TM

www.amusementtoday.com
SEPTEMBER 2012

BONUS SECTION B

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier a big success

16 rides are part of
overall mix of offerings
on $60 million pier
STORY: Tim Baldwin

tbaldwin@amusementtoday.com

GALVESTON ISLAND,
Texas The city of Galveston,
with more than 50,000 residents, have always depended
upon a mix of industries for
its livelihood. Galveston Island certainly draws from the
tourism industry bringing
in visitors to relax along the
beach and the various hotels
and resorts along the islands
seawall. For 2012 a new draw
has entered into that market,
and the city leaders couldnt
be more pleased.
Landrys Inc., a Houstonbased conglomerate dedicated to Dining, Entertainment,
Hospitality and Gaming, has
expanded its considerable repertoire beyond the high end
restaurants for which it became known. Having acquired
casinos, along with established
hotels and resorts, the company has recently dabbled in
amusement rides. Houstons
Downtown Aquarium has
a handful of attractions surrounding the popular restaurant. Kemah Boardwalk was a
much more successful blend of
rides and restaurants offering
an entire district of diversions
to bring people from central
Houston to an inlet along the
gulf to enjoy an entertaining
time away with several rides
and many dining options,
along with shopping and the
waterfront atmosphere.
In May of 2012, Landrys
debuted its first location primarily dedicated to amusement rides. While restaurant
components still exist at the
Galveston Island Historic
Pleasure Pier, the true draw is
the fun of the rides.
Tilman J. Fertitta, sole
owner, chairman and CEO of
Landrys, has a deeper connec-

tion to this project. He grew up

in Galveston and during his
youth was a lifeguard on the
pier at the new Flagship Hotel.
While most successful business ventures are sure to be
fulfilling, restoring the historic
pier into a true tourist draw
must bring about an internalized satisfaction.
The city put the pier out
for sale about 12 years ago and
we acquired it. I lived right
down 25th Street from Kindergarten to Second Grade and
remember them building the
Flagship [Hotel] right after
Hurricane Carla, says Fertitta. Whenever Hurricane Ike
came [in 2008] the whole thing
just became destroyed and the
last remaining tenant was then
gone.
More than a century ago,
amusements operated just
two blocks from todays pier,
beginning in 1906. In 1940,
the Galveston Pleasure Pier
was built, originally as a recreational facility for the U.S.
military during World War II.
During that decade it became
the countrys largest The
Coney Island of the South
drawing Americas top dance
bands inside the massive
ballroom and enticing guests
to enjoy a motion picture under the stars on an outdoor
screen. Hurricane Carla struck
in 1961 and after decades of
being a source of tourism,
the pier would take on a new
role. In 1965, the Flagship Hotel opened on the previouslydevastated pier. It would be
a tourist icon for more than
40 years, offering guests hotel
rooms positioned over the water. Fertittas first inclination
for the pier was to restore the
Flagship to a new grandeur.

Hurricane Ike in 2008 had different ideas. With Ikes further

damage, plans for the historic
pier would take a new turn. In
2009, Landrys, Inc. informed
city officials that the new direction would be to bring back
an amusement pier to Galveston Island.
Construction on the pier
grew in earnest following the
January 2012 press announcement. The pier, which is 1,130
feet long and 120 feet wide,
was reinforced, and through
the construction process, the
deck that people walk upon
today is actually 32 inches
above the original pier, allowing for all utilities to be below.
Memorial Day weekend
arrived and the pier was nearing readiness. Mark Kane,
regional director for Kemah
Boardwalk and the Galveston
Island Pleasure Pier reflects,
We operated at a reduced
price those first days; 13 of
the 16 rides were ready and
we felt that offered a good
enough product. We couldnt
miss the opportunity to show
off the pier on a holiday weekend. As it turned out, it was
a good call. Guests were ready
and were coming in optimistic
numbers. Within a few weeks,
all rides were installed and operational.
The Piers line-up of
rides features 16 attractions
from various manufacturers.
Chance Rides provided four
of these a 100-foot Galaxy
Wheel, Sea Dragon, Revolution and a 36-foot double
decker carousel. The carousel
features horses, sea creatures
and chariots. The interesting
positioning of the Sea Dragon
is quite dramatic as the ship

4See PIER, page 2B

The $60 million Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

opened Memorial Day weekend 2012 with amusements,
food, games and entertainment. Above, Bubba Gump
Shrimp Company awaits guests outside the piers main
entrance. Below, the pier features 16 rides including this
StarFlyer ride from Funtime and Giant Wheel from Chance
Rides, bottom photo.
AT/TIM BALDWIN and GARY SLADE, bottom photo

2B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

PIER

Continued from page 1B

swings out above the midway or out over the water.
Ital International/Bertazzon
supplied a trio of rides that
include a Rock & Roll musicthemed family ride, as well as
a bumper car attraction. The
bumper cars are divided into
two parts, with 18 vehicles
serving older folk and 10 cars
geared especially for younger
kids. The third ride is an undulating swing ride placed at
the front of the Pier, serving as
eye candy, as park officials
call it. Rides 4U brokered three
family rides for the pier an
SBF/Visa Airborne Shot (Sky
Shooter), and two childrens
rides: an S&S Frog Hopper and
SBF Big Wheelin which features five trucks that seat four
children each. A Zamperla Tea
Cup ride is also on offer for
families.
The other four rides ramp
up the thrill factor. Larsons
Ring of Fire is dubbed Cyclone
on the pier and boasts a new
sleek park model giving the
loop clean lines with no cables.
Pirates Plunge, a log flume
supplied by Interlink gives
guests an opportunity to get
wet as they scream down two
drops, as well as those along
the midway in a specified
soak zone. Two rides represented by the Ride Entertainment Group are a Gerstlauer
vertical-lift Euro-Fighter roller
coaster (Iron Shark) and a 200foot Star Flyer from Austrias
Funtime. Dubbed Texas Flyer,
it is the tallest swing ride currently operating in Texas and
adds an extra thrill as riders
are whirled about high above
the gulfs waters.
The Iron Shark tends to
be the favorite among the
park crowd as well as the
staff. Josh Hairgrove, assistant general manager of the
Pleasure Pier, definitely rates
it as his favorite. People love
the Iron Shark. They just love
sitting around watching that

Top row from left, guests to the Pleasure Pier have a view of high energy attractions to
choose from, including Sea Dragon (Chance Rides), Cyclone (Larson) and Pirates Plunge
(Interlink). Bottom row from left, this water test dummy (named Wet Willie) is always on the
move in the park becoming a favorite with guests for photos; Josh Hairgrove, assistant general manager (left) and Mark Kane, regional director, lead the management team; and with
Landrys as the parks owner, the pier always has many great food options to choose from.
AT/GARY SLADE AND TIM BALDWIN

first drop. Hairgrove also

says the Pier is seeing the biggest throughput on the ride
as well. Three vehicles keep
the queue flowing at heavier
periods. The restraint system
utilizes a lap bar allowing for
unobstructed views as passengers crest and pause at the
apex before plunging down
a 97-degree drop. It is worth
noting that even though the
acrobatic coaster contains four
inversions, the height requirement is only 42 inches, which
has been a very positive detail
with families Kane reports.
The exhilarating ride isnt
the only thing that makes this
coaster unique. This took a
lot of specialized engineering, said Siegfried Gerstlauer,
Gerstlauer Amusement Rides
managing director. Due to
the unique nature of the pier,
we had very specific loading

and spatial requirements. We

ended up custom-designing
a steel base frame for the
coaster and only using a concrete foundation under the lift
tower. We were able to meet
all of the hurricane wind requirements and produce an
exciting coaster in a small footprint; needless to say we are
very happy with the result.
Because of the individualized
nature to the support structure, riders in the right-hand
seat are cantilevered slightly
over the water when they dive
onto the brake run.
Weve divided the pier to
where every type of family has
an area to go to, says Hairgrove. At the front of the pier
we have a lot of the kids rides,
and in the center we have a
lot of family rides. At the back
of the pier you have the more
extreme rides and more of an

adult area.
Bobs Space Racers provided eight different midway games of skill, all placed
in the center of the pier. A
well-stocked gift shop, eateries, ample restroom facilities
(very nice ones at that), a party
room, and Stage 25 a location dedicated for live music
and shaded seating round
out the Pleasure Piers components. Pleasure Pier souvenirs are going crazy, smiles
Kane, pleased with the solid
sales.
In true Landrys fashion, just before guests must
have a wristband to enter the
Pleasure Pier, a large Bubba
Gumps is located right at the
front of the property. Texas
first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
joins other tourist locales, such
as Santa Monica Pier, Navy
Pier and Times Square, in pro-

viding fresh seafood. Currently there are 33 Bubba Gump

restaurants, primarily in hightourist areas. Admission to the
Pleasure Pier is not required
for dining and the 350-seat restaurant offers indoor seating
and outdoor decks for those
that prefer al fresco dining.
Of note, pier officials have alluded to a 35 percent increase
of patrons at Fish Tales, a
Landrys restaurant just across
the street from the pier.
Something unique to the
Pleasure Pier, in contrast to
other U.S. piers is an admission charge. Those not choosing to ride can purchase a
general admission wristband,
but all guests must have a
wristband to enter the Pier. Individual ride tickets are available for those patrons, as well
as an upgrade for all rides, if

Deliveries
2012 E. Randol Mill Rd, Suite 203
Arlington, Texas 76011

Member of:
IAAPA, AIMSInternational, PAPA,
NEAAPA, NJAA, OABA, WWA, TTIA,
NAARSO and IISF

4See PIER, page 4B

AMUSEMENT TODAY STAFF

Gary Slade, Founder
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
(817) 460-7220
gslade@amusementtoday.com
Stacey Childress / Childress Media
Web & Graphic Design
(817) 889-4441
stacey@staceychildress.com
John Robinson / W.H.R. Inc.
Daily E-mail Newsletter
johnwcrobinson@cinci.rr.com

Tim Baldwin
Editorial
tbaldwin@amusementtoday.com
Pam Sherborne
Editorial
psherborne@amusementtoday.com
Scott Rutherford
Editorial
srutherford@amusementtoday.com
Jeffrey L. Seifert
Editorial / Special Projects
jseifert@amusementtoday.com

Sammy Piccola
Accounting / Circulation
(817) 460-7220
spiccola@amusementtoday.com
Sue Nichols
Advertising
(615) 662-0252
snichols@amusementtoday.com
Bubba Flint
Cartoonist
bflint@amusementtoday.com

Contributors: Galveston County Historical Association , Billy Hill, Landrys, Inc., Andrew Mellor, Richard Munch, Adam Sandy

Subscription rates are: 1 year (14 issues) $75 in the USA; $100 elsewhere; 2 years (28 issues) $140/$180;
3 years (42 issues) $200/$250. Send check or money order (U.S.funds only, drawn on a U.S. bank) to
Amusement Today, P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, Texas 76005-5427. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
Please allow up to six weeks for your subscription request to be processed and the first issue mailed.
Amusement Today is an independent newspaper, published monthly by Amusement Today Inc., P.O.
Box 5427, Arlington, Texas 76005. Presort Standard Postage (Permit No. 2069) pre-paid at Fort Worth,
Texas. The entire contents of this newspaper and its related Web sites are copyrighted and trademarked
by Amusement Today 2012, with all rights reserved.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Amusement Today, P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, Texas
76005-5427.

SEPTEMBER 2012 AMUSEMENTTODAY 3B

PO BOX 638 Plainview, Texas 79072

(806) 293-1353 www.larsonintl.com

Proud to supply

with the Fire Ball: Cyclone

4B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

Bobs Space Racers delivers piers games

FAST FACTS
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
2501 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, Texas 77550
(409) 766-4920
www.pleasurepier.com
Owner/Developer:
Landrys Inc.
Houston, Texas
Pier Facts:
Pier was originally constructed in 1940 as an amusement
area with some fishing. The pier suffered a major blow in
1961 from Hurricane Carla. In 1965 the pier would be rebuilt
and house the new Flagship Hotel which would operate
for 40 years. In 2000, the city of Galveston sells the pier to
Landrys who planned to refurbish and operate the historic
Flagship Hotel once the current tenants management
contract expired. In 2008, Hurricane Ike damages the hotel
beyond repair. In 2009, Landrys informs city officials of plans
to demolish the hotel, rebuild the pier into one with amusement rides. Memorial Day weekend 2012, the $60 million
pier reopens with rides, games, shops, food outlets and a
Bubba Gump restaurant.
Pier Size/Construction:
Pier is 1,130 feet long by 120 feet wide. It is constructed of
all reinforced concrete deck and supports, with some new
steel supports added in key ride areas.
Key Management:
Mark Kane, regional director for Landrys theme park
division and general manager of the Pleasure Pier
Heather Wilson, brand marketing manager
Josh Hairgrove, assistant general manager
Mike Martorella, amusements general manager
Michael Maney, maintenance manager
Joe Zdunek, admissions & cash control manager
Steven Winters, F&B manager
Toni Rivera, retail/warehouse manager
Stephanie Maxwell, sales
Kristin Payne, guest relations
Jennifer Fiesel, human resources manager
Joel Smith, security chief
Jonathon Greene, development dept. /project manager
Operating Hours
Daily beginning at 10 a.m.; closing times are 11 p.m.
Sunday-Thursday, Midnight on Friday and Saturday
Ticketing/Admission
All Day Ride Pass
$26.99* for adults (48 and up)
$21.99* for children (under 48)
Valid for all rides (good for day of purchase only)
Family Four Pack
$89.99* includes four all day ride passes (two adult
passes 48 and up/ two children passes under 48)
Additional adults/children must purchase ticket
at regular price
Pier Pass (Walk-on)
$10* for adults (48 and up)
$8* for children (under 48)
Pass required for admittance to pier; ride tickets
sold separately at booths/kiosks
(good for day of purchase only)
Individual Ride Tickets
Starting at $4.00* per ticket
Must purchase a walk-on pass to gain access to the pier
* Plus tax
Source: Landrys Inc.

Bobs Space Racers was selected to provide eight games on the main midway. Shown here
are clockwise from top: Tub Toss, Vertical Water Race, Ring Toss and Whac-A-Mole as seen
at night under the LED overhead lights.
AT/GARY SLADE

PIER

Continued from page 2B

they opt to climb aboard with
fellow family members. This
general admission seems to be
working, as it has kept the pier
very family friendly and problems have almost been nonexistent.
The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier also requires
guests to adhere to a dress
code and code of conduct.
Shirt and shoes are required,
and the dress code specifically states that no undergarments can be visible and pants
must be pulled up fully to the
waist. The code of conduct requires no littering on or off the
pier, no profanity, and smoking only in designated areas.
People have actually come
up to us and thanked us, says
Hairgrove. They want a family friendly environment where
they feel safe and feel that they
can have fun. Kane also comments toward Landrys having
a high set of standards within
its restaurant chains and that
the Pleasure Pier aligns itself
to the companys high hospitality standards. Its a totally
controlled environment and
thats the way I want it to go,
comments Fertitta. Galveston
is a family friendly town.
Kane reports that the pier
really hits its peak from about
6:00 each evening. Were
steady from the time we open
at 10 a.m., but when the sun
starts to pass around 6 p.m.,
we start to see a crunch. On

The Pleasure Pier has a wide

assortment of merchandise
to choose from at the parks
main gift shop, located at
the parks main entry area.
AT/GARY SLADE

weekends, we stay busy all

the way up to midnight. Pier
hours closed during the summer at 11 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Hours will
adjust with the season through
fall and winter. Pier officials
also admit that this first season is a period of observation
to see where scheduling might
need to be tweaked for the
long road.
A true picture of the facility would not be complete
without mentioning the night
ambience when the Pleasure
Pier vividly comes alive. Every ride is adorned with LED
lighting (most of which were
provided by Maxtron and
Rides 4U) and the entire property is visible for many blocks
on both sides down Seawall
Blvd. Even the path of the
roller coaster is traced into
the night sky. Both the Larson
Ring of Fire called Cyclone
(LEDs from Dennys Electron-

ics) and Chance Wheel pulse

and radiate with mesmerizing light patterns. All in all,
the night vibe never seems
dark, only more colorful.
The Pleasure Pier is
brightly painted, and it is
Kanes goal to keep everything looking new. With a
solid lineup of rides in place
already, the new property has
enjoyed a successful summer
so far. Expansion is not only
possible, but seems very probable if Fertittas enthusiasm is
any indication. As final details
are put in place, he expects for
the company to examine the
completed product and see
what needs tweaking and adjusting, whether it be pricing,
schedule, aesthetics or additions. Im very happy with
the way it came out and Im
very happy with the business
weve done, says Fertitta.
Hopefully it will be there for
many, many years to come.
An all-you-can-ride wrist
band to the pier is $21.99 for
children under 48 inches and
$26.99 for those 48 inches and
taller. A general admission
onto the pier can be purchased
for $10.00.
Debbie Furgeson from
Kingwood, Texas, a city about
90 minutes from Galveston,
said her family enjoyed their
outing there. When we saw
the price, we werent sure if
it was going to be worth it,
said Furgeson. But we spent
over three hours there and just
loved it. It was worth every
penny.

SEPTEMBER 2012 AMUSEMENTTODAY 5B

6B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

Pleasure Pier by day...

Sixteen rides are just part of the new Pleasure Pier experience. Shown here are (top row from left): Texas Tea (Zamperla); Double Deck Carousel (Chance
Rides) and Texas Flyer (REG/Funtime). Bottom row from left: SkyShooter (Rides-4U/SBF); Frog Hopper (Rides-4U/S&S Worldwide) and Pier Pileup (Ital International/Bertazzon). AT/GARY SLADE; TEXAS FLYER/JEFFREY SEIFERT

Pleasure Pier at sunset...

The Texas Gulf coast offers
some beautiful sunsets as
captured here by photographer Billy Hill, shooting for
parent company Landrys
Inc. In the right photo the
Cyclone (Larson), Pirate
Plunge (Interlink) and Sea
Dragon (Chance rides) are
clearly seen. In the far right
photo the twisted and compact ride layout for the Iron
Shark (REG/Gerstlauer) is in
full view.
COURTESY LANDRYS INC/
BILLY HILL

Pleasure Pier by night...

This night view, taken from a fishing walkway, shows the pier with all its beauty from the thousands of LED lights draped throughout the park and its rides.
Maxtron/Rides-4U provided the LED light package for key rides like the Iron Shark, Texas Flyer and Galaxy Ferris wheel. AT/JEFFREY SEIFERT

SEPTEMBER 2012 AMUSEMENTTODAY 7B

Pleasure Pier by night...

Top to bottom, The Pleasure Pier rides come alive at night
beginning with the Gulf Glider (Ital International/Bertazzon)
at the front of the park; the Rock & Roll (Ital/Bertazzon) and
Cyclone (Larson Intl.); Sky Shooter (Rides-4U/SBF) and Sea
Dragon (Chance Rides); while the Galaxy Wheel (Chance
Rides) anchors the ocean end of the pier. AT/GARY SLADE

8B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

SEPTEMBER 2012 AMUSEMENTTODAY 9B

10B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

Gerstlauer-built Iron Shark strikes Galveston Pier

Popular Euro-Fighter first
for any Texas park

Above two photos, The Iron Shark by day and then

by night with its impressive LED lights that follow the rides 1,246 foot-long circuit. Bottom two
photos, the Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter steel coaster
became the first such ride at any amusement facility in Texas when it debuted in early June at the
Pleasure Pier. AT/GARY SLADE

GALVESTON, Texas Visitors walking along

the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier stopped
and watched in awe the afternoon of June 1. They
saw Iron Shark, the piers newest attraction (a custom-designed Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller coaster), climbing 100 feet into the sky. In a matter of seconds it took eight guests straight into the air and then
dropped them back down to the pier at 97 degrees.
The coaster, which features four inversions and
1,246 feet of track, has forever changed the look of
the pier. Its gray columns and blue track highlight
the Euro-Fighters signature lift and a 97-degree first
drop. From there guests are sent upside down twice
in matter of seconds. An Immelman leads into a diving loop, which leaves riders wondering which way
is up. The vehicle then flies through the structure
and heads through two more inversions, a top hat
and vertical loop. The last surprise is the brake run,
where the cars are held over 30 feet above the pounding surf, making for a great visual.
In addition to a lot of design work on the track
layout, Gerstlauer went back to the drawing boards
with their classic Euro-Fighter vehicles. The Ride
Entertainment Group handled the sale and project management. Adam Sandy, their sales director, noted The lap bars were very well-received on
Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia last year
and we were excited to introduce them on the eightseater this year. They offer an open ride experience
and great airtime on that devilish first drop. We have
been thrilled with the result.

Adam Sandy

Interlinks new Pirates Plunge soaking riders on pier

GALVESTON, Texas The France/U.K.-based water ride
specialist Interlink was called upon to supply the two-lift Log
Flume, Pirates Plunge, to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure
Pier on the Texas Gulf coast. Installation of the ride commenced
at the end of 2011, with the opening taking place during the Memorial Day weekend.
The flume is approximately 280 meters (918 feet) in length
and features two drops, one of six meters (19.5 feet) and another
of 12 meters (39 feet), the latter affording excellent views across
the Gulf for patrons as they travel around the highest point
on the attraction. Riders are seated in five seater boats/logs of
which there are a total of seven.
Pirates Plunge is positioned along the left hand edge of the
pier as viewed from the landward end and the turnkey project
proved a challenging installation for the Interlink team due to
the location and the limited access available.
The Galveston Pier project has been an interesting and
testing one for us to do, said Interlink Managing Director John
Hudd. Building the ride onto a pier structure was itself very
different to installing on land, while the limited access available
also brought its own set of challenges which Im pleased to say
we successfully overcame.
The Pleasure Pier owners have obviously invested a great
deal in the redevelopment of the pier and Interlink is very
pleased to have been chosen as one of the suppliers who have
contributed towards the regeneration of what Im sure will be a
hugely popular and successful attraction for Galveston Island.
Riders enter the ride through a Pirate Ship built by the park.
Throughout the rides lower level, guests will find pirate themed
props and various posed pirates. The ride delivers a soaking
splash that spills over into the piers main walkway creating a
soak zone that lets non-riders cool off from the hot Texas sun.

Andrew Mellor

Beachgoers to Galveston Island are no stranger to the water, and now guests at the new
Pleasure Pier wont have to take a dip in ocean to get wet. They only need to take a ride on
the new Pirates Plunge, supplied by Interlink, or stand on the midway in the Soak Zone.
AT/GARY SLADE

SEPTEMBER 2012 AMUSEMENTTODAY 11B

12B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

Galveston Island, Texas enjoyed early day amusements

STORY: Scott Rutherford

srutherford@amusementtoday.com

GALVESTON, Texas
With all the focus on the opening of the Landrys Historic
Pleasure Pier in Galveston, it
might be easy to forget its
many area predecessors that
paved the way.
Its hardly a secret that
traditional amusement parks
are an endangered species. It
is estimated that 1,500-2,000
such places once operated in
North America alone. Sadly,
that number has dwindled to
a mere fraction. Rarer still are
seaside parks and those that
extend out over the sand and
water on wooden or concrete
piers. The U.S. was once home
to an impressive collection of
coastal and pier parks.
Like
Coney
Island,
New England and Southern
California, Galveston, Texas
was on a somewhat smaller scale once a microcosm
of the amusement industry.
Perhaps it was the cool breezes
off the Gulf of Mexico during
the hot Texas summers that
drew the crowds, or maybe
it was simply the hunger for
frivolity in an island setting.
Whatever the case, the concentration of amusement parks in
the coastal island town was
impressive and unique but
often short-lived thanks to a
seemingly endless procession
of storms that ravaged the
Galveston area.
Richard Munch, historian for the National Roller
Coaster Museum & Archives,
explains how Galveston
gained its amusement resort
status. American amusement
park history, with its roots in
Coney Island, stretched as far

as Galveston over 100 years

ago. What we do know is that
all major cities had established
parks. In fact some very large
parks were built in Dallas,
Lake Worth and Houston.
Actually, Galveston could be
considered an early leader
in the field. Unfortunately,
it would take one very large
natural phenomenon to bring
amusements to the city. On
September 8, 1900 Galveston
was pummeled by a major
hurricane, which left a barren
island strewn with flattened
homes and cottages, and
where countless lives were
lost (estimates are up to 12,000
died as the storm approached
without warning). At the
time, the Great Storm (or the
Galveston Flood as it would
be called), was considered the
worst natural disaster in U.S.
history. No doubt Galveston
needed something special in
its attempt to rebuild the city
after this devastating event.
The first step in this
recovery was the building of
a seawall, which was begun
in 1902. Upon completion,
two of Galvestons early parks
included:
Electric Park
Inspired
by
Coney
Islands legendary Luna Park
(1903) and Dreamland (1904),
Electric Park was built to
give weekend passenger train
excursionists from the upstate
area a reason to spend the
night on the island. Opened
in May 26, 1906, Electric Park
was located along Seawall
Boulevard and featured all the
attractions popular during this
era such as a Figure-8 wooden
roller coaster, Traver Aerial
Swing, carousel, Ferris wheel,

bathhouse and bandstand. Of

course, one of the parks most
outstanding features was the
sheer number of electric lights
more than 6,000 in total
that allowed the park to
operate late into the evening
hours. The park prospered for
a few years, even adding new
attractions such as the Tickler
in 1908.
Chutes Park
Chutes Park opened just
west of Electric Park in 1907
and was most likely financed
by Captain Paul Boynton in
Chicago. Included in its ride
lineup was a smaller version
of the larger and more familiar Shoot the Chute found at
many northern parks.
Various storms and hurricanes eventually took their
toll on the barrier island, and
both Electric Park and Chutes
Park disappeared mostly
due to a 1909 storm that damaged most of the structures
and necessitated the rebuilding of the seawall.
After 1910 there would
be little left, but Galvestons
tourism would continue to
thrive with the addition of the
Crystal Palace Pavilion (1911),
which reportedly built the
Giant Roller Coaster in 1920,
added Munch.
Another
park, Joyland, opened in 1919,
and Charles E. Barfield would
add a scenic railway in 1920. It
is possible that these two rides
were actually the same ride,
and also likely the famous
Mountain Speedway.
Joyland Park
Located in the 2100 block
of Seawall Boulevard from
1919 to 1929, Joylands founders were J.E. Stratford and R.S.

This historic postcard view shows Galvestons $1.5 million

Pleasure Pier in its heyday. The pier would be constructed in
1940 and would see the rides and other attractions added
to the pier in 1943. Though it is unclear how long the amusements operated on the pier, it is known that Hurricane Carla
delt a severe blow to the pier in 1961, causing the pier to go
though redevelopment.
COURTESY GALVESTON COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Lindamood. In August 1919,

Daniel W. Kempner sold the
parks property to the two
men for $35,000. Stratford
and Lindamood established
the Galveston Playhouse
Corporation
to
operate
Joyland Park.
It seems Joyland was
developed in two phases.
The initial opening offered
the Orpheum theater, Ferris
wheel and a carousel. During
the next phase (1920-22) the
Orpheum became a dance
hall while a Great American
Racing Derby and an airplane
swing were added.
By the late 20s, Galveston
was in need of more upscale
hotel rooms and it was decided that the land on which
Joyland was situated was the
perfect place to build. The
parks rides and attractions
were needlessly moved to
other locations or destroyed
in preparation for a hotel that
never made it past the planning stages.
Mountain Speedway
Located approximately

Opening on May 26, 1906, Electric Park was located along Seawall Boulevard and featured such big ticket items as a Traver
Aerial Swing and Figure-8 side friction coaster (see image above left) as well as a carousel, Ferris wheel and bathhouse. In
1908, The Tickler ride (above right) was added. The park was best known for its sheer number of electric lights that lit the
park at night, thus gaining its name, Electric Park. COURTESY GALVESTON COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

one block inland next to the

Crystal Palace and in the shadow of the Buccaneer Hotel,
the magnificent Mountain
Speedway wooden roller
coaster was designed and built
by The Ingersoll Amusement
Company of Pittsburgh.
The expanded side-friction,
Firgure 8 style ride opened in
1921 and reigned for nearly
40 years as the areas largest coaster. Standing 65 feet
tall with 3,600 feet of track,
Mountain Speedway was a
marvel for its time. At night,
the structure was outlined
with brilliant electric lights,
which drew throngs of spectators as well as riders.
Pleasure Pier
Postcards of Galvestons
original Pleasure Pier, which
opened in 1943, show that
park featured rides, arcades,
an aquarium, and a fishing
pier. It was severely damaged
by Hurricane Carla in 1961.
Though many Galveston
parks have come and gone,
the island seems to lead a
semi-charmed life. Landrys
Historic Pleasure Pier, built on
the site of the original Pleasure
Pier, is but the latest in a long
line of amusement venues.
Hopefully, the regions infamous tropical storms will steer
clear and allow this newest
venture to prosper and entertain the visitors like all those
that came before it.
Memories
of
Electric
Park, Joyland and some of the
islands other venues are kept
alive through photos, maps and
other artifacts preserved in the
Rosenberg Librarys Galveston
and Texas History Center and
the Galveston County Historical
Association.

SEPTEMBER 2012 AMUSEMENTTODAY 13B

14B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

THE LIST

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier | Galveston Island, Texas

Name/Ride Type Supplier Height

Fast Facts
Restriction
Iron Shark/EuroFighter coaster
REG/Gerstlauer
48"
3 vehicles, 8 passengers per vehicle; 100 feet tall,
1,246 feet long, 52 mph; vertical lift, vertical loop,
Immelman loop, top hat and airtime hop, LED lights
throughout ride circuit
Texas Flyer/Vertical swing ride
REG/Funtime
48"
12 swings, 2 passengers per swing; 200 feet tall;
90 foot swing diameter; LED lights on tower
Galaxy Wheel/Galaxy Wheel
Chance Rides
42"
20 carriages, 6 people per carriage; 100 feet tall,
ride is decked out with LED lights on both
sides of wheel
Revolution/Revolution 20
Chance Rides
48"
5 arms of 4 seats, 20 total passengers; 60 feet tall
at peak arch, nine revolutions per minute
Sea Dragon/Pharaoh's Fury
Chance Rides
48"
10 rows seating 40 adults or 60 children per ride;
boat swings 50 feet tall at maximum height
Carousel/36 Foot Double Decker
Chance Rides
42"
17 animals, 2 chariots on lower level; 8 animals,
2 chariots on upper level; horses, sea creatures all
featured on this chariots double decker carousel
Cyclone/Fire Ball
Larson Intl.
48"
20 passengers per ride, 60 feet tall, 25 mph;

This redesigned FireBall (Super Loop) is now a
park model, thus removing all the cables and other

equipment needed for portable models;
outfitted with LED lights from Denny's Electronics
Pirates Plunge/log flume
Interlink LG Ltd.
36"
7 boats, 5 passengers per boat; two drops of 40 feet
and 22 feet, 900 feet long
Gulf Glider/Swing Carousel

Ital International /
44"
Bertazzon 3B Ltd.

Rock & Roll

Ital International /
Bertazzon 3B Ltd.

48"

Mix of double seats (16) and single seats (32) swing

riders 22 feet high as ride elevates and rotates
16 vehicles seating 2 passengers each

Pier Pileup/bumper cars

Ital International /
none
2 rides with18 adult vehicles/10 kid vehicles themed as
Bertazzon 3B Ltd. Old Timer and Chevy Classic Cars
Sky Shooter/Airborne Shot

Rides 4U/SBF

42"

10 swinging arms seating 2 passengers each

Big Wheelin'

Rides 4U/SBF

36"

5 trucks seating 4 kids per truck

Frog Hopper

Rides 4U/S&S

36"

7 people per ride; 22 feet tall

Texas Tea/tea cup ride

Zamperla USA

36'

6 oversized twirling cups seating 4 passengers per cup

OTHER:
Bob's Space Racers provided 8 midway games including: Whac A Mole, Vertical Water Game, Long Range Basketball, Balloon Dart, Ring Toss,
Lucky Duck, Tub Toss and Short Range Basketball
Maxtron/Rides 4U, provided the LED light package for selected rides
Other key suppliers include: Ashley Nostalgia, old time photography; Dippin' Dots, frozen ice cream; Siriusware, Inc., admissions/ticketing system;
Coastal Amusements, Electronic Hi Striker and Guess Your Weight; Hi Striker, Winner Every Time Kiddie Hi Striker; Dumor Site Furnishing, tables, benches,
trash cans; Ultra Signs of San Diego, park's main entrance sign; Sparkle Sign of Houston, Bubba Gump signage, illuminated signs on pier; Intex United of
Houston, all ride and directional signage
SOURCES: Landry's Restaurants/Pleasure Pier/Amusement Today

SEPTEMBER 2012 AMUSEMENTTODAY 15B

Landrys Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

opens first-ever Texas location
Themed eatery
makes its debut
on Pleasure Pier
GALVESTON, Texas
Galveston has joined the
ranks of great tourist destinations such as the Santa Monica Pier, Navy Pier and Times
Square all of which boast a
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant.
Landrys Inc. has opened
Texas first Bubba Gump
Shrimp Co. on the Galveston
Island Historic Pleasure Pier.
The fresh seafood concept,
uniquely situated on the iconic Pier, seats 350 people offering both indoor and outdoor
patio seating.
Originated in California,
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
opened its first restaurant on
Cannery Row in Monterey,
Calif. in 1996. Bubba Gump
Shrimp Co. has 36 restaurants
primarily in tourist-oriented,
highly desirable locations including iconic destinations
such as Universal CityWalk,
Hollywood, Calif.; Santa
Monica Pier in Calif.; Times
Square in New York City;
Navy Pier in Chicago; New
Orleans French Quarter and
San Franciscos Pier 39. International locations include
Bali, Hong Kong, Cancun and
Tokyo among others.
The popular concept captures the charm and American
spirit that made Paramount
Pictures Forrest Gump a
smash hit featuring a downhome atmosphere reminiscent
of the movies setting in Alabama. Today, Bubba Gump
Shrimp Co. remains the first
and only theme restaurant
chain based on a motion picture property.
Bubba Gump Shrimp
Co. is well known for their entertaining atmosphere, family-friendly service and quality seafood, said Jim Dufault,
COO of Bubba Gump Shrimp
Co. We are delighted to introduce Texas to Bubba Gump
Shrimp Co. and all of our delicious offerings.
Recognized for outstanding seafood, Bubba Gump
Shrimp Co. makes shrimp
the star, offering 19 different
preparations. The menu also
offers an exciting variety of
fish entrees, crisp salads, fun
childrens meals, creative des-

The 350-seat Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restuarant as seen at

the entry of the new Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier,
both by day and at night.
AT/TIM BALDWIN

serts and award winning ribs.

The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier has also
opened a quick service version of the popular restaurant
named Gump on the Run.
This eatery will feature some
of the same delicious foods
you can get at the sit-down
restaurant but with an emphasis on offerings geared towards visitors looking to grab
a quick bite on the go.

Bubba Gump Shrimp

Co. Texas and Gump on the
Run is located at 25th Street
and Seawall Boulevard on
the Galveston Island Historic
Pleasure Pier. The restaurant
serves lunch and dinner and
the bar is open late.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
is open Sunday to Thursday
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and
Friday to Saturday from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m.

Amusement Today talks with

Landrys Tilman J. Fertitta
HOUSTON, Texas Amusement Todays
Tim Baldwin recently sat down with Landrys
Inc. President & CEO Tilman J. Fertitta at the
companys headquarters in Houston for a brief
Q&A:
Restaurants dont always align themselves with rides. What made you expand in
that direction with the Kemah facility?
Fertitta
It just works for us. You have to know who
you are and who you customer is and how to mix things. It is no
different than the Aquariums and the restaurants weve done,
wherever you have people wanting to spend money on entertainment they also want to eat.
Was there sincere intention to renovate the old Flagship
Hotel before the Pleasure Pier project, and what prompted
the switch?
The city put the pier out to sell about 12 years ago and
we acquired it. But we had a tenant which was the gentleman who had owned the Flagship and had a lease with the city.
So, yes, I looked at taking the Flagship and turning it into a
unique hotel when the tenant was gone more of a boutique
chic hotel that youre seeing out there. But Hurricane Ike hit
and pretty much destroyed everything. Then I started thinking
about Galveston and tourism and how unique that would be to
a pier and how successful we are with restaurants on the Monterey Pier and Chicago Pier and restaurants on the boardwalk in
Atlantic City.
How many road trips did you take to investigate other
pier properties?
Believe it or not, not a lot. Most of them are still not done in
a master plan way. In most piers one person will operate games,
one person will operate rides, and another person runs a restaurant... I kind of knew how I wanted to do it. We could make it
feel special by theming all the things the same.
When selecting rides for the pier, you strive for the right
mix of family rides with thrill rides. Who was involved in this
selection?
Me and Jeff Cantwell, head of development, Mark Kane,
Keith Bidler...we just kind of know the mix. That roller coaster is
something, the way it takes you straight up.
You know, from the first time I thought it about being a pier
and the way it laid out with the restaurant up front, it is kind of
what I wanted all along.
Kemah and the Pleasure Pier are relatively close to each
other. Was this ever a concern?
Yeah, but it didnt affect it at all. Zero.
How has the economy affected the restaurant industry,
and how would you describe the health of Landrys?
Landrys is in good shape. We made more money in the recession than we did before. We run a tight business. We have
50,000 employees. The whole retail industry is a little slow. Our
retail division does a hundred million in revenue.
What opportunities can you foresee in the future of combining restaurants with amusement rides?
The two have always gone together. It is always going to run
better if you own them both. But very seldom do you have a person that operates rides know how to run full service restaurants.
That makes us very successful.
About Landrys:
The company operates more than 400 properties in 34
states and over 30 international properties. Landrys is also
one of the countrys largest employers with over 50,000 active
employees. Landrys owns and operates several notable restaurant chains including McCormick & Schmicks, Chart House,
Landrys Seafood House, Rainforest Caf, Saltgrass Steakhouse,
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Claim Jumper as well as the
Signature Series: Mortons Steakhouse, Oceanaire, Vic & Anthonys, Brenners Steakhouse, Grotto, La Griglia and Willie Gs.
Landrys also operates numerous gaming, hospitality and entertainment venues including the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino
in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada and Atlantic City. The Kemah
Boardwalk, the San Luis Resort, Inn at the Ball Park, Downtown
Aquarium Denver and Houston and the Towers of Americas in
San Antonio, Texas are just a few of Landrys projects.

Tim Baldwin

16B AMUSEMENTTODAY SEPTEMBER 2012

is proud to be a part of the new

Come see us at IAAPA

October 9-11
Berlin, Germany
Booth# 202

November 12-16
Orlando, Fla.
Booth# 2024
www.zamperla.com
Antonio Zamperla Spa Vicenza - Italy Phone: +39 0444 998400 e-mail: zamperla@zamperla.it