lwood Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Has anyone heard what the schedule is for Tillman to reconstruct the Flagship Hotel? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 For personal reasons, I hope that hotel and its pier crumble into the Gulf of Mexico. I give them the one-finger salute everytime I drive by. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabanaboy Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Has anyone heard what the schedule is for Tillman to reconstruct the Flagship Hotel?He has to kick the current tenant out first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 He has to kick the current tenant out first.Actually, I think he has to BUY the current tenant out. Fertitta lost his lawsuit that the current tenant violated his lease. Unless it was overturned on appeal, that leaves a buyout or expiration of the lease as the only options. I think the lease runs to 2030 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapata Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 For personal reasons, I hope that hotel and its pier crumble into the Gulf of Mexico. I give them the one-finger salute everytime I drive by.Sorry to hear...Why is that...??? Can you disclosed what happened ..??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Sorry to hear...Why is that...??? Can you disclosed what happened ..???Long story short, some friends and I got arrested there for "criminal trespassing" about 15 years ago. Although we weren't guests of the hotel, we were parked in their parking lot...same as the 10 carloads of fishermen right next to us. However, we had a surfboard with us. As we were backing out of the parking spot to leave, a Galveston police car pulled up behind us, blocking us in. We were arrested and taken to jail for criminal trespass...but none of the fishermen were.We bailed ourselves out of jail that evening and went to court the next morning to defend ourselves in court. The Flagship employee there claimed that we were warned several times to leave, and that the police had been called. Both of those statements were untrue...we were never asked to leave at any time, nor did anyone warn us that the police were on their way. They also claimed that they had a sign posted at the entrance to the parking lot warning that no surfboards were allowed. That's true, there was a sign there AFTER we were bailed out of jail...a handwritten sign on construction paper, taped up at the entrance. The sign was not there when we pulled in. The Flagship employee (who identified herself as the manager) also testified that she was working the front desk when we pulled into the parking lot and that she could positively identify each of us as the people who pulled into the parking lot. She must have been one eagle-eyed lady to have identified three people inside a car in the split-second that we passed by the front door of the hotel.Basically, it was the word of the Flagship (big $$$ maker in Galveston) versus the word of three young college students from Houston. Despite being under oath, the Flagship employee told a number of blatant lies to the judge. Despite our protests, we were found guilty. Not a big deal, financially...our fines were $120 each (although that was about two months worth of entertainment expense for me at the time).After my one and only experience there, though, I have ZERO respect for the Flagship Hotel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.S.O.N. Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 The Galveston Daily News reported a couple of weeks ago that a deal had been reached between Landry's and the hotel operator, and Landry's would take over operations in about 5 years, instead of the 2030 lease deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpstown Bill Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 we stayed there several years ago & it was in horrible shape--rusty fixtures, creaky elevators & rude employees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.S.O.N. Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 (edited) we stayed there several years ago & it was in horrible shape--rusty fixtures, creaky elevators & rude employeesIt's still like that. I went in a couple of months after Rita and was in sad, sad shape. Quite a few people from Beaumont and Louisiana were staying there. The hallways reeked of urine, there was blood smeared on the elevator walls, and the carpet in the lobby was soaking wet from a dripping air conditioner. I'm not blaming the evacuees, on the contrary I think the hotel staff and managers have done a horrible job keeping that place up. Edited April 10, 2006 by J.A.S.O.N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 It's still like that. I went in a couple of months after Rita and was in sad, sad shape. Quite a few people from Beaumont and Louisiana were staying there. The hallways reeked of urine, there was blood smeared on the elevator walls, and the carpet in the lobby was soaking wet from a dripping air conditioner. I'm not blaming the evacuees, on the contrary I think the hotel staff and managers have done a horrible job keeping that place up.It's really ashamed. The current owner has brain cancer, or claims to have, and is behind in IRS and sales tax payments. It took all of this lawsuit crap and Tillman Fertitta to rescue this site for future development, but for now Galveston has to put up with this pitiful place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
97saturn Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Any update? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicMan Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 It's still like that. I went in a couple of months after Rita and was in sad, sad shape. Quite a few people from Beaumont and Louisiana were staying there. The hallways reeked of urine, there was blood smeared on the elevator walls, and the carpet in the lobby was soaking wet from a dripping air conditioner. I'm not blaming the evacuees, on the contrary I think the hotel staff and managers have done a horrible job keeping that place up.Someone should stay there for another night to see if it's still like that. If so, he or she needs to take photos and film videos of the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 (edited) Someone should stay there for another night to see if it's still like that. If so, he or she needs to take photos and film videos of the place.I stayed there last fall, in July or August as I recall; the evacuee population was gone. It was the crappiest hotel I've ever stayed in that was able to draw white middle-class families with children.No blood on the walls, no urine smell, no wet carpet (that I noticed). It wasn't clear that the elevator was not going to plummet to the bottom of the shaft, break through the floor, and send its occupants straight to the beach, however. And various light fixtures were missing. Edited April 18, 2008 by TheNiche Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I've heard a rumor that it sustained heavy damage, that the pilings are no longer stable, and that it is to be imploded. Their website says that they reopen in January, but then again Daniel Yeh leases and operates it, and he's crazy and dishonest (was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on Friday), so I tend to place more weight on the rumor. On the face, at least, the rumor is plausible. Can anyone substantiate this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 (edited) There is a photo in the Galveston Daily News website showing the entrance ramp and part of the sidewall crumbled into the Gulf. That would certainly lend support to rumors that the pilings are suspect.I'll see if I can find the pic.EDIT: Hope this link works. If not, it is on page 22 of the photographs page.http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?...f594eeb5b01156f Edited September 30, 2008 by RedScare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudemeister Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I think they would probably tear down the structure anyways just for insurance reasons alone, in addition to structural issues with the pilings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trae Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Any chance on a rebuild? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 It is too dated. Needs to be demolished and made to withhold up to the strongest storms. Then just repeat the same process and continue down the seawall with other new hotels. Sort of like Miami Beach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wernicke Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Spent a night in the Flagship after prom... those were the days. I'm not sure how they let a bunch of 17- and 18-year-olds check-in to a hotel alone, but it says something about the state of the place back then even... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeybob2 Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I thought Tillman Fertitta bought the Flagship's lease a couple years ago? There was an article in the Houston Biz Journal last week about him and the Flagship but I didn't get a chance to read it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 From August 2004:THE operator of Galveston's Flagship Hotel has declared bankruptcy, shielding the company from paying a hefty personal injury judgment and delaying eviction by property owner Landry's Restaurants.The Flagship Hotel Ltd., headed by Daniel Yeh, filed for Chapter 11 protection in Galveston on July 30.Yeh filed a motion with the bankruptcy court requesting that during the reorganization period his group assume the lease for the 40-year-old hotel, which sits atop a pier stretching into the Gulf of Mexico.Yeh leased the property from the city until 2002, when the city sold it to Landry's, the only bidder, which paid $500,000 for the property. Lease payments are $200,000 a year. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=2004_3789573 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 From August 2004:THE operator of Galveston's Flagship Hotel has declared bankruptcy, shielding the company from paying a hefty personal injury judgment and delaying eviction by property owner Landry's Restaurants.The Flagship Hotel Ltd., headed by Daniel Yeh, filed for Chapter 11 protection in Galveston on July 30.Yeh filed a motion with the bankruptcy court requesting that during the reorganization period his group assume the lease for the 40-year-old hotel, which sits atop a pier stretching into the Gulf of Mexico.Yeh leased the property from the city until 2002, when the city sold it to Landry's, the only bidder, which paid $500,000 for the property. Lease payments are $200,000 a year. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=2004_3789573He was successful at defending his lease, by the way. The year after he committed fraud against FEMA by claiming excessive hurricane vouchers. When they caught him he pretended as though he had some kind of head injury that prevented him from having acted responsibly. His defense in that case obviously failed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Just wipe the slate clean and build new ones like this. Put them in Galveston or even better in Clear Lake area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Flagship was always wasted potential. I wish someone with some clout and cash would do something magnificent with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 ...then again Daniel Yeh leases and operates it, and he's crazy and dishonest (was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on Friday)...I'd pay for a front row ticket to see it demolished.I was arrested there for criminal trespass (for parking in their parking lot) in the early 90's. Two of their employees told straight-up lies in court in their testimony...and of course Galveston judge isn't going to let a teenage college student get over on the venerable Flagship. I can only surmise that Yeh must have been running the place back in the early 90's... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 (edited) Flagship was always wasted potential. I wish someone with some clout and cash would do something magnificent with it. The "Municipal Pleasure Pier" was built between 1939-1942, initiated by the city's mayor. Years later, after Carla rolled into town, a Houston banker leased the Pleasure Pier & built the Flagship Hotel on it. (Hurricane Carla messed up the buildings on Pleasure Pier, but not the pier itself). The Flagship opened in 1965. Thank you Ray Miller...Galveston, (p.187-212). That pier must have been built pretty solid to stand that long. Edited October 1, 2008 by NenaE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Thank's Nena for the clarification, you beat me to it. The pier is in good shape, only the hotel was damaged, and then only the EFIS facade. The ramp was damaged once before, so I'm not suprised it came apart again. I'm looking forward to the present owner leaving, or his demise. (which ever comes first.) Fertitta has some excellent ideas for the pier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Thank's Nena for the clarification, you beat me to it. The pier is in good shape, only the hotel was damaged, and then only the EFIS facade. The ramp was damaged once before, so I'm not suprised it came apart again. I'm looking forward to the present owner leaving, or his demise. (which ever comes first.) Fertitta has some excellent ideas for the pier. What does EFIS facade mean? From the picture I saw it on TV, the ramp entrance is definitely gone, would imagine the hotel suffered some damage, as it was already in poor shape. The pier itself looked ok to me, but would imagine a structural engineer would need to confirm the condition of the "foundation". Let's hope something more visually "pleasurable" replaces it. Pardon the pun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 EFIS is a type of material method that is used on building facades. It can be made to resemble stone, plaster, rock, concrete, or even the controversial mermaid sculptures that adorned the front portion of the Flagship hotel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 Wasn't there an article in the chronicle a few years ago that had a rendering of a rollar coaster and other other things on this peir. Seemed as though they were going to turn it into a small theme park. Anybody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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