Tucson Daily Citizen from Tucson, Arizona • Page 43

WOULDN'T YOV KNOW IT? Texans Claim Astroworld Largest Fun Park Astroworld, an elaborate, multimillion-dollar family amusement and entertainment center located across the street from the Houston Astrodome, opened early in June. The 57-acre park is a family affair all the way. It has been planned as family entertainment, and it is owned by an entire family that of Judge Roy Hofheinz, the man who built the Astrodome. "Astroworld, together with the Astrodome and AstroHall, provides the greatest complex of family enjoyment, sports entertainment, and convention and show facilities in the world," Hofheinz claims. "This elaborate complex is destined to become the world's greatest tourist attraction.

In addition to the fun-filled amusements and the unique rides, Astroworld also provides the most extensive 'outdoor' air-conditioning ever attempted," Hofheinz says. More than 2,000 tons of air- conditioning is cooling a 11 shade areas, including all buildings, waiting areas, picnic umbrellas, and many of the rides. The air-conditioning tonnage is four times that of any other outdoor amusement park. The underground chilled water system is also the largest in the world. Astroworld, which will accommodate 20,000 people per hour on rides and attractions, is organized into 11 primary sections: 1) The entrance area, which includes the only private bridge built across a federal interstate highway, admission gates, colorful and musical fountains, and the center mall; 2) The Americana section; 3) The modern PAGE 16 area; 4) The Alpine section; 5) The French section; 6) The western section; 7) The Astro Needle section; 8) The children's section; )9 The Lost World; 10) The Fiesta Plaza section; and 11) The Oriental section.

Artistically landscaped sidewalks guides people i all sections with easy freedom of movement, and musicians are strategically located throughout the park. One such musical group entertains from a paddle boat as it floats in the central lagoon. Among the more than 50 features in Astroworld, the most popular probably will be: 1) Alpine Snow Ride A thrill ride in a sleigh that takes the guests on the top of a 65-ft. Mountain, der Hof- heinzberg, and down again through snow storms (with real snow), over glaciers, past waterfalls, and into a psychedelic snow tunnel. Riders will see the Abominable Snowman and other animated characters.

2) Astroneedle Imported from Switzerland, this space- needle ride is the central a a of Astroworld. Projecting 340 feet into the air, it is the world's highest amusement ride and affords the rider a spectacular air view of the entire Astrodo- main. 3) Astroway Also imported from Switzerland, this skyride is the world's highest suspension-car ride. Spanning the park, with stations in the Oriental and Alpine sections, the ride reaches an apex of 100 feet. 4) Lost World Ride A riverboat ride taking guests through dense jungle territory and exposing them to various perils such as giant ants and butterflies, collapsing temple ruins, and cannon crossfire.

The saga of the Little Lost Professor is depicted by larger-than-life-sized animated characters along the way. 5) Astrowheel A first-of- its-kind ferris wheel located in the modern section of As- troworld. Weighing 70 tons, it features wheels on two arms which form a right angle, allowing one side to load from a horizontal position while the other side is revolving in a vertical position. 6) Black Dragon Ride Located in the Oriental section, this unique thrill ride takes place in total blackness which is only heightened by hundreds of eerie yellow fights all over the ride. 7) Mill Pond Located in the Western section of As- troworld, the-Mill Pond offers a water skimmer ride similar to "Dodgems" except that it is on water.

Another "first" in amusement park rides. 8) Rub-a-Dub Located in the children's section, individual tubs float in a'trough of water through a "Storybook" of nursery rhyme settings and a "Barnyard" featuring an array of live animals. 9) Spinout Located in the modern section, this is a ride in modern sports cars independently operated by the drivers. 10) 610 Limited Railroad A train ride cars of 1890 vintage taking guests around the perimeter of Astroworld, with stations located in the Oriental and Western sections. 11) Le Taxi Modeled after the European-style taxi of 1920, Le Taxi Cabs take riders for a drive through (he Alps.

12) Boot Slide, A slide for children through a giant Texas cowboy boot. And 13) Spin-a-Cup A children's thrill ride, 14) Crystal Palace A complete theatre seating 800 with 10 live shows daily, 15) Astro Go-Go A public function area with live entertainment, 16) A unique shooting gallery utilizing light rays rather than bullets. There will be one fixed admission price for adults and a lesser price for children. The admission ticket will include entrance to the park, all rides, shows, and other features. Astroworld will be open daily throughout the summer and on weekends during the remainder of the year.

Stan Mcllvaine, a former major league baseball executive and executive with Six Flags Over Texas, is the general manager of Astroworld. He heads a staff of 1,200, including approximately 1,000 college students from all over the country. Under the direction of Richard Warner, Astroworld has been transformed from a 57- acre swamp with one tiny scrub tree into a beautifully landscaped area with more than 10,000 trees (including the centrally located 45-ton AstroTree) and many more thousands of plants, flowers, and nursery items. To accomplish this herculean task of "instant landscaping" (it was done in slightly under a year), it was necessary to move one million cubic yards of dirt onto the property. There are seven acres of recirculated well water in the park for use in the Lost World Ride, the Rub-a-Dub Ride, the Lagoon, and other areas.

The Astroworld engineering team is the same that created the Astrodome: I. A. Naman Associates, in charge of the a i r-conditioning; Lockwood, Andrews, Newman, the electrical project; Walter P. Moore, in charge of all structural work; and Turner, Collie Braden, the civil engineers. Lloyd, Morgan Jones designed the magnificent bridge which spans 1-610 to connect Astroworld with the rest of the Astrodomain.

An architectural marvel, this bridge a reflection pools, shaded walkways, fountains decorative lighting, potted trees, plants and flowers. Opening later in the year, adjacent to Astroworld, will be the world's largest motor hotel complex, a multimillion- dollar project with a capacity and including three of the world's largest motor hotel chains. Included in the complex will be an eight-story "Astroworld Motor Hotel," a four-story "Holiday Inn-Astroworld," a two-story "Howard Motor and a two-story "Sheraton Inn-As- troworld." The entire 30-acre complex will be owned by the Roy Hofheinz family, the first time in history that a complex of these nationwide chains has been owned by one franchise holder. TUCSON DAILY CITIZEN SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1968.