Tournstone

Busch Gardens?

I remember that! Not much though. I was at Second Baptist in elementary school and we took a field trip there. Go figure!

Peppermint Park: went to may a kiddie birthday party there. Thought I remember it being off 610 on the north west side.

I remember it well (enough). I spent a great deal of time and money in the game room area. Didn't bowl there much or at all. Just hung out in the game room part after skating. I actually think it was one floor up from where you describe. Where some offices are now.

I worked in the Ice Rink (Ice guard/bathroom attendant/rental counter/Zamboni driver) in the late 70s and early 80s but I thought it was gone by then.

Before the bowling/game room area, the highlight of my visits (other than skating lessons) were the "Fun Shop" on the lower level of Galleria I where I would spend money on cheap magic tricks. The Post Office sits there now.

At the cinema at the opposite end if Galleria I, I saw Jaws, Star Wars and had my first movie date with my now wife. Real embarrassing. Not knowing the difference I thought I was taking her to see Chariots of Fire when actually I took her to see Quest for Fire. Ugh! (literally)

I have fond early childhood memories of that place. The satelite image on Google maps shows how things look currently. But I was trying to remember the configuration before all the changes as I look through all the great photos past and present every one has posted. Best I could dig up was a satelite image from 1995. Sure, things had allready fallen apart, but the image shows mostly where things were before the Home Depot. I cleaned it up as best I could.

And The Houston Business Journal did a story in 2002 about an attempt to revive things, but nothing happened I guess. Some history in the story though.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories.../28/focus1.html