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Six Flags AstroWorld was a Six Flags Theme Park located adjacent to and outside of 610 Loop in Houston, Texas (south of the Reliant Park complex). Although the fourth park to be included in the Six Flags family of amusement parks, it was the first park to be purchased by Six Flags instead of being built. The park closed on October 30 , 2005 and was demolished in early 2006. AstroWorld was originally a part of the "AstroDomain", the brainchild of local philanthropist and former Houston mayor Judge . As of 2007, the bridge continues to stand and is the last remaining structure from AstroWorld. NOTABLE ATTRACTIONS When built, the Texas Cyclone was one of the largest wooden Roller Coaster s in the United States . The Ultra Twister , which was widely regarded as one of the most unique rides in the United States , included several lateral 'twists' instead of loops. Greezed Lightnin' , a Shuttle Roller Coaster that accelerated from 0 - 60 mph in roughly 4 seconds. Riders traveled both forwards and backwards during the course of the ride over a near-linear track with one loop and a braking hill on both ends. ''Greezed Lightnin's'' 1 millionth ride occurred on October 15 , 2005 . The Alpine Sleigh Ride was a popular attraction during the park's early years. Riders passed through a mountain and an avalanche of artificial snow, and finally into the 10 degree Fahrenheit room. The ride also included an appearance by the "Abominable Snowman," a glacier and a waterfall. http://www.corp.carrier.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=42c80d9653b08010VgnVCM100000cb890b80RCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1 HISTORY Park opening and early years The theme park opened on . The original eight themed areas and some of the attractions consisted of:
70's - 80's AstroWorld was sold to the Six Flags family of theme parks in -based original park Six Flags Over Texas . Similarly, Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas is marketed as "Fiesta Texas: A Six Flags Theme Park". The Texas Cyclone During construction of the lumber. It had over a dozen drops and was one of the few full sized roller coasters in the world to operate without a mid-course brake run. In 2001 it was determined that modifications made to the ride deemed the head-rests unnecessary and they were removed enabling riders a greater view during the course of the ride. Six Flags WaterWorld was built adjacent to AstroWorld and opened in 1983 . Admission to the water park was separate for almost 20 years, when in 2002 it was decided to allow admission to both parks with one paid ticket. 90's - 2000's AstroWorld was home to what once was the only pipe-line barrel roll roller coaster in North America , Ultra Twister , planned and designed with Intamin AG , the world's first River Rapids Ride ''Thunder River'', and the world's first successful suspended coaster XLR-8 . It was also home to Batman The Escape , once was the only stand-up roller coaster in the state of Texas . AstroWorld was also the park to debut "SWAT", the prototype S&S Power 'Sky Swatter' ride. ''Diablo Falls'' was the world's tallest spinning water ride. CLOSURE AND DEMOLITION ]] On September 12, 2005, Six Flags announced that it would close AstroWorld at the end of the 2005 season and would sell the 109 acre park site. Six Flags cited reasons for closure as being the park's overall performance, site constraints and parking rights to Reliant Park , the Houston Texans football team, and the Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo . http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2005/09/12/daily10.html Angel/McIver Interests, a near the Reliant Park complex and proximity to METRORail make it ideal for a dense urban type of development. Some of the park's rides and attractions were relocated to other Six Flags parks while many were scrapped or were too badly damaged during demolition to be reassembled elsewhere. '' Greezed Lightnin ''' was relocated to Joyland Amusement Park in Lubbock, Texas http://www.joylandpark.com/coaster.html. The Dentzel carousel was purchased by Brass Ring Entertainment and is being refurbished and prepared for an as-yet undisclosed museum location REFERENCES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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