I grew up going to Astroworld. I was deeply saddened when it closed down. I just couldn't believe it. It was an icon of my childhood. There were many times growing up that we spend an entire day and into the night there. Back in the 70's Astroworld was a safe place for kids to go. Mom could drop us off there and come back to get us when the park closed, and she didn't have to worry that something bad would happen to us.

I remember riding the Dexter Freebish, the Cyclone, the bamboo shoot, the monkey barrel....

The Monkey Barrel! Once our Aunt Pam went with us and she got in the Monkey Barrel. The ride was one of those circular barrel type things that would spin really fast, and once a certain speed was reached the floor dropped down. Because of the G-force you would stick to the wall when the floor dropped. Well, Aunt Pam had something that none of us knew about until the day she decided to ride the Monkey Barrel. As the floor dropped, and we are all laughing and thrilled, we looked over at Aunt Pam, and this blond creature was climbing up the wall from her head! Literally crawling! It was crazy! Her wig had come alive and was moving up the wall!!

The Dexter Freebish roller coaster was one of the first at Astroworld. It was all white and made of steel. It was loads of fun! The drop was amazing! And just before the end of the ride, there was a deep, sharp turn that came really close to the great big huge beams that supported the ride. There were many myths about the turn....you went so fast and so steep, banking around those beams! Anyhow, the myths were all about people smashing their heads on those beams. As a kid, that was the scariest thing, and of course we all believed it. But realistically, that would have been impossible. There was plenty of room between the rail and the beams, and a person would have to be standing up to even reach out and touch one of the beams. With the speed of the ride, it would be impossible to stand up at that moment. But it was a fun story to hear and to tell!

When they build the big wooden roller coaster, the cyclone, we were all thrilled! Our very own wooden giant roller coaster! I rode it many times. The creaking of the wood was scary! The drop was amazing and very high!

There are many more memories of Astroworld. I just wanted to jot down these few. I can't believe it's gone! Very sad indeed....