot of Playland park from 1953.

Edited December 25, 2011 by blue92

[NenaE]

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/2540-old-houston-amusement-places/page__hl__%20amusement%20%20parks

...have u seen the other links to amusement park subjects on HAIF...I think it's one of the favorite things to discuss in the Historic Houston topic. I believe I posted a pic of Kiddie Land on Main St. somewhere in there.

Also try just searching "amusement park" within HAIF's search function. Might help. So much info. is in this website. I was amazed when I first started reading HAIF.

In fact, a general internet search for Peppermint Park led me to HAIF.

[Highway6]

I guess these are more akin to Showbiz Pizza rather than amusement parks....

but you left out Fame City and Fame City Waterworks.

There was also Games People Play somewhere down in the Bellaire area as well.

Also.. somewhere on LongPoint in the mid 80s there was a small kiddie amusement park ( a few permanent carnival size rides).. it was called Sunshine something.

As far as photos... if you look up Houston: Then and Now, the cover clearly shows a roller coaster smack down in the middle. I don't know if this is either your Oak Park or Electric Park because it appears to be located just east of Houston ave and just south of the Bayou.

I can't find the roller coaster in any of Google Earth's historic imagery.

also found reference to a Coombs Park and Natorium in the Heights..

http://houstorian.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/coombs-park-and-heights-natatorium/

Edited December 27, 2011 by Highway6

[Alex Rigsby]

Thank you all for the info. I'd never seen an aerial photo of Playland. Much appreciated. I have the Houston: Then and Now book, which is where I saw the first photo of Oak Park.

[Highway6]

Good find on remembering the name Luna Park... I knew that photo wasn't showing the stated location of Oak or Electric Park.

The roller coaster there was called the Skyrocket and apparently it was the biggest in the US at the time.

After Luna Park was shut down, the roller coaster was moved to Playland Park. It can be seen clearly in the google earth historic imagery from 1944 and 1953 (above) at Main and Murworth, a few blocks west of current Reliant stadium.

This might be a photo of the Skyrocket in its Playland location from 1943

http://www.loc.gov/p...i2001029931/PP/

Edited December 27, 2011 by Highway6

[Alex Rigsby]

I've seen the Houstorian website before. The roller coaster shown in the Luna Park photo may be the same one moved to Playland, but if it is then the coaster was heavily reprofiled. In Galveston, on the Seawall, there is a restaurant called The Spot that has an aerial photo of ab old wooden roller coaster that was there. PBS had a show a few years ago where an elderly woman reminisced about growing up in a house located within the middle of the structure. Understandably, she said that the noise was so great that you couldn't stand to be in the house when the coaster was running.

[blue92]

For your other amusement parts around Texas there's Landa Park in New Braunfels probably the oldest in Texas dating back to the late 1800s here's their web site

[NenaE]

http://digital.lib.uh.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/p15195coll1&CISOPTR=200&REC=3 Scene in Highland Park. ...from the University of Houston On-Line Archives Collection The Magnolia City (1904) (Part 3) Click on Pg.5

Drag the bar inside the page down for the caption.

Edited January 12, 2012 by NenaE

[Tana]

Alex Rigsby: I have a few photos at my website: www.tanasreminisce.com and I always include references when I can. Those might give you a place to find more links, etc.

tana

[IronTiger]

Wasn't at one time Main was completely different, with only Old Main Street Loop Road being the only remnant today? I thought I read something on HAIF about that...

[cspwal]

Here's a site with a bunch of old street and road maps of Houston on it.

 

https://houstorian.wordpress.com/old-houston-maps/

 

It even shows some of why Westheimer turns (1937 street map)

[Subdude]

Wasn't at one time Main was completely different, with only Old Main Street Loop Road being the only remnant today? I thought I read something on HAIF about that...

 

I think that originally Main Street didn't extend beyond Braes Bayou, and that Old Main Street Loop Road was the route southwest.  

[montrosepatriot]

On ‎7‎/‎28‎/‎2015 at 5:23 PM, Subdude said:

 

I think that originally Main Street didn't extend beyond Braes Bayou, and that Old Main Street Loop Road was the route southwest.  

A section of Old Main Street Loop still exist (where Stella Link terminates) - the rest was abandoned since the 1980s (part of the route was paved over by the Central Houston Nissan dealership but the stub outs still remain; another chunk north of the South Loop faded out since the 1960s when the Astrodome was built and a small section NE of Reliant Center is still there)

[CaptainJilliams]

I wasn't sure which thread this would fit best under, but a fantastic video by Kevin Purjurer on the history of Astroworld.

 

Check it out below:

 

[NenaE]

On 7/28/2015 at 4:09 PM, IronTiger said:

Wasn't at one time Main was completely different, with only Old Main Street Loop Road being the only remnant today? I thought I read something on HAIF about that...

 

I had no idea there was an old South Main... I've been tracing it tonight, using GoogleEarth - old (1940's-50's) views along with the new maps... you can still detect the road's path. Parts are overgrown or completely covered by new development. There are road blocks that hint at where the old path crosses over other newer roads. And what's up with those loop roads? One is over by Holmes Rd.

 

You can see where the Old Main St. takes a somewhat sharp turn around Knight and Fannin, forks off right after crossing Old Spanish Trail (Alt 90) and passes behind the Astrodome.

[JLWM8609]

1 hour ago, NenaE said:

 

I had no idea there was an old South Main... I've been tracing it tonight, using GoogleEarth - old (1940's-50's) views along with the new maps... you can still detect the road's path. Parts are overgrown or completely covered by new development. There are road blocks that hint at where the old path crosses over other newer roads. And what's up with those loop roads? One is over by Holmes Rd.

 

You can see where the Old Main St. takes a somewhat sharp turn around Knight and Fannin, forks off right after crossing Old Spanish Trail (Alt 90) and passes behind the Astrodome.

According to an old topographic map from the early 20s, Old Main was the original route before the current route was built. Main St. ended at current day Holcombe. Main Street Road intersected with Main St. near its terminus. That part of Main Street Road still exists in the Medical Center as a small stub called Old Main St. between Main and Fannin. Main Street Road then followed current day Fannin and Knight Rd before jogging to the SW and crossing the tracks to join the route parallel to the tracks (currently US90A). The maps don't say what the road parallel to the tracks was called back then, but it was probably known as Holmes Rd.

Edited September 22, 2018 by JLWM8609

[IronTiger]

The section between modern-day Buffalo Speedway and 610 was completely removed between 1978 and 1989 with a "stub road" at both ends. Yet when Advenir apartments were built, a section of their parking lot was built directly on the right of way (likely due to the way land was split), and THAT was marked as Old Main Street Loop Road on Google Maps!

 

 

[ggmsmolly]

On 6/20/2005 at 1:57 PM, belmontdrew said:

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...

Peppermint Park was another one on South Main in the 40s to 70s.

 

[ernie5823]

15 hours ago, ggmsmolly said:

Peppermint Park was another one on South Main in the 40s to 70s.

 

Playland Park was the one on South Main. Peppermint Park was initially in Pasadena & later between Gulf Freeway & Reveille (before I 610 built). It was a kiddie park. I worked there, running the rides, in 1960, 61 & 62 as a teenager.

[ggmsmolly]

8 hours ago, ernie5823 said:

Playland Park was the one on South Main. Peppermint Park was initially in Pasadena & later between Gulf Freeway & Reveille (before I 610 built). It was a kiddie park. I worked there, running the rides, in 1960, 61 & 62 as a teenager.

Thank you so much for the clarification.

[ScottyO]

On 1/10/2006 at 10:46 PM, sprintcar said:

Actually Billy Wade was the best at Meyer Speedway.Another Billy, Billy Griswold was pretty much unbeatable at Playland. The car owner was Johnny Reiff I worked for Johnny & often drove the car when the races were moved to Meyer after Blackie Lothringer's crash which sent him into the spectator stands at Playland.

I grew up across the street from Big Johnny, his wife Sara and Daughter Patty baby sat me as a child, I remember the Impala Sara drove and the 240zx Patty drove and the big garage he had in his back yard, remember going to his shop but was to young to remember where it was.