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Astroneedle
Six Flags AstroWorld
Location Houston, Texas, USA
Coordinates 29°40′31″N 95°24′26″W / 29.675139°N 95.407172°W / 29.675139; -95.407172
Section European Village
Status Defunct
Operated June 1, 1968 to 1998
Replaced by Diablo Falls
Statistics
Manufacturer Willy Bühler Space Towers
Product Space Tower
Type
Height 340 feet

Astroneedle was a 340 foot tall Observation Tower that was formerly located at Six Flags AstroWorld, in Houston, Texas, USA.

History

Astroneedle opened with the park on June 1, 1968, and was located in the European Village section of the park. The ride was originally named Skyrama at opening.[1][2]

In 1974, a concert stage was constructed on the base of the ride.

The ride had a double-deck cabin which could hold 32 passengers on each level. It slowly rotated up to 340 feet into the air, offering a 360-panoramic view of the park and Houston skyline. The cabin that originally opened with the ride was manufactured by Von Roll. It was replaced with an Intamin cabin in 1979. Air conditioning was added to the ride in 1991.

The ride last operated in 1998, remaining standing but not operating in 1999.[3] In February 2000, the park announced that it would be removing the ride to make room for new attractions.

After it was removed, it was stored in the park's boneyard. The ride was to be rebuilt at Six Flags Mexico in Mexico City,[4] but this never happened. Diablo Falls was later built on its former site in 2003. The ride was eventually sold for scrap during the park's demolition in early 2006 after the park closed on October 30, 2005.[5]

References

  1. "Timeline". Six Flags Houston.
  2. "Houston's Astroworld To Open". Victoria Advocate. 1968-06-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  3. "On this day 50 years ago: The Astroneedle protest". ABC13 Houston. 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. "Six Flags Astroworld Bids Farewell To Astroneedle". www.ultimaterollercoaster.com. 2000-02-07. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  5. "image". Flickr.

External links