My Heart is Broken

[Alping Sleigh Rider]

I was born in Houston, Texas in April 1968. It was the same year that Astroworld opened. As a child, I remember fondly my first trip to that park. It was just before my parents were divorced, but times were still rough at home to say the least. The trip to Astroworld was like entering fantasy land. The tram into the park. The women on the tram dressed in their bright dresses. The Astrowheel was simply amazing to me. I loved the Taxi's and the Astroway, and though I was completely terrified, I rode the Alpine Sleigh's and loved every minute of it. We made it on the top section of the Sky Needle. I sat between my mom and dad and held their hands as it lifted us up into the sky.

After my parents divorved in 1974, Astroworld became a source of comfort for me and my brother. My dad would take us there a few times. I remember how he bribed us with $2 each to ride Excalibur. Again, just terrified, but then absolutely loved it. Then a year later he was bribing us $5 to ride the Texas Cyclone. I was just barely big enough to get on it. I still can't believe I did. The first 5 times I rode it, my eyes were clinched tight. Later I was riding in the front row with my hands up (but never got the courage to ride in the last car). One time I went with my mom, and at the place where they later did the Texas Review (can't remember what it was called, but it was right near where the entrance to Greazed Lightning would be), I was called on stage as a woman singer sang a song. She kissed me on the cheek at the end in front of 500 people. I've never been so red before.

In the summer of 1977 and 1978, my father bought us season passes. He had custody of us for that three month period, and he would take me and my brother, drop us off at 10 a.m. with $20 each and then go to work. Yes, in retrospect it was pretty dangerous. It was amusement park daycare...but as a 9 year old, it was heaven. I literally spent 40 hours or more a week at the park for about 6 months. My brother and I rode everything. We knew the attendants. We loved River of No Return (especially when we got to be the Captain - "OK, just turn here and head back to the dock. No turn here! Turn! What are you doing? Oh No!" - and the Gunslinger. We rode the Runaway Rickshaw. We walked through the Wacky Shack (and got good at standing on the poles separating the crowd from the furniture). We loved the Barrel of Fun. My brother and I would soak each other on the Bamboo Shoot (by splashing water up while the car was channelling through the tubes before each rise and rall). We rode the Alpine Sleigh ride again and again. We stood in long lines the first day Greezed Lightning was opened.

After that my father moved us overseas, but each summer we came back, we always got a season pass. We rode Thunder River the first week it was opened. Same with XLR8 and the SkyScreamer. I saw Night Ranger play there, and Bryan Adams, and Billy Ocean. So many times, I walked through the ropes of the lines, flirting with the girls that were there my age. Sometimes I would get the courage to say high, but mostly it was a non-verbal dance of attraction with girls I would never get to know.

I loved this park. It kept me sane. It was a safe harbor during a very difficult time of my life. In 1996 I brought my wife there and we rode all the rides left, plus Batman. It was like living my youth all over again.

A few months ago I made plane reservations back to Texas for this summer. I was taking my two girls and son to San Antonio (where I ended up in high school) to go to the Schliterbaun, and then to Houston to take them to Astroworld.

This morning, in looking at the Houston Chronicle on-line I saw that Astroworld had closed. Somehow I had missed this. I knew Six Flags was in trouble, but never saw this coming. I feel, right now, like I've lost my closest friend. I can't believe my kids will never get to experience this. I can't believe I won't be able to bribe them to get on the Texas Cyclone. They'll never see where I used to do the Shooting Gallery. The Alpine Sleigh ride mountains will be gone.

Today, my heart is broken. I know I can't change what has happened, but I can remember. I can say thanks to a park that once lifted a little boy's spirit when he felt his world was crumbling around him. I can say thanks to a park that gave me more happiness than I can describe. I will always remember riding the Tram across the bridge into a dream world. A place that will now only exist in my own dreams.

Good night, Astroworld. Thank you....for everything.
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Out, out brief candle. Life is but a walking shadow.

[SunKing]

Excelent post - thanks. I was also born in Houston (1964) so I share many of your memories. ....very sad that Astroworld is gone forever.

[Harvey]

When I read your post, I couldn't help but think that most of the folks in this forum may have either helped you on to a ride or, ran you off of a ride. Either way, I'm sure we never realized that we were helping a young man and his brother, escape the worries and hurt of a world that could have been a bit kinder to him.

I know that my thoughts during that time ('80 to '84), were that most the people who came to the park were simply taking a mini vacation. After reading your post, I look back and think that maybe, there were more young people like yourself that were looking to us and our employer to give you a little piece of a nice day.

Thanks so much for sharing your story and I'm sorry you didn't get to share the park with your children. If I ever chased you and cussed you out for doing something like spitting from a ride, I'm sorry.

Welcome to the group.

Larry

[Alpine Sleigh Rider]

Trust me - almost every experience I had with the staff there was great. I have absolutely zero bad memories of Astroworld.
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Out, out brief candle. Life is but a walking shadow.

[patriciasalazar]

i loved your post, because it made me finally realize why i cry sometimes at the thought that astroworld is gone forever. i lost my little brother in 1992, he loved astroworld. my mother used to bribe all 5 of us to get on the big rides. he never did because he was never tall enough. he left us and went to heaven when he was 8. after that my family collapsed. astroworld was like a reminder of the good times that our family had before he died. the times we laughed, and had fun. then i started working there and it meant so much more to me. i lost so much there as far as emotions. i will never find what i lost. there is so much finality to it i feel so many emotions. i cry because of this, astroworld was always a piece of my brother and my past. i just keep crying and i think now it's because i never accepted alot of different things. i suppose it is finally time to move on. i'm devestated.

[Alpine Sleigh Rider]

I hear you Patricia. So sorry about the loss of your brother. I think part of the reason this hits home for me as well is that both my mother and father died a few years ago. My father was the one who would bribe us to ride the rides. If he were alive, there would be no person more devastated as him at the park closing. He was always a little kid at that park.

Two songs I have not been able to get out of my head are the "Come Away With Us to Astroworld" from the late 70's, and the Marvel McFey theme song. Both brought tears to my eyes.
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Out, out brief candle. Life is but a walking shadow.

[patriciasalazar]

This too shall pass. The pain will subside, and we will move on. :::::::::::::::::::::::HUG:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[Start Inhibit Dan]

Big hug Trish!
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Listen...

[patriciasalazar]

ooh you're so sweet danny :::::::HUG::::::::
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Vending- Cotton Candy, Coke, Lemon Chill Stands 1995-1997

[childhood playground]

Two songs stick in my head:
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They tore down paradise and put up a parking lot.
and
This used to be my playground. This used to be my childhood dreams of a friend. Why did it have to end? And why do they always say. Don't look back... (from A League of Our Own)


I have never had trouble sleeping at night. But since Astroworld closed I lie awake at night and try to picture every ride, store, village and corner of Astroworld. I try to lock it in my brain so that I will be able to describe it to my kids.I downloaded every picture and map that I could. I try to recall every memory so that I can lock it in my memory forever, so that in some way I could always have Astroworld. I have been thinking. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just let go and move on? Why am I being so melodramatic about this? Your response in this thread Patricia made me understand it. Astroworld was the happy part of my childhood and now it's gone. I am 27 and I don't understand why it is so hard to let go of my childhhod. All of my posts on here are very depressing, and I don't even know if anyone reads them. But this is my only place to vent. I come to these forums and realize that I am not alone. Thank you for that. Part of me really doesn't understand why this is so hard for me. I am not alone, that helps. Thank you.

[childhood playground]

I guess another thing that is hard is that I don't live in Houston anymore. I didn't get to go to Astroworld one last time. I didn't get to say goodbye. These forums are my way of saying goodbye. I wish I could just drive on 610 and see it one last time, even as they tear it apart. By the time I get there it will be gone. I am so sorry this is so depressing. I am just so sad and I can't tell anyone else.

[childhood playground]

I don't know you Patricia. But I send a hug too. You are right. This will pass.

[patriciasalazar]

Hi, my name is Trish. I'm 26 and I worked at the park for a couple of years in vending, and it was always a part of my life in some way. I too have insomnia. I am glad to see that I am not the only one. I've been saving pictures too, because I eventually plan on having them all printed and putting them into a book for my kids. I live in Houston, and I was fortunate enough to go a few times before it closed. I'm very emotional right now. I just want this to pass. Please don't drive by if you can hold off on that. It's not a great thing to see right now. Take Care.
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Vending- Cotton Candy, Coke, Lemon Chill Stands 1995-1997

[PyThomas]