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A Lost Paradise
Astroworld has now gone from this place. Now just a memory from the first 20 years of my life. I had actually never imagined it ever closing before. Subconsciously, I guess, I had just felt that it would always be there, as long as I was alive. September 12th, 2005 certainly proved this wrong. It was announced that Six Flags would sell the park, basically as a quick way to reduce the debt slightly. Now this will probably turn into a parking lot for Reliant Stadium. This is not for certain, but I just feel it is. But not matter what it becomes, I will never see it as the reality of the present; I will always imagine that area as the paradise of the past when I drive by it.
Thankfully, I was there on the last day. And what a great day it was; I met so many good people, who were, like myself, were extremely nostalgic and coaster-enthusiasts. It was great to be with my own kind on the last day, and best of all, with my father, who I go on so many coaster trips with.
I was also on Astroworld last malfunction! About an hour after park closing, I had just gotten on one of the Texas Cyclone's last rides. Well, we were going up the chain lift, when it got stuck! But I wasn't scared at all, in fact, I was exhillerated.
The whole atmophere there was just... incredible. Everytime a train took off, the people would cheer, and likewise when I train returned to the station. Man, was there a gasp when we go stuck. But then, of course, when the mechanic came, there was a roaring cheer. After the ride was fixed, the mechanic got one last standing ovation and the ride took off. We were stuck for about 15 minutes, and in that time I had gotten REALLY pumped for the ride.
This last ride, my friends, was the most fun I ever had on a ride at Astroworld, or perhaps ANYWHERE. And the applause we got when we came back... it was incredible. No, we didn't get to go on the last ride, but I still would not have liked to end it any other way.
I had always thought my true childhood basically ended years ago, but now I think I'll end up reflecting on Astroworld's ending also symbolizing my childhood ending. I will never forget this place, and what it gave to me.
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Texas Cyclone
The fastest rollercoaster at Astroworld, at a raging speed of 65 MPH, this is the only wooden coaster at the park. It is also my favorite coaster in the park. When it was built in 1976, it premiered as the wildest and craziest coaster of all time. It has 3180' of track, is 93' high, built by William Cobb, has a total ride time of 2:15, and opened 6/12/76. Click here for pics. |
Serial Thriller
The only Suspended Looping Coaster in Texas. It is Astroworld's newest coaster, opening 05/29/1999. It also Astroworld's most popular coaster, because of the fact that the line for it is usually packed. Despite that it is a little rough, it's quite a fun ride. It has a speed of 55 mph, a height of 102', a ride time of 1:35, a track length 2172', 5 invesions, and it was built by Vekoma. Click here for pics.
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Batman The Escape
Texas' only Stand-Up Looping rollercoaster. Although it is rough, it is still a fun ride. If you know how to position yourself to not get beaten around, you'll be fine! It opened it's doors in 1993. It goes 55mph, has a height of 90', a track length of 2300', 1 inversion, and was built by Intamin. The ride time is unknown. Click here for pics. |
Greezed Lightnin'
This is personally my 2nd favorite coaster next to Texas Cyclone. It's a neat little ride. It's Texas' only shuttle loop coaster. (What's that, you say? See the pics I linked for you. ^_^) It opened in 1978 and was built by Schwarzkoph. It goes 60 mph, has 1 inversion (that you go through twice!), has a ride time of 33 seconds, has 849' of track, and is a cool ride! Click here for pics.
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Ultra Twister
This ride can be a little rough on the shoulders, but the concept of it is very cool! This type of coaster if a heartline twister, the only one it's kind in NORTH AMERICA. It's top speed is around 45 mph, has a height of 96.8', an 87 degree drop (whoo!), 3 barrel rolls, a ride time of 1:40, a track length of 1421', opened in 1990, and it was built by Togo. Click here for Pics. |
The Viper
A green steel looper ride. And a squeezed-in one at that. Seriously, this ride takes up, like, hardy any space. It's still fun though. It opened in 1989, has a top speed of 50 mph, is 80' tall, has 1 inversion, has a ride time of 1:30,is built by Schwarzkoph, and has a track length of 1968'. Click here for pics.
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XLR8
WORLD'S FIRST SUSPENDED COASTER! This ride is enjoyable, heck, I used to be a diehard fan of this ride. Now that I've grown older, this ride has been beginning to get a little boring for me. But still, a lovely family ride. The goal when Arrow built this ride was NOT to give it lots of thrills, but just the simple task of making it work. All of the other attempts of making a suspend coaster failed. XLR8 is the first successful one, therefore considered world's first. ALSO, it's the only suspended coaster for the cars to be half forward-half backwards! The backwards ride is a great improvement, and makes it exciting again. IT has a top speed of 34 mph, opened in 1984, has a track length of 3000', has a ride time of 3:00 (whoa, 1,000 feet a minute!), and was built by Arrow. Click here for pics. |
Mayan Mindbender
Texas' first indoor coaster ride. This ride used to terrify me, now it's just a good ride to relax in. Spinning aorund in AIR CONDITIONING is very relaxing indeed! The theme for this ride is great, possibly the best at Astroworld. It opened in 1995, has a height of 27', was built by Vekoma, and has a track lenght of 1250'. Click here for pics.
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The Serpent
Astroworld's Junior coaster. It is also Astroworld's oldest coaster, opening in 1969. Well before I was born. It was built by Arrow, has 821' of track, and is 20' high. Click here for pics. |
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Texas Tornado and Excalibur - The Demolished Coasters
Texas Tornado was a steel looper coaster and Excalibur was a mine train. They are both a mere memory to Astroworld now. Yeah, sure, they moved the Texas Tornado to San Francisco, but they slowed it down a whole bunch, so it's not as fun. And Excalibur is gone forever, no possible way to rebuild it. Well, it was planned to be rebuilt for Frontier City in Oklahoma, but it's not gonna happen. My luck, too, Texas Tornado was my favorite ride at Astroworld and Excalibur was at the top of my list, too! I miss them both very deeply. Texas Tornado was demolished cause it wasn't made to run in Houston heat, not because it had too many loops, like a lot of people think. Excalibur was demolished to make room for Serial Thriller and other maitenence reasons. Texas Tornado had a height of 112', a ride time of 2:30, had 3675' feet of track, 4 inversions, was opened 03/14/1998, had a speed of 60 mph, was built by Schwarzkoph, and demolished at the end of 2002. Excalibur had a height of 88', has a ride time of 2:51, had 2274' of track, was opened in 1972, had a speed of 46 mph, was built by Arrow, and was demolished at the end of 1998. Click here for pics of Texas Tornado and Click here for pics of Excalibur.
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